Shriiman NaaraayaNiiyam - Dashaka 100 - Shlokam 10


Shlokam 10

OM namo Vasudevaaya

yogiindraaNaam tvad-angeshh-vadhika-sumadhuram mukti-bhaajaam nivaaso

bhaktaanaam kama-varsha-dyu-taru-kisalayam natha te paada-muulam |

nityam citta-sthitam me pavanapura-pate kR^shhNa kaaruNya-sindho

hR^tvaa niHshesha-taapaan pradishatu paramaananda-sandoha-lakshmiim ||

 

In this the tenth and last shlokam of the 100th dashakam, NaaraayaNa BhaTTatiri prays :

pavanapurapate ! kR^shNa ! kaaruNya-sindho! -- Oh KR^shhNa, the lord of Guruvaayuur, ocean of mercy :

Of all your limbs (tvad-angeshhu) the soles of your feet (te paadamuulam) are the most beloved (adhika sumadhuram) for the Great Yogiis (yogindraaNam).

Your feet are also where the liberated souls (muktibhaajam) reside (nivaasaH) .[By constant meditation of your feet they merge in you, and are liberated from samsaara]

They shower (varshha) on devotees (bhaktaanaam) all their desires (kaama) like a sprout (kisalayam) of the divine tree ( dyu-taru) does.

May the soles of your feet (te paadamuulam) always (nityam) reside in my heart (citta-stitham), and removing (hR^tvaa) all (niHshesha) the sorrows (taapaan), bestow (pradihatu) constant flow (sandoha) of Supreme Bliss (paramaananda lakshhmiim).

Thus by describing and meditating upon the saguNa ruupam limb by limb, the poet seeks Supreme Bliss (paramaanandam) which is NirguNa Brahman itself [sat-cit-aananda ruupam].

In a previous shlokam [99.10], he says : Your Formless (NirguNa) aspect is most difficult to grasp (dur-adhigama-tamam). This manifest form of yours is like a wave on the ocean of Bliss (amR^ta-rasa-ambhodi-kallola-tulyam). Note: Just as the wave is non-different from the ocean, the saguNa form as KR^shhNa is non-different from NirguNa Brahman.

That brings us to the end of the ten shlokas which constitute NaaraayaNa BhaTTatiri's description of the Vision of the Lord he had. With my limited knowledge I ventured to present simple translations to the verses. May the Lord forgive me for the many errors that may have been committed by me in this endeavour.

Sarvatra Govinda naama sankiirtanam ! Govinda ! Govinda