Paduka Sahasram Part 75

Sloka #741

741. thvayyEve pAdhamaDhirOpya navam pravAham
nAThE padhAvani! nishAmayithum pravrutthE
AthmIyakAnchanaruchA BhavathI viDhatthE
hEmAravinghaBharithAmiva hEmasinDhum

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka! When Lord Ranganatha takes a stroll to the Kaveri side to witness the new floods, say on Adi 18th setting His feet on You, You radiate a golden effulgence that produces numerous images of golden lotuses on the water surface of the river.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! When RanganAtha mounts on You to travel to see the new floods of Cauvery during the eighteenth day of the month of Aadi,You make that golden river filled with golden lotuses through Your golden lustre.

2) SrImath Andavan’s anubhavam: The inner meaning is that even one of the Paasurams of Swamy NammAzhwAr can make one’s mind bud and bloom as long as one comprehends their deep meaning and the RasAnubhavam behind it.

3) PerumAl wishes to see the new floods in CauvEry on PathinettAm Perukku day ( Navam pravAham nisAmayithum pravrutthE). He enters His foot inside You (NaaTE ThvayyEva Paadham adhirOpya).You arrive at the river transporting Your Lord. Wjat happens Next? You spread Your golden rays and fill the Cauvery floods with a forest of golden lotuses( Hema Sindhum aathmeeya kaanchana ruchA hEmAravindha bharithAmiva vidhatthE )…(V.S).

741. த்வயி ஏவ பாதம் அதிரோப்ய நவம் ப்ரவாஹம்
நாதே பதாவநி நிசாமயிதும் ப்ரவ்ருத்தே
ஆத்மீய காஞ்சநருசா பவதீ விதத்தே
ஹேமாரவிந்த பரிதாம் இவ ஹேமஸிந்தும்

பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகையே! காவேரியில் வருகின்ற புது வெள்ளத்தைக் காண்பதற்கு (ஆடி 28) உன் மீது தனது திருவடிகளை வைத்தபடி ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன் காவேரியின் கரைக்கு எழுந்தருளுகிறான். அப்போது உனது தங்கமயமான ஒளி மூலமாக நீ காவேரியை கடாக்ஷிக்கிறாய். இதனால் காவேரி எங்கும் பொற்றாமரைகள் நிரம்பியது போன்று செய்கிறாய்.

Sloka #742

742. viharathi puLinEShu thvathsaKhE ranganAThE
kanakasaridhiyam thE pAdhukE! hEmaDhAmnA
vahathi salilakELIsrasthachOLAvarODha-
sthanakalashaharidhrApankapingAmavasThAm

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka! When Lord Ranganatha walks near the sand-dunes on the river Kaveri, Your golden colour gets projected on to the waters, making one wonder whether it was from a yellow pigment from the breasts of the ladies of the Chola harem, enjoying water-sport.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Oh PadhukE! When RanganAthA travels with Your help on the sand dunes of river Cauvery for engaging in water sports, Your golden lustre falls on the river and makes its water, golden yellow. That special yellow color reminds us of the turmeric paste from the breast region of the beautiful women of ChOLa dEsa that gets admixed with the waters of Cauveri to cause that unique hue to the river.

The words to cuase that unique hue to the waters of the river is:” ChOLaavaarodha sthana kalasa”. These words have been intrepreted in many ways. According to one, the turmeric paste causing the yellow color is originating from the breast region of the ChOLA ladies taking their bath in the river. According to another tradition, these words connect the origin of this color to the ladies of the inner chambers of the Lord engaged in water sports (spraying colored waters containing turmeric ) with Him. According to yet another intrepretation, AaNDAL is identified as the consort of responsible for the mixing of the turmeric paste from Her body.

(2) SrImath Andavan’s anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE! When one witnesses the golden hue from You spreading and enveloping the Cauvery river as Your Lord moves around the sand banks of the river, one is reminded of the scene of the Jala Kreedai of the King of ChOLa desam in the river with his many consorts. At that time, the turmeric powder worn on the bodies of the consorts dissolves in to the waters of the river and creates a golden hue to the waters of Cauvery.

(3)The Lord arrives at the sand banks of Cauvery adorning You on His sacred feet (Thvath-sakhE RanganATE puLinEshu viharathi). This cauvery river (iyam Kanakasarith) gets admixed with Your golden hue (iyam Kanaka sarith tE hEma dhAmnA ) and attains a golden hue (pingAm avasTAm vahathi). That reminds one of the scene of the ChOLa RaajA enjoying his Jala Kreedai with his dEvis and the dissolution (in Cauvery waters) of the turmeric paste that adorned the big breasts of the ladies of the inner chamber of the king( salila kELI srastha ChOLa avarOdha sthana-kalasa haridhrapanka pingAm avasTAm vahathi)..V.S

742. விஹரதி புளிநேஷு த்வத் ஸகே ரங்கநாதே
கநகஸரித் இயம் தே பாதுகே ஹேம தாம்நா
வஹதி ஸலிலகேளி ஸ்ரஸ்த சோள அவரோத
ஸ்தந கலச ஹரித்ரா பங்க பிங்காம் அவஸ்தாம்

பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகையே! உன்னுடன் எப்போதும் சேர்த்தே காணப்படும் ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன், காவேரியின் மணல்களில் ஸஞ்சாரம் செய்யும்போது, உனது தங்கமயமான ஒளியில் காவேரி ஜலக்ரீடை செய்கிறாள். அப்போது அந்த நிலையைக் காணும்போது – சோழநாட்டுப் பெண்களுடைய ஸ்தனங்களில் பூசப்பட்ட மஞ்சள் குழம்பானது கரைந்து, எங்கும் படர்ந்த நிலையைக் காவேரி கொண்டது போன்று உள்ளது.

Sloka #743

743. suraBhinigamaganDhA soUmyapadhmAkarasThA
kanakakamalinIva prEkshyasE pAdhukE! thvam
Bhramara iva sadhA thvAm prApthanAnAvihAra:
shathamaKhamaNinIla: sEvathE shArngaDhanvA

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka! You are the veritable lotus creeper that exudes Vedic fragrance. A golden lotus creeper at that! Like the one that is in the hand of Mahalakshmi. (Or like the one growing in the Chandra-pushkarini). As the Lord, with His blue lily-like hue, hovers round You, one is reminded of the bee hovering around the lotus.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Oh PadhukE! With Your fragrance of Vedas, You are seen as the lotus on the hand of SrI Devi. At that time,You appear like a lotus creeper blossoming in the sacred tank of Lord RanganAtha known as Chandra PushkaraNi. Your Lord, the wielder of the bow celebrated as SaarangA, seeks always Your company and in His form as a bluish-black hued bee sits on You (staying as lotus ) and goes on His many jaunts with You.

2) SrImath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! When we look at You, we are reminded of a golden lotus. You have Veda parimaLam (vedic fragrance). When we have the sevai of Your Lord adorning You, we think of Your Lord as the honey bee that roams around You, the golden lotus. The inner meaning is that Lord of SrIrangam enjoys the AzhwAr without interruption just as the honey bee enjoys the lotus flower filled with abundant honey.

3)Oh PaadhukE! You have the pleasant fragrance of Vedam (Thvam Surabhi nigama-gandhA). You are on the hands of the beautiful MahA Lakshmi as the lotus (Thvam Soumya PadhmA karasTA). You are seen there as a golden lotus (Thvam Kanaka kamalInIva prEkshyasE). Your Lord adorning the bow known as Saarngam ( Saarnga dhanvA) has many kinds of sanchArams, while adorning You ( PrAptha NaanA vihAra:). He is like a dark blue Indhraneela gem in His hue (Sathammakha maNi Neela: Saarnga dhanvA). In his hue, He is like a honey bee (Bhramara iva) that circles always around you (the golden lotus with vedic fragrance)..(V.S).

743. ஸுரபி நிகமகந்தா ஸௌம்ய பத்மா கரஸ்தா
கநக கமலநீவ ப்ரேக்ஷ்யஸே பாதுகே த்வம்
ப்ரமர இவ ஸதா த்வாம் ப்ராப்த நாநாவிஹார
சதமகமணி நீல: ஸேவதே சார்ங்கதந்வா

பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகையே! ஸ்ரீரங்கநாச்சியாரின் அழகிய திருக்கைகள் போன்று காணப்படும் சந்தரபுஷ்கரணியில் (தாமரைக்குளத்தில்) உள்ள பொன் தாமரைக் கொடி போன்று நீ உள்ளாய். உன் மீது எப்போதும் வேதங்களின் வாசனை வீசியபடி உள்ளது. அனைத்து இடங்களிலும் ஸஞ்சாரம் செய்கின்ற ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன், இந்த்ரநீலம் போன்று கறுத்த திருமேனி உடையவனாக, ஒரு வண்டு போன்று, தாமரையாக உள்ள உன்னை அடைகிறான்.

Sloka #744

744. kanakaruchiravarNAm pAdhukE! sahyasinDhu:
shriyamiva mahanIyAm sinDhurAjasya pathnI
svayamiha saviDhasThA soUmyajAmAthruyukthA-
mupacharathi rasEna thvAmapathyABhimAnAth

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka! Kaveri is the wife of the ocean-god. When the Lord walks near the river, she (Kaveri) presumably renders the best homage and courtesy to You- as You are like her daughter Lakshmi-and to the Lord, who is charming, gold-hued son-in-law, by name itself, i.e., Ramyajamata (Azhagiya Manavalan).

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: After paying tribute to the PaadhukAs as lotus creepers in the previous verse, Swamy Desikan is reminded about the lady seated on the lotus flower and holding lotuses on Her hands(viz)., MahA Lakshmi. He equates the PaadhukAs then to MahA Lakshmi and describes the honors done by Cauveri to the PaadhukAs at SrIrangam.

Swamy Desikan says: ” Oh PaadukE! The river Cauveri flowing from the Sahya mountains(western ghAts) is the wife of the Lord of the Seas. She recognizes You as the bride of the beautiful bridegroom (Sowmya JaamAthru/Azhigiya MaNavALan)at SrIrangam and considers You as equivalent to MahA Lakshmi. Out of affection for You and Your status as the bride of RanganAtha, Cauvery shows her respect by flowing gently next to the temple, where You reside with the Lord and serve Him.

2) SrImath Andavan’s anubhavam: Oh PadhukE! When Your Lord travels on You and reaches the banks of Cauvery (His Mother-in-law), some thing interesting happens. Mother-in-Law Cauvery looks at You and thinks that it is Her daughter that has come home with Her Lord and She performs all upachArams to You with joy. Why does Cauvery get confused ? The three things that throw her off are: (1) You have the golden hue of her daughter (2) all the world celebrates You just as they celebrate Her daughter (3) You do not leave the side of the Lord just like her daughter.

3)Cauvery is the wife of Samudhra Raajan ( Sahya sindhu: Sindhu Raajasya pathni). Here at SrIrnagam, She is very near Her daughter and son-in-law and performs upachArams for the Lord, who adorns the reflected golden sheen of MahA Lakshmi, her Daughter( iha Svayam savidhasTA sathee kanaka ruchira varNAm soumyajAmAthru-yukthaam Sriyamiva upacharathi). Oh PaadhukE! When Your Lord arrives on the banks of Cauvery river, His Mother-in-Law’s home, She mistakes You for Her golden hued daughter, who is celebrated by all and offers all the upachArams (Soumya-jaamAthru-yuktham Sriyamiva MahaneeyAm ThvAm apathyAbhimAnAth rasEna upacharathi)…V.S

744. கநகருசிர வர்ணாம் பாதுகே ஸஹ்ய ஸிந்து:
ச்ரியம் இவ மஹநீயாம் ஸிந்துராஜஸ்ய பத்நீ
ஸ்வயம் இஹ ஸவிதஸ்தா ஸௌம்ய ஜாமாத்ருயுக்தாம்
உபசிரதி ரஸேந த்வாம் அபத்யாபிமாநாத்

பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதானின் பாதுகையே! தங்கம் போன்று அழகான தன்மைகள் கொண்டு, ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன் என்னும் மாப்பிள்ளையுடன் கூடியவளாக நீ உள்ளாய். இப்படிப்பட்ட உன்னை, ஸ்ரீரங்கநாச்சியார் போன்றே, தன்னுடைய பெண்ணாகவே காவேரி எண்ணுகிறாள். ஸமுத்ரராஜனின் பத்னியாகிய காவேரி, ஸ்ரீரங்கத்தில் இருந்தபடி உன்னைத் தனது பெண்ணாகக் கருதி உபசரிக்கிறாள்.

Sloka #745

745. anukalamupajIvyA dhrushyasE nirjarANAm
thripuramaThanamoULoU shEKharathvam dhaDhAthi
prathipadhamaDhigamya prApthashrungAsi shoUrE-
sthadhapi charaNarakshE! pUrNachandhrAkruthisthvam

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka! What a perfect similitude You bear for the moon! Whereas You are helpful, every moment, for protection of the devas, the moon is every day losing its digit as food to the devas; You are held in respectful adoration by Siva whereas the moon is held in his head; even as the moon gets sharpened in its edge on the first day after the Full Moon, You acquire additional greatness in every step of walk. Nevertheless, You are Full Moon-You are gold in nature.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Here, Swamy Desikan elaborates on another aspect of the PaadhukAs serving as ChandrA (Gold). He wonders how the PadhukAs serving as the cresent Moon serves also as the golden, full Moon simultaneously.There are two intrepretations for this verse. We will stay with the second intrepretation: ” Oh PaadhukE! Every second, You serve as the site for DevAs to come to get their desired boons. You become then the crescent Moon on the head of MahEswara, when He bows before You in that assembly of dEvAs. You attain greater and greater auspiciousness with every step taken by Your Lord riding on You. With all these attributes, it is no wonder that You have attained the status of the golden full Moon inspite of serving as a phase of the Moon (crescent Moon) on MahEswarA’s Jadai at other times.

2) SrImath Andavan’s anubhavam:Oh PadhukE! all the dEvAs approach You and prostrate before You for their welfare. Lord SivA adorns You as His decoration for His head and places You reverentially on His head. PerumAL thinks the world of You and adorns You on His sacred feet often.

3)Oh PaadhukE! You have the appearance of the golden full Moon (Thvam PoorNachandrAkruthi: vahasi). That Moon has 16 kalais.SaasthrAs say that the devathAs consume one kalai each day . The dEvAs use the Kalais of the Moon as their nourishing food (Thvam anukalam nirjarANAm upajeevyA dhrusyasE). That Moon(Paadukai) is adorned by Lord Siva on His jadai and He gets blessed just like the other dEvAs (Thvam ThripuramaTana moulou sEkarathvam dadhAnA ).

On prathamai days, the Kalai of the Moon is somewhat elevated and that makes the crscent Moon look like the full Moon. Inspite of it, You are fully golden and resemble in that respect also the full Moon (Prathipadham adhigamya prAptha srungA asi; tadhapi poornachandrAkruthi)).The word Prathipadham stands for both Pratamai and each step. With each step of Lord RanganAthA, the crescent Moon grows and after sixteen steps( 16 kalais), the crescent Moon gets transformed in to Full Moon…V.S

745. அநுகலம் உபஜீவ்யா த்ருச்யஸே நிர்ஜராணாம்
த்ரிபுர மதந மௌளௌ சேகரத்வம் ததாஸி
ப்ரதிபதம் அதிகம்ய ப்ராப்த ச்ருங்காஸி சௌரே:
தத்பி சரணரக்ஷே பூர்ண சந்த்ராக்ருதி: த்வம்

பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகையே! ஒவ்வொரு நொடியும், தேவர்களுக்கு ஆகாரமாக உட்கொள்ளத் தக்கவளாக நீ காணப்படுகிறாய். சிவனின் தலையில் பூர்ணமான அலங்காரமாக உள்ள தன்மையை அடைகிறாய். ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் ஒவ்வொரு அடிவைப்பையும் நீ அடைந்து, சீரிய முனைகளைப் பெற்றுள்ளாய். இப்படி உள்ளபோதிலும் நீ பூர்ணசந்த்ரனாக, தங்கமயமாக உள்ளாய்.

விளக்கம் – சந்த்ரனின் கலையில் அமிர்தம் உள்ளதால் அதனைத் தேவர்கள் பருகிறார்கள்; இதனால் சந்த்ரன் பூர்ணமாக இருக்க முடியாது. சிவனின் தலையில் உள்ள சந்த்ரன் பூர்ணசந்த்ரன் அல்ல. ஒவ்வொரு நொடியும் சந்த்ரன் தேய்வதால், பூர்ணமாக இருக்க முடியாது. ஆனால் பாதுகைகள் சந்த்ரன் போன்றே உள்ளபோதும், பூர்ணமாக உள்ளாள் என்கிறார்.

 

Sloka #746

746. kanakamapi thruNam yE manvathE vItharAga:
thruNamapi kanakam thE jAnathE thvathprakAshaI:
maDhuripupadharakshE! yath thvadharThOpanIthAn
pariNamayasi haImAn dhEvi! dhUrvAnkurAdhIn

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Lord’s Paaduka! Whosoever, without any other attachment whatever, treat even gold as mere grass, will see-by virtue of the wisdom You gave them-the glitter from You falling on it, gold even in a grass of Doorvankura (dedicated to You in archana).

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam:Oh PaadhukAs of Madhusoodhana! Dispassionate devotees of Yours consider even the valuable gold as equivalent in value to a worthless blade of grass. They benefit from the true knowledge that You conferred on them and salute You for Your powers in converting the blades of grass (presented during Your worship) in to Gold. Your golden rays fall on the blades of grass and transform them in to gold. Your devotees are known for their VairAgyA (dispassion) and hence they show no interest in the gold. Although they are impressed with Your power to convert lowly objects in to gold, they have no desire for worldly wealth.

2) SrImath Andavan’s anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE! Those who have deep bhakthi for PerumAL consider gold as being worthless as a blade of grass. Even for those virakthAs, You make them consider those blades of grass as being equal in value to that of gold. When your golden lustre falls on the aruham pull (panic grass ) collected for Your worship, those blades of grass look like gold and become valuable to Your bhakthAs.

The inner meaning is that even those who are born low and do not have any scholarship get to know the inner meanings of the Paasurams of Swamy NammAzhwAr due to AzhwAr’s grace. When they become blessed this way, then even those of exalted birth and scholars celelbrate the one of low birth and status with reverence.

3)Oh PaadhukAs of the Lord ,who destroyed the asuran named Madhu (Madhuripu PadharakshE)! BhakthAs of PerumAL are devoid of desires for worldly wealth( veetha RaagA:). They think even of gold as a worthless blade of grass (yE kanakamapi thruNam manvathE). Even these VairAgyasAlis, look at the transformation that you brought on the panic grass bundle assembled before you for your worship and how you changed them in to gold through Your golden lustre. (tE thruNamapi Thvath prakAsai: kanakam jaanathE). The blades of aruham pul placed before You takes on the golden sheen as Your golden rays fall on them (yath ThavtharTOpaneethAn dhUrvAnkurAdhIn haimAn pariNamayasi)..(V.S)

746. கநகமபி த்ருணாம் யே மந்வதே வீதராகா:
த்ருணம் அபி கநகம் தே ஜாநதே த்வத் ப்ரகாசை:
மதுரிபு பதரக்ஷே யத் த்வத் அர்த்தோபநீதாந்
பரிணமயஸி ஹைமாந் தேவி தூர்வாங்குராதீந்

பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகைதேவியே! ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் திருவடிகளைக் காப்பவளே! ஒரு சிலர், ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன் மீது கொண்ட ஆசை காரணமாக, மற்ற ஆசைகளைத் துறந்து, தங்கத்தைக் கூட அற்பமான புல்லாக எண்ணுவார்கள். ஆனால் அவர்கள் புல்லைக்கூட தங்கமாக எண்ணும்படிச் செய்கிறாய். எப்படி? அவர்களால் உனக்குச் சமர்ப்பணம் செய்யப்படும் அருகம்புல் போன்றவற்றை, உனது ஒளியால் தங்கமயமாக மாற்றி விடுகிறாய் அல்லவோ?

Sloka #747

747. vishuDdhimaDhigacChathi jwalanasangamAth kAnchanam
vidhanthi cha jaganthi thanna Khalu thadhviparyasyathi
kaTham kanakapAdhukE! kamalalOchanE sAkshiNi
thvayaIva parishuDdhathA huthaBhujOpi jAGatyathE

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Gold Paaduka! Gold is freed of baser materials by fire-treatment. This is known to all and there can be no reversal of this; but then how is it even Agni Deva has to bear You and thereby, acquire a purity-this when the Supreme Lors is observing it as a witness!

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Oh Golden PaadhukE! It is well known that gold loses its dross and becomes pure, when it joins fire. It is also known that gold does not purify the fire. Be that as it may, You purified Agni as Lord KrishNa was watching You at the time of the burning of the KaaNdava forest.

2) SrImath Andavan’s anubhavam:When gold has admixture with “dirt” due to association with lower metals such as silver or copper, it is treated in fire to get rid of the latter and thereby restore the pristinne purity of Gold. Only fire can do this purification. Even that fire (Agni) is purified by You.When Agni devan adorns You on His siras, he is rid of all dhOshams.

3) Oh Golden PaadhukE(hE Kanaka PaadhukE)! Gold gets rid of any admixture with lower metals through exposure to fire (Kaanchanam jvalana sangamAth visuddhim adhigacchathi). The entire world knows about this phenomenon (Tath jaganthi vidhanthi).It is a wonder that You remove the blemishes of even Agni as Your Lord watches this transformation of Agni as a silent witness( Kamala lOchanE saakshiNi kaTam HuthabhujOpi Thvayaiva parisuddhathA jAgaDyathE?)..(V.S).

747. விசுத்திம் அதிகச்சதி ஜ்வலந ஸங்கமாத் காஞ்சநம்
விதந்தி ச ஜகந்தி தத் ந கலு தத் விபர்யஸ்யதி
கதம் கநக பாதுகே கமலலோசநே ஸாக்ஷிணி
த்வயைவ பரிசுத்ததா ஹுதபுஜ: அபி ஜாகட்யதே

பொருள் – தங்கமயமான பாதுகையே! தங்கம் என்பது அக்னியில் இடப்படும்போது மிகுந்த தூய்மையை அடைகிறது. இதனை உலகில் உள்ளவர்கள் அனைவரும் அறிவார்கள். இந்த விதி மாறுபடாமல் உள்ளது. ஆனால் அழகான கண்கள் கொண்ட ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன் பார்த்துக்கொண்டு நிற்கையில், ஆராதனத்தின் முடிவில், உன்னை அக்னியின் தலையில் வைக்கும்போது, அந்த அக்னி தூய்மைப் பெறுவது எப்படி? (அக்னியால் தங்கம் தூய்மை அடையாமல், தங்கமயமான பாதுகையால் அக்னி தூய்மை அடைவதைக் கண்டு வியக்கிறார்).

Sloka #748

748. thArAsangapraThithaviBhavAm chArujAmbUnadhABhAm
thvAmArUDasthridhashamahithAm pAdhukE! ranganATha:
sanchAriNyAm surashiKhariNasthasThuShA mEKhalAyAm
DhatthE matthadhviradhapathinA sAmyakakshyAm samIkshyAm

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka! You shine with the effulgence of gold, with inset pearls. Devas praise You. When the Lord walks along, with His Feet on You, it looks as though an ichorous elephant walks along on a moving Meru mountain-slope with stars winking all around!

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Mount Meru is known as the golden mountain; Swamy Desikan describes here the PadhukAs as the foot hills of Mount Meru. He says: ” Oh PadhukE! RanganAtha mounts You, who is celebrated by the dEvAs. You are well known for Your beauty arising from the combination of Your beautiful pearls with Your golden lustre. RanganAtha travels on You around the foot hills of starry Mount Meru like the elephants in rut there. Stars are equated to the pearls on the PaadhukAs; the golden sheen of Mount Meru is equated to the golden hue of the PaadhukAs. Lord RanganAthA is equated to the majestic elephants moving at the foot hills of the golden Mount Meru.

2) SrImath Andavan’s anubhavam:The inner meaning is that PerumAl is like a joyous elephant in rut strutting on a golden mountain, when He realizes that Swamy NammAzhwar with limitless love to Him is linked to Him as SeshabhUthan consistent with the meaning of PraNavam.

3)Lord RanganAtha adorning You appears like the bull elephant in rut strutting joyously on the foot hills of golden Meru Mountain ( RanganATa: ThvAm aarooDassan sanchAriNyAm sura-sikhariNa: mEkhalAyAm tasTushA matthadhvirapathinA sameekshyam saamyakakshyam dhatthE).He is happy to adorn You for His sanchArams since You are celebrated for Your links to His praNavam (tAra aasanga praTitha VibhavAm ThvAm ) and You have a golden lustre that is beautiful to behold (chAru-jaamBhUnadhAbhAm ThvAm ) and You are adored by the DevAs ( ThridasamahithAm ThvAm)…(V.S).

748. தார ஆஸங்க ப்ரதித விபவாம் சாருஜாம் பூநதாபாம்
த்வாம் ஆரூட: த்ரிதச மஹிதம் பாதுகே ரங்கநாத:
ஸஞ்சாரிண்யாம் ஸுரசிகரிண: தஸ்துஷா மேகலாயாம்
தத்தே மத்தத் விரத பதிநா ஸாம்ய கக்ஷ்யாம் ஸமீக்ஷ்யாம்

பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகையே! முத்துக்களின் தொடர்பால் ஏற்பட்ட மிகுந்த பெருமை, அழகான தங்கமயமான ப்ரகாசம் போன்ற தன்மைகள் கொண்ட நீ, தேவர்களால் கொண்டாடப்பட்டபடி உள்ளாய். இப்படிப்பட்ட உன் மீது நின்றபடி ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன் ஸஞ்சாரம் செய்யும்போது, தங்கமயமான மேரு மலையின் தாழ்வாரையில் நிற்கின்ற மதம் பிடித்த யானையின் உயர்ந்த தன்மையை அவன் அடைகிறான் (இங்கு பாதுகை = மேருமலை, ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன் = மேருமலையில் நிற்கும் யானை).

Sloka #749

749. kanakaruchirA kAvyAKhyAthA shanaIscharaNOchithA
shrithagurubuDhA BhAsvadhrUpa dhvijADhipasEvithA
vihithaviBhavA nithyam viShNO: padhE maNipAdhukE!
thvamasi mahathI vishvEShAm na: shuBhA grahamaNdalI

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Manipaaduka! You have a gold-lustre of red hue. You have a vital place in Ramayana etc. You move about only slowly. Gurus and learned ones cling to You. You shine like the sun. You are worshipped by eminent Brahmins. You stay put to the Lord’s Feet permanently. (The planets, namely, the red Angaraka, Sukra alias Kavya, Sani who is slow moving, Guru and Budha, Soorya and Chandra-these encircle in their paths in the celestial sphere. They will prove auspicious in specific periods, being otherwise at other times.) But You are always auspicious as a peculiar planetary combination, unusual this way, conferring benefits on us permanently.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: After Swamy Desikan thought of the golden Mount Meru , he shifted his attention to another golden vathu (viz)., AnkArakA, one of the nava grahams known for his golden color.From AnkArakA, Swamy Desikan moves on to the other planets except Raahu and Kethu. The group of AngArakA and six other planets are known as Graha MaNDali. The worship of Graha MaNDali wards off all inauspiciousness. Swamy Desikan considers the golden PaadhukAs as the best and biggest Graha MaNDali since they are assoicated with the holy feet of the Lord. As such, PaadhukAs confer unalloyed bliss for its devotees as the Supreme Graha MaNDali.

Swamy Desikan comments: ” Oh golden PaadhukAs celebrated in RaamAyanam and moving slowly following the pace of Your Lord! You are approached by the great AchAryAs and Yogis and You have a supremely lustrous body. You are forever worshipped by the Brahmins and have attained great glory by Your intimate association with Your Lord’s sacred feet. You, who confers the choicest blessings on us are the most auspicious combination of all the seven planets (Graha MaNDali).

Swamy Desikan hints that the ordinary Graha MaNDali will give boons only to some. The extraordinary Graha MaNDali (The Lord”s Paadhukais) will however bless one and all and even confer Moksham on Its worshippers. Such is Its unique power!

(2) SrImath Andavan’s anubhavam: The inner meaning is that for those who have SadAchArya sambhnadham, there will be no mischief (ubadhravam) from the nava grahams.

Oh PaadhukE! On You Golden sheets are enmeshed. Great IthihAsams like SrImad RaamAyanam and MahA Bhaaratham sing Your glories.You enable the Lord to have enjoyable travels on You. All the AchAryAs and Scholars have sought refuge in You. You outshine the Sun with Your lustre. All the sreshta BrAmins worship You. The Lord’s sacred feet acquire special glory because of their sambhandham with You. As a result of all these subha lakshanams, You ward off the inauspiciousness caused by the nava grahams and confer auspiciousness on those, who seek your protection.

749. கநக ருசிரா காவ்ய அக்யாதா சநை: சரண உசிதா
ச்ரித குரு புத பாஸ்வத் ரூபா த்விஜாதிப ஸேவிதா
விஹித விபவா நித்யம் விஷ்ணோ: பதே மணிபாதுகே
த்வம் அஸி மஹதீ விச்வேஷாம் ந: சுபா க்ரஹமண்டலீ

பொருள் – இரத்தினக்கற்கள் இழைக்கப்பட்ட பாதுகையே! தங்கமயமான காரணத்தால் சிவந்தும் (செவ்வாய் = அங்காரகன் போன்று), இராமாயணம் போன்ற காவியங்களால் (சுக்கிரன்) கூறப்பட்டும், மெதுவான ஸஞ்சாரத்திற்கு (சனி) ஏற்றபடியும், ஆசார்யன் மற்றும் வித்வான்களால் (குரு, புதன்) அடையப்பட்டபடியும், பளபளப்பான திருமேனி கொண்டும் (சூரியன்), அந்தணர்களால் போற்றப்பட்டும் (சந்த்ரன்), ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் திருவடியில் (ஆகாசம்) நீ எப்போதும் மேன்மையை ஏற்படுத்தியபடி உள்ளாய். இப்படியாக உள்ள நீ எங்களுக்கு எப்போதும் நன்மை அளிக்கவல்ல நவக்ரஹங்களின் கூட்டமாகவே உள்ளாய் (இதனால் பாதுகையே நவக்ரஹம் என்பதும், அந்தக் கூட்டம் ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் திருவடிகளில் எப்போதும் உள்ளன என்றும் கருத்து).

Sloka #750

750. prajvalithapanchahEthirhiraNmayIm thvAm hiraNyavilayArha:
Avahathu jAthavEdhA: shriyamiva na: pAdhukE! nithyam

Meaning (translated by Sri. U.Ve. V.N. Vedanta Desikan)

Oh Paaduka! May Agni, of five flames, who will melt gold, called Jatavedah, grant us, ever too, the great gift of YOURSELF, (Gold Paaduka) as SRI! May the Lord-for whose praise the Vedas were born and so who is designated as Jatavedah-who has five-fold armoury, who once killed HiraNya (meaning gold) grant us ‘Sri’ of Paaduka at all times! Paaduka is the greatest SRI!

(Agni is said to have seven flames, two of which are in the South and North-east, being inauspicious, being of maledictory significance. Hence five flames only are reckoned. Also recall Srisookta which prescribes praying to Fire to grant gold-coloured Lakshmi. The Vedic Trinity is declared immortal Sri. That Sri is also sought, Paaduka being equivalent to the Vedas).

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) UtthamUr Swamy’s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukkE! Your Lord possesses the five weapons to destroy the enemies of the righteous people and the dEvAs. During His incarnation as Lord NarasimhA , He did not even use His weapons and destroyed HiraNyakasipu with His sharp nails alone. He is the One, who arranged the VedAs for His listening pleasure and hence is known as Jaatha Veda. May such a Lord of many auspicious attributes bless us to have access to Your golden self always and confer this undecaying wealth to us always!

In SrI Sooktham , the golden-hued MahA Lakshmi is praised and the request is made to Jaatha Vedas to confer the wealth controlled by MahA Lakshmi. Jaatha Vedas can also be intrepreted as Agni or SrIman NaarAyaNa, whose breath is the VedAs. Since MahA Lakshmi is the cause of the auspiciousness (good fortunes) of Her consort, we will intrepret Jaatha Vedas here as SrIman NaarAyaNan.Swamy Desikan prays in the last slOkam of the Kaanchana Paddhathi for the boon of obtaining the Lord’s PaadhukAs (Swamy NammAzhwAr) as his supreme wealth.

2) SrImath Andavan’s anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE! SaashtrAs say that one acquires wealth through meditation of Agni. In a similar manner, our prayer to perumAL is to bless us with SadAchArya sambhandham just as Agni blesses his upAsakAs with wealth. We do not ask AchAryAs for the gift of PerumAL but we do ask PerumAl for the boon of AchAryaas. We have vowed to meditate always on AchAryAs, praise them, perform Kaimkaryams dear to their heart, have darsanam of them and hear their anugraha bhAshaNams always.

(3) PerumAl has the five radiant weapons in His hands for use against the enemies of His BhakthAs ( PanchahEthi: JaathavEdhA:). The Lord is powerful to kill strong enemies like HiraNyakasipu ( HiraNyavilayArha: JaathavEdhA:).Just as Agni, who can destroy the dross accompanying the gold (HiraNyavilayayArhA: JaathavEdhA:) and confer wealth like gold (HitraNmayeem Sriyamiva), Our prayers to PerumAL are to grant us always Your golden Self to us as the most wished for boon (JaathavEdhA: HiraNmayeem ThvAm na: nithyam aavahathu)..(V.S).

750. ப்ரஜ்வலித பஞ்சஹேதி: ஹிரண்மயீம் த்வாம் ஹிரண்ய விலயார்ஹ:
ஆவஹது ஜாதவேதா: ச்ரியம் இவ ந: பாதுகே நித்யம்

பொருள் – ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதனின் பாதுகையே! சக்கரம் முதலான ஐந்து ஆயுதங்களை ஏற்தியபடி, ஹிரண்யன் போன்றவர்களை அழிப்பதற்காக ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதன் உள்ளான். இப்படிப்பட்ட அவன், தங்கமயமான உன்னை, அவனுக்குச் செய்யும் கைங்கர்யச் செல்வமாக உள்ள உன்னை, எங்களுக்கு எப்போதும் தந்தருள வேண்டும்.

Kaanchana Paddhathi SampUrnam
காஞ்சன பத்ததி ஸம்பூர்ணம்

English Source Text: sundarasimham.com
Tamil Source Text: namperumal.com