Geethartha Sangraham-2

From the Bhakti List Archives

• November 10, 1995


Dear Members of the Prapatti Group:

The rest of the discussions on GS will be contained in the following chapters:
1.Salutations to Geethaacharyan
2.Salutations to Alavandaar by Swami Desikan
3.GS--First 6 Chapters of Geetha 
4.GS--Second sextet of Geetha
5.GS--third and final sextet of Geetha
6.Charama Sloka Surukku of Swami Desikan
7.Charama Slokam and Naaliyira Divya Prabhandam
8. Varaha Purana"s statement on the benefits of reciting Gita

Traditionally, the intrepretation of a profound topic such as Charama Sloka--
classified as a Rahasya by our Acharyas--is  restricted to intrepretation by
one"s own Acharya. Hence, I will be careful not to get into areas that are
strictly reserved for Our Acharyas to intrepret . There is a middle  ground that
I will stick to. Also, there  may be a lot of members in our group, who may be
more knowledgable about the topics of coverage. I crave their indulgence for any
mistakes and ask
them to bear with me.

CHAPTER 1:  SALUTATIONS TO GEETHAACHARYAN
***********************************************************

1. PRAPANNA PAARIJAATAAYA              TOTRAVETRAIKAPAANAYEH  I
   JNANAMUDARAAYA  KRISHNAAYA  GITAAMRUTADUHEY  NAMA: II
  
Salutations to Krishna, the holder of the Jnana mudra on one hand  and the cane
to herd  the cows on the other! 
He is the granter of boons like a Paarijaata tree for those ,who surrender unto
Him. This  divine cowherd  milks the Vedas and Upanishads to give us the Nectar
known as Gita.

2.SARVOPANISHADHO GAAVO DOGHDA GOPALANANDANA: I
   PAARTHO VATSA: SUDHEERBHOKTHA DUGDHAM GITAAMRUTAM MAHAT II

All the Upanishads are the cows and the son of the king of Cowherds is the
milker. Arjuna                   is the calf  , men of refined intellect are the
drinkers and the supreme nectar milked by  Krishna
is the Gita.

3.VASUDEVASUTAM   DEVAM   KAMSACHAANOORAMARDHANAM I
   DEVAKEEPARAMAANANDAM  KRISHNAM VANDHE  JAGADGURUM II

I salute Krishna , the Acharya of the entire Universe, the supreme God, the son
of Vasudeva ,the destroyer of the evil Kamsa and Chanoora and the supreme bliss
of Devaki.

4.MOOKAM KAROTHI VAACHAALAM PANKUM LANGHAYATE GIRIM I
   YATKRUPAA TAMAHAM VANDHE PARAMAANANDA MAADHAVAM  II

 I offer my salutations to that embodiment of Bliss ,Madhava, whose compassion
makes the mute wax eloquent and permits the cripple to cross mountains.

5.YAM BRAHMAAVARUNENDRARUDRAMARUTHA: STHUVANTI DIVYAYAI STAVAIR-
   VEDAI: SAANGAPADAKKRAMOPANISHADHAI : GAAYANTI YAM  SAAMAGAA: I
   DHYANAAVASTHITATATGATENA  MANASAA PASYANTI YAM YOGINOH
   YASYAANTAM NA VIDHU: SURAASURAGANAA  DEVAAYA TASMAI NAMA : II

"Salutaions to that God , whom the creator Brahma, Varuna,Indra, Rudra and the
Maruts praise with divine hymns; whom the singers of Saama sing , whom the
Vedas sing with their full compliment of parts ,consecutive sections and
Upanishads; whom the Yogis see with their minds absorbed in Him through
perfection in meditation,and whose limit , the hosts of Devas and Asuras know
not".

6.TAMEKAM GOVINDAM SACCHIDAANANDA VIGRAHAM-- (Sri Gopala Purva Tapani Upanishad)

That One Govinda , who is an embodiment of Existence,Knowledge and Bliss.

7.HLAADHINEE  SANDHINEE  SAMVIT TVAYYEKAA SARVASAMSRAYEH I
   HLAADHAAPAKAREE  MISRAA  TVAYEE  NOH     GUNAVARJITHEH  II

" In Thee , refuge of ALL ,exists this one power,which is threefold  , namely,
Hlaadhinee (Bliss-giving), Sandhinee (Existence-Giving)  or all-pervading and
all combining; and Samvit (Consciousness) . In Thee, devoid of all Gunaas, the
energies of Matter do not exist such as the energy called Sattwaa  causing
pleasure, the energy of Rajas causing pain or the combined three
fold Gunaas called Maaya."

8.YO ASAUH SARVAI VEDAI: GEEYATEH-- Gopala Upanishad

He, who is sung by all Vedas is verily Lord Krishna

9.SAAKSHAAT  PARAMPARAABHYAAM VEDAA GAYANTI MADHAVAM SARVEH I
   VEDAANTHAA: KILA  SAAKSHAADH  APAREH TEBHYA: PARAMPARAAYAA II

All the Vedas sing the glory of Lord Madhava directly or indirectly. the
Upanishad portions of the Vedas sing His praise directly, the other  portions
sing about Him indirectly.

10.SATRUCCHEDHEIKAMANTRAM SAKALAMUPANISHADVAKYA  SAMPOOJYA MANTRAM
     SAMSAAROTTHAARAMANTRAM SAMUPACHITA TAMASSANKA NIRYAANAMANTRAM I
     SARVAISWARYAKAMANTRAM VYASANABHUJAGA SANDHASHTA SANTRAANAMANTRAM
     JIHVEH SRIKRISHNAMANTRAM JAPAJAPA SATATAM JANMASAAPALYAMANTRAM II

It is the only Mantram, which can surely vanquish one's(inner) enemies, which is
identified as the most sacred by the Upanishads,transports us across the Ocean
of Samsaara, drives away the thick and dark clouds of ignorance and despair,
helps to accumulate all types of wealth, acts as a sure cure for the poisonous
bites of the serpent known as Worldly afflictions; o, my tongue,
Please  recite without interruption  the holy mantram known as Sri Krishna
Mantram, which
makes one's life worth living.

V.Sadagopan