SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
341) SUra: (शूरः) (also repeated in 650)
bhagavAn’s desire to win over all entities is shown in this divine name ‘SUra:’. It means ‘the one who is capable of winning’.
The root ‘Su’ (शु) represents going and winning over his opponents. It gets the ‘kran’ (क्रन्) adjunct by grammatical rules along with the dIrgha, resulting in this divine name.
Etymology: Since bhagavAn is ever desirous and capable of triumphing over all the opponents (explained in the previous divine names), he is called ‘SUra:’.
विजिगीषुतया जैत्रः समर्थः शूर उच्यतॆ |
342) Sauri: (शौरिः) (also repeated in 649)
bhagavAn’s special quality of him voluntarily going to his devotees and protecting them (as against his devotees seeking his refuge for their protection) is shown in this divine name ‘Sauri:’. bhagavAn gets this divine name since he is the son of vAsudhEva.
Etymology: The one who is born as the son of vAsudhEva (who is also called ‘SUra:’) is called ‘Sauri:’.
शूरस्य वसुदॆवस्य यॊsपत्यं शौरिरुच्यतॆ |
343) janESvara: (जनॆश्वरः)
bhagavAn is a vast ocean of radiant wealth capable of uplifting all the fallen souls from the swirls of samsAra. Hence he is called ‘janESvara:’ – the lord of all the souls born in this samsAra.
Etymology: Since bhagavAn exercises his lordship over all the fallen souls born in this samsAra by uplifting and enlightening them, he is called ‘janESvara:’.
प्लवनॊज्वलनैश्वर्यमहौघः स्यात् जनॆश्वरः |
344) anukUla: (अनुकूलः)
Due to his natural greatness, bhagavAn voluntarily remains subjugated to limits by repressing his wonders, pride, respect, etc regarding his supremacy. Hence he is called ‘anukUla:’ – the one who abides by the limits.
The word ‘kUla:’ (कूलः) means shore. The one who abides by the limiting shores (just as a vast ocean does not generally cross the shores although potent) is called ‘anukUla:’.
This divine quality of bhagavAn is hailed in the SrImath rAmAyanam thus:
“Although rAma is called ‘vIryavAn’ – the valorous one, he is not carried away by his own valor”
Alternately, bhagavAn is the one who abides by his devotees’ whims.
This is as said in the scriptures thus:
“The only refuge of all devotees – capable of holding their hands in times of distress – is janArdhana, who is bought over by them in exchange for utter devotion”
When yaSOdha ties krishna to a grinding stone, she scolds him thus:
“Oh krishna, you are a very mischievous boy! Free yourself from this knot if you can, and go where you want”, etc.
Etymology: Although great and potent by nature, since bhagavAn gives up all his pride, bewilderment, etc., and always abides by his devotees whims, he is called ‘anukUla:’.
स्वभावतॊ महत्वॆsपि मदविस्मयवर्जनात् |
भक्तैकप्रवणॊ नित्यम् अनुकूल इति स्मृतः ||
345) SathAvartha: (शतावर्तः)
bhagavAn is also called ‘SathAvartha:’. He possesses hundreds of swirls. The ‘swirls’ (आवर्ताः) in this divine name represent his expansive wealth.
Although beyond limits, bhagavAn voluntarily abides himself by a certain limit (His devotees’ whims). This is like a wide river flowing through a narrow gorge, thus causing a lot of swirls in the flowing water. Thus, a parallel can be drawn between the swirls in the flowing water (caused by a narrow gorge) and the swirls in bhagavAn (caused by his devotees’ limits).
Etymology: bhagavAn possesses hundreds of swirls due to the flow of his unbounded wealth being constrained by the limits of his devotees (as per their capacities), and hence called ‘SathAvartha:’. He is the ocean of wealth, and the provider of both material benefits as well as liberation.
ऐश्वर्यजृम्भिताभिख्या आवर्ता यस्य नित्यशः |
शतं सन्ति शतावर्तः वस्वर्णॊ भुक्तिमुक्तिदः ||
346) padhmI (पद्मी)
Having thus explained the divine qualities of vAsudhEva, thence his divine forms are being hailed.
Since bhagavAn – as vAsudhEva – always sports a lotus in his hand (called ‘leelApadhma’ लीलापद्म), he is called ‘padhmI’.
Etymology: The divine qualities of bhagavAn in his manifestation as vAsudhEva were hailed till now, and thence his divine forms are hailed. Since bhagavAn sports a lotus in his hand at all times, he is called ‘padhmI’.
गुणतॊ वासुदॆवत्वमुक्तं रूपादिरुच्यतॆ |
लीलापद्मधरॊ नित्यं पद्मीति परिकीर्त्यतॆ ||
347) padhmanibhEkshaNa: (पद्मनिभॆक्षणः)
bhagavAn’s eyes are like faultless lotuses in appearance. They are extremely attractive, and capable of quenching one’s weariness at the same time. Thus, he is called ‘padhmanibhEkshaNa:’.
Etymology: The one who possesses attractive eyes resembling the freshly blossomed lotus in clear waters – which are also capable of quenching the weariness of his devotees – in order to protect them at all times is called ‘padhmanibhEkshaNa:’.
स्वच्छाम्बुजातसदृशम् ईक्षणं श्रमहारि च |
यस्यास्ति भक्तरक्षायां स स्यात् पद्मनिभॆक्षणः ||
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पद्मनाभॊsरविन्दाक्षः पद्मगर्भः शरीरभृत् ।
महर्धिरृद्धॊ वृद्धात्मा महाक्षॊ गरुडध्वजः ॥ ३८ ॥
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348) padhmanAbha: (पद्मनाभः) (also repeated in 48 and 198)
bhagavAn’s navel also resembles a beautiful lotus. Hence he is called ‘padhmanAbha:’.
Etymology: The one whose navel is also like a lotus is called ‘padhmanAbha:’.
नाभिश्च पद्मवद्यस्य पद्मनाभः स उच्यतॆ |
349) aravindhAksha: (अरविन्दाक्षः)
bhagavAn’s eyes are as beautiful as red lotuses. Hence he is called ‘aravindhAksha:’.
Etymology: The one who possesses beautiful eyes like the red lotuses is called ‘aravindhAksha:’.
रक्तारविन्दनयनस्तु अरविन्दाक्ष ईरितः |
350) padhmagarbha: (पद्मगर्भः)
bhagavAn situates himself in a beautiful lotus – as tender and fragrant as himself. Alternately, he situates himself in the lotus of heart of his devotees who sincerely worship him. Thus, he is called ‘padhmagarbha:’ – the one who is situated in a lotus.
The root ‘gru’ गृ (to establish) gets the ‘bhan’ (भन्) adjunct, resulting in the word ‘garbha:’.
This is as said in the scriptures thus:
- “The subtle, faultless lotus that houses the lord himself in it, and which is situated in the center of the body….”
- “bhagavAn resides in that subtle lotus of the heart of his devotees”
- “bhagavAn is seated on a beautiful lotus”, etc.
Etymology: The one who resides in the lotus of heart of his devotees (yOgis) is called ‘padhmagarbha:’.
यॊगिहृत्पुण्डरीकस्थः पद्मगर्भः स उच्यतॆ |
adiyen srinivasa raja ramanuja dasan
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