thiruvAimozhi – 7.4.8 – nEr sarindhAn

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Full series >> Seventh Centum >> Fourth decad

Previous pAsuram

Introduction for this pAsuram

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s introduction

No specific introduction.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s introduction

In the eighth pAsuram, AzhwAr is reminiscing [krishNa’s] victory over bANa.

Highlights from vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s introduction

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s introduction

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

Highlights from nampiLLai‘s introduction as documented by vadakkuth thiruvIdhip piLLai

See nanjIyar‘s introduction.

pAsuram

nEr sarindhAn kodik kOzhi koNdAn pinnum
nEr sarindhAn eriyum analOn pinnum
nEr sarindhAn mukkaN mUrththi kaNdIr appan
nEr sari vANan thiN thOL koNda anRE

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Word-by-Word meanings (based on vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s 12000 padi)

appan – krishNa who helped anirudhdha [krishNa’s grandson]

(with the support of rudhra et al)
nEr sari – sided
vANan – bANa’s
thiN – strong as a result of the boon etc
thOL – shoulders
koNda – won over
aNru – on that day
kOzhi – peacock
kodi – as flag
koNdAn – subrahmaNya, who has
nEr sarindhAn – fell down, unable to resist;
pinnum – further,
eriyum – with rising flame (having the cruelty of rudhra)
analOn – agni (fire)
nEr sarindhAn – fell down, unable to resist;
pinnum – further,
mukkaN – having great power due to having three eyes
mUrththi – rudhra, the chief among dhEvathAs

(unable to resist)
nEr serindhAn – ran away from the battlefield;
kaNdIr – see [it is well known]!

Simple translation (based on vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s 12000 padi)

On that day when krishNa who helped anirudhdha, won over the strong shoulder’s of bANa who sided [with rudhra et al], subrahmaNya, who has peacock flag, fell down, unable to resist; further, agni, with rising flame, fell down, unable to resist; further, rudhra, the chief among dhEvathAs, having great power due to having three eyes, ran away from the battlefield; aren’t these well known?

vyAkyAnams (commentaries)

Highlights from thirukkurukaippirAn piLLAn‘s vyAkyAnam

See vAdhi kEsari azhagiya maNavALa jIyar‘s translation.

Highlights from nanjIyar‘s vyAkyAnam

See nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam.

Highlights from periyavAchchAn piLLai‘s vyAkyAnam

See nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam.

Highlights from nampiLLai‘s vyAkyAnam as documented by vadakkuth thiruvIdhip piLLai

  • nEr sarindhAn kodik kOzhi koNdAn – subrahmaNya who has peacock as his flag, is the commander-in-chief of dhEvas, like a colt (young one of a horse) in the battlefield, lost in the beginning itself.
  • pinnum … – At that time, the forty nine agni dhEvathAs appeared with great fervour, only to run away.
  • pinnum … – rudhra hiding his flag thinking “our son pridefully showed his flag only to be insulted in the end” arrived there; immediately he lost the battle and was running away, covering his third eye. While he ran, hiding his eye, AzhwAr catches him red-handed by saying “mukkaN mUrththi kaNdIr” (see the one with the third eye) and reveals his identity to everyone. Whatever one may do, one cannot hide one’s main bodily identity. This sorrow is beyond words and cannot be even said as “the sorrow inflicted upon me when bANa’s thousand shoulders were severed”. appan – causeless protector.
  • nEr sari vANan – Now the chief, bANAsura is coming; he too runs away from the battlefield – says AzhwAr; or AzhwAr is saying “he is turning around from wherever he is standing to look away [indicating that he has given up fighting]”. Those who dropped the weapons and those who showed their hair [i.e. their back, turning away from the battle] cannot be killed.
  • thiN thOL koNda anRE – bANAsura remained firmly as if remaining in a fort, holding on to a dhEvathA (demigod) who is as good as himself. He remained free from fear holding on to rudhra, who has skull attached to his palm [due to a curse], similar to those who are surrendered to the supreme lord. He pretended similar to those who remain as said in thaiththirIya upanishath “na bibEthi kuthaSchana” (Those who are surrendered to sarvESvaran do not fear anything).
  • thiN thOL koNda – Considering “ushA cannot become fatherless”, he just severed bANa’s hands. It is due to his having many hands, he fell at the feet and worshipped any dhEvathA he saw. Due to this, krishNa severed his hands and made him lord-less. While it is ordained that one should use the body and limbs in the service of emperumAn as said in SrIvishNu dharmam “yau thath pUjA karau karau” (only those hands which worship emperumAn are called hands) and SrIvishNu dharmam “vichithrA dhEhasampaththir ISwarAya nivEdhithum …” (Oh brAhmaNa! To offer oneself and other materials, AthmA previously got connected to the amazing body with hands and legs), he engaged his thousand hands in inapt matters and hence emperumAn severed them. As the dhEvathA (rudhra) himself came begging and prayed to emperumAn “Can you who made me a dhEvathA, invalidate it? If you kill my devotee, no one else will come and surrender unto me”, he let bANa live. SrIvishNu purANam 5.33.41 “krishNa krishNa mahAbAhO jAnEthvAm purushOththamam” (krishNa! krishNa! Oh mighty armed! I know you as the best among the men) – [rudhra says] without realising your true nature, I just saw your shooting posture and thought that you were just a warrior; like those who say “only after aiming and marking my neck, I realised the true nature”. With this, it is explained – everyone other than ISvara, while they are doing well, they will consider themselves to be the protectors and when they are in danger, they will lead the danger to their devotees and they will escape; it is explained that since in every situation, sarvESvaran will protect his followers by transforming himself, even in dire situations, he is the only one who is fit to be surrendered unto; others are not to be surrendered.

In the next article we will enjoy the next pAsuram.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

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