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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00104 Dec 2002

 
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 PERFORMANCE AND NON-PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES

In the eleventh pAsuram of Thriuppavai 'kaRRuk kaRavai ' "kaRandhu" refers the 
fact that the cows are being milked and the duty of their clan is properly 
performed. This indicates that a person should not deviate from duties which 
are prescribed to him according to the clan-varNAsramam.

In the twelfth pAsuram of ThiruppAvai 'kaNaithiLam kARRerumai kanRukk irangi, 
ninaitha muali vazhiyE ninRu pAl sOra' refers to the fact that there is nobody 
to milk the cows and hence the milk come out flooding the muddy floors. Here, 
the non-performance of duty is indicated as nobody is milking the cows.

In the former pAsuram as the words "kuRRamondRillAdha' indicates that the 
performance of duties is as a blemishless act. In the latter pAsuram ' 
nARchelvan thangAi' refers to the fact that the person is alongwith Lord 
KrishNa and hence he is a good wealthy person. This implies that though he has 
not performed his duty to the cows, he is termed as a good wealthy person. 

Thus it may be observed that both performing the duty and non-performance of 
duty is appreciated by Andal. Is it not a paradox?

Our pUrvAchAryAs have responded to this in various grandham-s including AchArya 
Hridhayam. Normally one is expected to perform one's duties which is 
appreciated. Abdication of one's duties is not suggested but for any rule 
exceptions do exist. For this rule the exception is that when one is performing 
athAnich chEvagam ( most intimate service to the Lord) the regular duties or 
the duties which are peculiar to the varNAsramam withers off. It is pertinent 
to note that the duty is not abdicated by the person who is involved in the 
service of the Lord but these duties withers off like objects gradually falling 
from the hand of a sleeping person ( vuRanguvAn kaippaNdam pOl athAnich 
chEvagathil nazhuvum)

Therefore, the essence of these two themes are- under general circumstances one 
is expected to perform duties but when performing service to the Lord the 
duties are relegated to the background..

vAnamAmalai padmanAbhan











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