SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 16, 17 AND 18

(A little more insight into childhood of Vasudeva can be read in these stanzas. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

Tamupagruhya sutam sutapOniDhirgruhiNeesahitO yayau|

Udayateeti hi bAladivAkarE smitamaBhUt sajanAnanavArijam||16||

SUMMARY: MadhyagEha, who was involved in continuous penance,  began his journey towards his home, along with his wife and son Vasudeva. With this young sun rising in that manner, the lotus-like faces of righteous blossomed too. 

VaravimAnagirAvapi chanDikA shushumahO jananee tamalAlayat|

AparaThA parituShTamanAha kaTham chiramihaiSha vasEdwisahAyakaha||17||

SUMMARY: Mother Goddess Durga, who was there at the sprawling Vimanagiri, was also looking after Vasudeva continuously. Otherwise, could that child stay there peacefully without anybody’s care?

Sakalashabdamayee cha Saraswatee satatamAnamati  swayamEvayam|

DwijavarO(a)Tha kadAchana mAtrukAha kila sutam parichAyayati sma tam||18||

SUMMARY: That super Brahmin Madhyageha once thought of initiating Lord Vayu, who was being eternally saluted by embodiment of all syllables, Bharati Devi, into learning the alphabet “Aksharabhyasa”.

A stone slab on which Vasudeva began learning the writing skills is seen at Pajaka even today.   

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(Sri Hari agrees to take birth on earth to save deities and all deities too follow suit, as ordained by Lord Brahma. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

The fact that Lord Brahma, Indra and other deities, who had all been tortured by Ravana, appealed to Sri Hari to protect them, has been mentioned as follows: “RAvaNAdirAkShasapeeDitabrahmAdidEvaihi prArThitaha|” It is therefore clear that the demons were causing a lot of trouble to Indra and all other deities, who were subordinate to him or who belonged to a lower strata or cadre. However, Lord Brahma and Lord Rudra were not troubled. They were perturbed because of the trouble that other deities were subjected to by Ravana and others.

Lord Sri Hari immediately assured Lord Brahma and others that he would soon relieve all of them, including righteous and culture-bound human beings on earth and summoned a deity, who had a portion of the divine power of Lord Brahma and told him: “You should emerge from the sacrificial fire that Dasharatha has lit, handover the bowl containing the sweet gruel to Dasharatha, make his wives consume it and inform them that they would soon become pregnant by consuming the gruel.” The deity took permission of Sri Hari, disappeared from the Vaikuntha, presented himself from out of the sacrificial fire, handed over the Payasa to Dasharatha and conveyed the message that Sri Hari told him to. Dasharatha gave half of the quantity of what was there in the bowl to Kausalya, gave half of what remained to his third wife called Sumitra, another half the quantity of what remained to Kaikeyi and gave the remaining quantity again to Sumitra. The three wives who drank it became pregnant.

Meanwhile, Lord Brahma summoned all the deities and said: “Even though there is no personal use, Lord Sri Hari has agreed to descend on earth for our sake. Simultaneously, you should all take birth from female animals like monkey and bears and serve him. This is your duty. I cannot take any birth on earth. Even then, some time ago, when I yawned, the manifestation of Dharma took birth from my mouth and he is called as Jambavanta. I will be present in his body and serve Lord Hari in that form. You should execute the task at your hands too, diligently.” Accordingly, all the deities took birth from female monkeys and bears to serve Lord Hari.   

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHLOKAS 13, 14 AND 15

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 13, 14 AND 15

(Three-year-old Vasudeva continues his narration and surprises his father with his eloquence in these stanzas. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

TaditarAyatanAt tu yadA(a)gamma krutanatihi Khalu tatra Harihi saKhA|

AhamihApi mahEndradigAlayam praNatavAnuta yAvadaDheeshwaram||13||

SUMMARY: “Was he not the same Narayana of Talekudi, who was with me from the time I saluted there, set off from there to arrive at the Chandramauleshwara temple in the eastern side here and till I saluted Sri Hari, the intrinsic Lord present within Lord Chandramauleshwara?”    

The custom of saluting Chandramauleshwara is still in vogue at Udupi. 

It has been mentioned in Rajatapeethapuramahatmya that there was a holy pond in the place where Sri Chandramauleshwara temple is presently situated. Later, Lord Moon did a penance to appease Lord Shiva there and as a token of that penance, the presiding deity has become Sri Chandramauleshwara.  

Api tatO(a)hamupEtya sahAmunA BhagavatE(a)tra satE praNatim vyaDhAm|

Iti nigadya viBhAti shushuhu sma vismitasaBhAjanacheerNasaBhAjanaha||14||

SUMMARY: “I came from there to this place, along with him, and saluted the Lord present here.” With these words, Vasudeva surprised everyone there. He got honoured by all those who had assembled there.

This incident establishes the fact that Lord Narayana will always be with Lord Vayu and it also reaffirms that Lord Narayana will always protect his devotees.  

Virahitaswajanm charaNapriyam viviDhaBhUtaBhayankaravartmani|

Ayi krupAlaya pAlaya bAlakam laGhushuBhasya mamEtyanamadwijaha||15||

SUMMARY: Sri Madhyageha appealed to the Lord by stating “Oh Lord, epitome of kindness, please protect this son of mine, as I am the most unfortunate to be always keen on travelling, from the spirits and vampires that abound on the dreadful path.”   

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(Platform for the incarnation of Srirama laid. Please read, comment and share.SDN)  

After hearing the words of Sumantra, King Dasharatha obtained the permission of Sage Vasishtha, went to the hermitage of Lomapada personally  and brought Rushyashrunga to Ayodhya with him. He took the pledge of performing Ashwamedha on the banks of Sarayu River. The Ashwamedha Yaga was successfully and effectively performed under the leadership of Sage Vasishtha and Sage Rushyashrunga. After the completion of Ashwamedha, Rushyashrunga got Putrakameshthi also performed from Dasharatha. When Indra and other deities personally came through the sacrificial fire to receive the offerings, Rushyashrunga requested them: “ This king has invoked and propitiated all of you with a desire to beget children. He wants very good children. It is time for Lord Hari and other deities to descend on earth to destroy evil powers like Ravana and other demons. Therefore, I request you all to bless this king with righteous and worthy sons.”

Indra and other deities bestowed upon Dasharatha the boon to beget children. Then all the deities went to Brahmaloka, saluted Lord Brahma with devotion and reverence. They appealed to Lord Brahma: “Oh Lord Brahma, we are all suffering a lot due to the atrocities of Ravana and demons. There is none to protect us now. Ravana is  swallowing all the animals by killing them with his twenty arms. He has been chasing all of us away like a lion chases other animals away from the forest. He is spoiling the fidelity and chastity of married and unmarried women. He is obstructing and destroying sacrifices. Unless he is killed now, he would soon destroy the universe which is actually the responsibility of Lord Rudra. Therefore, kindly initiate appropriate steps to end the life of this demon.”

Lord Brahma was moved by the plight of deities and said: “We are all devotees of Lord Hari and he alone takes care of all of us. He will certainly protect us.” Along with all the deities, including Lord Rudra, Lord Brahma arrived at the northern shores of the Milk Ocean. He narrated all the woeful experiences of deities, the problems they were facing and appealed to Lord Hari to take birth as the son of Dasharatha and relieve them from the misery and sorrow they were facing due to the misdeeds of Ravana. Lord Hari replied: “Do not worry, my children. I will kill your enemy soon.” Lord Brahma, Indra, Rudra and other deities were pleased with the assurance of Lord Hari, saluted him and returned to their respective abodes.    

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 10, 11 AND 12

(Sri Madhyageha is overjoyed by seeing his son and sheds tears of happiness. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

VirahadUnatayOdgamanOnmuKham nyaruNadashru purA sa yayOrdrushOho|

ATha tayOho pramdOtThitamapyadaha pratiniruDhya giram gururabraveet||10||

SUMMARY: Madhyageha, whose eyes were filled with tears earlier due to the disappearance of his son but had controlled it from flowing out of the eyes, again controlled the tears of joy that was overflowing after seeing Vasudeva and said: 

Ayi sutEdamudAhara tattwatO nanu samAgatavAnasi sAmpratam|

SwajanatArahitasya tu kO(a)tra tE sahacharO(a)rBhaka deerGhatamE paThi||11||

SUMMARY: “Son, tell me the truth. You have travelled such a long distance now. Who was there with you especially because none of your dearest was there with you?”

It must be realised here that Vasudeva was hardly three year old when this incident happened. This information has been mentioned in Anu Madhwavijaya.

It must also be said that the question and anxiety of Madhyageha was understandable because it is highly unimaginable that a three-year-old boy could walk a distance of over Two Yojanas, alone, say the scholars.

JanakavAchamimAmavaDhArayan kalamudAharadamburuhEkShaNaha|

SwapadamAvrajatO vrajatO(a)pyatO nanu saKhA mama kAnanagO viBhuhu||12||

SUMMARY: Hearing those words of his father, the lotus-eyed Vasudeva averred in broken words “Till going up to him and then proceeding further from him, Kudavur Narayana was giving me company!”

The reply of Vasudeva to his father is a clear indication, according to scholars, that even as a boy of three, he was aware that Lord Narayana will be protecting everyone and none can consider himself or herself as an orphan on this earth, though it depends entirely on the person concerned to have such a firm faith and belief. 

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

Sumantra continues his narration of what transpired at the meeting of the Munis. “Vibhandaka, a Rishi engaged in arduous penance, was the son of Kashyapa. Rushyashrunga, who knew very well how to maintain chastity, was the son of Vibhandaka. Rushyashrunga had never seen a woman from the day of his birth. Meanwhile, a severe famine occurred in Angadesha with no rains for several years. Brahmins told Lomapada, the king of that country, that rain would certainly come if Rushyashrunga could be enticed to visit the city and that the princess should be married to Rushyashrunga. As per their order, Lomapada deputed a few concubines to the hermitage of Rushyashrunga.  All of them enter the Ashram after ensuring that Vibhandaka was not in the hermitage. They managed to mystify Rushyashrunga and brought him to Angadesha.  It started raining heavily immediately after Rushyashrunga entered Angadesha. Lomapada too gave his daughter Shantadevi in marriage to Rushyashrunga. Since then, Rushyashrunga is living in Angadesha. Dasharatha, who was a close friend of Lomapada, went to Angadesha, appealed to Lomapada to send his son-in-law to Ayodhya for performing a sacrifice under the leadership of Rushyashrunga. Accordingly, Rushyashrunga arrived at Ayodhya, got the Putrakameshti Yajna performed by Dasharatha successfully. As desired, Dasharatha begot four sons, as told by Sanatkumara.”        

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 7, 8 AND 9

(Significance of Vasudeva worshipping Anantasana, the panic his father experienced due to his absence and livelihood of Madhyageha Bhatta, has been described in these stanzas. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

Na hi Harim satatam na namatyasau na cha na pashyati nApi na vandatE|

Api taThEti viDhAya vishEShataha sa nanu sADhujanAn samashikShayat||7||

SUMMARY: It wasn’t that Vasudeva, who was Lord Vayudeva, was not saluting Srihari always. It wasn’t that he had not seen the Lord, nor that he had not meditated on him; yet, by doing it especially so now, he had taught the righteous how essential for them to do so.   

AnavalOkya sutam sutavatsalO mrugayatE sm maheesurapungavaha|

MuhurapruchChadamuShya gatim narAn paThi paThi pragatOnupadam drutam||8||

SUMMARY: Great Brahmin Madhyageha, who was very fond of his son, began searching for his missing son; he started off enquiring with everyone he met about his son, again and again. 

JanasadAgatisUchitavartmanA pratipadam vrajatA parayA truShA|

DwijamahAmaDhupEna manOharam smitamalABhi sutAnanavarijam||9||

Treading with hasty steps due to anxiety that was increasing at every step, the road was getting opened up through the air that was in the form of passers-by for the beetle-like Madhyageha, for whom the lotus face of his son that had blossomed with a solemn smile, was finally available.