NARAYANEEYAM, DASAKA 97
Narayaneeyam, considered to be a Magnum Opus of Meppathur
Narayanabhattathiri, is a masterly
summary of Srimad Bhagavatam in 1034
sanskrit slokas of great poetic merit.
The whole work is divided into 100 dasakas of mostly ten slokas each. It was completed in 100 days at the end
of which Bhattathiri, who was suffering from chronic rheumatic disease, was
completely cured and also had a beatific vision of the Lord of Guruvayoor as Venugopala
. In the last sloka of each dasaka Bhattathiri cries out his heart, praying to the Lord to end his afflictions
and restore his health. Dasakas 91-99 contain the essence of the Eleventh Canto
of Srimadbhagavatam
Narayanabhattathiri, is a masterly
summary of Srimad Bhagavatam in 1034
sanskrit slokas of great poetic merit.
The whole work is divided into 100 dasakas of mostly ten slokas each. It was completed in 100 days at the end
of which Bhattathiri, who was suffering from chronic rheumatic disease, was
completely cured and also had a beatific vision of the Lord of Guruvayoor as Venugopala
. In the last sloka of each dasaka Bhattathiri cries out his heart, praying to the Lord to end his afflictions
and restore his health. Dasakas 91-99 contain the essence of the Eleventh Canto
of Srimadbhagavatam
which focuses on
the sadhanas for Self-realisation or mukti, liberation from the
cycle of births and deaths. As in the previous dasakas, Bhattathiri directly addresses the Lord of
Guruvayoor in these dasakas also.
the sadhanas for Self-realisation or mukti, liberation from the
cycle of births and deaths. As in the previous dasakas, Bhattathiri directly addresses the Lord of
Guruvayoor in these dasakas also.
.
Given below is the text
of the 97th dasaka in which
Bhattatiri requests the Lord to bless him with devotion of the highest order.
The story of Markandeya, who wanted to see the Maya of the Lord, is also
described in this dasaka.
of the 97th dasaka in which
Bhattatiri requests the Lord to bless him with devotion of the highest order.
The story of Markandeya, who wanted to see the Maya of the Lord, is also
described in this dasaka.
त्रैगुण्याद्भिन्नरूपं भवति हि भुवने हीनमध्योत्तमं यत्
ज्ञानं श्रद्धा च कर्ता वसतिरपि सुखं कर्म चाहारभेदा:।
त्वत्क्षेत्रत्वन्निषेवादि तु यदिह पुनस्त्वत्परं तत्तु सर्वं
प्राहुर्नैर्गुण्यनिष्ठं तदनुभजनतो मङ्क्षु सिद्धो भवेयम् ॥१॥
In
this world Knowledge, belief (faith), doer, residence, wellbeing, action, food
etc. are all made up of the three modes of prakriti (nature, maya)
namely sattwa, rajas and tamas and therefore these are all of
different forms and can be graded as uttama (the best), madhyama (medium)
and adhama (the worst) respectively. However, it is said that visiting
Your places of worship, worshiping or serving You, meditating on Your form are
unaffected by the three modes of nature. They are नैर्गुण्यनिष्ठं
(not rooted in the three modes of nature). Therfore let me attain mukti or
liberation by following this path of bharkti (devotion)
this world Knowledge, belief (faith), doer, residence, wellbeing, action, food
etc. are all made up of the three modes of prakriti (nature, maya)
namely sattwa, rajas and tamas and therefore these are all of
different forms and can be graded as uttama (the best), madhyama (medium)
and adhama (the worst) respectively. However, it is said that visiting
Your places of worship, worshiping or serving You, meditating on Your form are
unaffected by the three modes of nature. They are नैर्गुण्यनिष्ठं
(not rooted in the three modes of nature). Therfore let me attain mukti or
liberation by following this path of bharkti (devotion)
त्वय्येवन्यस्तचित्तः सुखमयि विचरन् सर्वचेष्टास्त्वदर्थं
त्वद्भक्तैः सेव्यमानानपि चरितचरानाश्रयन् पुण्यदेशान्।
दस्यौ विप्रे मृगादिष्वपि च सममतिर्मुच्यमानावमान-
स्पर्धासूयादिदोषः सततमखिलभूतेषु संपूजये त्वाम् ॥२॥
O
Lord! I shall lead my life happy and carefree with my mind firmly fixed on You,
doing everything to please You only, visiting those holy places which are
visited by your devotees, seeing with an equal mind, devoid of differentiation
a brahmin, a thief or an animal, devoid of the feelings of honour, dishonour,
competition, jealousy etc. and worshipping You as the indwelling spirit of all
beings.
Lord! I shall lead my life happy and carefree with my mind firmly fixed on You,
doing everything to please You only, visiting those holy places which are
visited by your devotees, seeing with an equal mind, devoid of differentiation
a brahmin, a thief or an animal, devoid of the feelings of honour, dishonour,
competition, jealousy etc. and worshipping You as the indwelling spirit of all
beings.
त्वद्भावो यावदेषु स्फुरति न विशदं तावदेवं ह्युपास्तिं
कुर्वन्नैकात्म्यबोधे झटिति विकसति त्वन्मयोऽहं चरेयं।
त्वद्धर्मस्यास्य तावत् किमपि न भगवन्! प्रस्तुतस्य
प्रणाश-
प्रणाश-
स्तस्मात् सर्वात्मनैव प्रदिश मम विभो! भक्तिमार्गं
मनोज्ञम् ॥३॥
मनोज्ञम् ॥३॥
As long as I am not able to realise You clearly
in all these beings I will continue on the path of Bhakti until I become One
with you, identify myself with you, realise you within me. This
bhagavata dharma, once started, there is no loss. Therefore, in all circumstances, O Lord!
bless me with this beautiful path of Bhakti.
in all these beings I will continue on the path of Bhakti until I become One
with you, identify myself with you, realise you within me. This
bhagavata dharma, once started, there is no loss. Therefore, in all circumstances, O Lord!
bless me with this beautiful path of Bhakti.
तं चैनं भक्तियोगं द्रढयितुमयि मे साध्यमारोग्यमायु-
र्दिष्ट्या तत्रापि सेव्यं तव चरणमहो! भेषजायेव दुग्धं
।
।
मार्कण्डेयो हि पूर्वं गणकनिगदितद्वादशाब्दायुरुच्चैः
सेवित्वा वत्सरं त्वां तव भटनिवहैर्द्रावयामास मृत्युम् ॥४॥
In
order to strengthen this bhakti yoga I have to achieve good health and
longevity and, fortunately, for this
also I have to take refuge at your lotus feet which is like drinking milk for
curing the disease. Markandeya, who was
told by astrologers that his life was only for twelve years, sincerely worshipped
you for one year and Your soldiers drove away Yama (saved Markandeya from
death).
order to strengthen this bhakti yoga I have to achieve good health and
longevity and, fortunately, for this
also I have to take refuge at your lotus feet which is like drinking milk for
curing the disease. Markandeya, who was
told by astrologers that his life was only for twelve years, sincerely worshipped
you for one year and Your soldiers drove away Yama (saved Markandeya from
death).
मार्कण्डेयश्चिरायुः स खलु पुनरपि त्वत्परः पुष्पभद्रा-
तीरे निन्ये तपस्यन्नतुलसुखरतिः षट्तु मन्वन्तराणि।
देवेन्द्रः सप्तमस्तं सुरयुवतिमरुन्मन्मथैर्मोहयिष्यन्
योगोष्मप्लुष्यमाणैर्न तु पुनरगमत् त्वज्जनं निर्जयेत् कः?॥५॥
Markandeya
thus became a chiranjeevi. Again,
wanting to experience supreme bliss, he spent six manwantaras doing
penance on the banks of Pushpabhadra river, fixing his mind on Your captivating
form. The seventh Indra sent celestial
damsels, cool breeze and Kamadeva (Cupid) to delude and entice him away
from his tapas but they were scorched by the heat of the tapas
(penance) of Markandeya and abandoned their mission. Who can conquer your staunch devotees?
thus became a chiranjeevi. Again,
wanting to experience supreme bliss, he spent six manwantaras doing
penance on the banks of Pushpabhadra river, fixing his mind on Your captivating
form. The seventh Indra sent celestial
damsels, cool breeze and Kamadeva (Cupid) to delude and entice him away
from his tapas but they were scorched by the heat of the tapas
(penance) of Markandeya and abandoned their mission. Who can conquer your staunch devotees?
प्रीत्या नारायणाख्यस्त्वमथ नरसखः प्राप्तवानस्य पार्श्वं
तुष्ट्या तोष्टूयमानः स तु विविधवरैर्लोभितो नानुमेने।
द्रष्टुं मायां त्वदीयां किल पुनरवृणोद्भक्तितृप्तान्तरात्मा
मायादुःखानभिज्ञस्तदपि मृगयते नूनमाश्चर्यहेतोः ॥६॥
Once
You appeared before him as Narayana accompanied by Nara and Marakandeya,
immensely pleased and singing hymns in your praise, was indifferent to any
boon though he was tempted by You by the offer of several boons. But he asked
for the boon of seeing Your Maya. Certainly, one who has not experienced Maya, may seek to know the effect of Maya
just for the wonder of experiencing it.
You appeared before him as Narayana accompanied by Nara and Marakandeya,
immensely pleased and singing hymns in your praise, was indifferent to any
boon though he was tempted by You by the offer of several boons. But he asked
for the boon of seeing Your Maya. Certainly, one who has not experienced Maya, may seek to know the effect of Maya
just for the wonder of experiencing it.
याते त्वय्याशु वाताकुलजलदगलत्तोयपूर्णातिघूर्णत्
सप्तार्णोराशिमग्ने जगति स तु जले संभ्रमन् वर्षकोटीः।
दीनः प्रैक्षिष्ट दूरे वटदलशयनं कञ्चिदाश्चर्यबालं
त्वामेव श्यामलाङ्गं वदनसरसिजन्यस्तपादाङ्गुलीकम्॥७॥
Soon
after You left Markandeya there was heavy downpour from dark clouds driven by a
hurricane and the world was submerged in the
tumultous seven seas flled to the brim.
Markandeya was tossed about in the sea for millions of years and was in
a pathetic condition when he saw You in the distance as a wonderful child of
dark blue complexion lying on a banyan leaf with a toe in his mouth.
after You left Markandeya there was heavy downpour from dark clouds driven by a
hurricane and the world was submerged in the
tumultous seven seas flled to the brim.
Markandeya was tossed about in the sea for millions of years and was in
a pathetic condition when he saw You in the distance as a wonderful child of
dark blue complexion lying on a banyan leaf with a toe in his mouth.
दृष्ट्वा त्वां हृष्टरोमा त्वरितमुपगतः स्प्रष्टुकामो मुनीन्द्रः
श्वासेनान्तर्निविष्टः पुनरिह सकलं दृष्टवान् विष्टपौघम्।
भूयोऽपि श्वासवातैर्बहिरनुपतितो वीक्षितस्त्वत्कटाक्षैः
मोदादाश्लेष्टुकामस्त्वयि पिहिततनौ स्वाश्रमे प्राग्वदासीत्॥८॥
Seeing the divine child, Markandeya was overcome with ecstasy with
hairs of his body bristling. He, foremost
hairs of his body bristling. He, foremost
among sages, hurriedly
went near the child eager to touch it. But he was sucked inside when the child breathed
went near the child eager to touch it. But he was sucked inside when the child breathed
in. There (within the body of the child) he saw all the worlds.
Then he was thrown out with the outgoing breath.
Then he was thrown out with the outgoing breath.
The child cast sidelong
glances on him. Full of joy, he wanted
to embrace the child, but you vanished and
glances on him. Full of joy, he wanted
to embrace the child, but you vanished and
Markandeya found himself in
his hermitage as before.
his hermitage as before.
गौर्या सार्धं तदग्रे पुरभिदथ गतस्त्वत्प्रियप्रेक्षणार्थी
सिद्धानेवास्य दत्वा स्वयमयमजरामृत्युतादीन् गतोऽभूत्।
एवं त्वत्सेवयैव स्मररिपुरपि संप्रीयते येन तस्मा-
न्मूर्तित्रय्यात्मकस्त्वं ननु सकलनियन्तेति सुव्यक्तमासीत्॥९॥
Lord
Siva with his consort Gauri manifested before Markandeya in order to see him, a
devotee dear to Your heart. He gave him
boons of non-aging(ajara) and not-dying(amrityutaa) of which
Markandeya was already in possession.
Thus, by devotion to You, Lord
Siva is also pleased. From this it is very clear that You are the very Atma of
the Trinity (murtitraya) of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva and the Ultimate
Authority over everything.
Siva with his consort Gauri manifested before Markandeya in order to see him, a
devotee dear to Your heart. He gave him
boons of non-aging(ajara) and not-dying(amrityutaa) of which
Markandeya was already in possession.
Thus, by devotion to You, Lord
Siva is also pleased. From this it is very clear that You are the very Atma of
the Trinity (murtitraya) of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva and the Ultimate
Authority over everything.
त्र्यंशेऽस्मिन् सत्यलोके विधिहरिपुरभिन्मन्दिराण्यूर्ध्वमूर्ध्वं
तेभ्योऽप्यूर्ध्वं तु मायाविकृतिविरहितो भाति वैकुण्ठलोकः।
तत्र त्वं कारणांभस्यपि पशुपकुले शुद्धसत्त्वैकरूपी
सच्चिद्ब्रह्माद्वयात्मा पवनपुरपते! पाहि मां सर्वरोगात्॥१०॥
In
Satyaloka, having three positions for Brahma, Vishnu and Siva
respectively, each above the other in the same order. Above these three shines
Vaikuntha where Maya does not operate. There in Vaikuntha, in the primordial waters and in Nandagokula You shine in Your pure sattwa aspect
undifferentiated from the sachchidananda Brahman. O Lord of Guruvayur! save me from all
ailments.
Satyaloka, having three positions for Brahma, Vishnu and Siva
respectively, each above the other in the same order. Above these three shines
Vaikuntha where Maya does not operate. There in Vaikuntha, in the primordial waters and in Nandagokula You shine in Your pure sattwa aspect
undifferentiated from the sachchidananda Brahman. O Lord of Guruvayur! save me from all
ailments.
