Monday, 15 August 2022

Slokam 14: Vishnu Sahasranamam: Aeshame

Slokam 14:





Transliteration

eṣa me sarva dharmāṇāṃ dharmo 'dhikatamo mataḥ |

yad bhaktyā puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ stavair arcen naras sadā || 14 ||

Meaning

"This worship of the Supreme Lotus-eyed Lord at all times by a person endowed with devotion is
regarded by me as the greatest of all religious practices."
(by Pandit U.Ve. Sri Rama Ramanuja Achari)

"This worship of the lotus eyed lord, by a person singing his praise, is hence regarded by me
as the greatest dharma."

"This I think is the most excellent dharma of all dharmas that with devotion, a man should always glorify the lotus-eyed (Lord) by praises." (link)

Comment

This Slokam is in reply to the fifth question: "Which is the greatest Dharma?". Bheeshma answers this by stating that he regards the singing in praise of the lotus eyed lord as the greatest Dharma. Meanings of some of the words in the slokam are given below: 

eṣa: This 
me: to me 
sarva: whole/ entire/ all 
dharmāṇāṃ: dharmas  
dharmo: dharma 
adhikatamo: highest/ most 
mataḥ: opinion 
yad: if 
bhaktyā: with devotion 
puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ: Lotus-eyed 
sadā: always