SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA - SHLOKAS 47 TO 50

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 47, 48, 49 AND 50

(In these shlokas excellence of Vasudeva in wrestling and other sports events are described. Besides, his Guru is shown as upset with Vasudeva, who is indeed Jagadguru. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

Sa shanakairbalinO(a)yugapadgatAn pravihrutEShu saKheen nirapAtayat|

Ashanakairyugapat prakrutAhavAn sahasitO dwijasUnurayatnavAn||47||

SUMMARY: The strongest among his friends used to attack Vasudeva separately and in union. Vasudeva was able to vanquish all of them with utmost ease and with a smile on his face. Vasudeva was making all of them fall on the ground, when it came to physical attack.

These acts of Vasudeva indicate that he was the incarnation of Lord Bheemasena, who could confront and defeat ten thousand soldiers at a time, single handedly.

GrahaNanigrahaNE grahaNE DhruDhE guruBharOdDharaNAdiviDhau paTau|

Iha viBhAvupachAraDhiyA nruNAmrutamayam nanu Bheema iteeritam||48||

SUMMARY: With Vasudeva proving to be outstanding in releasing himself out of the stranglehold of others, in tightly cathing others so that it was impossible for them to get relieved and in lifting heavy weights, was it not true in what everyone was praising him by saying “He is indeed equal to Bheema”?

There is a clear statement in this shloka that Vasudeva was far ahead of all his fellow beings in both studies and sports. Vasudeva was a notch above all others in every sports event. People used to liken Vasudeva with Bheema, without actually knowing that Vasudeva was indeed anincarnation of Lord Bheemasena. It must be noted that no individual on earth can excel in all types of sports and games, whereas there was not a single event in which Vasudeva was not excellent.   

Viharateeti paThyatyapi na sPhu=Tam swagrugAmini chAdrutamAyati|

ParitutOSha na tatra jagadgurau sa kila pUgavanAnwayajO dwijaha||49||

SUMMARY: With Vasudeva always getting engaged in sports, not always concentrating on studies,  frequently going home and always coming to the class very late, his Guru Totantillaya was upset as he was unaware that Vasudeva was a Master of Masters, Jagadguru.

The Chalari Vyakhyan further explains the state of mind of Totantillaya about Vasudeva. It is said that Vasudeva was not paying as much attention to studies as he was to sports and games. Vasudeva used to go to his home every now and then and he was always late in returning from his home. It was because: Kila shabdaha UpADhyAyasya aparitOShaha tanmAhAtmyAjnAnamUlakaha iti arTham vadati| meaning: The word “Kila” (it comes in the second line of this stanza.) explains the dissatisfaction of Totantillaya with Vasudeva because of utter lack of knowledge about Vasudeva that he was the Master of Universe or Jagadguru.

  

ATha kadAchana sO(a)DhyayanAntarE tamavadat kupitO(a)nyamanaswinam|

PaThasi nO shaThatE saKhiBhihi samam kimiti nityamudAsitaDheeriti||50||  

SUMMARY: Once when Totantillaya observed that Vasudeva was thinking elsewhere amidst the class, became angry and asked him: “You cheat! Why are you not studying well with your fellow students? Why are you always thinking elsewhere?”  

This Shloka further explains the fact that even the Guru of Vasudeva was not aware that his student was a Jagadguru.

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this edition, the question “Why did Lord Rama receive the Mantras from Vishwamitra?” has been clarified. Please read, comment and shared. SDN)

Being the omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, undisputable Lord of all Gods, Sri Rama silently pretended to being taught the Mantras by Vishwamitra by thinking thus:

*Let everything happen as desired by Sage Vishwamitra.

*The Mantra related to each Astra praises only me.

*Anyone reciting them without any desire or demand will definitely be a recipient of my grace.

*Each Mantra will have additional power if it is recited in a holy place, where my divine presence will be there.

*Is there limit for the grace I will be bestowing upon Vishwamitra if I just lend my ear to him and he whispers the Mantras in my ears?

*Let this Vishwamitra, who did long and arduous penance to become a Brahmarishi after being a Kshatriya by birth, reap the benefits of others reciting the Mantra and earning merits.

*Let the demons think that Rama is less divine compared to Vishwamitra since he has learnt the Mantras and obtained Astras from Vishwamitra and all the good and divine spirit by making demons think that way go to Vishwamitra.

*Let me, by pretending to learn Mantras from Vishwamitra, convey to the world that everyone should learn only through a proper Guru or Master.

*By entering my ears through Vishwamitra, the Mantras will become authentic and sacred.

Both Rama and Lakshmana received the Mantras from Vishwamitra, along with corresponding Astras.

All the deities designated to the Astras presented by Vishwamitra appeared in person in front of Rama and saluted him. Sri Rama told them that he would utilise their services in full during his war with Ravana. The deities expressed their happiness and gratitude. They promised to appear or manifest, whenever called for or summoned, and disappeared.

Sri Madhwacharya has said in his Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya that Vishwamitra presented the Mantras and Shastras to Rama before the killing of Tataka, though it is mentioned in Sangraha Ramayana as well as Valmiki Ramayana that Vishwamitra gave Rama the Mantras and Shastras after killing Tataka. This controversy needs to be clarified.  

Sri Rama had no need to employ any arrow to kill either Tataka or even Ravana. He could have just killed them all by a wish or will. Therefore, there is no need for either Vishwamitra giving Astras or Rama accepting them. Yet, as explained earlier, Rama wanted to honour the deities designated to those Astras, grace the pious and felicitate Vishwamitra. Moreover, he wanted to indicate to Ravana and other demons that he was just an ordinary human being.

It is interesting to note that Rama did not use any of the Astras that Vishwamitra had given for killing Tataka. He killed Tataka with a single and very ordinary arrow.

Sri Raghavendra Swamy has explained the two incidents of Rama killing Tataka and the repetition of the instance of Vishwamitra presenting the Astras to Rama prior to or after the killing of Tataka in each day of Lord Brahma as Rama is born on each day of Lord Brahma. By stating “TaTakAm GhAtukaha astram BrahmAdyam prApya”, Sri Raghavendra Swamy has clarified that there is nothing in the version of Sangraha Ramayana, Valmeeking Ramayana and Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya of Sri Madhwacharya.  

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHLOKAS 43 TO 46

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 43, 44, 45 AND 46

(A few more instances that epitomises the outstanding character of Vasudeva or Lord Vayu have been explained in these stanzas. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

AnaDhikaishcha vayasyaThO bahuBhiraDhyayanOparamAntarE|

AvikaTE vaTuBhihi paTuBhirgurOho sa vijahAra suKhee saKhiBhihi samam||43||

SUMMARY: Vasudeva, who was always happy, roamed about in all the places with his smart seniors as well as juniors during the leisure hours of his studenthood.

Padamudeerya javEna yiyAsitam drutasaKhEShwaBhavat sa purahasaraha|

AyamayamatnatayEti na vismayO nanu manOjavajit pavanO hyasau||44||

SUMMARY: It wasn’t surprising that among the seniors, who used to indicate the targeted spot and run to reach it, Vasudeva was always the first one to reach it with utmost ease and comfort. After all, was he not Lord Vayu whose speed was more compared to the speed of the mind?

PlavanatEjasi hanta na kEvalam vijitavAn sa tadA sakalAn janAn|

PraBhunidEshakarO Hanumattanau nanu jigAya sa VAlisutAdikAn||

SUMMARY: It wasn’t new in the case of Vasudeva when it came to his capacity to leap that he could overtake his fellow beings; during his incarnation as Hanuman, did he not, while obeying the orders of Sri Rama, overtake Vali’s son Angada and others in jumping?

In this stanza, there is a clear indication that Vasudeva was an incarnation of Lord Vayu. He was Hanuman when Sri Vishnu took the incarnation as Rama and he was Bheema when Vishnu took the form of Lord Krishna.

JalavihAraparAjayiBhihi spruDhA saKhiBhireeritavAriparishritam|

VadanamAkulalOchanamAdaDhE smitamamuShya hi kanchana viBhramam||46||

SUMMARY: Even when his friends, who used to splash water into his eyes after getting defeated in swimming and his eyes, were turning red, his smiling face was shining with a divine and transcendental radiation.

In this stanza too, Sri Narayana Panditacharya shows that in every field of activity, be it sports, games or studies, Vasudeva was a winner by a great distance and that he used to excel quite easily. No one could match him in any manner at any point of time.   

 

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this issue, the end of Tataka and transfer of Astras from Vishwamitra to Rama and Lakshmana have been given. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

As advocated by Vishwamitra, Sri Rama took the bow in his left hand and pulled its string with the right. The sound produced by that string was horrible and it reverberated in that dense forest. Tataka heard that sound and appeared in front of Sri Rama almost instantly wearing a dreadful form. She launched a fierce battle. She used to disappear but continued to pound a rain of lethal arrows. Following the sound of her screams, Sri Rama easily spotted her location and fired an arrow at her chest. She died immediately. Lord Indra and other deities came to that spot and praised Sri Rama and his bravery. Lord Indra told Vishwamitra to hand over all the Shastras he had obtained from Lord Rudra to Sri Rama. This instance has been indicated in the original story with the statement “TATakAm GhAtukaha” and the commentary reading “LOkOpadravakAriNeem TATakAm hatwA”.

It has also been stated:

Astram BrahmAdyam prApya…| SiddhAshramam prApya VishwAmitrOktamantrajAtam sweekrutya||

Meaning: Sri Rama came to the Siddhashram and received the Mantras related to Brahmastra and other Astras presented by Vishwamitra.

When Sri Rama came to Siddhashrama with Lakshmana and Vishwamitra, the sages present in that Ashram worshipped Sri Rama with devotion.

Vishwamitra said: “I stole the Kamadhenu that was in the possession of Vasishtha. All my children were killed by the army created by Kamadhenu. I lost my cool. I did penance and worshipped Rudra and secured Astras from him. I tried to kill Vasishtha with those weapons. I was defeated yet again. I understood the power of the Brahma Tejas or the divine spirit of Brahma. I did penance and became a Brahma Rishi. If I had had used those weapons secured after a struggle to demolish the bad elements, I could have earned God’s grace (Punya). I did not do it as a Kshatriya. I also committed terrible sin by trying to kill Brahma Rishi Vasishtha. I had to do penance for thousands of years to get rid of the negative energy that seeped into my being due to that sin. Later, the deities and sage Vasishtha showered their love and affection on me and a sage of mutual reverence ensued. Having become a Brahma Rishi, I am now able to destroy the evil forces. However, these very weapons which had prompted me to commit worst crimes in the past will not be of any use in the future too. There is no point in keeping these weapons with me. Therefore, I will surrender these weapons to Sri Rama, who is born to punish the guilty, and Lakshmana, who is born only to serve Sri Rama. Being an embodiment of power, courage and valour, Sri Rama literally does not need any of these weapons. Yet, I wish these weapons be useful in crushing the criminal elements as I have secured them by doing deep penance. The deities present in these weapons may also earn divine grace by being instrumental in the destruction of the diabolic. Let my great efforts be fruitful in that manner.”  Vishwamitra spoke his mind with Sri Rama as well.    

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHLOKAS 40, 41 AND 42

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 40, 41 AND 42

(The end of Manimanta and beginning of studenthood of Vasudeva are given in these shlokas. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

GaruDatunDamiva pratipannavAn dwijakumArapadam sa mamAra cha|

Samuchitam charitam mahatamidam sumanasO manasEShTamapUjayan||40||

SUMMARY: Like a serpent caught in the beak of a golden eagle, that Asura, who was caught at the feet of Brahmin’s sonVasudeva, instantly breathed his last; the deities heartily worshipped and honoured that exemplary act of Vasudeva, which was an easy thing for great persons and very close to their hearts.

The spot where Vasudeva killed that serpent by pressing his right toe can still be found, as quoted in Sampradayapaddhati:

SwAnguShThAngulitunDEna VAsudEvAKhyapakShirAT|

MArayAmAsa tam sarpam tallakShyAdyApi drushyatE||10||

It is said that this spot symbolically exists at a place called Kurkalu near Vimanagiri. A stone chariot or Mantap has been created at the spot where the footprint of Vasudeva has been found.  

GirishagurvamarEndramuKhaishcha yachcharaNarENuraDhAri surADhipaihi|

KShitisurAnGhryaBhivandanamapUrvakam sa vidaDhEDhyayanam ChalamAnuShaha||41||

SUMMARY: Lord Vayu, the dust under whose feet is worn by Shiva, Bruhaspati, Indra and other great deities, who appeared in the form of an ordinary human being on earth as Vasudeva, saluted the feet of a Brahmin and started studying under his tutelage.  

In his work Sri Mahabharata Tatparya NirNaya, Sri Madhwacharya has said:

DharmO hi sarvavidhuShAmapi daivatAnAm prAptE narEShu jananE naravat pravruttihi|

JnAnAdigUhanamutADhyayanAdiratra tajnApanArThamavasadBhagavAn gurau cha||

With the sole intention of making the world know that whenever great deities assume the form of human beings on earth should compulsorily adopt and adhere to human etiquette and attitude, Sri Vasudeva began his studies under a Brahmin by saluting him with reverence.  

KaratalE Khalu kandukavat sadA sakalayA kalayA saha vidyayA|

AriDharENa samam sPhuritam gurOrmanasi tasya viDambayatO janAn||42||

SUMMARY: Does it not sparkle clearly, along with Sri Narayana, who is addressed in all the Vedic literature, Scriptures and all other branches of skills of art, were sparkling in the mind of Vasudeva like a ball in the palm, who was behaving like an ordinary human being?

This Shloka amplifies the fact that Vasudeva was a scholar of all subjects by birth because he was an incarnation of Lord Vayu, whose knowledge of the Lord is incomparable and unmatched. However, he assumed the studenthood with all magnanimity and without any bias or prejudice or ill-feeling. Pramana Paddhati, Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya, Tatwapradeepa by Sri Trivikramapanditacharya and Anuvyakhyana confess this aspect without mincing any word.

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this edition, the significance of Siddhashrama has been narrated. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

“SiddhAshramasameepE vidyamAnAm lOkOpadravakAriNeem TATakAm hatwA…|

Sri Rama killed Tataka, a female demon, who was residing near Siddhashrama and torturing everyone.

About Siddhashrama: Bali robbed the entire wealth of Indra and other deities. Divine Mother Aditi, who could perceive that all the deities, including Lord Indra, were facing problems, decided to somehow get her children relieved from the trouble. She appealed to her husband sage Kashyapa, who said that if she could impress upon the mind of Lord Sri Hari by observing Payo Vrat, he would himself take birth as her son and would relieve the children from all the problems.  Aditi observed the Payo Vrat by strictly adhering to the directions of Sage Kashyapa. Sri Hari took the incarnation as Sri Vamana and as desired by his mother, he reached the Yajna Shala, where Bali was performing a sacrifice. This Emperor Bali was not a sinner like Ravana and other demons, who had committed capitals sins like abduction of the wives of some others. On the contrary, he was a very dedicated devotee of Lord Vishnu and had indulged incessantly in spirituous and meritorious acts. Therefore, Sri Hari decided as follows: “I should not kill him with power or bravery like I did with Ravana and others. I should beg with him to part with all his wealth and hand it over to Indra. Then, I should bless him with the wealth in Sutala Loka, which would be more than the wealth in the heavens. I should bless him with the rights ot rule the Sutala Loka and be gracious and generous to him by taking charge as the doorkeeper of his nether world empire. Let him be there as king till the end of this Manvantar and up to the beginning of the next Manvantara called Savarni. During Savarni Manvantara, I should make him the next Indra.”

Sri Vamana gave huge quantity of wealth to Indra and other deities from one of his forms. With another form, Sri Hari went with Emperor Bali. To make the Brahmins aware that they could only realise the truth through penance, Lord Hari pretended to be doing penance. Learning about the penance undertaken by one of the forms of Vamana, hundreds of sages came to the place where Lord Vamana was doing penance. All of them launched a penance, alongside Vamana. Because of doing penance in the presence of Vamana, they attained realisation very quickly. In Sanskrit, Siddhi means realisation. Therefore, the hermitage in which the sages earned realisation, it came to be known as Siddhashram. On their way to this Siddhashram, Vishwamitra, Rama and Lakshmana reached a forest that was named as Malada and Karusha.               

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA - SHLOKAS 37, 38 AND 39

(In these stanzas, a few instances that happened in the life of Vasudeva after the thread ceremony have been described. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

SapaTaKhanDamakinchanavat kwachit swaviBhavAnuchitam charaNAdikam|

BhuvanaBharturahO swanigUhanam surasaBhAsu kutUhalamAtanOt||37||

SUMMARY: Lord of the universe (Lokanatha) Sri Vayu sometimes caused surprise in the divine sessions by wearing a piece of cloth like a very poor man, which was quite contrary to the infinite wealth he was possessing.

Wearing of Kaupeena to cover only the private parts was a practice mandatory for young bachelors and religious heads of yore. Vasudeva followed this tradition to emphasise the importance and significance of this practice.

AviralairgaralOShmaBhirAkuleekrutasamastajanO vichachAra yaha|

Kwachidamum nijiGhAmsurashAntimAnupasasarpa sa sarpamayO(a)suraha||38||

SUMMARY: A demon, who was in the form of a serpent and was roaming about everywhere, stirring the peace of mind of people around by emitting flames of thick venom, came very close to Vasudeva to bite and kill him.

Some commentators are of the opinion that demon Mandimantha, who wanted to take revenge on Lord Vayu, might have appeared there in the form of a poisonous serpent. It is mentioned in “Sampradaya Paddhati” that this incident had happened at a time when the mother of Vasudeva had gone to Vimanagiri to have the Darshan of Durgadevi.

(YadA vimAnaKhyagirisThitAm nijAm didrukShurambAmagamanmahAmatihi|

VaTustadA vartmani pannagAkrutirdadamshaha tatpAdamasau jiGhAmsayA||9|| Courtesy: Sumadhwavijaya published by Dr. Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya)

Twaritamudyatavistrutamastakaha pratidadamsha yadainamavikShatam|

PraBhupadAruNachArutarAnguleevihrutipiShTatanuhu pratatAma saha||39||

SUMMARY: When that demon rushed by spreading his hood wide towards Lord Vasudeva, who had never got injured, and bit the boy’s foot, he was terribly upset as the boy with the feet adorned with red fingers stamped him (demon) down, softly. 

Dr. Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya cites another except from “Sampradaya Paddhati” wherein it is said to have been mentioned that with a view to make it clear to the world that he had descended on earth only to establish the proper philosophy, Vasudeva had once planted a dry club and made it produce buds. At that time, Manimanta assumed the form of a King Cobra and vainly tried to destroy that plant.