Narayaneeyam: Dasakam: 9

Dashakam  IX

Shloka: 1

Sah Kamalodbhavah hi-------------------------------------- he, the lotus-born Brahma, indeed

Sthitah tava Naabhi-Pankeruhe----------------------------- seated on “Your” navel-lotus

Anaalokayan Kutah Svid--------------------------------------and not able to find from where/ not able to understand

Ambudhau idam (kamalam) uditam iti--------------------in the waters of the deluge (lotus) had risen

Tadeekshana-kutoohalaat----------------------------and desirous of ascertaining (finding out for certain) that source

Vivruttaananah Prati-disham-----------------------------turning his face in every direction

Agaat Chaturvadanataam---------------------------------became endowed with 4 faces

Vikasadashtadrshtyambujaam---------------------------with eight eyes like fully-bloomed lotuses

Ashta—eight, Drshti—eyes, Ambujaam—lotus
Brahma, who thus emerged from “Your” navel-lotus, looking around he did not see anything other than the casual waters and the lotus. He was unable to understand the origin of the lotus and the reason for emerging from the ocean, where it all standing by itself. Being eager to know it’s origin, he turned his face in all directions and thereby got four faces with eight eyes like full-blown lotuses.

Shloka: 2

Vilokya tat Kamalam Kevalam eva---------------------------------seeing that lotus standing all alone

Mahaarnavavighoornitam-------------------------------------quivering (shake with a slight rapid movement) and tossing in the great ocean (casual waters)

Na aalokayan tava tanum tadupaaashrayam----------------and not seeing “Your” body and its support

Sah Chintaam Agaat iti-------------------------------------------he (Brahma) thought so

Hi Kah eshah aham Nissahaayah-------------------------------who, indeed, am I seated without help

Mahati Kamalodare---------------------------------------------- inside the large lotus?

Kutah svid idam Ambujam Samajani------------------------------------- from where did the lotus emerge?

Shloka: 3

Sambhavet hi Kimapi Kaaranam------------------------------------------There must surely be some support

Amushya Saroruhah iti sma------------------------------------------------for this lotus, having thus

Krtanishchayah Sah Praudhadheeh khalu--------------------------concluded he (Brahma) of high intellect, indeed

Samavaroodhavaan Naalarandhraadhvanaa-------------------------got down through the hollow of the lotus-stem

Svayogabalavidyayaa-------------------------------------------------------with the help of his own Yogic power

Na Drshtavaan tvadeeyam Kalebaram-----------------------------------But did not see “Your” form

Tu Atimohanam---------------------------------------------which is indeed, extremely enchanting (charming, ravishing)

 Shloka: 4

Tatah sah Sandrshtavaan eva----------------------------------thereafter, he (Brahma) not seeing at all

Kimapi Prayasya---------------------------------------------------anything even after trying

Shat-Samvatsaram Maargayan---------------------------------For a hundred divine years, searching

Sakala-Naalikaa-Vivara-Maargagah-----------------------------through all orifices (hole) of the lotus-stem

Vivaram—Hole, aperture

Nivrtya Sukhanishannah------------------------------------------returned and seated comfortably

Kamalodare Aadadhe ---------------------------------------------in the inside of the lotus, resorted to

Samaadhi-balam Ekaagradheeh----------------------------firm concentration with single-pointed intellect

Bhavadanugraha-ekaagrahee--------------------------------desirous of only having “Your” grace

The idea is that meditation i.e. concentration of the mind and senses, alone can lead to self-realization

Shloka: 5

Sah Padminee-Sambhavah Khalu---------------------------------------He, the lotus-born Brahma, indeed

Drdha-Samaadhi-Bandha-ullasat-Prabodha-Vishadeekrtah-------------------With his mind purified (free from the taint of ignorance) by the knowledge which dawned as a result of firm undisturbed meditation in samaadhi

Shatena Parivatsarihi----------------------------------------------for a hundred divine years (360 x100 human years)

Antardrshaa tava hi roopam-------------------------------------- (on seeing) with his inner eye, “Your” real form

Adbhutam Adrshtacharam-----------------------------------------wondrous and unseen before

Bhujaga-Bhoga-Bhaagaashrayam-------------------------------reposing (resting) on a part of the body of a serpent (Adhisesha)

Vyachashta Paritushta-dheeh----------------------------------Praised “You” his mind becoming immensely happy

Brahma having become free from ignorance by the dawn of knowledge as a result of firm absorption in samaadhi for a 100 divine years and being filled with bliss, saw with his inner vision, “Your” own form reclining on a part of the body of Aadisesha, which was the most wonderful and which had never been seen before.

Shloka: 6

Ayi ! Bhaavaye tat Vapuh te------------------------------------O Lord! I meditate on that form of “Yours”

Yat Darshitam Kamalajanmane---------------------------------that was revealed to the lotus-born Brahma

Kireetamakutollasat------------------------------------------------Shining with a splendid crown and diadem (a jewelled crown)

Kataka-Haara-Keyoorayuk-----------------------------------------with bracelets, pearl necklaces and armlets

Manisphuritamekhalam--------------------------------------------with a golden waist-band resplendent with gems

Supariveetapeetaambaram -------------------------------------with a beautifully worn yellow silk cloth

Kalaayakusumaprabham-----------------------------------------with the brilliance of blue lily flower (kalaya)

Galatalollasatkaustubham----------------------------------------with the Kaustubha jewel shining around the neck

Shloka: 7

He Shruti-Prakara-Darshita-Prachura-Vaibhava------------------O Lord! Whose abundant glory has been described in numerous Vedic texts!

Shreepate------------------------------------------------------------O Consort of Goddess Lakshmi

Hare Prabho! -------------------------------------------------------O Destroyer of all sorrows! O All-Powerful Lord!

Jaya Jaya----------------------------------------------------------------Victory to “You”! Victory to “You”

Dishtyaa Upaishi Padam Drshoh------------------------------Due to my good fortune, “You” have become the object of my vision

Kurushva me Dhiyam---------------------------------------------may “You” make my intellect

Karmathaam Bhuvana-Nirmitau Aashu-----------------------capable of creation of the worlds at the earliest

Iti tvam Druhina-Varnita-Svaguna-Bamhimaa Paahi maam-------------thus, may “You” possessed of innumerable excellences that were sung by Brahma, protect me

Shloka: 8

He Vidhe Labhasva--------------------------------------------------O Brahma! May “You”acquire

Akshataam Bhuvanatrayee-Rachana-Dakshataam------------------unhindered ability/never diminishing ability to create the three worlds

Grhaana Madanugraham-----------------------------------------------Take my blessings

Kuru tapah bhooyah cha------------------------------------------------and do penance again

Bhavatu Atyutkata Bhaktih Mayi--------------------------------------May there be intense devotion to me

Cha Akhila-saadhanee--------------------------------------------which is capable of accomplishing everything

Udeerya iti Giram Aadadhaah---------------------------------Saying these words, “You” did make

Vedhasam Muditchetasam------------------------------------- Brahma extremely happy

Shloka: 9

Tatah Sah Khalu Krtatapaah------------------------------------Then, he (Brahma) indeed, having meditated

Shatam Divya-Samvatsaram------------------------------------for another hundred divine years

Avvapya Poorvaadhikam---------------------------------------having attained, more than ever before,

Tapobalam cha Matibalam-------------------------------------Spiritual and mental powers

Cha Udeekshya Pankajam Payasi------------------------------and seeing the lotus in the waters

Kampitam Vaayunaa---------------------------------------shaken or being tossed by the wind prevailing then

Peetavaan kila Pavana-Paathasee-------------------------drank, verily the air and water

Bhavadbala-Vijrmbhitah-------------------------------------his powers having been enhanced due to “Your” Prowess

The extraordinary power is granted by “You”

Shloka: 10

Punah Sah Tava Krpayaa eva--------------------------------------Then, he (Brahma) by “Your” grace alone

Prakalpya Bhuvanatrayeem---------------------------------------having created the 3 worlds

Tena Sarasijena eva-------------------------------------------------out of that lotus itself

Pravavrte Prajaanirmitau-------------------------------------------became engaged in the task of creation of beings

He Gurumarutpuraadheeshvara----------------------------------O Lord of Guruvayoor

Tvam Tathaa Vidha Krpaabharo------------------------------May “You” full of such incomparable kindness

Paripaahi maam Aashu Eekshitaihi----------------------------protect me soon with “Your” glances

Gurudayokshitaihi-----------------------------------------------soaked in deep compassion

Brahma created the 3 worlds out of that lotus by “Your” grace and then engaged himself in the task of creating other beings. O Lord of Guruvayoor, full of such compassion deign to protect me quickly with “Your” glances overflowing with deep compassion The Virtuous people who worship me are of four kinds:
1.       The distressed –Aartah
2.       The seeker of knowledge—Jijnyaasuh
3.       The seeker of fulfillment of an object of desire–Arthaarthee
4.       The wise –jnyaani
Out of these above, the distressed, the single minded devotee is superior to the devotee who seeks the fulfillment of an object. It is very clear that, ‘Brahma meditated and worshipped “You” with the ultimate object of fulfillment of the task of creation of the worlds.’ He belongs to the 3rd category. Here Bhattatri says, I worship “You” with single-minded devotion. So, “You” who had shown mercy to Brahma, show more mercy to me who does not desire any object except “Your” protection from unending miseries of the body, with “Your” glances soaked with compassion and “You” are the protector of the distressed, indeed.