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Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

801. udhagrayanthrikAm vandhE pAdhukAm yannivEshanAth
uparyapi padham viShNO: prathyAdhiShtaprasADhanam

I pay obeisance to the Paaduka, which has got an upward-directed knob 
(between the first and second toes), that serves as an embellishment 
to the Lord's foot on the upper side as Paaduka is below; in fact, 
there is no need for any other ornament for the feet when this knob 
is there.

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S)

Introduction to the 26th Paddhathi ( YanthrikA Paddhathi):

The word Yanthrika stands for the structure , which is in front of 
the PaadhukAs to serve as a toehold .By grasping the YanthrikAs 
between the big toes and the rest of the little fingers of the foot, 
one can use the PaadhukAs for walking. In the ten verses of this
chapter dedicated to the YanthrikAs that enable movement , Swamy 
Desikan celebrates their importance. Until now, He praised the whole 
PaadhukAs; now He focusses on an important limb of the PaadhukAs 
without which one could not move about. 

SlOkam 801

1) UtthamUr SWamy's anubhavam: I salute the upward rising limb of the 
Paadhukai with the knob. By placing His feet on the PaadhukAs and 
holding on to the toehold, our Lord VishNu proves that there is no 
need for decoration in the upward portion of the PaadhukAs. Swamy 
Desikan suggests that the YanthrikA through its decorative aspect 
matches the beauty of the body of the PaadhukAs. Therefore, there is 
no need for any additional decorations.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that the 
SadAchAryAs not only delight the heart of the Lord but also serve as 
alankAram for this BhUmi ( LeelA VibhUthi).

3) Swamy salutes the upward extending YanthrikA (Kumizh) of the 
Paadhukai ( Udhagra yanthrikAm PaadhukAm vandhE ). Through the 
presence of the YanthrikA, The VishNu Paadham does not need any 
decorations on the front portion of the Paadhukai (YannivEsAth 
VishNO: padham uparyapi prathyAdhishDa PrasAdhanam). "PradhyAdhishDa 
PrasAdhanam " refers to the pushed away alankArams. Yanthrika
eliminates the need for any other alankArams , when it is there ...
(V.S).







Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

802. prasaBham prathiruDhya kaNtakAdhIn
BhavathI shoUripadhAmbhujAdhaDhasthAth
charaNAvani! DhArayathyamuShmin
uchithacChAyamuparyapi prathIkam

Oh Paaduka! You remain below the Feet. Your service is in respect of 
forcefully destroying thorns in the way. The knob above, for its 
part, furnishes shelter; why, it confers a charm too!

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (V.S)

SlOkam 802:

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Swamy Desikan points out that the 
YanthrikA not only serves as the decoration but also protects the 
sacred feet of the Lord through the shade it provides. Swamy Desikan 
says: " Oh PaadhukE! You protect the Lord's feet on ground from 
thorns and stones. At the same time , through Your YanthrikAs 
provide shade for the Lord's feet and protect them from overexposure 
to the Sun's rays. Your YanthrikAs serve thus as umbrellas for the 
Lord's tender feet. 

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! You see to that the 
Lord's tender feet are not bothered by thorns and heat . Through the 
shade provided by the YanthrikA , You protect the upper surface of 
the Lord's feet as well.

The inner meaning is that the AchAryAs always perform kaimkaryams that
please the Lord. They also protect the PerumAL like LakshmaNa Swamy 
protected Lord Raamachandra and SithA PirAtti in the forest . At 
places where the AchAryAs are, their AshtAkshara Manthra siddhi wards 
off all diseases and inauspiciousness ( YathrAshtAkshara SamsiddhO 
mahA bhAgO maheeyathE , na tathra sancharishyanthi VyAdhir-
dhurbhiksha-taskarA:). 

3) Oh Protector of the Lord's feet (hE CharaNAvani) ! You protect the 
inner soul of the Lord's lotus soft feet from thorns vigorously ( 
Bhavathee Souri PadhAmbhujAth adhasthAth kaNDakAdheen prasabham 
pathiruddhyavAn). You adorn on the upper portion of Your body , the 
YanthrikA, which creates the shadow for protecting the upper surface 
of Your Lord's tender feet ( amushmin PaadhE uchitha chAyAm prathikam 
uparyapi dhaarayathi)...(V.S)






Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

803. muraBhirmaNipAdhukE thavdhIyAmanaGhAmanguLiyAnthrikAmavaImi
svayamunnamithAm pradhEshinIm thE paramam 
dhaIvathamEkamithryachanthIm

Oh Paaduka! Your beautiful knob protrudes and keeps hold of fingers 
of the foot. But it appears to me that it is an index finger that 
emphasizes to the viewers: "That there are many gods, don't believe. 
There is only one Supreme God, Narayana;" What a lovely gesture!

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes from V.Sadagopan (V.S)

SlOkam 803

1) UthtamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Here, Swamy Desikan explains why the 
toehold (YanthrikA or restrainer ) got its name. Since the toehold 
restrains the big and the other toes from leaving or parting with the 
PaadhukAs , it has acquired the name of YanthrikA or the restrainer ; 
further , it seems to stand up as the index finger of the PaadhukAs 
to pint out that RanganAtha is the Supreme Lord and the universal 
controller , who manages the creation , sustenance and the dissolution
of all the Universes and their beings. In this context , Swamy 
Desikan says: " Oh MurAri PaadhukE ! Your blemishless YanthrikA 
shoots up, while hugging Your Lord's big toe and fingers and appears 
to identify itself as Your index finger to point out that there is
no one who is Superior to Your Lord in KalyANa guNAs."

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that Swamy 
NammAzhwAr (Our Lord's Paadhukai) has pointed out at many places in 
His Prabhnadham that SrIman NaarAyaNan is the Supreme among all gods.

3) Oh Muraripu MaNi PadhukE ! Swamy Desikan praises here the 
delightful and sacred YantrikA, which holds tightly the toe and the 
other fingers (anagAm ThvadheeyAm anguLiyantrikAm). He says that the 
YantrikA in its elevated from suggests that SrIman NaarAyaNan is the 
ParadEvatha ( svayam unnmithAm Paramam dhaivatham yEkam ithi 
ruchantheem). The Yantrika sends this message by standing as the 
index finger of the Paadhukai ( tE pradEsineem avaimi)...(V.S).






Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

804. svadhathE maNipAdhukE! thavdhIyA padhashAKhAyugayanthrikA 
vichithrA
paramam puruSham prakAshayanthI praNavasyEva parEyamarDhamAthrA

Oh Manipaaduka! It is highly delectable for me to regard the finger-
holding knob as equivalent to the half-syllable note at the end of 
Pranava (Aum), that indicates the Supreme God (as per Atharva-sikha-
upanishat)

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes from V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOkam 804

1) UthtamUr Swamy's anubhavam : Swamy Desikan compares now the 
YantrikA to the Naadham (sound ) known as ardha-mAtrA (half letter) 
that is above the three syllables of PraNavam (Aum). The PaadhukAs 
have a front, middle and rear portion and these three sections remind 
one of the three syllables of PraNavam. The PraNava Naadham does not 
arise until the ardha maatra is added. That addition makes PraNavam
complete and confers the resonance that makes the PraNavam raise its 
inimitable majestic sound. The YantrikA is that ardha-mAtraa , which 
provides the finishing touch for Paadhukai to match the PraNava 
Naadham.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE! When one looks at your 
YantrikA, one is reminded of the MakAram of praNavam that represents 
the Jeevan. This MakAram is very important to PraNavam just as the 
YantrikA is to the Paadhukai; latter will be dysfunctional without 
the Paadhukai. It has to be remembered that PraNavam 
exists to remind one that Jeevan is the property of the Lord.

3) Oh MaNi PaadhukE ! The two YantrikAs tightly holding together the 
fingers of Your Lord's sacred feet are indeed mysterious in their 
vaibhavam( VichithrA iyam padhasAkhayuga YanthrikA ). They celebrate 
the Supermacy of Your Lord as the ParadEvathA ( ParamAm Purusham 
prakAsayanthee ) and are like the delightful sounding finishing 
aksharam (ardha maatrA) of PraNavam (PraNavasya ParA ardhamAtrA 
svadatE )...(V.S).






Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

805. anuyAthamanOraThA murArE-
BhavathI kELiraThAshriyam dhaDhAthi
charaNAvani!yanthrikA thavaIShA
thanuthE kUbharasasampadham purasthAth

Oh Paaduka! You are a toy-chariot following the footsteps of the 
Lord; You may be regarded as moving behind the Chariot of the Will of 
the Lord. For You, the pole in the front is being kept in position by 
the pegs that the knobs act as.

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes from V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOakm 805

1) UthtamUr Swamy's anubhaavam: Oh Padhukai protecting the Lord's 
feet! You are like the chariot on which Your Lord rides for His 
sports. Your YanthrikA is like the riding pin on the yoke in front of 
that chariot ". ( The yoke is attached to the rest of the chariot by 
two wodden pegs that are essential for the integrity of the Chariot 
and its safe movement).

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:The inner meaning is that the 
SadAchAryans are firmly yoked to the Lord's sacred feet and therefore 
our Lord grants all soubhAgyams to those, who have sought the refuge 
of the SadAchAryAs.

3) Oh PaadhukE! You are deeply attached to those that seek refuge 
with You (anuyAtha manOraTA ). You adorn the lustre of the chariot 
used for His travel pleasures ( Bhavathee MurArE: kELiraTa sriyam 
dhadhAthi). This YanthrikA on You (yEsha yanthrikA) creates the 
appearnace of the riding pin ( yErkkAl) on the chariot of the Lord...
(V.S).






Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

806. shankhE BhavathyA: suBhagam prathIkam rangEshapAdhAnguLi 
sangrahArTham thrANAya pAdhAvani! viShtapAnAmAjnAkarImamguLimudhrikAm 
thE

Oh Paaduka! This knob is to keep in position the feet by holding the 
fingers. But I surmise it is the index finger held erect to threaten 
evil-doers, in terms, such as, "Hey, fellows! Do not do such evils. 
If You do, I will punish You", so that the protection of the world 
can be ensured.

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes from V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOkam 806

1) UtthamUr Swamy' s anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Your YanthrikA has taken
a lovely form to grip the toes of Your Lord and stands tall. It 
appears like the index finger raised to command the people of the 
world to follow the injunctions laid out by Your Lord ". In an 
earlier verse , Swamy Desikan suggested that the YantrikA
stands up to announce the Supermacy of the Lord . Here , he states 
that the towering YantrikaA is like the index finger that commands 
the people to achieve safety and protection through observance of the 
Lord's laws .

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhaavm:Oh PaadhukE ! Your YanthrikA reminds 
me of the index finger (aaLkAtti viral) that warns people from 
commititng Bhagavath-bhAgavatha apachArams and other prohibited acts. 
The inner meaning is that the AchAryAs criticize their sishyAs some 
times gently and at other times harshly to dissuade them from 
committing inauspicious acts and those that are forbidden by the 
SaasthrAs of their Lord.

3) Swamy Desikan salutes the YanthrikA as the vital limb of 
Paadhukai, which is for holding firmly the fingers on the sacred feet 
of the Lord of SrIrangam (RangEsa paadhAnguLi sangrahArTam 
BhavathyA: prathikam asthi). I conclude that YanthrikA also serves 
the purpose of protecting the world through the symbolism of the 
YanthrikA standing in the place of index finger commanding the beings 
of the world from desisting from acts forbidden by SaasthrAs( 
BhavathyA: prathikam vishtapAnaam thrANAya aajn~Akareem 
anguLimudhrikAm sankhE )...(V.S)






Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

807. alankrutham karNikayOpariShtAdh
udhagranALam thabha yanthrikAmsham
padhmApathE: pAdhasarOjalakshmyA:
prathyEmi pAdhAvani! kELipadhmam

Oh Paaduka! Your limb, the knob, with its top resembling the lotus 
fruit (Karnika) and its lower part being a stem, appears to me as the 
toy-lotus which Lakshmi in the Foot-lotus sports in her hand.

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes from V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOkam 807

1) UthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PadhukE ! I consider You as the 
navel lotus flower of the holy feet of the Lord. Your YanthrikA in 
this context appears like a lotus blossom with its long stalk.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE! Your YanthrikA looks like
a lotus flower on the Lord's holy feet. The upper portion that is 
slender portion of the yanthrika looks like a flower and the bottom , 
which holds the toes together resemble the fruit portion of that 
lotus flower.

3) Now Swamy Desikan looks at the YanthrikA limb (YanthrikAmsam)
of the Paadhukai and equates it to the lotus flower with its stalk 
held playfully by SrI RanganAyaki in Her hands ( Tava YanthrikAmsam
PadhmApadhE: paadha sarOja LakshmyA: kELi padhmam prathyEmi).
Our Lord's Lotus like feet rest on the Paadhukai (RanganAthasya Paadha
SarOjam). That lotus flower is on the hands of SrI RanganAyaki , which
holds Her Lord's Thiruvadi. That Lotus flower has its fruit 
decorating it at on the upper end ( UparishTAth karNikayA 
alankrutham) and has an extended stalk connecting it thru the neck 
portion of the Yanthrika, which reaches to the body of the Paadhukai 
( udhagra naaLam Tava YanthrikAmsam) ...(V.S).







Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:

808. upari vinihithasya kEshavAnGhrE:
upari padhAvani! yanthrikAthmikA thvam
ithi thava mahimA laGhUkarOthi 
praNathasurEshvarashEKharADhirOham

Oh Paaduka! Even when You are under the Lord's Feet, one limb of 
Yours, the knob, ascends over the Feet, if this is so, that You sit 
on top of the heads 
of the chiefs of devas is a very ordinary matter, indeed. 

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes from V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOkam 808

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Your YanthrikA stands
even above the Lord's feet . Hence , it is not such a great thing for 
You to be on the heads of the DevAs. Your YanthrikA outstrips You by 
virtue of towering over the holy feet of Your Lord. Compared to that 
glory , Your achievement of resting on the heads of DEvAs pales into 
insignificance.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! PerumAL's sacred feet is 
on you. You are present there in the form of the YanthrikA (i-e)., On 
the Thiruvadi is the YanthrikA. Thiruvadi adorns the heads of DevAs . 
Oh YanthrikA of the Lord's PaadhukE! You are standing there higher 
than the Lord's Thiruvadias a limb of the Paadhukai ( Swamy 
NammAzhwAr). Hence, I think that are loftier in glory than the Lord 
Himself .

3) Oh PaadhukE ! You are present in the form of YanthrikA on top of
the Lord's sacred feet ( hE PadhAvani! Upari vinihithasya Kesava angrE
upari Thvam YanthrikAthmikA varthasE ). Therefore , Your glory of 
ascending the heads of the bent heads of DevAs gets even more 
significant than that of the Lord Himself...(V.S).





Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:


809. nithyam padhAvani! nibhadDhakirItashOBham
padhmAlayAparichitham padhamudhvahanthyA:
angIkarOthi ruchimanguLiyAnthrikA thE 
sAmrAjyasampadhanurUpamivAthapathram

Oh Paaduka! You bear a crown-in the form of the Lord's Feet, which 
are tenderly caressed by the great Mahalakshmi. You are thus a 
Soverign Queen, befitting which status, the knob looks like an 
umbrella held above You.

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes from V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOkam 809

1) UtthamUr Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! For You, the Lord's feet 
pressed by SrI RanganAyaki serves as the crown and Your YantrikA fits 
the role of the white umbrella over that crown signifying Your 
soverignity.

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam : Oh PaadhukE! You have the soubhAgyam 
of lifting (carrying ) the Thiruvadi of the Lord , which have the 
distinct honor of being pressed by MahA Lakshmi Herself. When we look 
at those Thiruvadis, they look like the crown for You, who is the 
king of all the three universes. In this context, Your
YanthrikA appears like the umbrella over that crown.

3) Lord's Thiruvadi has the auspiciousness of being pressed by SrI 
Devi ( PadhmAlayA: nithyam parichitam padham). Those sacred feet are 
always like the decorative crown for You since they are on top of You 
( nithyam nibhaddha kireeta shObham ).Your YanthrikA that extends 
upwards from You ( tE udhvahanthyA: anguliyanthrikA ) is like the 
umbrella that is positoned over the crowened head of an emperor ( tE 
anguLiyanthrikA sAmrAjya Sampatham anuroopam aathapathramiva ruchim 
angIkarOthi)..(V.S).








Sri:

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

Translation by U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin:


810. praThamA kalEva BhavathI charaNAvani! BhAthi rangachandhramasa:
shrungOnnathiriva yathra shriyam viBhAvayathi yanthrikAyOga:

Oh Paaduka! Sri Rangachandra-The Moon that Ranganatha is- can be 
pictured with one digit. Then it indicates the shape of the Paaduka. 
If that be so, the 
knob (or the Paaduka) shows one tip of the moon to be elevated a 
little, that is charming and auspices-conferring. (There is a belief 
that at those times 
when one tip of the moon digit is elevated, it augurs well for rich 
harvest)

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes from V.Sadagopan (V.S):

SlOkam 810

1) UtthamUr Sawmy's anubhavam : " Oh PaadhukE! You shine like the 
first crescent of Moon known as RanganAthan. Your Yantrika appears
like the elevation at the corner of that young crescent Moon and adds 
to Your beauty". If one considers the PaadhukAi with the Lord as the 
full Moon, then the bottom portion of that crescent Moon would be 
the Paadhukai and the top portion of that Moon would be the 
YantrilkA .

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:Oh PaadhukE ! You remind us of the 
first crescent after New Moon. Your YanthrikA in that context looks 
like the upper tip of that prathama kalai ( first crescent of the 
Moon).

3) hE CharaNAvani! You are the first crescent for the Moon of Lord 
RanganAtha ( Bhavathee Rangachandramasa: praTamA kalEva bhAthi). On 
you the links to the YanthrikA appears like the elevation at the edge 
of the crescent(Yathra YanthrikA yOga: srunga unnatheeriva sriyam 
vibhAvayathi)..(V.S).