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श्रीशङ्कर-लक्ष्मण-मुनि-दशकम् - On Sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja
(Note: Prātasmaraṇīya is an expression in saṃskṛta to indicate the great respect that a personality has to be accorded. It can also be literally taken to indicate that one has to meditate upon the personalities waking up early in the morning. By that the mind gets purified. Both the meanings are intended in this set of verses)
द्राविडेषु समुत्पन्नौ वेदान्तार्थप्रवर्तकौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥१॥
They both were born in the Drāviḍa region (South India) and were the proponents of (ultimate) purpose of Vedanta. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: Being the first verse it speaks of the origins of the Ācārya-s.
ज्ञानप्रपत्तियोगाभ्यां मोक्षद्वारापवारकौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥२॥
By showing the paths of Yoga of knowledge and total surrender, they two opened up the gates of Liberation. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: This speaks of one of the defining contributions that the two Ācārya-s made to the society.
परिव्रजनशीलौ तौ परिष्करणतत्परौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥३॥
Being wanderers without attachment, they both were keen on refining (people and traditions that they came face to face in their travels). Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: The rhyming in the words parivrajana pariṣkaraṇa.
अंशौ हरस्य च हरेः हारिणौ पापतापयोः।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥४॥
Being aspects of Lord Śiva and Lord Nārāyaṇa they both removed sins and sufferings. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: Both the words Hari and Hara have the same dhatu (root) - hṛñ - haraṇe to remove.
ससृजतुः शिष्यसङ्घं निजकार्यानुवृत्तये ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥५॥
To continue their work both of them created a team of disciples. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: Not only were the Ācārya teachers or preceptors, they were are also great organizers.
पूजाविधानसंस्कृत्या भक्तिभावविबोधकौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥६॥
By refining the methods of worship (in home and also at temples) they helped in awakening a sense of devotion. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
न वै निगडितौ जात्या जातमात्रहिते रतौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥७॥
Not chained by the caste (jati) considerations, they were focused on the welfare of all beings that were born (jata). Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
अग्र्यौ वादकथायां तावार्षधर्मसुगुप्तये ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥८॥
They both were skilled in the art of debate, desirous of protecting the Dharma of the Risis. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: For them vāda - dialectics was only a tool to protect the Vedic Dharma. It was just the means and not the end.
अधीतिबोधनाभ्यां तौ निन्यतुर्निजजीवनम्।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥९॥
They spent their life by Study and teaching (svādhyāya and pravacana). Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: The Vedas state - svādhyāyapravacanābhyāṃ na pramaditavyam – they upheld this in their life entirely.
वेदमातुः प्रियौ पुत्रौ विदिताखिलवेदनौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥१०॥
They both were the very dear sons of the mother, the Vedas. They two were omniscient. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
उद्देशैक्यं विधानैक्यं गुर्वोः तत्पादरेणुना।
दर्शितं दशभिः पद्यैः यथाबुद्धि मयाधुना॥
That the goals and the method of working of two preceptors were the same, has been shown by me, a speck of dust of their feet, according to my intellect, in ten verses.
प्रातरुत्थाय संस्मृत्य संस्कृत्य च निजं मनः।
आचार्ययोरिदं ह्यैक्यं शमं प्राप्यास्म जीवने॥
Waking up early in the morning, remembering the oneness of both the Ācāryas, and refining our minds, may we attain peace in our life.
इति विलम्बनामसंवत्सर उत्तरायणे वसन्तर्तौ चैत्रमासे शुक्लपक्षाष्टम्यां श्रीमद्वसन्तामहादेवसूनुना रचितं श्रीशङ्करलक्ष्मणमुनिदशकं सम्पूर्णम्॥
(Note: Prātasmaraṇīya is an expression in saṃskṛta to indicate the great respect that a personality has to be accorded. It can also be literally taken to indicate that one has to meditate upon the personalities waking up early in the morning. By that the mind gets purified. Both the meanings are intended in this set of verses)
द्राविडेषु समुत्पन्नौ वेदान्तार्थप्रवर्तकौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥१॥
They both were born in the Drāviḍa region (South India) and were the proponents of (ultimate) purpose of Vedanta. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: Being the first verse it speaks of the origins of the Ācārya-s.
ज्ञानप्रपत्तियोगाभ्यां मोक्षद्वारापवारकौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥२॥
By showing the paths of Yoga of knowledge and total surrender, they two opened up the gates of Liberation. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: This speaks of one of the defining contributions that the two Ācārya-s made to the society.
परिव्रजनशीलौ तौ परिष्करणतत्परौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥३॥
Being wanderers without attachment, they both were keen on refining (people and traditions that they came face to face in their travels). Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: The rhyming in the words parivrajana pariṣkaraṇa.
अंशौ हरस्य च हरेः हारिणौ पापतापयोः।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥४॥
Being aspects of Lord Śiva and Lord Nārāyaṇa they both removed sins and sufferings. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: Both the words Hari and Hara have the same dhatu (root) - hṛñ - haraṇe to remove.
ससृजतुः शिष्यसङ्घं निजकार्यानुवृत्तये ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥५॥
To continue their work both of them created a team of disciples. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: Not only were the Ācārya teachers or preceptors, they were are also great organizers.
पूजाविधानसंस्कृत्या भक्तिभावविबोधकौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥६॥
By refining the methods of worship (in home and also at temples) they helped in awakening a sense of devotion. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
न वै निगडितौ जात्या जातमात्रहिते रतौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥७॥
Not chained by the caste (jati) considerations, they were focused on the welfare of all beings that were born (jata). Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
अग्र्यौ वादकथायां तावार्षधर्मसुगुप्तये ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥८॥
They both were skilled in the art of debate, desirous of protecting the Dharma of the Risis. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: For them vāda - dialectics was only a tool to protect the Vedic Dharma. It was just the means and not the end.
अधीतिबोधनाभ्यां तौ निन्यतुर्निजजीवनम्।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥९॥
They spent their life by Study and teaching (svādhyāya and pravacana). Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
Note: The Vedas state - svādhyāyapravacanābhyāṃ na pramaditavyam – they upheld this in their life entirely.
वेदमातुः प्रियौ पुत्रौ विदिताखिलवेदनौ।
स्मर्तव्यौ प्रातरुत्थाय मुनी शङ्करलक्ष्मणौ॥१०॥
They both were the very dear sons of the mother, the Vedas. They two were omniscient. Such sages Śaṅkara and Rāmānuja are to be meditated upon, waking up early in the morning.
उद्देशैक्यं विधानैक्यं गुर्वोः तत्पादरेणुना।
दर्शितं दशभिः पद्यैः यथाबुद्धि मयाधुना॥
That the goals and the method of working of two preceptors were the same, has been shown by me, a speck of dust of their feet, according to my intellect, in ten verses.
प्रातरुत्थाय संस्मृत्य संस्कृत्य च निजं मनः।
आचार्ययोरिदं ह्यैक्यं शमं प्राप्यास्म जीवने॥
Waking up early in the morning, remembering the oneness of both the Ācāryas, and refining our minds, may we attain peace in our life.
इति विलम्बनामसंवत्सर उत्तरायणे वसन्तर्तौ चैत्रमासे शुक्लपक्षाष्टम्यां श्रीमद्वसन्तामहादेवसूनुना रचितं श्रीशङ्करलक्ष्मणमुनिदशकं सम्पूर्णम्॥