Nyasa Dasaka

                                     (The ten verse offering)

                                                            By

                                             Srimath Vedantha Desika

                                                  Translated by

                                                 P.R.Ramachander

 

(Here is a great work of Visishtadwaitha philosophy composed by Srimad Vedantha Desika stressing and explaining the philosophy of surrender to the almighty. Being a novice in the tenets of that great doctrine, I have given here a very simple translation learned from Stotra rathnavali published by Gita press. People interested in knowing the real interpretation by Sri Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan are requested  to visit http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/vdesikan/nyasa_dasakam/index.html)

 

Aaham madakshanabaro madrakshana phalam thada,

Na mama  sripather vethyathmanam nikshiped budha.          1

 

The wise man does not claim ,

The responsibility of his own upkeep,

And the results of such an upkeep,

As  his but dedicates it to,

The lord and consort of Lakshmi.

 

Nyasyamyakinchana  sriman anukoolo  aananyavarjitha,

Viswasa prarthana poorvamathma rakshabharam thwayee.        2

 

I make a total surrender to you, Oh Lord,

With an aim to please you and,

Considering you as fully mine,

And with full faith and prayers to you,

Make my protection as your job.

 

Swami swasesham swavasam swabharathwena  nirbharam,

Swadatha swadhiya  swarth  swasminayasyathi maam swayam.      3

 

Oh Lord , putting me under your control,

And by being your bonded slave,

I entrust you  with my upkeep,

And I surrender to you of my own accord,

The wisdom and ego given by you to me.

 

Sriman aabhestavarada thwam aasmi  saranam gatha,

Ethad deha aavasane  maam thath padam  prapaya swayam.             4

 

Oh Lord who fulfills all desires,

I totally surrender to you,

And after leaving my body at the end,

Please make me reach your feet myself.

 

Twacheshathwe sthiradhiyam  thath prapthyeka  prayojanam,

Nishidha kamya rahitham  kuru maam nithya kinkaram.                      5

 

Oh Lord , make me your servant permanently,

And let me always enjoy the fruits of you mercy,

And let this thought never leave me,

Please make me not do anything that is prohibited,

And make your slave every day.

 

Devi bhooshana hethyathijushtasya  bhagawamsthva,

Nithyam niraparadheshu kainkaryeshuniyunkshwa maam,                      6

 

Oh Lord I am desirous of serving you ,

Like your consort, your weapons  and your ornaments,

And so please engage me, who am innocent,

In duties that are dear to you , daily.

 

Maam madheeyam cha nikhilam  chethanachethanathmakam,

Swa kainkaryaorpakaranam  varada sweekuru swayam.                          7

 

Please accept yourself , Oh giver of all boons

Me  and all that is mine,

Which are living and not living,

In  your service as offerings to you

 

Thwameva rakshakosi may thwameva karunakara,

Na pravarthaya  paapani  pravruthani nivaraya.                                          8

 

Oh lord you are my only protector.

And you the only one who shows mercy on me,

And so please never allows near me,

And remove the sins that are already committed by me.

 

Aakrthyanam cha kaaranam kruthyanam varjanam cha may,

Kshamaswa nikhilam deva pranatharthihara prabho.                                    9

 

Oh God who destroys sufferings of his devotees,

Please pardon me for undertaking to do,

Those actions which should not be done,

And also not doing actions which should be done.

 

Sriman niyathapanchangam mad rakshanbhararpanam,

Aacheekarthswayam swasminathohamiha nirbhara.                                       10

 

Oh Lord , you have accepted my surrender,

Done with five limbs and the onus  of my upkeep,

And I am therefore freed of all worries,

And filled with peace and tranquility.