MADHWAVIJAYA PRATHAMAHA SARGAHA – SHLOKAS 49, 50 and 51

(In these Shlokas, Sri Narayana Panditacharyaru has described the circumstances in which Sankara emerged and established his philosophy. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

JanO namEnnAparaThEti matvA shaThashchaturThAshramamESha BhEjE|

PadmAkaraha vA kaluSheechikeerShuhu sudurdamO duShTagajO vishudhDham||49||

Thinking that people might not surrender or follow him, he got ordained into sainthood, like an uncontrolled elephant dashing into a lotus-covered pond with the intention of stirring the slush underneath.   

Avaidikam mADhyamikam nirastam nireekShya tatpakShasupakShapAtee|

TamEva pakSham pratipAdukO(a)sau nyarUrupanmArgamihAnurUpam||50||

SUMMARY: Conceiving that the anti-Vedic Buddhism was gaining popularity, he hatched a conspiracy that was suitable for the situation as he too had faith in that philosophy and wanted to promote the same.

The poet explores the conditions that prevailed during the life time of Sankara. There is a clue that Buddhism had become popular but at the same time, it was losing ground. The demons wanted a similar situation to spread anti-Hari philosophy.

 

AsatpadE(a)san sadasadviviktam mAyAKhyayA samvrutimaBhyaDhatta|

BrahmApyaKhanDam bata shUnyasidhDhai prachChannabaudhDhO(a)yamataha prasidhDhaha||51||

Being wicked and ill-motivated, he altered the concept of “Asat” in Buddhism with “SadasadvilakShana” (Vilakshana or perversion of sat or truth and asat or untruth) and “Samvruti” with “Maye” or mysticism. With a view to establish “Shoonyatwa” or obscurism, he called Brahma as “AkhanDa” and came to be known as “PrachChannabudhDha” or disguised BudhDhist.

It is to be noted here that Sri Madhwacharya has clearly mentioned in his Tattvodyota, Tatvanirnaya, Anuvyakhyana, Gita Tatparya and other works that there is not much difference between Budhdhism and Mysticism.

Referring to Sankara in his Discovery of India, Jwaharlal Nehru has stated:

“Some of his (Sankara’s” Brahmin opponents called him a disguised Buddhist; it is true Buddhism had influenced him considerably” (Excerpt from Dr. Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya’s compilation of “Sumadhwavijaya” page 40 footnote).