फलद्वा पुण्यानां मयि करुणया वा त्वयि विभो
प्रस्न्नेऽपि स्वामिन् भवदमल-पादाब्ज-युगलम् ।
कथं पश्येयं मां स्थगयति नमस्स्ंभ्रम-जुषां
निलिंपानां श्रेणि-र्निज-कनक-माणिक्य-मकुटै: ॥ १७ ॥
phaladvA puNyAnAM mayi karuNayA vA tvayi vibho
prasn^ne&pi svAmin bhavadamala-pAdAbja-yugalam |
kathaM paSyeyaM mAM sthagayati namassMbhrama-juShAM
niliMpAnAM SreNi-rnija-kanaka-mANikya-makuTai: || 17 ||
How will I see your lotus feet even if you condescend to grant me your appearance, either due to my good deeds or due entirely to your compassion, since they won’t be visible to me, vision being obstructed by the ruby studded gold crowns of Devas eagerly worshipping thy feet?
Commentary
தானந்தம் இல்லான் தனையடைந்த நாயேனை
ஆனந்த வெள்ளத் தழுத்துவித்தான் காணேடீ
ஆனந்த வெள்ளத் தழுத்துவித்த திருவடிகள்
வானுந்து தேவர்கட்கோர் வான்பொருள்காண் சாழலோ.
சலமுடைய சலந்தரன்தன் உடல்தடிந்த நல்லாழி
நலமுடைய நாரணற்கன் றருளியவா றென்னேடீ?
நலமுடைய நாரணன்தன் நயனம்இடந் தானடிக்கீழ்
அலராக இடஆழி அருளினன்காண் சாழலோ.
(திருவாசகம்)
This sloka highlights Siva Paadha Dharisanam. The story of Sudharsana Chakra is embedded in this sloka.
Once upon a time there was an asura by name Jalandara who by his austerities obtained a boon from Shiva that he would be invincible against anyone whom he chooses to fight. Using this boon he vanquished Indra, Brahma and even Vishnu and then subjugated all the devas and naras and ill treated them. With these great victories gone into his head he decided that he would defeat Parameswara Himself and thus marched towards Kailash. At the gate Shiva in the guise of an old man stopped Jalandara and told him that he has to prove that he is a worthy opponent to fight the Lord. Jalandara wanted to know from the old man the kind of proof that was required more than the defeat of Indra, Brahma and Vishnu in his hands. Upon this the old man drew a chakra with his foot on the sand and told Jalandara that if he could lift the chakra out of the sand that would be proof enough. Jalandara immediately gathered his intellectual prowess and decided to life the chakra and proudly lifted the chakra out of the sand. Alas! No sooner he lifted the chakra than it sprung into action and cut-off his head! Then the powerful Sudharsana chakra that was brilliant as the sun rested with Shiva.
At a later time rakshasaas were on the rise and were giving himsa to devas. Desirous of protecting the devas, Mahavishnu decided to do a sahasranaama archana to Parameswara using lotus flowers so Shiva would be pleased and give him that brilliant Sudharsana Chakra. When he said the 999th naama and placed the lotus flower at the feet of Shiva all the lotus flowers were exhausted and Vishnu was nonplussed for the 1000th flower for the 1000th naama. Suddenly he remembered that people call him Aravindaaksha (lotus eyed) and immediately he plucked one of his eyes and placed at the feet of Shiva saying the 1000th naama. Such was the devotion of Mahavishnu to Parameswara! Parameswara immediately restored Mahavishnu his eye that he placed at the feet of Shiva.
:Devakaaryasya sidyartham dhaithyanaasaaya saachramam
Sudharsanaakyam chakram cha dhadhaami thava sObhanam”
Eva mukthvaa dhadhou chakram sooryaayutha samaprabham|
Sudharsanam svapaathOththam sarvachathruvinaasanam||
So saying Shiva gave him the coveted Sudharsana Chakra that became the familiar weapon in the hands of Vishnu who came to be known as Chakrapaani thenon. This wonderful story is given in Shiva MahaapuraaNam.
With this Sudharshana Chakra which came out of the foot of Parameswara, Vishnu went on to save Gajendra, did the samhaara of sisupaala, saved parikshit from distruction in the womb and so on. In essence this is the Sudharsana Chakra that is destined for “ParithraaNaaya saadhoonaam vinaasaaya cha dhushkrthaam”.
In this sloka AachaaryaaL says: O! Parameswara! As a dheenan I am trying to submit a bilva dhaLam at your feet but all the devas have gone ahead of me in a hurry and are placing their heads with the many jeweled kireetams at your feet that blinds my eyes in their brilliance. What a surprise! That one bilva dhaLam that I sent towards your feet fell on all their heads and gave me the benefit of worshipping all the Devathaas!
Aum Namasivaaya!
(to be continued..)
Tamilbrahmins 