devanayaka panchasat

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Third SlOkam of SrI DevanAyaka PanchAsath
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dhivyE dayA jalanidhou dhivishanniyanthu:
theerTam nidarsithavathas-thrijagannivEshyam
prAcha: kavIn nigama sammitha sUnruthOkthIn
PrAchEthasa: prabrudhikAn praNamAmi abhIshNam

Extended Meaning
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Here Swamy Desikan's salutation is to ancient bards
like VaalmIki and others (PrAcha: KavIn PrAchEtasa
prabrudhikAn praNamAmi). Swamy Desikan declares humbly that
he wants always to offer his salutations( PrAcha: kavIn
abhIkshanam praNamAmi) to the maargha darsIs
(path showers) like Aadhi Kavi VaalmIki , who composed
ithihAsam like SrImad RaamAyaNam , where in they elaborated
on the rites of SaraNAgathi as the step celebrated in the VedAs.

Here Swamy Desikan states that the limitless DayA of
Dhaiva Naayakan ( dhvishad-niyanthu: dhivyE jala nidhou)
is like the deep undrying ocean . Although
there are many access points to take bath in that vast
ocean , the upAyam ( means/route/ThuRai) of Prapatthi is
the most approriate , unfailing and fruitful one for gaining
Moksham by the beings of all the three worlds ( Thri Jagatth
nishEvyam theerTam ). This upAyam has been celebrated by
Sages like VaalmikI in VibhIshaNa SaraNAgathy and by Sage
VyAsa through the charama slOkam in Srimad Bhagavad Gita
housed in MahA BhAratham . Their statements about
the importance of SaraNAgathy are rooted in Vedic truths
and are pleasing to the chEthanams (nigama sammitham
and soonruthOkthi) . Swamy Desikan states that
he prostrates before those ancient sages at
the beginning stage of the eulogy on Lord DEva NaaTan
of ThiruvahIndhrapuram. Swamy identifies sages VaalmIki
and VyAsa as those who pointed the way of adopting
the upAyam of SaraNAgathi (thIrtham nidharsithavatha: )
celebrated in the VedAs and which is pleasing and easy
to perform ( nigama sammitha: soonrutha ukthi).

Additional Thoughts
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In the first slOkam of this eulogy to Lord DEvanathan ,
Swamy Desikan established the Lord of ThiruvahIndhrapuram
as the God of all dEvAs and prayed to Him to protect
him from samsAric afflictions ( PhaNipura NaaTa: paathu
mAm DEva NaaTa:) .In the second slOkam , Swamy Desikan
saluted the Guru Paramparai that protects the chEthanams
of the three worlds ( Jaganthi gOpthrIm Guru pankthim
aham prapadhyE).In the third slOkam , Swamy Desikan offers
his praNAmams to the Adhi Kavis , who distilled the essence of
VedAs and showed us the supermacy of Prapatthi as the upAyam
for securing Moksha Siddhi ( PrAcha: KavIn PrAchEthas
prabruthikAn abhIkshNam praNamAmi).

DEva Naayakan's KaruNai is compared to a cool comforting
Ocean for those scorched by the heat of samsAram and
the ancient Kavis are compared to wise guides , who could
point out the way to step in to that ocean of mercy
using the path of SaraNAgathy to enjoy the benefits of
Moksha Sukham . The way shown by them have proven
to be in consonance with the path shown by the VedAs
and truly pleasing and effective. Swamy Desikan states
that SaraNAgathy path is fit to be observed by the chEthanams
of all the three worlds ( Thri JagannishEvyam TheerTam ).

PrAchEthas is a partronymic of Aadhi Kavi ValmIki .
Let us reflect on the three salutatory slOkams that
we recite during the PaarAyanam of SrImadh RaamAyaNam:

kUjantham Raama RaamEthi madhuram madhurAksharam
aaruhya kavithA saakhAm vandhE VaalmIki kOkilam

VaalmikEr-munisimhasya kavithAvanachAriNa:
sruNvan Raama kaTA-nAdham kO na yAnthi parAm gathim

ya: piBhan sathatham Raama charithAmrutha saagaram
athrupthastham munim vandhE PrAchEthasam-akalmasham

The first of the above three verses compares sage Vaalmiki
to a nightingale warbling sweetly the Taaraka-phOshaka
naamam of Raama , while sitting on the branch of poetry .
Swamy Desikan , the Kavi Simham was sitting on a similar
branch of poetry and singing the praise of Lord Deva Naayakan
at ThiruvahIndhrapuram .

The second slOkam identifies Sage VaalmIki as Muni Simham
( Lion among the sages). Those who travel in the verdant
forest of VaalmIki's poetry reach the supreme abode of
Parama Padham through hearing of the simha naadham of
Sage Vaalmiki dealing with SrI Rama charithram . This slOkam
asks a rhetoric question and answers it : SruNvan Raama KaTA
naadham , kO na yaanthi ParAm gathim ? Yes , they do reach
without fail the highest of states and are blessed with
nithya kaimkarya anugraham at SrI Vaikuntam .

The third slOkam salutes the blemishless PrachEtas Muni
(VaalmIki) as one who is unsatiated from drinking the nectar
of the ocean of SrI Raama charithram . The Aadhi Kavi delves
deep into the nectar ocean of SrI Raama charitham and drinks deep
from that ocean and yet is not fully satisfied. He goes on
drinking from that nectar ocean without experiencing any
satiety ( aparyAtha amrutha DayA samudhram ) .

Swamy Desikan asks us to dip in to that ocean of
DayA ( Lord DevanAthan )and achieve the Parama PurushArTam .