SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
Instruction 55
dhvayaika nishta purushai: sangathim kArayEth sadhA ||
Simple explanation: We should be constantly remaining together with those who are fully engaged in the principles of dhvaya mahAmanthram. In our SrIvaishNava sampradhAyam dhvaya mahAmanthram which is one among the rahasya thrayam, that is ashtAkshara manthram, dhvaya mahAmanthram and charama SlOkam. dhvaya mahAmanthram is considered as the best among the manthrams. In mumukshuppadi, in the dhvaya prakaraNam’s first sUthram piLLai lOkAchArya explains the qualities expected in a SrIvaishNava. The last quality is ‘gyAnamum virakthiyum SAnthiyum udaiyanAy irukkum parama sAthvikanOdE sahavAsam paNNugai’. That is we should constantly remain together with parama sAthvika (the most noble person) who has gyAnam (knowledge). He should have the knowledge that bhagavAn is the upAyam (means) and bhagavAn is the upEyam (goal). And then he should have virakthi (detachment) from worldly aspects. He should not be hankering for worldly enjoyment. And then he must always have SAnthi (be at peace) and should not be disturbed with anything. Such bhAgavathas, such uththama bhAgavathas are the main target for us. We should be remaining together with such persons. Remaining together does not mean hanging out with them or making use of their homes or making use of their food and amenities. Remaining together means being subservient towards them and serving them all the time. Also, we must inquire about their requirements, needs and facilitate all their needs and engage in constant service to such noble personalities. This is the ultimate objective for SrIvaishNavas. This is what is expected of SrIvaishNavas. The goal of being with bhAgavathas is not to just have conversations with them and spend our time with them. Since such bhAgavathas are engaged fully in bhagavath bhAgavatha kainkaryam they will not have time to take care of their own body. So, we have to take care of their body and their requirements and serve them fully.
Video link: https://youtube.com/shorts/ddPsqegHBwA?si=lATPDzPFZLztHxpJ
Instruction 56
upAyAnthara nishtAmScha purushAn parivarjayEth ||
Simple explanation: We should always consider bhagavAn as upAyam. upAyam is the means to attain the goal. Those who consider other upAyams than bhagavAn, should be completely avoided. In SAsthram there are many means shown to reach bhagavAn. There is karma yOgam, gyAna yOgam, bhakthi yOgam, thirunAma sankIrthanam, dhivyadhESa vAsam, purushOthama vidhyA, avathAra rahasya gyAnam etc. SAsthram also shows SaraNAgathi, that is considering bhagavAn to be the upAyam. The upAyams which were shown in the beginning are all called as sAdhyOpAyams. sAdhyOpAyam means we have to do something on our own to reach bhagavAn. On the other hand, SaraNAgathi is known as sidhdhOpAyam. bhagavAn is always existing and he is waiting to help us and liberate us. Among these two types of upAyams (sAdhyOpAyam and sidhdhOpAyam), sidhdhOpAyam is preferred by our AchAryas. Our AchAryas have said that we should only consider bhagavAn as the upAyam and we should not pursue any other upAyams because all of those other upAyams have a tinge of ego, based on our effort. Hence such upAyams are to be avoided. Since we don’t consider anything other than bhagavAn to be our upAyam to reach him, if we mix with those who pursue other upAyams then we will also develop their attitude. All of the other upAyams have the problem of self-effort which is contrary to total dependence on bhagavAn. Since we are totally dependent on bhagavAn, we should avoid those who are not having such total dependence and those who are considering themselves to be able to reach bhagavAn through their own efforts.
Video link: https://youtube.com/shorts/D9xDjc2nw-A?si=NOhAUYiMICvPRvDQ
Instruction 57
prapaththi dharmanirathair janai: sahavasEth sadhA ||
Simple explanation: We should always remain together with prapannas, those who have surrendered to bhagavAn completely and have given up self-efforts in protecting themselves. This is very similar to the 55th instruction where it is said that we should always remain together with those who are dedicated to dhvaya mahA manthram. This is an extension of the same. prapanna means those who have surrendered and mumukshu means those who seek liberation, eternal kainkaryam to bhagavAn. Such persons are known as SrIvaishNavas. For such persons, it is favourable to remain with those who are shining examples in the same path and well fixated in prapaththi dharmam. dharmam refers to a means to attain a particular goal. Here the goal is liberation. prapaththi dharmam means the path of surrender. In the path of surrender, bhagavAn is the means (upAyam). Our action of surrender is a natural outcome of a person who is totally dependent on bhagavAn. So, for such persons it is important to remain together with those who are well advanced in that same nishtA (belief). In the previous instructions it was mentioned that we should avoid remaining together with those who are focused on self-efforts (upAyAntharams). Here it is said that we should always remain together with those who are established in prapaththi dharmam. Remaining together means learning from them, serving them and facilitating their comforts. The objective of SrIvaishNavas is to serve other established SrIvaishNavas who are fixated on prapaththi dharma without any self-interest and those who are totally focused on serving bhagavAn and bhAgavathas. We should remain together with such persons and serve them.
Video link: https://youtube.com/shorts/ZXgQjbKL_6c?si=HqWusJKpKNv-vrea
adiyEn vidhyA rAmAnuja dhAsi
Proofreading done by – vEnkatESa rAmAnuja dhAsan
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