Atah Pratamah Sargaha

1.1

Vande Govindam aananda Jnanadeham patim sriyaha

Srimad anandatirtharya vallabham param aksharam

Anvaya –

aananda Jnanadeham, sriyaha patim Srimad anandatirtharya vallabham param aksharam Govindam aham (adyahara) vande

Pratipadartha –

Ananda Jnanadeham – His body is not made by panchabhootas but by bliss and knowledge.

Sriyaha patim – consort of lakshmi devi

Srimad anandatirtharya vallabham – Lord to the highly knowledgeable Madhwacharyaru, who gives bliss through shastra

Param – supreme

Aksharam – indestructible

Govindam – Veda Pratipadya Narayana

Aham (adyahara) – Refers to author Narayana Panditacharyaru

Vande – I bow

I bow to Govinda (1) whose Svarupa is Divine bliss and Knowledge (2), Consort of Lakshmi and the Lord of Srimadanandatirtha and who is Supreme and indestructible in any sense (3).

Notes:

1. Govinda – Govinda is not merely a name as is in our case; but it means that he is “Veda Pratipadya” – all the Vedas without any exception proclaim His auspicious attributes.

2. There is no difference between whatsoever between His ‘Svarupa’ (Atma)-(Guni) and His auspicious attributes (Guna) like bliss and knowledge.

3. Destruction is four fold – ie.

• Loss of ‘Svarupa’,
• Loss of eternal body,
• Sorrowfulness,
• Imperfection.

The Lord is devoid of all these flaws.

Adyahara –

 In this shloka information about who is bowing to Govinda is missing (It is just vande, instead of aham vande). Such a usage wherein words are skipped yet it gives complete meaning is called adyahara.

Karthru – Aham

Karma – Govinda

Kriya – Vande

Visheshana –

Go- veda, bhoomi, rays of sun

Govinda – “Veda Pratipadya Narayana”, consort of lakshmi devi

Upanishad meaning – Sri – indriyagaLu, wealth

Srimad anandatirtharya – One who gives bliss through his shastara.

Vallabha – Lord of one who gives bliss through his shastara

Param – Paramout knowledge

Aksharam – One who is devoid of all flaws

1.2

Sasarja Bhaghavavnadau tringunam prakruteh parah

Mahatattvam tato vishnuh srustavan brahmapastunum

Anvaya –

Bhagavan paraha adau prakruteh trin gunan sasarja tataha visnuhu brahmanaha tanum mahatattvam srushtavan

Pratipadartha –

Bhagavan – One who has devoid of all six flaws

Paraha – Supreme

Adau- before creation

Prakruteh-Jada prakruti

Trin – 3

Gunaha- Qualities

Susraja-creation

Vishnuhu- Narayana

Bramanah- Chaturmukha Brahma

Tanum – Body of Chaturmukha Brahma

Mahatattva – Body of Chaturmukha Brahma

Srushtavan-created

Vishesha–

Narayana is devoid of four flaws – anityatva, destruction of body, dukha, incompleteness.

ShadaishwaryaGalu – Complete wealth, Opulence, Knowledge, vijnana (scire), success, heroism.

First, Bhagavan created three gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas) from Jada prakriti (4). From them, Bhagavan Vishnu created Mahatattva, which is the body (5) of Virinchi (Chaturmukha Brahma).

Notes:

4. ‘Jada Prakriti’ or ‘Mula prakriti’ (Material cause of the world) is not created in the true sense. It is beginingless and endless (anaadi nitya).The three gunas are always present in micro form.

5. Body of Virinchi means, the Mahatattva is patronized by him is Virinchi is the Patron deity for ‘Mahatattva’ (Abhimani Devata).

Even though both Jeeva and Bhagavantha are anadhi, Jeeva undergoes various transformations according to karma and also changes body. Also Jeevas are not independent. Hence Jeeva is not nitya.

1.3

Mahattattvadahankaram sasarja siva vigraham

Daivandehanmana h khani kham ca sa trividhattatah

From Mahatattva, Bhagavan Narayana created Ahamkara tattva, the body of Siva (ie. Siva is the patron deity for Ahamkara Tattva). From this three – fold ahamkara tattva, He created the bodies of all deities (Devatas), Mind (Manas), Sense organs (Indriyas) and Space (Bhutakasha).

1.4
Akasada srujad vaayum vayostejo vyajijanat
Tejasah salilam tasmat prithivima sruja davi bhunah

Omnipotent Narayana created air (Vayu) from space, heat from air, water (Salila) from heat (Tejas), Earth (Prithvi) from water.

1.5
Tatah kutasthasthamasrujadvidhim brahmandavigraham
tasminstu Bhagavan bhuyo bhuvanani chaturdasa Tatah kutastha

From the above twenty-four tattvas, Bhagavan created ChaturMukha Brahma, who is the patron deity for the whole universe (Brahmanda), consisting of seven upper and seven lower worlds.

Notes

A brief account of creation by God is given in the above stanzas. It is elaborated further below:

Before creation, Bhagavan Narayana was lying on a diving banyan leaf amid ‘Pralayodhaka’ (Water) – the other form of Goddess Lakshmi. She took another form by name ‘Ambhrani’ and prayed Lord that the world may be created. On her request, the Almighty Narayana manifested Himself in various forms – Vasudeva etc. (5 forms), Matsya etc. (10 forms), KEshava etc. (24 forms), Vishwa etc. (1000 forms) and unlimited forms (Ananta rUpa). This is called ‘Atma ShrisTi’. All these forms are fully identical in all respects and there is no iota of difference whatsoever. Similarly, His consort RAma takes equal number of forms to serve her husband in those forms. This is ‘Lakshmi ShrisTi’. Then, Bhagavan created three ‘Gunas’ – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas from the original prakriti, which is beginningless and eternal and patronized by Lakshmi. These three matters are mixed in uneven proportions making them fit for further transformations. This is ‘Guna traya’ shrisTi. With one percent of tamas, twelve percent of rajas, and rest sattva, He created ‘mahatatva’ the body of Virinchi. Although Rajas and Tamas are present in the body, they have no effect on the Patron deity – Virincha. From that portion of Tamas and Rajas in mahatatva, Bhagavan created Ahankara tattva and Buddhi tattva, respectively. All the gunas are present in all the tattvas in some percentage. From Sattvika portion in Ahankara tattva, He created ‘manas’ (mind) and Vaikarika ahankara being the bodies of Devatas; so also from Rajas portion, He created Taijasa Ahankara and ten senses and action organs (Dasendriyas) and from Tamas portion, He created fire ‘Matras’ and five ‘Bhutas’ as follows – Space with sound (Akasha – Shabda) -> Air with tangibility (Vayu – Sparsha) -> Heat or light with color (Tejas – rUpa) -> Water with taste (Ap – rasa) ->Earth with odor (Prithvi – Gandha). In this manner, twenty-four tattvas, bodies of all devatas and jeevas with Avidya (ignorance) were created in minute forms. This is ‘Sukshma shrisTi’. It may be noted here that Jeevas are not created in the true sense of the word as they are beginningless and eternal.

The Twenty four tattvas are as under:

(1) Mahat (2) Ahankara (3) Buddhi (4) Manas (5-9) Jananeindriya – Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue, Skin (10-14) Karmeindriya – Speech, Hand, Limb, Arms, Genitals (15-19) Matras – Shabda, Rupa, Rasa, Gandha, Sparsha (20-24) Bhutas – space, air, light (heat), water, earth.

All these were created in minutest form.

Then, as requested by Brahma (Virinchi) out of these twenty four tattvas and with his golden divine semen, He created Brahmanda (whole world) and entered there. Thereafter, He created fourteen petalled Lotus from His navel, therefrom ChaturMukha Brahma (ie.Hiranyagarbha or Virinchi). Being satisfied with Brahma’s prayer, He further created five elements – Space etc., for forming fourteen lokas (upper and lower world) from fourteen petals of the lotus.

1.6
Tatvikanatha devan ko vairajah purusosrajat
Tathaiva paramann hamsan sanakadisca yoginah

Thereafter, the Patron deity of Brahmanda (Brahmanda abhimani) Brahma, named ‘Purusha’ created Patron deities of eleven tattvas, and then were born Sages of exceedingly high order – Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatsrajata and Sanathkumara.

1.7
Asuran dosarupanapyavidyam pancaparvanim
Varnasrama visesamsca dharmakliptim ca so’srjet

He then created ‘Asuras’ (6) who are embodiments of all defects, Fivefold Avidya (ignorance) (7), Caste System (8), Ashrama (9), Code of Conduct and Dharma.

Notes

(6) ‘Asuras’ means Daityas with all flaws including hatred towards the very creator and other devatas. (7) ‘Fivefold Avidya’ refers to Tamas, Moha, Mahaa Moha, Tamisra, Andha Tamisra
(8) Caste System – Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya, Sudra
(9) Ashrama – Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, Sannyasa

1.8
Maricyatrayadayah putra abhuvan paraestinah
Mariceh kasyapo jajnc vamanasya pita batoh

From different parts of the body of Brahma, Marichi, Atri and other principal sages were born, Kashyapa, in whom the Lord Vamana manifested Himself was born to Marichi.

1.9
Prajah sisrusurvividha avahatkasyapo ditim
aditim ca danum kadrun kikasam vinatamapi

Kashyapa desired to have many types of progeny and so he married Diti, Aditi, Danu, Kadru, Kikasa and Vinata.

1.10
Dityam tato’bhavan daitya adityam ca surah punah
Danau tu danavah kadrau naga nana visolbanah

From Kashyapa Daityas were born in Diti, devatas in Aditi, danavas in Danu, most poisonous snakes in Kadru. (10)

Notes

10. The words ‘abhavan suga punah’ are in this verse, meaning, Devatas are born again. The idea is as follows:

Firstly, tattvabhimani devatas were created by Lord Vishnu in the minute form earlier to the creation of Brahmanda. They do not function in any manner at that stage.

Secondly, they were given birth by ChaturMukha Brahma through his various organs. Now, they preside over tattvas patronized by them. These are mula rUpa (original form) of the deities. They have full control over the respective tattvas in sentient and insentient bodies by the grace of Mukhyaprana, who is the Supreme Controller of all, depending on Vishnu only.

Thirdly, these devatas were again born in other forms to Kashyapa and Aditi. In these forms, they serve Lord Vishnu in many ways and participate in His act of creation and destruction of sentient and insentient bodies within the Brahmanda.

As all the Devatas are samsajivas, they are capable of taking any number of bodies; these incarnations will have definite purposes. For example, Vayudevaru as Hanuman, Bhima and Madhva; Rudra Deva as Asvathama and Durvasa; Indra as Vali and Arjuna; Surya as Sugriva and Karna and so on.

They serve the cause of Almighty Vishnu in those forms to earn His grace, and thus they pursue their ‘sadhana’ towards salvation. When their sadhana is completed at the time of liberation, they merge in their original form (mula rUpa) and finally attain moksha.

1.11
Kikalayam yaturdhana vinatayamtu paksinah
Mahaviryah sutah asan kasyapasya mahatmanah

Demons (devourer of human beings) in Kikasa and most powerful Garuda as bird in Vinita became sons of the highly intelligent Kashyapa.

1.12
Manavanam pita jajne aditayakasyapatmajat
Manurnama mahaprajne etanmanvamtaresvarah

The sraddha Dev by name Manu (Vaivasvata) was born after the birth of Vaivasvan possessing spiritual wisdom of remarkably high order and origin of the human race, who is the son of Sun-God, who is the son of Kashyapa.

1.13
Tasya ghranadabutchrimaniksvakuh ksuvato manoh
Tapastaptva virincatsa lebhe Rangesvaram Harim

Once when Vaivasvata Manu sneezed, the great King Ikshvaku was born through his nostrils. Then he observed religious austerities like fasting etc., and by grace of Virinchi, he got Narayana (Hari) idol with a divine chariot.

1.14
Vaikulsissamabhuttasya puranjayapurogamah
Tadanvaye vyajayanta sura rajarsayah pare

Ikshvaku got Vikuksi as son. In his dynasty very powerful and spiritually matured Kings (Rajarsis) were born.

1.15
Tasminvamsa Dasaratho bahuvatyanta bhagyavan
Sorcanvaimanikam visnum raraksa mahatim mahim

In that family, Dasharatha, the richest emperor was born. He worshipped Vishnu in the divine chariot and ruled the great kingdom.

1.16
Tasminkale surah sarve maharaksana piditah
Dugdhabdhi sayinam visnum saranyam saranam yuyuh

During that period, all the Devatas, being importuned by great demons (like Ravana) took refuge with Vishnu lying in the Milky ocean, who protects all from danger.

1.17
Ta adistah sriyah patya jajnire ksitimandale
Sakhamrigadi bhavesa Hanuman marute’bhavat

The Devata’s being ordered by the Consort of Lakshmi, Narayana, were born on this earth as monkeys etc., and Vayudevaru by name, Hanuman.

1.18
Abhayaya satam hatyai raksasanam tato Harih
Rama nama Dasarathat Kausalyayamajayate

To protect virtuous people (and to bestow them with salvation – moksha) and to destroy demons (and to send them to eternal hell), Hari – Narayana – incarnated Himself as the son of Dasharatha and Kausalya.

Notes

Narayana does not have to take physical body at any time. He is the embodiment of divine knowledge and bliss. As such, Rama is not ‘son’ of his parents in the true sense. He only pretends or acts as a human being. This should be remembered when we read further about Rama, Krishna, and other manifested forms of Almighty Sri Narayana.

1.19
Tato Lakhmana Satrughnau Sumitrayam bhabhuvatuh
Kaikayyam Bharatho Jajne sada sbharato nrpat

Thereafter, Lakshmana and Shatrughna were born to Dasharatha in Sumitra and Bharatha, always submerged in auspicious deeds only, was born to Kaikeyi.

1.20
Abhyavardhamta samyancah kumarah sukumarakah
Caturbhiscaturaih putraih pitarthairiva nirbabhau

These holy children grew as pleasing boys; the father Dasharatha considered four intelligent boys as four purushaartas (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha).