mAtarmE mAtariSvan pitaratulagurO BhrAtariShTAptabaMdhO
svAmin sarvAMtarAtmannajara jarayitarjanmamRutyAmayAnAm |
gOviMdE dEhi BhaktiM Bhavati cha BhagavannUrjitAM nirnimittAM
nirvyAjAM niSchalAM sadguNagaNabRuhatIM SASvatImASu dEva||
Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya in the 14th shloka of his magnum opus Sri Hari Vayu Stuti delineates the quintessential, sublime philosophy and teachings of Acharya Madhwa. He likens Matarisvan (Mukhyaprana) to a mother, father, sibling, teacher and dearest kin. Like a loving and doting mother, a caring and disciplinarian father, peerless teacher, guardian brother and dearest kin, Mukhyaprana is perennially with us in every mode, facet and aspect of life. Mukhyaprana is our friend, philosopher and guide and resides within us as our sentinel. Whoever is devoted to and offers prayer to Mukhyaprana, their issues of sorrow, disease and death are dispelled. In the first limb, the greatness and benevolence of Mukhyaprana is underlined. How he is forever present within each of us and guides us in our lives is brought to the fore. It is relevant to note here that Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya alludes to Mukhyaprana as Matarisvan – mAtariSvan – mAtari shvayati iti mAtariSvan – meaning one who has seven mothers. Mukhyaprana is said to have seven mothers, viz., the four Vedas, Itihasa (Ramayana and Mahabhrata), Purana and Pancharatra agama. In the Ballitha Sukta, Vayu Devaru is referred to as sapta matrushu – because he is engaged in constant cogitation of the aforementioned seven.
In the second limb of the shloka, Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya extols the true purport and significance of Bhakti or devotion. He adumbrates the characteristic features of devotion and how we must seek this (and this alone) from Mukhyaprana towards Govinda.
ashu Bhakti dehi – grant me devotion forthwith
UrjitAM Bhakti dehi – grant me ever increasing devotion
nirnimittAM Bhakti dehi – grant me limitless devotion
nirvyAjAM – devotion sans attachments (vyAjaM- dambika)
niSchalAM Bhakti dehi – grant me unshakable and unflinching devotion
sad guNa gaNa bRuhatIM – devotion that would be heavy and filled with sadgUnas
SASvatIm bhakti – Devotion to Sri Hari Vayu that is eternal and even after Moksha or liberation
Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya says we need to seek devotion that is ever on the ascendant and limitless or delinked from any cause-effect; devotion that is without attachment or devotion for the sake of devotion that is unflinching and remains steadfast even in the face of any and all adversity. Further, the devotion needs to be eternal and sought forthwith. This devotion needs to be towards Sri Hari (Govinda) being cognizant of His limitless attributes and absolute flawlessness. It must be discerned that Acharya Madhwa never advocated blind devotion but rather harped upon devotion that is bulwarked upon His greatness, abilities, omniscience, omnipotence and suzerainty.
In this one shloka, Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya highlights the greatness of Mukhyaprana, the innate meaning of devotion and its characteristics and how this needs to be channeled to the lotus feet of Govinda. The one shloka is a sublime summary of Hari Sarvottammatva and the supreme role of Mukhyaprana in our lives.
Ever engaged in the sadhana of Srimadvaishnava Siddhanta of our Guru, Acharya Madhwa and all the Yatis and Dasas who have blazed this noble path. May HVG bless us all
Normally it is little difficult to bring the essence of the sloka because of paucity of words for certain sanskrit words. But here it has been well attempted and succeeded to a very great extent almost 100%. Keep up the good work and expecting many more such works so that people like us who don’t have in depth knowledge about sanskrit but can understand English better. But no problems in the sloka recital and all.
Many thanks for the kind feedback.
Need of the hour service. Sir keep it up.