Vishnu Sahasra Naamam-Vol V-Rr-edit.pub - Ahobilavalli

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Note again the emphasis on 'atyartha priyam'. This is the basis of the
ArAdhana that bhagavAn is advising us to practice.
The complete subservience is based on our utmost love to Him, and not based
on any other factor such as fear etc.
mAm namas-kuru – namo namanam mayi atimAtra-prahvI bhAvam atyarthapriyam
kuru ityarthaH |
Translation: "Prostrate before Me". Prostration means 'bowing down'. The
meaning is 'Bow down humbly before Me with great love'.
Once again, note the emphasis by bhagavad rAmAnuja on 'atyartha priyam
kuru' – perform this act with great love.
For those who thus surrender to Him, bhagavAn says: "mAm eva eshyasi,
satyam te pratijAne" – "I make this solemn promise to you. You shall attain Me
as a result". These are not mere empty words, because bhagavAn continues:
"priyo'si me" – "You are dear to Me". Thus, bhagavAn is not just advising us to
worship Him with love as the basis, but He is bound to us by the same love,
even more intensely than we can ever command. Elsewhere bhagavAn has
already declared: "He in whom there is great love to Me, I hold him also as
exceedingly dear to Me. I Myself will enable him to attain Me". (gItA 7.17).
SrImad SrImushNam ANDavan points out that the spirit of the gItA Slokam
above is best understood if we look at the phrases as "man-manA eva bhava",
"mad-bhata eva bhava", "mad-yAjI eva bhava", " mAm eva namas-kuru", "mAm
eva eshyasi" – Meditate on Me alone, Worship Me alone, Prostrate only to Me;
You will definitely attain Me without any doubt.
SrI BhaTTar also gives support from the atharva Siras: pRaNAn sarvAn
paramAtmani praNamayati, etasmAt praNavaH | - "The mantra is called
praNava mantra, because it makes all souls to obey, and pay respects to, the
paramAtmA" (as indicated in the earlier translation, this is considered the
greatest privilege by those who understand the significance of the mantra).
SrI Sa'nkara interprets the current instance of the nAma as a reference to
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