SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImadh varavaramunayE nama:
avathArikai (Introduction)
piLLai lOkAchAryar is showing pramANam (scriptural evidence) for this principle [explained in previous sUthrams].
sUthram 217
“SvapachOpi mahIpAla:”
Simple Explanation
“SvapachOpi mahIpAla:” (Oh king! Even a dog-eater …)
vyAkyAnam (Commentary)
“SvapachOpi mahIpAla: vishNubhakthO dhvijAdhika: | vishNu bhakthi vihInasthu yathiScha SvapachAdhama: ||” (Oh king! A devotee of vishNu, even if he is a dog-eater, is greater than a brAhmaNa; even a sanyAsi, if he lacks devotion towards vishNu, is lesser than a dog-eater) – even if one is having a very inferior birth, he is greater than a brAhmaNa; not just being born in superior birth but even being a sanyAsi, if he lacks devotion towards bhagavAn, he is lesser than a dog-eater; as relationship with bhagavAn is shown as the cause for greatness ignoring any worthiness for varNam and ASramam, it is implied that in comparison with the [superior] birth which is a hurdle for relationship with bhagavAn due to scope for falling down etc, the birth which is matching for relationship with bhagavAn, is superior. If that is not the case, piLLai lOkAchAryar would not present this SlOkam as an evidence for the principle explained previously.
adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan
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