Beginning the third Dashakam of Narayaneeyam, Bhattathiri, grappling with illness, elucidates the qualities of a devout follower and implores God for solace, asking for both spiritual enlightenment and relief from his ailment.
Sarvathra Govinda Nama Sankeerthanam Govinda Govinda
पठन्तो नामानि प्रमदभरसिन्धौ निपतिता:
स्मरन्तो रूपं ते वरद कथयन्तो गुणकथा: ।
चरन्तो ये भक्तास्त्वयि खलु रमन्ते परममू-
नहं धन्यान् मन्ये समधिगतसर्वाभिलषितान् ॥१॥
paThantO naamaani pramadabharasindhau nipatitaaH
smarantO ruupaM te varada kathayantO guNakathaaH |
charantO ye bhaktaastvayi khalu ramante paramamuunahaM
dhanyaan manye samadhigatasarvaabhilaShitaan || 1 ||
Bhattathiri says, Oh Lord, the bestower of blessings, my admiration is reserved for those who recite your holy names, and focus on your divine image, and share in the tales of your magnificence. Those who navigate through life immersed in the ocean of spiritual ecstasy and always occupies their minds with thoughts solely of you, they are the truly fortunate ones, for whom all desires are granted by you.
गदक्लिष्टं कष्टं तव चरणसेवारसभरेऽ-
प्यनासक्तं चित्तं भवति बत विष्णो कुरु दयाम् ।
भवत्पादाम्भोजस्मरणरसिको नामनिवहा-
नहं गायं गायं कुहचन विवत्स्यामि विजने ॥२॥
gadakliShTaM kaShTaM tava charaNasevaarasabhare(a)-
pyanaasaktaM chittaM bhavati bata viShNO kuru dayaam |
bhavatpaadaambhOjasmaraNarasikO naamanivahaanahaM
gaayaM gaayaM kuhachana vivatsyaami vijane || 2 ||
Bhattathiri expresses in the second slokam of the third Dashakam that his mind is consumed with illnesses and sorrows, preventing him from finding joy in serving the divine feet of the Lord. He humbly pleads for mercy from Lord Vishnu. Through the joy of meditating on Guruvayoorappan’s lotus feet and praising his divine qualities, Bhattathiri is willing to live as a recluse in any place, completely absorbed in divine vision.
कृपा ते जाता चेत्किमिव न हि लभ्यं तनुभृतां
मदीयक्लेशौघप्रशमनदशा नाम कियती ।
न के के लोकेऽस्मिन्ननिशमयि शोकाभिरहिता
भवद्भक्ता मुक्ता: सुखगतिमसक्ता विदधते ॥३॥
kR^ipaa te jaataa chetkimiva na hi labhyaM tanubhR^itaaM
madiiyakleshaughaprashamanadashaa naama kiyatii |
na ke ke lOke(a)sminnanishamayi shOkaabhirahitaaH
bhavadbhaktaa muktaaH sukhagatimasaktaa vidadhate || 3 ||
Here Bhattathiri exclaims that with the blessings of the Lord, one can transcend the desire for material wealth. He takes comfort in leading a simple life, declaring, ‘Oh Lord, numerous devotees have attained supreme bliss, the Moksha, by forsaking worldly pleasures and evading sorrow.
मुनिप्रौढा रूढा जगति खलु गूढात्मगतयो
भवत्पादाम्भोजस्मरणविरुजो नारदमुखा: ।
चरन्तीश स्वैरं सततपरिनिर्भातपरचि –
त्सदानन्दाद्वैतप्रसरपरिमग्ना: किमपरम् ॥४॥
muniprauDhaa ruuDhaa jagati khalu guuDhaatmagatayO
bhavatpaadaambhOjasmaraNavirujO naaradamukhaaH |
charantiisha svairaM satataparinirbhaataparachit
sadaanandaadvaitaprasaraparimagnaaH kimaparam || 4 ||
In this beautiful sloka Bhattathiri graciously proclaims…”Oh Guruvayoorappa! By focusing on your divine lotus feet and basking in the eternal joy that radiates from you, your most devoted followers like Narada and other revered sages are liberated from their troubles and tirelessly sing your praises. It is only through unwavering devotion to you that one can seek true fulfillment. What more could a devotee desire from you?”
भवद्भक्ति: स्फीता भवतु मम सैव प्रशमये-
दशेषक्लेशौघं न खलु हृदि सन्देहकणिका ।
न चेद्व्यासस्योक्तिस्तव च वचनं नैगमवचो
भवेन्मिथ्या रथ्यापुरुषवचनप्रायमखिलम् ॥५॥
bhavadbhaktiH sphiitaa bhavatu mama saiva prashamaye
dasheShakleshaughaM na khalu hR^idi sandehakaNikaa |
na chedvyaasasyOktistava cha vachanaM naigamavachO
bhavenmithyaa rathyaapuruShavachanapraayamakhilam || 5 ||
In the fifth sloka of the Narayaneeyam, Bhattathiri expresses his deepening devotion towards Lord Vishnu, believing wholeheartedly that the Lord will eventually relieve him of all his sufferings. He emphasizes that without such faith, the profound wisdom of Vyasa- the divine teachings of Bhagavan, and the profound truths from the Vedas would hold no more significance than the fleeting words of wandering nomads.
भवद्भक्तिस्तावत् प्रमुखमधुरा त्वत् गुणरसात्
किमप्यारूढा चेदखिलपरितापप्रशमनी ।
पुनश्चान्ते स्वान्ते विमलपरिबोधोदयमिल–
न्महानन्दाद्वैतं दिशति किमत: प्रार्थ्यमपरम् ॥६॥
bhavadbhaktistaavat pramukhamadhuraa tvadguNarasaat
kimapyaaruuDhaa chedakhilaparitaapaprashamanii |
punashchaante svaante vimalaparibOdhOdayamila
nmahaanandaadvaitaM dishati kimataH praarthyamaparam || 6 ||
With a heart filled with devotion to the Lord, we begin this beautiful journey, drawn to Bhagavan’s special attributes. Step by step, our pains are eased, and in the end, we receive the ultimate reward of pure divine knowledge, residing within our minds as the experience of Supreme Brahman. One can’t help but wonder, what more could one possibly seek?
विधूय क्लेशान्मे कुरु चरणयुग्मं धृतरसं
भवत्क्षेत्रप्राप्तौ करमपि च ते पूजनविधौ ।
भवन्मूर्त्यालोके नयनमथ ते पादतुलसी-
परिघ्राणे घ्राणं श्रवणमपि ते चारुचरिते ॥७॥
vidhuuya kleshaanme kuru charaNayugmaM dhR^itarasaM
bhavatkshetrapraaptau karamapi cha te puujanavidhau |
bhavanmuurtyaalOke nayanamatha te paadatulasiiparighraaNe
ghraaNaM shravaNamapi te chaarucharite || 7 ||
Bhattathiri pleads to the lord , “May you cure every affliction of my body so that my legs can effortlessly lead me to Guru baylor Temple, my hands can humbly worship your divine essence, my eyes can admire your unparalleled beauty, my nose can relish the scent of Tulsi leaves near your feet, and my ears can be serenaded by the enchanting melodies of your soulful stories.”
प्रभूताधिव्याधिप्रसभचलिते मामकहृदि
त्वदीयं तद्रूपं परमसुखचिद्रूपमुदियात् ।
उदञ्चद्रोमाञ्चो गलितबहुहर्षाश्रुनिवहो
यथा विस्मर्यासं दुरुपशमपीडापरिभवान् ॥८॥
prabhuutaadhivyaadhiprasabhachalite maamakahR^idi
tvadiiyaM tadruupaM paramasukhachidruupamudiyaat |
uda~nchadrOmaa~nchO galitabahuharShaashrunivahO
yathaa vismaryaasaM durupashamapiiDaaparibhavaan || 8||
Bhattathiri beautifully articulates in the eighth sloka of the Dashakam 3 of the Narayaneeyam his earnest desire for Lord Guruvayoorappa to alleviate the chaos and stress in his troubled mind, as well as his physical ailments, by infusing them with the enchanting essence of Bhagavan’s divinity. He humbly implores- ‘May my eyes brim with tears of pure joy and my soul be filled with immense bliss. Guide me in eradicating every ounce of agony and suffering from my body, O Lord.’
मरुद्गेहाधीश त्वयि खलु पराञ्चोऽपि सुखिनो
भवत्स्नेही सोऽहं सुबहु परितप्ये च किमिदम् ।
अकीर्तिस्ते मा भूद्वरद गदभारं प्रशमयन्
भवत् भक्तोत्तंसं झटिति कुरु मां कंसदमन ॥९॥
marudgehaadhiisha tvayi khalu paraa~nchO(a)pi sukhinO
bhavatsnehii sO(a)haM subahu paritapye cha kimidam |
akiirtiste maa bhuudvarada gadabhaaraM prashamayan
bhavadbhaktOttamsaM jhaTiti kuru maaM kamsadamana || 9 ||
In this beautiful sloka, Bhattathiri expresses his deep devotion and admiration for Lord Vishnu. He humbly questions why those who do not worship or care for the Lord seem to be happy, while he, a dedicated follower, is burdened with sorrow. He pleads to Guruvayoorappa, the mighty God who defeated Kamsa and fulfills the desires of his devotees, to not overlook his unwavering faith. Bhattathiri implores for the swift healing of his afflictions and to be elevated as one of the most devout followers of the Lord.
किमुक्तैर्भूयोभिस्तव हि करुणा यावदुदिया-
दहं तावद्देव प्रहितविविधार्तप्रलपितः ।
पुरः क्लृप्ते पादे वरद तव नेष्यामि दिवसा-
न्यथाशक्ति व्यक्तं नतिनुतिनिषेवा विरचयन् ॥१०॥
kimuktairbhuuyObhistava hi karuNaa yaavadudiyaa
dahaM taavaddeva prahitavividhaartapralapitaH |
puraH kL^ipte paade varada tava neShyaami divasaa
nyathaashakti vyaktaM natinutiniShevaa virachayan || 10 ||
Is there anything more to say? Oh Lord, the granter of wishes! Until I am engulfed in your grace, sorrow shall not touch me. Instead, I shall dedicate my days to worshiping, praising, and honoring you at your sacred feet, where I have faithfully and respectfully stood for so long.