Dwaadasa Stotra 7

Dwadasa Stotra Commentary : Stora 7

//This stotra is very interesting with  straight forward meanings hiding the fundamental aspect of Tatva Vaada. What is obvious is the point that all the great powers of Gods , Rishis and boons jignAsus receive are by a mere sideway glance of Lakshmi Devi , who in turn was blessed with that ability. Many scholars point out that this Stotra epitomizes Vishnu Swatantrata and Taratamya model. 

When we look deeper, while Vishnu as the only supreme and independent entity , it is not about Taratamya at all- the sequence of Garuda, Shesha , Rudra, Rishis are not maintained in that order. 

Why did ShrimadAcharya choose to follow some other order ? Perhaps to indicate this is not about Taratamya. It appears that too much is made of Taratamya concept - Acharya did not create it to highlight the difference as much as he did to indicate that difference in capabilities exist. 

It is also interesting that he has used the epithet of ‘Ajitha’ repetitively in this shloka , which gives the key to the message from this shloka. 

Ajtha is the name of the Vishnu Amsa that took that form of Tortoise Koorma.

तत्रापि देव सम्भूत्याम् वैराजस्य अभवत् सुतः 

अजितो नाम भगवान् अंसेन जगतः पतिः ||SMB 8.5.9

 this sixth manvantara millennium, Lord Viṣṇu, the master of the universe, appeared in his Amsa. He was born to  Vairāja and his wife, Devasambhūti; His name was Ajita

We all know that Koorma provided the solid base on which the Mandara mountain was used as fulcrum and Vasuki snake as the tool to churn the ocean to get Amruta. 

पयोधिम् येन निर्मथ्य सुराणां साधिता सुधा 

भ्रम मनोम्भसि ध्र्तः कूर्म रूपेण मन्दरः|| SMB 8.5.10

By churning the ocean of milk, Ajita produced nectar for the demigods. In the form of a tortoise, He moved here and there, carrying on His back the great mountain known as Mandara.

A few details of the story are so important in their connect with Tatva Vaada metaphysics that are rarely elaborated in upanyaasas:

Vishnu asks devas & daityas to add all sorts of ingredients ,flora and fauna, before churning. So what you sow you reap and the ocean did not just give things magically. It is a process.

 The idea was Vishnu’s ; he was the motivator as many times the sura-asura team gave up the tough effort.

Vishnu is the energizer - he enters all the participants 

Finally he becomes the doer - at one point he had to personally get involved to complete the process

The distribution of the various things that come out is as per Vishnu’s direction . Lakshmi who come out is desired by all but she chooses Vishnu as Pati , acknowledging dependence of everything on Vishnu.  Vaadirajaru has immortalized this portion through his Lakshmi Shobane.

This Koorma Avatara story is crystallized by ShrimadAcharya in his inimitable terse style  in Tatva Sankhyanam opening - ‘svatantram asvtantarm ca dwivdiam tatvamishyate; svatantro bhagavaan vishnu; ( There are just two categories in the world - the independent and the dependent. The Independent is Vishnu) .

There is an interesting aside to the Haalahala poison in the story , but that us outside the scope of this commentary.

A thought or inspiration is always independent and can stand alone; An activity on the other hand needs an actor or impeller. Lakshmi tatva is representation of prakruti action; hence dependent on the all pervading inspiration ideal Vishnu. That is why the difference in hierarchy in Taratamya model with Lakshmi following Vishnu. 

Why should everything follow Lakshmi in the hierarchy ? Because everything is an effect of some cause , which is an activity. 

In other words, more than any other Avatara and epithets, Ajita brightly etches the concept that Vishnu is the only Independent agency in the Universe. That is why ShrimadAcharyaru has taken Ajitha as the object of worship in this Stotra//

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The stotra and meaning :


विश्वस्थिति प्रळय सर्ग महाविभूति वृत्ति प्रकाश नियम अवृति बन्ध मोक्षाः 

यस्य अपाङ्ग लवमात्रत ऊर्जिता सा श्रीः यत्कटाक्ष बलवत् अजितं नमामि ||1

The Goddess Shree (Lakshmi) with a side glance of her eyes, can bestow the powers of  maintenance, destruction, creation,Maha siddhis,  life, knowledge, control, bondage in Samsara, and Moksha of the entire world.  Having such a power greater than even Brahma is due to grace of  Ajitha, the Supreme Being. I offer my prostrations to Him

ब्रह्मेश शक्र रवि धर्म शशाङ्क पूर्व गीर्वाण संततह  इयं यदपाङ्ग लेशं 

आश्रित्य विश्व विजयं विसृजति  अचिन्त्त्या श्रीः यत् कटाक्ष बलवति  अजितं नमामि ||2

Brahma, Rudra, Indra, Surya, Yama, Chandra and other gods can grant Jnana and the welfare of the world  at the mere glance of the eyes of Goddess Lakshmi.  Her power is due to grace of  Ajitha, the Supreme Being. I offer my prostrations to Him

 

धर्म अर्थ काम सुमति प्रचयादि  असेष सन्मङ्गलं विदधते यदपाङ्गलेशम् 

आश्रित्य तत् प्रणत सत्प्रणता अपीडया: श्रीः यत् कटाक्ष बलवत् अजितं नमामि||3

The satpuruhas desire to evolve in Dharma, Artha, Kaama and Jnana by worshipping Brahma, Indra etc. These gods themselves get these ability by mere glance of the eyes of Goddess Lakshmi.Her power is due to grace of  Ajitha, the Supreme Being. I offer my prostrations to Him

 निग्रह निरस्त समस्त दोष अध्यायन्ति विष्णु मृषुयो यदपाङ्गलेशम् 

आश्रित्य यानपि समेत्य न याति दुःखं  श्रीः यत् कटाक्ष बलवत् अजितं नमामि||4

The Rishis remove sorrow afflicting those who seek their help by prayer. They have won over the six enemies such as Kaama and become pure without any defects of the body or mind. They meditate on Vishnu with full concentration. All these achievements of the Rishis themselves depend on the mere  glance of the eyes of Goddess Lakshmi.  Her power is due to grace of  Ajitha, the Supreme Being. I offer my prostrations to Him

 वैरि शिव शक्र मनु प्रधान चित्रोरु कर्म रचनं  यदपाङ्गलेशम् 

आश्रित्य विश्वं अखिलं विदधाति  श्रीः यत् कटाक्ष बलवत् अजितं नमामि||5

Brahma creates the extremely complex world where Shesha, Garuda, Rudra, Indra, Svaayambhuva Manu and other gods and great souls etc perform their wondrous deeds. The capacity of Brahma and other gods depends on the mere side  glance of the eyes of Goddess Lakshmi.Her power is due to grace of  Ajitha, the Supreme Being. I offer my prostrations to Him

शक्र उग्र दीधिति हिमाकर सूर्य सूनुपूर्वम् निहत्य निखिलं यदपाङ्गलेशम् 

आश्रित्य नृत्यति शिवः प्रकटोरु शक्तिः श्रीः  यत् कटाक्ष बलवत् अजितं नमामि||6

Rudra shows severe power during universal dissolution annihilating the world and even  gods as Indra, Surya, Chandra and Yama. He performs  Thaandava dance after this. His ability to do so is by mere  glance of the eyes of Goddess Lakshmi.Her power is due to grace of  Ajitha, the Supreme Being. I offer my prostrations to Him

तत् पाद पंकज महा सनतां  अवाप शर्वादि वन्ध्य चरणो यदपाङ्गलेशम्

आश्रित्य नागपति अन्यसुरै दुरापां श्रीः   यत् कटाक्ष बलवत् अजितं नमामि ||7

Shesha attained the coveted position, unattainable by other gods,  of being the bed of the Supreme Being to  rest his feet. Hence , Shesha is worshipped by other gods including Rudra. It was possible by mere glance of the eyes of Goddess Lakshmi.Her power is due to grace of  Ajitha, the Supreme Being. I offer my prostrations to Him

नागारि उग्र बल पौरुष आप विष्णु वाहत्व उत्तम जवो यदपाङ्गलेशम्

आश्रित्य शक्र मुख देव गणै रचिन्त्यं  श्रीः  यत् कटाक्ष बलवत् अजितं नमामि ||8

Garuda has tremendous strength, valour. speed,  position of being the vehicle of Vishnu, the Supreme being. Such attainments are beyond imagination even for the gods headed by Indra, but have been achieved by him due to mere glance of the eyes of Goddess Lakshmi.Her power is due to grace of  Ajitha, the Supreme Being. I offer my prostrations to Him

आनन्द तीर्थ मुनि सन्मुख पन्कजोत्थं साक्षात् रमा हरिमनः प्रियं उत्तमार्थम् 

भक्त्या पठत्य जितम् आत्मनि सन्निधाय यः स्तोत्रं एतभियाति तयोर् अभिष्टम्  ||9

This sthothra , recited by the beautiful lotus like face of Aananda Theertha, the good ascetic, has excellent meanings which will please Ramaa and Hari. A devotee who recites this sthothra,  keeping the form of Hari called Ajitha in steady  in his heart will achieve his desires by their grace. 

// The most important point to note is that merely chanting will not do . One has to keep Ajitha form of Shri Hari steady in the heart to attain the phala. In this context , it is wise to note Tortoise is symbol used to implore that we should withdraw from our five senses and focus internally. In other words Acharay is imploring us to go for deep meditation and get samadhi anubhava//