Dwaadasa Stotram 5

Dwadasa Stotra Commentary : Stora 5

This stotra is interesting on many counts. 

At the very surface level it is very musical - just hear Shri Vidyabhhoshana singing this and one reaches heaven !

Then the slew of alliterating words which demonstrates Acharya’s mastery over language. This lays foundation for musical rendering.

Further usage of words that has different meanings laughing at the poetry rules that snigger at repetition of words.

The way the words get interpreted to mean so many different things from Smrutis is astounding.

Acharya has chosen to have the penultimate stanza with just a line while others have two. Scholars would jump all over on this comment. 

There have been a few explanations and pravacanas about this. Dr.Bannanje even doubts if there were twelve shlokas at all ; or if they were even written at same time. He is of the opinion that the shlokas were composed by Acharya as he was wandering all over India with his disciples over a period of time. 

For me the kicker is in the last 1.5 stanzas : 

दामोदर दूरतरान्तर वन्दे दारित पारग पार परस्मात् 

I worship Daamodara, who is far and yet near; who is basis for those cross over to greater side .

आनन्द सुतीर्थ मुनीन्द्र कृता हरिगीत इयं परम आदरतः 

परलोक विलोकन सूर्यनिभा हरि भक्ति विवर्धन शौण्ड तमा 

This intoxicating song on Shri Hari , composed by king of Munis-who is repository of goodness and bliss-  is like a blazing sun that lightens up the way to cross the samsaara , for those who contemplate with reverence. 

// The point to note is that Shri Hari is not far away in some strange place known as Vaikunta - he is closest to us living in us. Acharya paraphrases Narayaa Sukta here. The means of reaching this place is through intoxicating devotion that breaks all boundaries and know concepts-after all Shri Hari is beyond all conceptualization . This is what Acharya seems to indicate by using a style that ignores meaningless restrictions of poetry structure and grammar. All stanzas don’t have same length or words repeating// 

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वासुदेव अपरिमेय सुधामान शुद्द सदोदित सुन्दरी कांत 

धराधर धारण वेधुरधर्तः सौधिति दीधिति वेध्रुविधातः 

अधिकबन्धं रन्धय बोध अछिन्दि विधानं बन्धुरमद्दा 

I worship Vasudeva , who is beyond our comprehension , who has no limitations,  who is free from all defects, abode of real beauty , who lifts the burden of jivAs , by breaking the most severe bondage Samsaara through jnAna. 

// Vasudeva is free from all defects including human definitions . How can limited jivas characterize Shri Hari who us beyond human thinking ? Any definition would be a dosha or defect. He is govardhana because he lifts all burdens of samsaara for Saatvik people (go) . How does he do it ? By providing jnAnan.//

केशव केशव शासक वन्दे पाश धरार्चित शूरवरेश 

Keshava, the ruler of universe, master other gods, one who has been worshipped by Varuna (Paashadhara), my salutations to you.

नारायण अमल कारण वन्दे कारण कारण पूर्ण वरेण्य 

माधव माधव साधक वन्दे बाधक बोधक शुद्द समाधे 

You are Jagathkaarana - the cause for the creation and existence of the world, You are the cause of others known as causes , You are  infinite , Your are the greatest of all. I offer my salutations to you.;giver of Jnana,  my prostrations to you.

गोविन्द गोविन्द पुरन्दर वन्दे स्कन्द सनन्दन वन्दिता पाद 

विष्णो सृजिष्णो ग्रसिष्णो विवन्दे कृष्ण सदुष्ण बधिष्णो सुधृष्णो 

Govinda, who is extolled by the Vedas, whose feet are prostrated to by Shanmukha and Sunandana , offer our prostrations. One who pervades the entire universe , Creator, destroyer of the worlds, destroyer of evil , and one establishes the path of righteousness in the world. I offer my prostrations.

मधुसूदन दानव सादन वन्दे दैवत मोदित वेदिता पाद 

त्रिविक्रम निष्क्रम विक्रम वन्दे सुक्रम संक्रम हुङ्क्रुत वक्त्र 

He "destroys" the worldly objects of pleasure which come in the way of undivided meditation for His devotees.He gives bliss to the good souls.. He is beyond any regulations and what he does is always well regulated. He is master of all Triads

// He is beyond three Gunas, beyond three states of consciousness, three times, three karmas, and so on. In short he transcends human conception//

वामन वामन भामन वन्दे सामान सीमन सामान सानो 

श्रीधर श्रीधर शंधर वन्दे भूधर वार्धर कन्धर धारिन् 

I offer my prostrations to you - Vaamana, who gives devotion, bliss, Jnana and wellbeing. You are extolled by the Sama veda and establish the path of Dharma in the world. You are the support of true wealth jnAnan, You support the ocean of Dissolution, the universe,, one who has the essence of bliss as His nature. I offer my prostrations to thee.

हृषीकेश सुकेश परेश विवन्दे शरणेश कलेश बलेश सुखेश 

पद्मनाभ शुभोद्भव वन्दे संभृत लोक भराभर भूरे 

दामोदर दूरतरान्तर वन्दे दारित पारग पार परस्मात् 

I worship Daamodara, who is far and yet near; who is basis for those cross over to greater side .

आनन्द सुतीर्थ मुनीन्द्र कृता हरिगीत इयं परम आदरतः 

परलोक विलोकन सूर्यनिभा हरि भक्ति विवर्धन शौण्ड तमा 

This intoxicating song on Shri Hari , composed by king of Munis-who is repository of goodness and bliss-  is like a blazing sun that lightens up the way to cross the samsaara , for those who contemplate with reverence.