MOOKAPANCHASHATI- PADARAVINDASATAKAM (SLOKAS 1-25)

           मूकपञ्चशती (मूककवि प्रणीता)  
               पादारविन्दशतकम्
              (slokas 1 to 25)
Mooka Panchashati is a devotional composition by Muka Kavi
dedicated to Kamakshi. The real name of the poet is not known. Legend has it that
he was born dumb but regained not only his voice  by  the
grace of Goddess Kamakshi but also became a poet of considerable merit. Mooka
Panchashati  consists of five satakams,
each Satakam containing 100 verses. The Satakams  are Arya Satakam, Padaravinda Satakam,
Stuti Satakam, Kataksha Satakam and Mandasmita Satakam.
Goddess Kamakshi is the presiding deity of Kancheepuram.  Her consort is Ekamreshwara, an aspect of
Lord Shiva.  Kanchi is the Central
Peetham established by Aadi Shankaracharya who installed and consecrated
the  idol of Kamakshi and established the
system of worship there. The other 
Peethams are at Badrinath in the North, Dwarka in theWest,  Puri in the East and Sringeri (Sringa giri)
in the South.
The translation into English of a hymn of this nature is a delicate
task and readers may kindly pardon the shortcomings, though every attempt has
been made to make the translation as close as possible to the intended or
perceived meaning. 
महिम्नः पन्थानं मदनपरिपन्थिप्रणयिनि
प्रभुर्निर्णेतुं ते भवति यतमानोऽपि कतमः
तथापि श्रीकाञ्चीविहृतिरसिके कोऽपि मनसो
विपाकस्त्वत्पादस्तुतिविधिषु जल्पाकयति माम् ॥१॥
O Consort of Kama’s Enemy (Shiva) who revels
in sporting in Kanchi!  who can measure
the magnitude of your greatness even after straining himself to the limit of
his abilities?  In spite of it, a quirk
of my mind has engaged me in singing your praises though it is only the prattle
of a fool like me.
गलग्राही पौरन्दरपुरवनीपल्लवरुचां
धृतप्राथम्यानामरुणमहसामादिमगुरुः
समिन्धे बन्धूकस्तबकसहयुध्वा
दिशि दिशि
प्रसर्पन्कामाक्ष्याश्चरणकिरणानामरुणिमा
॥२॥
The redness of the rays emanating from the
lotus feet of Kamakshi and spreading in all directions excels the red colour of
the tender leaves in Nandanavana, in the city of Indra.  It is the ancient of teacher of all important
entities with effulgence of bright red colour and it fights the redness of the
blossom of the hibiscus flowers. 
मरालीनां  यानाभ्यासकलनामूलगुरुवे
दरिद्राणां त्राणव्यतिकरसुरोद्यानतरवे।
तमस्काण्डप्रौढिप्रकटनतिरस्कारपटवे
जनोऽयं कामाक्ष्याश्चरणनलिनाय
स्पृहयते ॥३॥
I yearn for the lotus feet of Kamakshi which
taught the female swans their beautiful gait, 
which are like the wish-yielding tree of heaven for the poor and which are
skilled in dispelling the densest of darkness.
वहन्ती सैन्दूरीं सरणिमवनम्रामरपुरी-
पुरन्ध्री सीमन्ते कविकमलबालार्कसुषमा।
त्रयीसीमन्तिन्याः स्तनतटनिचोलारुणपटी
विभान्ती कामाक्ष्याः पदनलिनकान्तिर्विजयते
॥४॥
Victory to the radiance of Kamakshi’s lotus
feet which spreads the red colour, 
bright as the rays of the rising sun, 
in the seemanta (the line which is formed on the head by parting
the hair at the centre)  of celestial
women who bow down at the feet and which shines as the red cloth covering
the  breasts of the three Vedas ( which
have assumed a feminine form)
प्रणम्रीभूतस्य प्रणयकलहत्रस्तमनसः
स्मरारातेश्चूडावियति गृहमेधी
हिमकरः
ययोः सांध्यं कान्तिं वहति सुषमाभिश्चरणयो-
स्तयोर्मे कामाक्ष्या हृद्ययमपतन्द्रं  विहरताम् ॥५॥
May the heart of mine revel,  shaking off all laziness,  at the feet of Kamakshi the brightness of
which is carried by the evening moon which is lodged in the head-sky of the Enemy
of Kama (Shiva) who bows down at Kamakshi’s feet fearing her displeasure
because of  love-quarrel.
ययोः पीठायन्ते विबिधमुकुटीनां पटलिका
ययोः सौधायन्ते स्वयमुदयभाजो भणितयः ।
ययोर्दासायन्तेसरसिजभवाद्याश्चरणयो-
स्तयोर्मे कामाक्ष्या दिनमनु वरीवर्तु हृदयम्  ॥६॥
Let my heart meditate daily on the lotus-feet
of Kamakshi which has the rows of crowns of celestials (who bow down at the
feet) as peetha ( foot-stool on which the feet are paced), the words of praise
which spontaneously arise from their hearts as the palace and Brahma and other
celestials  as servants. 
नयन्ती सङ्कोचं सरसिजरुचं दिक्परिसरे
सृजन्ती लौहित्यं नखकिरणचन्द्रार्धखचिता।
कवीन्द्राणां हृत्कैरवविकसनोद्योगजननी
स्फुरन्ती कामाक्ष्याश्चरणरुचिसंध्या
विजयते॥७॥
Victory to the sunset of red brightness of the
feet of Kamakshi which makes the lotus flowers everywhere close,  which creates redness combined with the bright
white rays from the nails resembling half moons which cause the heart-lilies of
poets to blossom.
विरावैर्माञ्जीरैः किमपि कथयन्तीव
मधुरं
पुरस्तादानम्रे पुरविजयिनि स्मेरवदने।
वयस्येव प्रौढा शिथिलयति या
प्रेमकलह-
प्ररोहं कामाक्ष्याश्चरणयुगली
सा विजयते ॥८॥
Victory to the lotus feet of Kamakshi which
tell something sweet by the tinkling of the anklets when Lord Shiva, with a
smile on his face, bows down before them and, like a mature friend, loosen the
chances of a love-quarrel arising.   
सुपर्णस्त्रीलोलालकपरिचितं षट्पदकुलैः
स्फुरल्लाक्षारागं तरुणतरणिज्योतिररुणैः।
भृतं कान्त्यंभोभिर्विसृमरमरन्दैः
सरसिजै-
र्विधत्ते कामाक्ष्याश्चरणयुगलं
बन्धुपदवीम् ॥९॥
O Kamakshi! your lotus feet is familiar with
the soft and silky dark hair of celestial damsels which resemble a swarm of
bees.  They shine with the red colour of liquid
lac like the red luminosity of the rising sun. 
They are full of radiance just like flower-honey dripping lotuses.  Thus your lotus feet have taken to the path
of friendship (with the bees, the sun and the lotus)
रजःसंसर्गेऽपि स्थिरमरजसामेव
हृदये
परं रक्तत्वेन स्थितमपि विरक्तैकशरणम्।
अलभ्यं मन्दानां दधदपि सदा मन्दगतितां
विधत्ते कामाक्ष्याश्चरणयुगलमाश्चर्यलहरीम्
॥१०॥
Though the lotus feet of Kamakshi are
associated with red(रजस्) they are firmly established only
in the heart of people who do not possess rajoguna (अरजस्)  Though they are red (रक्त)
they provide refuge only to those who are unattached (विरक्त).  Though they are slow (मन्द)
they are attainable only by the wise (अमन्द). (Because of
these contradictions) O Kamakshi! your lotus feet produce waves of wonderment.
[Note: The poet has made use of words with two
meanings to create virodhaabhasa (seeming contradiction) which is a figure
of speech used by poets for embellishing poetry].  
जटाला मञ्जीरस्फुरदरुणरत्नांशुनिकरै-
र्निषीदन्ती मध्ये नखरुचिझरीगांगपयसाम् ।
जगत्त्राणं कर्तुं जननि मम कामाक्षि नियतं
तपश्चर्यां धत्ते तव चरणपाथोजयुगली ॥११॥
O Kamakshi! 
The rays of red colour emitted by the gems in your anklets resemble
matted hair of a tapaswi  and the
bright white rays from the toe nails resemble the waters of the Ganga in the
middle of which the feet are seated. Thus my Mother ! your feet  are engaged in doing tapas in order to
protect the worlds. 
तुलाकोटिद्वन्द्वक्वणितभणिताभीतिवचसो-
र्विनम्रं कामाक्ष्या विसृमरमहःपाटलितयोः।
क्षणं विन्यासेन क्षपिततमसोर्मे
ललितयोः
पुनीयान्मूर्धानं पुरहरपुरन्ध्री
चरणयॊ: ॥१२॥
May Goddess Kamakshi, Consort of Shiva,  purify my head,  which is bent down before her,  by placing  her feet on it for the fraction of a second.
The tinkling of the anklets on the feet seem to speak words which allay fears.
Those lotus feet have radiant crimson brightness, are delicate and dispel the
darkness of my ignorance.
भवानि द्रुह्येतां भवनिबिडितेभ्यो
मम मुहु-
स्तमोव्यामोहेभ्यस्तव जननि कामाक्षि
चरणौ।
ययोर्लाक्षाबिन्दुस्फुरणधरणाद्धूर्जटिजटा-
कुटीरा शोणाङ्कं वहति वपुरेणाङ्ककलिका
॥१३॥
O Bhavani! May your lotus feet destroy my
ignorance and delusions which are fortified by my strong attachment to this
samsara.  Drops of liquid lac dye on your
feet attach themselves to the matted hair of Shiva (when He bends down at your
feet) and from this the crescent moon, which has made the matted locks of shiva
his home, gets a red mark on his face.
पवित्रीकुर्युर्नः पदतलभुवः
पाटलरुचः
परागास्ते पापप्रशमनधुरीणास्तव
शिवे ।
कणं लब्धुं येषां निजशिरसि कामाक्षि
नियतं
वलन्तो व्यातन्वन्त्यहमहमिकां
वासवमुखाः ॥१४॥ 
O Kamakshi ! May the shining red particles
from the sole of your feet, capable of freeing us from sins,  purify us. Indra and other celestials compete
among themselves saying ‘I first’, ‘I first’ to get those particles and place
them on their heads.   
बलाकामालाभिर्नखरुचिमणिभिः परिवृते
विनम्रस्वर्नारीविकचकचकालाम्बुदकुले।
स्फुरन्तः कामाक्षि स्फुटदलितबन्धूकसुहृद-
स्तडिल्लेखायन्ते तव चरणपाथोजकिरणाः
॥१५॥
O Kamakshi! the
locks of celestial damsels bowing down at your feet resemble dark clouds and
the radiance from your toe nails resemble a flock of balaka birds (which
drink only the rain water from the clouds before it falls on the earth). The
radiance  from your lotus feet  which excels the red colour of the hibiscus
in full bloom becomes the streaks of lightning in the clouds.
सरागः सद्वेषः प्रसृमरसरोजे प्रतिदिनं
निसर्गादाक्रामन्विबुधजनमूर्धानमधिकम् ।
कथंकारं मातः कथय पदपद्मस्तव सतां
नतानां कामाक्षि प्रकटयति कैवल्यसरणिम् ॥१६॥
O Kamakshi ! Your feet are red in colour (
This also means ‘Your feet have attachment’). 
They compete with the lotus daily with their softness, tenderness and
red colour  (It also means they hate the
lotus).  They naturally attract towards
themselves the heads of the celestials who bow down at your feet.  (It also means it attacks the heads of the
celestials).  Tell me O Mother! how your
lotus feet can show to the good who bow to you the path to Kaivalya (Mukti,
Liberation)? (since they have such negative qualities such as  attachment, hate etc. which are inconsistent
with Kaivalya)
जपालक्ष्मीशोणो जननि परमज्ञाननलिनी-
विकासव्यासङ्गो विफलितजगज्जाड्यगरिमा।
मनःपूर्वाद्रिं मे तिलकयतु कामाक्षि
तरसा
तमस्काण्डद्रोही तव चरणपाथेजरमणः॥
१७॥
O Mother Kamakshi! may the rising sun of your
lotus feet which is of the beautiful red colour of japa  flowers, which wants the lotus of Ultimate
Knowledge to bloom, which destroys the dumbness of the world and which is enemy
of the dense darkness of ignorance, 
light up the East-mountain of my mind.
नमस्कुर्मः प्रेङ्खन्मणिकटकनीलोत्पलमहः-
पयोधौ रिङ्खद्भिर्नखकिरणफेनैर्धवलिते।
स्फुटं कुर्वाणाय प्रबलचलदौर्वानलशिखा-
वितर्कं कामाक्ष्याः सततमरुणिम्ने
चरणयोः ॥१८॥
The dark blue effulgence of the gems in the
anklets of Kamkshi create the impression of the dark blue sea. The red colour
of Kamakshi’s feet  appear to be the conflagration
of deluge (badavagni) on the surface of this sea. The radiance from the
nails create the impression of foam causing whiteness of the sea. May our
salutations be always to that redness of Kamakshi’s feet.
.
शिवे पाशायेतामलघुनि तमःकूपकुहरे
दिनाधीशायेतां मम हृदयपाथोजविपिने।
नभोमासायेतां सरसकवितारीतिसरिति
त्वदीयौ कामाक्षि प्रसृतकिरणौ
देवि चरणौ॥१९॥
O Devi! May your (lotus) feet which spread
their radiance all around be the rope in the deep well of darkness (ignorance),
the sun in the lotus forest of my heart and the rainy season in the river of
poetry full of sentiments.    
निषक्तं श्रुत्यन्ते नयनमिव
सद्वृत्तरुचिरैः
समैर्जुष्टं  शुद्धैरधरमिव रम्यैर्द्विजगणैः।
शिवे वक्षोजन्मद्वितयमिव मुक्ताश्रितमुमे
त्वदीयं कामाक्षि प्रणतशरणं
नौमि चरणम् ॥२०॥
O Kamakshi! I salute your (lotus) feet which
grant refuge to those who prostrate before it. 
Just as the eyes meet the end of the ears (श्रुत्यन्ते)
with good news your lotus feet are placed in the end of the Vedas             (श्रुत्यन्ते)
or Upanishads.  Just as the lips are
served by a pretty row of white teeth (रम्यैर्द्विजगणैः)
your feet are served by noble brahmins(रम्यैर्द्विजगणैः).  Just as your breasts accommodate pearls (मुक्ताश्रितं)  your lotus
feet accommodates realised souls ((मुक्ताश्रितं) 
[The poet has made use of the words श्रुत्यन्ते, रम्यैर्द्विजगणैः and मुक्ताश्रितं  all of which
have two meanings each to draw a smilirity of the lotus feet of Kamakshi with
her eyes, lips and breasts]
नमस्यासंसज्जन्नमुचिपरिपन्थिप्रणयि
निसर्गप्रेङ्खोलत्कुरलकुलकालाहिशबले ।
नखच्छायादुग्धोदधिपयसि ते वैद्रुमरुचां
प्रचारं कामाक्षि प्रचुरयति पादाब्जसुषमा ॥२१॥
When the consort of Indra (Indrani) bows down
at your feet, the naturally oscillating ear-globes of red coral worn by her
produce a reflection in the toe nails, 
the whiteness of which resembles the waters of the milky ocean, and  enhances the beauty of your lotus feet. 
कदा दूरीकर्तुं कटुदुरितकाकोलजनितं
महान्तं संतापं मदनपरिपन्थिप्रियतमे।
क्षणात्ते कामाक्षि त्रिभुवनपरीतापहरणे
पटीयांसं लप्स्ये पदकमलसेवामृतरसम्
॥२२॥
O Kamakshi ! Darling of the  enemy of Cupid(Shiva)! When shall I get a
taste of the nectar of serving at your lotus feet, which is very efficient in
destroying the sufferings of  all the
three worlds, so that I can be freed from the sorrow born out of the strong poison
of my sufferings.
ययोः सान्ध्यं रोचिः सततमरुणिम्नं
स्पृहयते
ययोश्चान्द्री कान्तिः परितपति
दृष्ट्वा नखरुचिम् ।
ययॊः पाकोद्रेकं पपठिषति भक्त्या
किसलयं
म्रदिम्नः कामाक्ष्याः मनसि
चरणौ तौ तनुमहे ॥२३॥
The brightness of sunset always wants the reddish tinge of
Kamakshi’s feet.  The brightness of the
moon burns with jealousy seeing the radiance of the toe nails of Kamakshi. The
tender leaves of trees want to emulate the bloom of Kamakshi’s feet. We meditate
in our mind on the softness of Kamakshi’s lotus feet.
जगन्नेदं नेदं परमिति परित्यज्य यतिभिः
कुशाग्रीयस्वान्तैः कुशलधिषणैः शास्त्रसरणौ।
गवेष्यं कामाक्षि ध्रुवमकृतकानां गिरिसुते
गिरामौदम्पर्यं तव चरणमाहात्म्यगरिमा ॥२४||
O Daughter of Himavan! Sages with sharp and skillful minds embark
on a quest to find the ultimate Truth walking the path of scriptures and
discard every thing of this world saying ‘ this is not the ultimate Truth’ and
still continue their search.  The  meaning of their words  points to the weight of the greatness of your
lotus feet.    
कृतस्नानं शास्त्रामृतसरसि नितरां
दधानं वैशद्यं कलितरसमानन्दसुधया।
अलंकारं भूमेर्मुनिजनमनश्चिन्मयमहा-
पयोधेरन्तःस्थं तव चरणरत्नं मृगयते ॥२५॥
The gem of your lotus foot is bathed well in the nectar-lake of
scriptures. It is pure and enriched with the nectar of bliss.  It is the adornment of the Earth and it
abides in the heart of the great ocean of consciousness. Those lotus feet of
yours are sought after by the minds of the sages as a priceless gem. 

Sri P R Ramamurthy Ji was the author of this website. When he started this website in 2009, he was in his eighties. He was able to publish such a great number of posts in limited time of 4 years. We appreciate his enthusiasm for Sanskrit Literature. Authors story in his own words : http://ramamurthypr1931.blogspot.com/

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