saptati ratnamAlikA

Swamy Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA
 Topic Page no.

Introduction/avatArikai 1

Slokams and Meanings 11

Annexure - Transliteration Scheme for Sanskrit 89

saptati ratnamAlikA
Sincere Thanks to:
Thanks to likhita kaimkarya ghoshTI for editing, formatting,
providing Sanskrit texts etc.

Swamy Desikan at Oppilaippan Koil

Source: SrImadvedAntadesIka vishayaka stotramAla published by

SrImad ANDAvan Poundarikapuram svAmi ASramam.

saptati ratnamAlikA
 ॥ ॥

व तय भ र

saptati ratnamAlikA
(Composed by SrI PradivAdi Bhayankaran aNNan svAmi)

Introduction/avatArikai:

parakAla MaTha jIyar,Swami Desikan, KumAra VaradAcchAr

SrI KumAra VaradAcAr svAmi (1316-1415 CE), the son and

SishyA of svAmi DeSikan had a devout and talented disciple by
the name of HastigirinAthAr from the MuDumbai Nambi vamSam.
Because of latter‟s skills in debate, he proved to be a terror for
contestants from para matams. He was therefore called
respectfully “PrativAdi Bhayankaram annan”, a name given by his
AcAryan, SrI KumAra VaradAcAr. We will refer to the specific
incident that led to him to be called PrativAdi bhayankaram annan
later. SrI annan was born at KaancI and lived from 1340 to 1440

saptati ratnamAlikA -1 -
CE; he learnt ubhaya vedAnta SrI sUktis from SrI KumAra
VaradAcAr (NainArAcArya svAmi), the son and SishyA of svAmi
DeSikan first and later from SrI MaNavALa mAmunikaL. SrI annan
svAmi is a classic example of learning from more than one AcArya
(bahudA srotavyam) and respecting all the AcAryAs, who opened
his eyes of j~nAnam (j~nAna cakshus).

SrI annan svAmi was a great admirer of svAmi DeSikan (1268-

1369 CE) and composed a stotram on his AcAryan‟s AcAryan
(PrAcAryan, svAmi VedAnta DeSikan) and named it saptati ratna
mAlikA consisting of 73 uttama Slokams. We will describe later
the circumstances under which this tribute to svAmi DeSikan
named saptati ratna mAlikA came about; this stotram was blessed
by Lord RanganAtha Himself, who had given the title of “ubhaya
VedAntAcArya” earlier to svAmi DeSikan for defending Bhagavad
RaamAnuja darSanam and AzhvAr aruLicceyalkaL-s. SrI
RanganAyaki followed Her Lord and recognized Her son‟s (svAmi
DeSikan's) all round excellence with two more titles:

“sarva tantra svatantrar” and “Kavi tArkika simham”.

SrI annan would later become one of the eight principal SishyA-s
(ashTa dig gajams) of SrI MaNavALa mAmunikaL. He would
compose many granthams in praise of SrI MaNavALa mAmunikaL
as below:

vara vara muni Satakam, mangaLam, suprabhAtam et al.

At the niyamanam of SrI MaNavALa mAmunikaL, SrI P.B. Annan

also composed SrI VenkaTeSa suprabhAtam, stotram, Prapatti
and mangaLam, which are recited every day at TirumalA. Until
that time, such SrI sUktis did not exist for Lord VenkaTeSa. Every
day, the TiruvengaDam hills resonate with SrI Annan‟s
mangaLAsAsanams.

saptati ratnamAlikA -2 -
 PrativAdi Bhayankaram annan swami, Kanchi

According to one version of SrI Annan‟s links to KumAra

VaradAcAr, it is believed that SrI Hastigiri nAthar (SrI Annan) was
in charge of the kitchen of KumAra VaradAcAr (NainArAcArya).
During those times, a learned advaita sanyAsi came to Srirangam
and challenged NainArAcArya for a debate about the supremacy
of Bhagavad RaamAnuja siddhAntam over advaitam. The principal
disciples of NainArAcArya hesitated to debate this talented sanyAsi
and declined their AcAryan‟s invitation to represent him. SrI
Hastigiri nAthar from the kitchen came forward to accept the
challenge on behalf of his AcAryan. Annan was blessed with SrI
HayagrIva mantra upadeSam by his AcAryan; NaininArAcArya
also presented his ring and PerumAL tIrtham prior to SrI Annan‟s
debate with the sanyAsi. During the debate, Annan the vAdi
soundly defeated the advaitin (the prativAdi) and created fear in
the mind of the disputant through his hectoring of the arguments
made by the advaita sanyAsi. The prativAdi accepted his defeat at
the hands of Annan and went away.

When Annan returned to the TirumALikai of his AcAryan, he was

welcomed with great joy by his joyous AcAryan and was honored
with the title of "prativAdi bhayankaram" annan. It is said that one
of the given names to Annan by his parents was “VedantAcArya"
because of their admiration for the SrI sUktis of svAmi DeSikan.

saptati ratnamAlikA -3 -
Annan underwent kAlakshepams from NainArAcArya as a rising
scholar on SrI BhAshyam, 6000 paDi and svAmi DeSika SrI sUktis.
Annan became a prominent and respected AcAryan in his own
right later. Annan was asked by SrI MaNavALa mAmunikaL to
bless some of his prominent SishyA-s with SrI BhAshya
kAlakshepam since his own AcAryan, SrI TiruvAimozhi PiLLai did
not give his Sishya the adhikAram to present kAlakshepams on
SrI BhAshyam. SrI MaNavALa mAmuni had great respect for
svAmi DeSikan and his SrI sUktis. In his vyAkhyAna granthams on
tattva trayam and mumukshu paDi, SrI MaNavALa mAmuni refers
to the granthams of svAmi DeSikan and calls latter respectfully as
“abhiyuktar”. The devotion of SrI Annan and his SishyA- to svAmi
DeSikan and his SishyA-s is well established.

SrI MaNavALa mAmuni

In his saptati ratna mAlikA, SrI Annan celebrates the avatAra

prabhAvam of svAmi DeSikan as the Lord‟s ghanTA
(tiruvengaDamuDaiyAn‟s sannidhi bell); svAmi DeSikan incarnated
as the amSam of tirumaNi AzhvAr on the PuraTTAsi tiruvONam
(SrAvaNam) day, when tiruvengaDamuDaiyAn enjoys His
tIrthavAri. One of the ashTottara Sata nAmAs of svAmi DeSikan
points out that AcArya RaamAnuja incarnated again on this earth
as svAmi DeSikan to reinforce and protect SrI BhAshyam.

saptati ratnamAlikA -4 -
Besides the celebration of the avatAra prabhAvam of svAmi
DeSikan, SrI Annan celebrates further in his saptati ratna mAlikA
four more items:

(A) The kalyANa guNAdiSayams of svAmi DeSikan

(B) The prabhAvam of SrI sUktis of svAmi DeSikan

(C) The importance (mukhyatvam) of Bhakti for svAmi

DeSikan and
(D) The sacredness of the divya mangaLa vigraham of svAmi
DeSikan.

Swami Desikan in Satyagalam

Let us consider these four components of saptati ratna mAlikA

now:

A. ananta KalyANa guNams and vaibhavam of svAmi DeSikan:

There are nine themes that are developed under this sub-title:

(1) He always took as refuge the pAdukais of the aDiyArs' of

the Lord.

saptati ratnamAlikA -5 -
 (2) divya j~nAnam, Bhagavad bhakti, vairAgyam,
kAruNyam, indriya nigraham, sauSIlyam, dairyam, SAnti
and many other kalyANa guNams took their abode in
him.

(3) He was free from inauspicious attributes like kAmam,

kopam, jealousy, miserliness (lobham), confusion
(kalakkam) and deceit (kapaTam).
(4) He was similar in vedAdhyayanam like Sage VyAsa; he
was an expert in handling the kalpa sUtrams; His
knowledge of jyotisham, vyAkaraNam, tarkam was
exemplary.

(5) He was immersed in tasting the delectable nectar of

AzhvArs‟ aruLiccheyalkaLs.

(6) He was a great student of many para matams to

understand the pUrva paksham views. Some of these
para matams are: sAnkhyam, yogam, varieties of
advaitam, Jainam, four kinds of Bhauddham, Saivam and
others.

(7) He had the distinction of being honored with unique titles

by Lord RanganAtha and His Devi, RanganAyaki for his
many services to protect the ubhaya vedAnta
sampradAyam.

(8) He was a great commentator of pUrvAcArya

granthams and was recognized as the lion among poets
and logicians (kavitArkika simham) by SrI RanganAyaki
Herself.

(9) He had in abundance all lakshaNams of a mahA guru and

he was also an exemplary Sishya of his own AcAryan, SrI
Atreya Raamanujar.

B. The prabhAvam of DeSika granthams:

The seven observations in the saptati ratna mAlikA composed by

SrI Annan about the vaibhavam of the SrI sUktis of svAmi
DeSikan are:

saptati ratnamAlikA -6 -
(1) svAmi DeSikan has blessed us with more than hundred
granthams. Every one of them would be sufficient as
upadeSams to address our spiritual needs on this earth
(immai) and beyond (maRumai).

(2) His SrI sUktis chase away our baser guNams and ring in
the auspicious guNams.

(3) They help us attain and enjoy moksha sukham at the end
of our life here on earth.

(4) They have gained the immense respect of very learned

scholars.

(5) They have the glory of being celebrated privately even by

those, who belittle svAmi DeSikan.

(6) They make it easy to understand difficult tattvams in a

very short time although it would need many years of
study, if we were to approach them independently.

(7) Those who learn the khaNDana granthams like

SatadhUshaNI and sarvArthasiddhi well would very easily
defeat para mata vAdis.

Swami Desikan Thirunakshatra Utsavam, Srimushnam

saptati ratnamAlikA -7 -
C. The importance of DeSika Bhakti:

(1) Those who aspire for moksham should have bhakti for
svAmi DeSikan.

(2) Some small minded men insult svAmi DeSikan and

belittle him like Raama and KrshNa were insulted by
RaavaNa and SiSupAla. Such people should not be seen,
worshipped or honored even if they are full of good
guNams and are free of amangaLams. Such aparAdis will
never ever be object of AcArya RaamAnujA‟s grace. For
them, there would be no possibility of moksham. Such
unfortunate souls should be corrected only by the
compassion of svAmi DeSikan alone (tirutti paNi koLLa
vENum). svAmi DeSikan alone is rakshaNam for us here
and in the other world.

D. Some additional points made in saptati ratna mAlikA:

(1) In this stotram, the divya mangaLa vigraham of svAmi

DeSikan is described.

(2) The glory of this mAlikA is understood from the customary

observance that Slokams 10, 59, 17, 65, 23 and 55 are recited
after svAmi NaynirAcAryAr‟s stotram of DeSika mangaLASAsanam.

We will now study the two taniyans of SrI PrativAdi Bhayankaram

Annan.

saptati ratnamAlikA -8 -
Swami Desikan - tUppul

saptati ratnamAlikA -10 -

 Slokams and Meanings
(Meanings and comments are based on the Tamil meanings by
SrI TiruvaLLUr tirumalai IccampADi RanganAthAcAryar svAmi)

-11 -

saptati ratnamAlikA -11 -

 ॥ ॥

व तय भ र
saptati ratnamAlikA
(Composed by SrI PradivAdi Bhayankaran aNNan svAmi)

भ न ल टन थ म लत वय
लद मलम भ व ध वद द॥

SrImAn venkaTanAthArya kavitArkikakesarI |

vedAntAcArya varyo me sannidhattAm sadA hrdi ||

taniyan(s):

लद द ळ - ट ष- लल - फ ध-
ल न -लयद म-दम -ऩ भ
ल ल म नल - ण ऩत
ब ब भ ऩयल द बम य मभ॥१॥

vedanta deSika kaTAksha vivrddha bodha

vidvajjaneDya varadArya dayaika-pAtram |
vatsANvavAyam anavadya guNairupetam
bhaktyA bhajAmi paravAdi bhayankarAryam ||1||

Meaning of taniyan 1:

He has divya j~nAnam that grew out of mercy-laden glances of

svAmi VedAnta DeSikan. He was the singular object of the grace
of SrI KumAra VaradAcArya, who has the vaibhavam of being
saluted by the great scholars. He arose from the SrIvatsa Kulam.
He was totally devoid of inauspicious atma guNams. aDiyEn
prostrates with bhakti before the AcAryan of such noble traits,
PrativAdi Bhayankaram Annan.

saptati ratnamAlikA -12 -

aitihyam:

It has been said that the first line of this taniyan was composed as
a starter for the taniyan for this ashTa dig gajam, SrI PrativAdi
Bhayankaram Annan by his own AcAryan, SrI MaNavALa
mAmunikaL. The second line of the taniyan is said to be
contributed by the satIrtyALs of SrI Annan and the remaining two
lines by those who had been blessed to attend SrI BhAshyam and
other kAlakshepams by SrI Annan.

Swami Desikan

भत- म भ ट-द ळ -ऩ दऩ -
ब मभ ण- लयद म-दम -ऩ भ
त -रळ- लबल -वभ -त
ब ब भ ऩयल द-बम य मभ॥२॥

SrImat trayImakuTa deSika pAda padma-

bhrnNgAyamANa varadArya dayaika pAtram |

saptati ratnamAlikA -13 -

tatsUktileSa vibhavAtta samasta tattvam
bhaktyA bhajAmi paravAdi bhayankarAryam ||2||

Meaning of the taniyan 2:

aDiyEn bows with bhakti before the AcAryan revered as PrativAdi

Bhayankaram Annan, who was the object of the unique dayA of
KumAra VaradArya, who in turn had the intense love for the
sacred lotus feet of his own AcAryan, svAmi DeSikan like a joyous
bee that roams around the lotus flower. Even a small portion of
the SrI sUktis of SrI Annan was powerful to contain in them the
essence of all the tattvams of our illustrious sampradAyam.

Comments:

In both the taniyans, the refrain of the two passages are heard:

(1) varadArya dayaika pAtram and

(2) bhaktyA bhajAmi paravadi bhayankarAryam.

We will now move on to the coverage of the individual Slokams of

saptati ratna mAlikA.

Swami Desikan - Thiruvaheendrapuram

saptati ratnamAlikA -14 -

 Slokams

Slokam 1

लन त मत भ ऩ त शभ
त वलत ऴ ल टळ म भश ॥

jIvanam jagatAm jIyAt kimapyapagata sprham |

svatantram sarvatantreshu venNkaTeSAhvayam mahaH ||

Meaning:

svAmi VedAnta DeSikan is the life sustenance entity for this world.
He has no attachments for vishaya sukhams. His vairAgyam is of
stellar quality. He is adept at all branches of learning. May this
matchless jyoti with the name of VenkateSa live for many, many
years (pallANDu) and be victorious!

Srinivasa Perumal and His Consorts in Mylapore SrI

Vedantha Desikar Devasthanam

saptati ratnamAlikA -15 -

Slokam 2

ळ मभ ण म लत य
व लन वश भ ऩ त ब ॥

SoSrUyamANA yat Sabdam kavitArkika kunjarAH |

svapne prasusruvuH nityam simham kamapi tam bhaje ||

Meaning:

The powerful vAdis and the poets reminding us of strong

elephants are frightened to their wits, when they hear the voice of
svAmi DeSikan even in their dreams and become incontinent out
of their fears about this matchless lion among logicians and kavis.

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -16 -

Slokam 3

भत श यद व न ऩ दयष लर न
तन ल टन थन वन थ न लमभ॥

SrImatAm haridAsAnAm pAdarakshAvalambinA |

tena venNkaTanAthena sanAthAH sukhino vayam ||

Meaning:

svAmi Desikan holds on to the pAdukais (pAdarakshA) of the

Lord‟s BhAgavatAs (Hari dAsA-s) as his protection. Having Him as
our Master, we feel uplifted and joyous.

saptati ratnamAlikA -17 -

Slokam 4

लद द ळ ऩद म य ळ मन
द त नभ भ ल टळ लऩ त॥

vedAntadesSikapadam yasmai SrIranga SAyinA |

dattam tasmai namaskurmo venkaTeSa vipaScite ||

Meaning:

We prostrate before the king of Kavis, svAmi DeSikan, who was

honored by Lord RanganAthan Himself with the birudu of
“VedAntAcAryan”.

Lord Ranganatha Swamy Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -18 -

Slokam 5

द षण य-दळ म व लयदद ळ
म द न व दम तभभ॥

dakshiNottara deSIya sUktyA varadadeSikaH |

yasmAdajani sodaryaH tasmAnnAnyA gatirmama ||

Meaning:

Many SrI sUktis in Sanskrit and southern languages arose from

svAmi DeSikan. KumAra Varada DeSikan also arose from svAmi
DeSikan. aDiyEn has no other gati except svAmi DeSikan, who is
the originator of these many rare SrI sUktis and the successor to
Him to adorn the AcArya pITham.

Swami Desikan in Mylapore SrI Vedantha Desikar

Devasthanam

saptati ratnamAlikA -19 -

Slokam 6

स न त लनम ब ल तय त
य मम त द व लद व य ॥

j~nAnam tu vinayo bhaktiH sampattiH vItarAgatA |

Arogyam yasya tasyAsmi dAso vedAnta sadguroH ||

Meaning:

jn~Anam, humility, bhakti, kalyANa guNams, vairAgyam and

health have taken svAmi DeSikan as their abode. aDiyEn is the
dAsan of svAmi DeSkan, the noble AcAryan.

saptati ratnamAlikA -20 -

Slokam 7

म न वभ लद मत य
मथ ऩ ऴत ल त बय शभ॥

yasmin anananya sAmAnyA vedAntAcAryatA gurau |

yathA purushatA vishNau tasmin nyastabharaH asmi aham ||

Meaning:

aDiyEn has placed the responsibility of my Atma rakshaNam

(bharam) at the sacred feet of svAmi DeSikan. Just as the
Purusha Sabdam is exclusively associated with SrIman
NaarAyaNan, the nAmadeyam of “VedAntAcAryAr” is indisputably
linked with svAmi DeSikan.

saptati ratnamAlikA -21 -

Slokam 8

वलत - त ल त ळ -द ऩ- द नत
ल ट नथ व वष द दळ ॥

sarvatantra svatantratvAt SAstra-dIpa-pradAnataH |

SrIvenkaTAdrinAthaH asau sAkshAt vedAnta deSikaH ||

Meaning:

EmperumAn is the One who spreads bhagavat SAstrams. He is

also the One, who blesses us with the hand lamp of SAstra
j~nAnam to lead righteous lives. The knowledge of SAstra
pramANams helps us to develop discriminating knowledge about
the good and the bad during our earthly existence. Out of His
kAruNyam, BhagavAn gifts us with the hand lamp of SAstrams.
"शत तभ वदवत लल भ ळ भ न द ऩ भल ण दद त
hartum tamaH sadasatI ca vivektumISo mAnam pradIpamiva
kAruNiko dadAti"
are the comments of our pUrvAcAryAs. By not only being a Master
of all vidyAs, svAmi DeSikan has blessed us with many SrI sUktis
on the three tattvams and three rahasyams and helped us with
the light of these lamps to conduct auspicious lives here. In this
matter, svAmi DeSikan, the most merciful is a veritable Lord of
TiruvenkaDam.

Srinivasa Perumal in Mylapore SrI Vedantha Desikar

Devasthanam

saptati ratnamAlikA -22 -

Slokam 9

लब तम लळ दन त
ल भ टळ
भ न व म वलत त
ल व लब भ लब त॥

AvirbhUtiH yasya vamSAdanarghAt

vaiSvAmitrAt vishNu ghaNTAmSakasya |
SrImAn so'yam sarvatantra svatantraH
vaktA vyAkhyA sArvabhaumo vibhAti ||

Meaning:

svAmi DeSikan incarnated in the glorious ViSvAmitra kulam as the

amSam of the sannidhi bell of the Lord of TiruvenkaDam
(tirumAlin tirumaNi). He shines as the sarva tantra svatanrar,
kAlakshepa adhikAri and as vyAkhyAna cakravarti for abstruse
granthams of pUrvAcAryas.

saptati ratnamAlikA -23 -

Slokam 10

ब ऩद-भ व- त- ल - लभरष
ल ट-भश ऩ त-त थ दन-बत
यबल तद यऩ- ट
श ! लत -भ - भ ॥

bhAdrapada mAsa gata vishNu vimalarkshe

venkaTa mahIdhrapati tIrthadina bhUte |
prAdurabhavat jagati daityaripu ghaNTA
hanta! kavitArkika mrgendra gurumUrtyA ||

Meaning:

The kavi tArkika simham incarnated as SrI VenkaTeSa guru on the

PuraTTAsi SravaNa dinam as the amSam of the sannidhi bell of
the Lord of seven hills, which is an enemy of those, who do not
seek the lord as their refuge.

saptati ratnamAlikA -24 -

Slokam 11

त भभ भ टन थ म लद रव
ल ट न थ वदव ण य ळम श न भ॥

tamimam SrImat venkaTanAthAcAryam vadanti kila santaH |

SrIvenkaTAdrinAtham sadasat guNa rASiyoga hAnibhyAm ||

Meaning:

The learned ones (santaH) recognize and describe svAmi DeSikan

as the Lord of TiruvenkaDam (VenkaTanAthan) since he is also an
abode of all kalyANa guNams and is bereft of any inauspicious
guNams.

Lord Venkateshwara of Thiruvenkadam

saptati ratnamAlikA -25 -

Slokam 12

ब लय वम भलय म ल दन
फ ऩ न ब ल ऩनब - त ळम
भ टन थ-द ळ - ळय य न लफब
ल लद श ! तन र -स नन ॥

SrIbhAshyam viracayya samyamivaro jitvA svayam vAdinaH

bAhyAmScApi kudrshTikAn bhuvi punaH bhAshya pratishThASayA |
SrImat venkaTanAtha deSika SiroratnAtmana Avirbabhau
iti evam ca vadanti hanta! krtinaH traikAlika j~nAninaH ||

Meaning:

AcArya RaamAnuja (EmperumAnAr) debated and won over

avaidika mata vAdis and kudrshTi mata vAdis. The first class of
vAdis did not accept Vedam as pramANam. The second category
of vAdis misinterpret Veda mantrams to suit their purposes. Two
hundred and fifty one years after ascent to SrI VaikuNTham to
serve the Lord as AdiSeshan, AcArya RaamAnuja descended to the
earth and took the avatAram as svAmi DeSikan out of his desire
to establish firmly SrI BhAshyam. This is the view of great sages,
who understand the present, past and the future.

Sri Ramanujar in the Holy Temple of Srirangam

saptati ratnamAlikA -26 -

Slokam 13

लन मवत भव ण फर ट ऩ नफशण म
ऩ ल ल-धभ-ल म नन न भ -व य ॥

avanAya satAm asat guNa

prabalATopa nibarhaNAya ca |
api vaishNava dharma vrddhaye
jananam SrI nigamAnta sadguroH ||

Meaning:

To protect the righteous, to remove the haughtiness associated

with the inauspicious guNams and to spread SrI VaishNava
dharmam, svAmi DeSikan incarnated. His avatAram is consistent
with the upadeSam of gItAcAryan about the fruits of His avatAram
(SrImad Bhagavad gItA - 4.8).

saptati ratnamAlikA -27 -

Slokam 14

म म श लत वश न ब ल दश ब लत ण
तशफ - त-ऩष भ दन ऩ यलत ब ल त॥

yadyayam hi kavitArkikasimhaH
nAbhavishyadiha bhuvyavatIrNaH |
tarhi bAhya kudrguddhata pakshaiH
medinI parivrtA hi abhavishyat ||

Meaning:

Had not the Kavi tArkika simham, svAmi DeSikan incarnated here
on earth, the fierce and destructive matams of para mata vAdins
and kudrshTis (maligners and misinterpreters of Veda mantrams)
would have spread and cast their gloom.

Swami Desikan Thirunakshatra Utsavam in Srimushnam

saptati ratnamAlikA -28 -

Slokam 15

ल ट य- लऩ त त न ऩ भबलत रब भ
त भ तशत तद व न भ षऩदल व र ॥

venkaTeSvara vipaSciti jAte

nissapatnamabhavat kila bhAshyam |
tattvamapratihatam ca tadAsIt
yena mokshapadavI sukhalabhyA ||

Meaning:

After the incarnation of svAmi DeSikan, SrI BhAshyam had no

opponents (enemies). The tattvam of ISvaran, which grants
moksham easily spread all around readily.

saptati ratnamAlikA -29 -

Slokam 16

ऩ न मवय ऩ ऴ-वभ ण ऩ डय षम
ऩ तयब त-लय- नन - ब-ल य ळ-
ल भ ल म लयद ऩत ल दशव फल श त
मद ळ लयद भत लत - त ॥

putro anantAryasUreH purusha samaguNaH

puNDarIkAkshayashTuH
pautraH totArabhikhyA Sruta varajananI garbha vArASi candraH |
viSvAmitrAnvavAyo varadagurupitA vAdihamsAmbuvAhAt
AcAryAdAptaSAstro varadagurumataH sarvatantra svatantraH ||

Meaning:

The illustrious sarva tantra svatantrar, svAmi DeSikan shines

resplendently as the son of AnantasUri and noble totArammA. He
is the grandson of PuNDarIkAksha yajvA. He had kalyANa guNams
like BhagavAn Himself. He is the moon that arose form the Milky
Ocean, the womb of his mother. He belonged to the noble
ViSvAmitra kulam. He is the father of VaradAcArya and the
nephew and SishyA of vAdi-hamsAmbuvAhar, SrI AppuLLAr. He
had the benediction to become a great VaishNava AcArya from SrI
NaDAtUr AmmAL. svAmi DeSikan of these many vaibhavams
shines like a lamp on the hill for all to be inspired to travel on the
path of sanAtana dharmam.

saptati ratnamAlikA -30 -

Slokam 17

न व य-वनल बन भ न-लबल त
द -ल द-शव- - रभ -द ळ त
ऩ -वल-ळ वन म श ! लऴ लळत
ऩन ऩननभ म ल टळवयम॥

anantasUri sUnave abhinandyamAna vaibhavAt

diganta vAdi hamsa jaitra kALamegha deSikAt |
upAtta sarva SAsanAya hanta! varsha vimSatau
punaH punaH namaskriyAstu venkaTeSa sUraye ||

Meaning:

aDiyEn‟s repeated salutations to SrI VenkaTadeSikan, who is the

son of AnantasUri with a noble vaibhavam worth celebrating; he
mastered all SAstrams before he reached the age of twenty from
his uncle and AcAryan, Atreya RaamAnujar, who was recognized
as the KaaLamegham for the vAdi hamsams.

saptati ratnamAlikA -31 -

Slokam 18

लद म-लम ल दत-फ ण ल तय मम
ल नऴ - लय त ल लध न - द फ
ल ल तऴ टत- लनम- भ-ळऴ ल
ल त मव ऴम दश न ल ट मलम ॥

vedAntAcAryavaryo vidita bahuguNo vItarAgAgrayAyI

vidvAn vidyA nishadyA viracita vividhAneka divyaprabandhaH |
vishNau vishNvASriteshu prakaTita vinaya prema SeshatvavrttiH
vikhyAtaH Sreyase syAt vishayajidiha no venkaTAcAryavaryaH ||

Meaning:

svAmi DeSikan was a VedAntAcAryar. He had many, many

auspicious guNams that were well known to all and was the leader
among the ones with dispassion (VairAgyasAli). He had
impeccable education and is the renowned author of many SrI
sUktis. He had unalloyed bhakti to SrIman NaarAyaNan and His
BhAgavatAs and remained as their dAsar. He had full mastery
over his indriyams. May this great ubhaya VedAnta AcArya shower
his choicest blessings on us!

saptati ratnamAlikA -32 -

Slokam 19

म त- लत म ढ त यन थ-वतभ
लड लत -भ ऩय र ल थ ब व य ल ॥

yaH samskrta kavitAyAm prauDhimnAnveti kUranAthasutam |

draviDa (drAmiDa) kavitAmArge parakAlam vA atha bhaktisAram
vA ||

Meaning:

In composing excellent Sanskrit SrI sUktis, svAmi DeSikan

matched ParASara BhaTTar, the son of KUreSar. In creating
Tamizh Prabandhams, his excellence reminded one of Kaliyan and
Tirumazhisai AzhvAr.

SriParasara Bhattar in Srirangam

saptati ratnamAlikA -33 -

Slokam 20

ऩय ळत ल ऩ ऩय श
ल ट म- त फ
त रभ ब -भ
न न णम भ न॥

paraSSatam vApi parassahasram

SrIvenkaTAcArya krtAH prabandhAH |
tatrAlamekaH khalu bhukti muktyoH
kArtsnyena kastAn gaNayet samastAn ||

Meaning:

The Sri sUktis created by svAmi Desikan are in the hundreds or

thousands. Among them, every one is sufficient for mental
tranquility here and the hereafter. Who could really count them
all? The comparison here is to the taniyan starting with the line
"sIrAr tUppul".

Swami Desikan Thirunakshatra Utsavam in Sri Ranganatha

Temple, Pomona, USA.

saptati ratnamAlikA -34 -

Slokam 21

मद म यत वत व यत- ल ऩ
मद मल न ऩय व र-वळम रनभ
मद म ण त रधभ-ळ न
व न ळयणभ व व र-त - नल श ॥

yadIya caritam satAm sucarita vyavasthApakam

yadIya vacanam param sakala samSayonmUlanam |
yadIya karuNA gatiH sakala dharma SUnyAtmanAm
sa naH SaraNamastvasau sakalatantra nirvAhakaH ||

Meaning:

svAmi DeSikan, the sarva tantra svatantrar, is our unfailing

refuge. His way of life (conductance) is a model for the AstikAs to
learn from. His SrI sUktis removes all of our doubts. For those,
who are deficient in the pursuit of dharmAs, his mercy
(kAruNyam) alone is our place to seek safety.

saptati ratnamAlikA -35 -

Slokam 22

द ळ ळ लऴम ल मत ध यत न श
ळऴ ळत व न लऴम ऩ यत त
ष ऩट भ वभल ळत नबय नवम
म नव व ल मत ल ट मलम ॥

dAntiH SAntiH Sucitvam vishayavijayitA dhIratA nissprhatvam

Seshatvam SrISatat dAsajanavishayakam pAratantryam ca tatra |
akshobhyatvam paTutvam mrdusamavaSitA nirbharatvAnasUye
yasmin AjAnasiddham sa khalu vijayate venkaTAcAryavaryaH ||

Meaning:

svAmi DeSikan shines from birth on with many auspicious

attributes: Control over internal and external indriyams; purity
(Suddhi); victory over vishaya sukhams; courage; detachment
and freedom from desires; servitude to BhagavAn and His
BhAgavatAs; being their liege; freedom from mental agitations of
any kind; gentleness, talent and penetrating intellect; freedom
from jealousy; neutrality; saulabhyam and sauSIlyam.

saptati ratnamAlikA -36 -

Slokam 23

रम वतत ण- रध
ण लऴम भर धऩत
रल य-ळठ य-ल -य व
लत - व य-व य- भ॥

kalaye satatam karuNA jaladhim

karuNAvishayam kamalAdhipateH |
kalivairi SaThAri vaco rasikam
kavitArkika kesari sUri gurum ||

Meaning:

aDiyEn salutes the KavitArkika simha Guru, who is an ocean of

dayA, the object of the golden grace of the Lord and who knew
the delectable ruci of the Prabandhams of svAmi NammAzhvAr
and Tirumangai AzhvAr.

saptati ratnamAlikA -37 -

Slokam 24

वय -बत-लत र-व य त न
ळठ ट- र वभ दत न भ
ल व द म थलद
ल टळ त ॥

saro bhUta vetALa sArasvatAnAm

SaThadviT kalidhvamsi mukhyoditAnAm |
avicchinna satsampradAyArtha vedI
gururvenkaTeSo gurUktishvatulyaH ||

Meaning:

SrI VenkatTeSa Guru was matchless in comprehending the inner

meanings of the divya Prabandams of Poygai, BhUtam, pEy
AzhvArs and svAmi NammAzhvAr, which arose from the unbroken
sat-sampradAyam of ours.

saptati ratnamAlikA -38 -

Slokam 25

म ष ऩ धभ भ -
ळन म वभ त
व ण लद ळय व
ल ट मभ श ननभ॥

yuktA alUkshA api dharmakAmAH

sammarSino yuktisamanvitASca |
sadbrAhmaNA vedaSiraH prasiddhAH
SrIvenkaTAcAryamukhA hi nUnam ||

Meaning:

Those who are engaged in following the commands of the

SAstrams, those who are free from anger and greed, those who
have innate desire to pursue as well as interpret the sUkshmams
of the various dharmams and travel in the path of those
prescribed dharmams linked to Bhagavad SAstrams and those
who adopt appropriate yuktis to engage in dharma paripAlanam as
experts in Veda VedAntams are MahAtmAs similar to svAmi
DeSikan. This is for sure!

saptati ratnamAlikA -39 -

Slokam 26

ट -लण न - य
म -रषण यण व
तथ व - म बस
म श वलत - त ॥

jaTA varNacarcAdyaneka prakAra-

trayI lakshaNoccAraNe vyAsa kalpaH |
tatA kalpasUtra prayogAdyabhij~no
jayatyanvaham sarva tantra svatantraH ||

Meaning:

There are many established ways to recite Veda mantrams like

JaDai, ghanam, varNa kramam. In following these methods of
recitation, svAmi DeSikan is like Veda VyAsar kalpa sUtrams teach
us about the ways to perform yAgams. svAmi DeSikan is one, who
is thoroughly familiar with the procedures (prayogams) housed in
the kalpa sUtrams. Therefore, he shines as sarva tantra svatantrar
always.

saptati ratnamAlikA -40 -

Slokam 27

बय -ळ ड -श य त-भ -
त भ-व थ- नण त-दष
ऩय ण भ द व ध यण -
त ब तर न मवय ॥

bharadvAja SANDilya hArIta mukhya

smritistoma sUkshmArtha nirNIti dakshaH |
purANAgamAdishvasAdhAraNa SrIH
suto bhAti lokeshvanantAryasUreH ||

Meaning:

svAmi Desikan was an expert in determining the inner and subtle

meanings of the smrtis created by BhardvAjar, SANDilyar,
HaarItar and other rshis. He had special training in interpreting
purANams and Agamams. Thus shines svAmi DeSikan as the son
of SrI Ananta sUri of ViSvamitra kulam.

Swami Desikan at HIS abhimana sthalam

Thiruvaheendrapuram

saptati ratnamAlikA -41 -

Slokam 28

त ळ ळ - लण
ण -न ट र तस
भभवम भन म
वष लत - त ॥

jyotiS-chandaS-SabdaSAstra pravINaH
kAvyaSreNI nATakAlankrtij~naH |
mImAmsAyAm brahma karmAnukAyAm
srashTA sAkshAt sarvatantra svatantraH ||

Meaning:

sarva tantra svatantrar, svAmi DeSikan was very knowledgeable

about jyotisham, classical kAvyams, nATakams, alankAra
granthams, grammar, meters to construct padyams (poetry),
words and rhymes. He was equally at home with the two parts of
Karma and Brahma vicAram of mImAmsa SAstram and in this
matter, svAmi DeSikan was like sage Jaimini and VyAsar.

Sage Jaimini and the birds Sage VyAsar

saptati ratnamAlikA -42 -

Slokam 29

व म ब त
ळल न ळ य ब य
ळ फ म दल लत न
त वलत त ॥

sAnkhye yoge bhATTatantre gurUkte

Saive jaine SAnkare bhAskare ca |

SAstre bauddhe yAdave garvitAnAm
pratyAkhyAtA sarvatantra svatantraH ||

Meaning:

sarvatantra svatantrar, svAmi DeSikan with his extraordinary

scholarship was adept at defeating vAdis advocating para matams
like SAnkyam, yogam, BhATTa matam, PrabhAkara matam, two
kinds of matams based on mImAmskam, Saivam, Jainam,
SAnkaram, BhAskara matam, yAdava matams (advaita bhedA-
bheda doctrines), and bauddham. These arrogant vAdis ran
around challenging each other and VaishNava darSanam. They
were sure that there was no one who could defeat their
arguments and were full of pride about their capabilities. svAmi
DeSikan defeated them all and proved that their arguments were
full of fallacies and could not stand up to the Vaidika darSanam
based on Bhagavad RaamAnuja siddhAntam.

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -43 -

Slokam 30

वल लन म ट त ब लन द न त-
न फ ळ यणत -वयषण त
भ ळठ ऩ-भ - द लऴ थ म-य भ न -
मन नम त श ! न भ म- ड भ ण ॥

sarvojjIvana cintayA ghaTakatAbhAvena dAnAtkrti-

SreshThAnAm bahuSaH taduddharaNataH trayyanta
samrakshaNAt |
SrImat SrI SaThakopamukhya divishannAthArya rAmAnujA-
cAryAn apyanuyAti hanta! nigamAntAcArya cuDAmaNiH ||

Meaning:

svAmi DeSikan has performed extraordinary kaimkaryams as a

great AcAryan based on his desire to lift up people form the
samsAric mire and unite the baddha jIvans with sarveSvaran
through teachings on the two mArgams for gaining freedom from
the cycles of births and deaths. These laudable kaimkaryams are:

(1) nirmANam of many SrI sUktis on the tattvams and

rahasyams,

(2) teaching through kAlakshepa mukham, the core

granthams like SrI BhAshyam,

(3) protection of the teachings based on ubhaya VedAntam

by AzhvArs, pUrvAcAryAs like Naathamuni, ALavantAr
BhaTTar and RaamAnuja.

Is it not so that that these noble and selfless kaimkaryams have

been lauded by many AstikAs?

saptati ratnamAlikA -44 -

Slokam 31

श य ऩ त- व द-र बम-लद -धय य - त

ऩ त शध भण - ऩ र त - बत एऴ व य ॥

iha rangapati prasAda labdhobhaya

vedAnta dhurandharatva kIrtiH |
api tat sahadharmiNI krpAttA akhila
tantra prabhutAka esha sUriH ||

Meaning:

svAmi DeSikan received the glorious Birudu of "ubhaya

VedAntAcAr" from Lord RanganAtha and the honorific recognition
as “sarva tantra svatantrar" from the sarvAnugrahamayi, SrI
RanganAyaki.

Lord RanganAtha Sri RanganAyaki Thayar

saptati ratnamAlikA -45 -

Slokam 32

र-त -धय यत शय
म त ल टन थ- य त
ल ध- ळल द- न तयऴ ल
दऩ श न व ऩ य मत॥

akhila tantra dhurandharatA hareH

tvayi tu venkaTanAthagurau sthitA |
vidhi SivAdi janeshvitareehu vA
kvacidapIha na sA paridrSyate ||

Meaning:

EmperumAn (SrI HayagrIvan) alone is the abode and Lord of all

kalais (arts). That glory was bequeathed to SrI VenkaTeSa Guru
(svAmi DeSikan) alone. This distinction is not seen in BrahmA,
SivA or other devAs.

Sri Hayagrivan Lord Hayagrivan and Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -46 -

Slokam 33

षभ म श म ऩभ न भ
त त त भत दलभ
म ल यण द -वश य य
व म य वलत - त ॥

kshamAyAm hi yasyopamAnam mukundaH

Srutau tasya talpo matau devamantrI |
jaye vairiNAm daitya samhArakArI
sa jIyAt ciram sarvatantra svatantraH ||

Meaning:

In his forbearance (patience), svAmi DeSikan resembles the Lord.

In the area of Saastra j~nAnam, he is like the bed of the Lord, Adi
Seshan. In scholarship, he is a match to deva guru, Brhaspati. In
the matter of destruction of enemies to Bhagavad Saastrams,
svAmi DeSikan is like sudarSanar, who destroys the asurAs.

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -47 -

Slokam 34

म ऩम भन थत द ळ न
वल ब ण भ दत- लबल लत - त
ळ ऩम ऩ ण ण यन थ मथ
न मल त न श ण मळ ॥

AcAryatvopayuktAH munigaNakathitAH deSikaiH svena coktAH

sarve bhadrAH guNAH syuH samudita vibhavAH -
sarvatantra svatantre |
Sishyatve copayuktAH api ca guNagaNAH kUranAthe yathA syuH
nAnyatrAcAryavarge kati ca na hi guNAH prAyaSaH tatra drshTAH ||

Meaning:

svAmi DeSikan and many sages before him have defined the
appropriate guNams that an ideal AcAryan and Sishya should
possess. svAmi DeSikan is the abode of all uttama lakshaNams of
a sadAcAryan. SrI KoorattAzhvAn is a role model for an ideal
Sishya as evidenced from his Sishya kaimkaryams to his own
AcAryan, SrI RaamAnuja. Those Sishya guNams were abundantly
present in svAmi DeSikan as he related to his own AcAryan and
PrAcAryAs. It is agreed that there is no AcAryan in the history of
Guru Parampara matches svAmi DeSikan in possessing the ideal
guNams of a Sishya and an AcAryan in the same person.

Sri KooratthAzhwAn

saptati ratnamAlikA -48 -

Slokam 35

म तऩ त-व द म-ऩ यऩ ऴ वतत न भ य

तऩ तत भत वयवत - णन वभन भ तय
ध त-रषण लभरव य त-ळभन लऩष-भथन
रमत न ळब न ब ल द म-म तय -शऴ- नन ॥

yatipati sampradAya pariposhakasya satatam nigamAntaguroH

atipatitAmrtA sarasatA guNena sumanassrajo mrdutarA |
adhigata lakshaNA vimalasUktirArti SamanI vipaksha mathanI
kalayatu naH SubhAni bhagavattadIya yatirAja harshajananI ||

Meaning:

The SrI sUktis of svAmi DeSikan that grow EmperumAnAr‟s

sampradAyam forever and ever are fountains of nectar. In their
sweetness, they are like the fragrance of a fresh flower garland.
These SrI sUktis are free from any blemishes relating to grammar.
They quench the samsAric tApams. They destroy misleading and
faulty para matams. They gladden the hearts of EmperumAnAr
and his SishyAs. They confer sarva mangaLams for us.

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -49 -

Slokam 36

ऩ बल श-द -ऩ यभ त ब लन फ धन य
ळभ-दभ-द ऴब त-ब ल द म न-ब -भ - नन
लऴमऩय - ऩ-भद-भ श-र ब ळठत द-द ऴ-ळभन
ब ल व ळ तय न शव य न भ -द ळ - य ॥

api ca bhavAhi dashTa parimUrcchitasya bhavinaH

prabodhanakarI
Sama dama doshabhIti bhagavattadIyajana bhakti mukti jananI |
vishayaparatva kopa mada moha lobha SaThatAdi dosha SamanI
bhuvi sadrSItarAsti na hi sUktiradya nigamAnta deSika giraH ||

Meaning:

Further, svAmi DeSikan‟s SrI sUktis bring back to life the

samsAris, who have been bitten by the poisonous snake of
samsAram and are unconscious. These SrI sUktis create control
over the senses, generate fear about acquisition of sins, develop
bhakti to EmperumAn and His BhAgavtAs, grant moksham at the
end of earthly existence. They chase away blemishes like the
desire for insatiable vishaya sukhams, anger, greed, lust for other
people‟s ISvaryam and deceitful conduct of every kind.

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -50 -

Slokam 37

भ- ल ल -ल
धभ- ल वल ल
ळ त श नन वलऩ ऴ ण
ल ट- लऩ लर वतन॥

karma vicikitsA vrtta vicikitsA

dharma vicikitsA sarva vicikitsA |
SAmyati hi nUnam sarvapurushANAm
venkaTa vipaScit vAgvilasitena ||

Meaning:

From svAmi DeSikan‟s SrI sUktis, we can clear our doubts about
the details regarding the performance of karmAs like agnihotram
and other prayogams that can be brought in to one‟s practice
through the anushThAnams of the very learned ones. One can
clarify doubts about sanAtana dharmam from the study of the
aruLicceyalkaL of svAmi DeSikan.

saptati ratnamAlikA -51 -

Slokam 38

म म म तऩ त-त -द ऩ
वरषण यवतभ त भत
वभ यय ऩ वतत ऩय षत
ळ वत ऩ य रम न मभ॥

yaduktayo yatipati tantra dIpikAH

salakshaNAH sarasatamAH satAm matAH |
samatsarairapi satatam parokshataH
praSamsitAH parikalayet sa naH Sriyam ||

Meaning:

svAmi DeSikan‟s SrI sUktis are like the lamp to EmperumAnAr‟s

matam (darSanam). They follow strictly the rules of grammar.
They are delectable to experience. They are highly regarded by
the scholars. They are celebrated even by the jealous ones in
private. May svAmi DeSikan‟s SrI sUktis grant us sarva
mangaLams!

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -52 -

Slokam 39

लण म भड व त
म भ ळम न ल द त
ल भ व लम भर
म त व म वलत - त ॥

vANI yasya drAmiDI sAmskrtI ca

prAyaH prAcAmASayAnanvavAdIt |
arvAcAmapyAsa vaiyAtyamUlam
jIyAt so'yam sarvatantra svatantraH ||

Meaning:

The SrI sUktis of svAmi DeSikan in Sanskrit and dravidian

language of Tamizh follow closely the upadeSams and the mind
set of his pUrvAcAryAs. It provides courage to His successors
regarding their own grantha nirmANams. Our PallANDu to svAmi
DeSikan for his illustrious kaimkaryams and for encouragement to
successive generations of AcAryAs.

Swami Desikan Thirunakshatra Utsavam in Sri Ranganatha

Temple, Pomona, USA.

saptati ratnamAlikA -53 -

Slokam 40

मद म तऴ षण ऩ य त त तय
तन त फ ल य- भभन त भ त
तभ म तबऩ त थत-व त य
ब ल- थ यत- यद-फ - ठ यलभ॥

yadIya krtishu kshaNam paricitiH satAm cAturIm

tanoti bahuvatsara SramamanustutAm anyataH |
tamadya yatibhUpati prathita sanmatoddhArakam
bhaje kavikathArata dvirada brnda kaNThIravam ||

Meaning:

aDiyEn salutes the lion among the elephant herds of poets and
logicians! The learned ones gain sharper levels of scholarship
about Bhagavad RaamAnuja siddhAntam and develop clarity and
chase away their pestering doubts about the soundness of para
matams through the study of svAmi DeSikan‟s SrI sUktis even for
a very short period of time. They acquire such knowledge in such
a short time, which would otherwise have taken them many years
to acquire through the study of other source granthams.

saptati ratnamAlikA -54 -

Slokam 41

लल द- य- वश- त-य - तर
म तय -लयव- त भभ भन दनभ
लद ऩयल द- त भय - भ शय
त भ श म तय - ण - लऴम ॥

kavivAdi kari simha krti ratna tilakam

yatirAjavara saptatimimAmanudinam |
pravadanti paravAdi timiraugha mihirAH
ta ime hi yatirAja karuNaika vishayAH ||

Meaning:

The SrI sUkti of YatirAja saptati is like the gem on the forehead of
all the SrI sUktis of svAmi DeSikan. Those who recite Sri YatirAja
saptati daily are like the radiant sUryan to chase away the
darkness of the para mata vAdis. They will have the karuNA
kaTaksham of EmperumAnAr.

Swami Desikan Thirunakshatra Utsavam in Srimushnam

saptati ratnamAlikA -55 -

Slokam 42

ल टळ- ल ऴ य त न स मत न णन ऩ त न भ
त ऩ न श य ऩ त- ऩ तवश -वभ ॥

venkaTeSa vidushA racitAnAm

j~nAyate na gaNanApi krtInAm |
tatra cApi na hi rangapati-
SrIpAdukA stuti sahasra samA'nyA ||

Meaning:

The Sri sUktis created by svAmi DeSikan are countless. Among all
of them, there is none that matches the greatness of SrI
RanganAtha pAdukA sahasram.

saptati ratnamAlikA -56 -

Slokam 43

ल टळ थत म ऩ - त-वश भ भ
व थफ धभनव धत त वमभ -भत-व य लद ॥

venkaTeSa guru grathitam ye

pAdukAstuti sahasramajasram |
sArthabodham anusandadhate te
samyamIndra matasAravidaH syuH ||

Meaning:

Those who recite SrI RanganAtha pAdukA sahasram and reflect on

the meanings of the individual Slokams would become
connoisseurs of the essence of Bhagavad RaamAnuja darSanam.

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -57 -

Slokam 44

न -व ध यण- तय दऴ लद ण भ
तथ ब ऴ - लत ऩट व वम दम- मभ ॥

ananya sAdhAraNa cAturI ca

kAvyAdishu brahmavidagraNItvam |
tathAshTa bhAshA kavitA paTutvam
sankalpa sUryodaya drSyamasya ||

Meaning:

svAmi DeSikan had special expertise in creating kAvyams like

Hamsa sandeSam, SrI yAdavAbhudayam et al. He is the front of
the ghoshTI/assembly of those, who understood well the
svarUpam and the svabhAvam of the Lord. He had the talent to
compose literary works in eight languages. This can be seen in the
sankalpa sUryodaya nATakam that he has blessed us with.

saptati ratnamAlikA -58 -

Slokam 45

ऴ मद त वय भ टळ वय
र तय ऩ वलस त भ र ऩ॥

dUshaNyAdau tArkikAgresaratvam
spashTam SrImadvenkaTeSasya sUreH |
anyAlabhyA cAturI padyagumbhe
sarvaj~natvam tattvamuktA kalApe ||

Meaning:

We recognize the leadership of svAmi DeSikan among all logicians

in his SrI sUkti of SatadUshaNI, a khaNDana grantham. In his
stotra granthams, we recognize his unique skills as a poet. In his
tattvamukta kalApam, we see the fusion of all of his gifts as a
poet, logician and SreshTha AcAryan successful in sva mata
prakASam and para mata niraSanam.

saptati ratnamAlikA -59 -

Slokam 46

रमत लत - वय टत ळत ऴ ण द
भळ ल म भ मन णऩत ऩय ऩदम भ ॥ ४६॥

kalayatAm kavitArkika kesari

prakaTitaM SatadUshaNikAm hrdi |
maSakavat sujayAH khalu mAyinaH
praNipatanti param padayormuhuH ||

Meaning:

Those who absorb and retain the arguments recorded by svAmi

DeSikan in his critical grantham of SatadUshaNI in their minds will
defeat mosquitoes-like mAyAvAdis effortlessly. The defeated
prativAdis will fall at their feet as the vanquished ones.

saptati ratnamAlikA -60 -

Slokam 47

शश ! ळ य म दल-ब य-
थत- भद- भतल दन भ
र र लत वय
थत- ऴ ण - लण ल ध ॥

ahaha! Sankara yAdava bhAskara

grathita durmada durmatavAdinAm |
kalakalaH kavitArkika kesari
prathita dUshaNikA SravaNAvadhiH ||

Meaning:

The noisy and egotistic pronouncements of the prativAdis

defending the defective Sankara, yAdava and BhAskara matams
last until they start to hear the majestic arguments housed in the
SrI sUkti of SatadUshaNI. After that, their voices would be stilled
and their ArbhATTams would cease forever. They will accept
defeat.

saptati ratnamAlikA -61 -

Slokam 48

वल थ व ळत ऴण
ट-ळ थ नभ
नत मत यष
थब रश त त॥

sarvArthasiddhi: SatadUShaNI ca
dve kheTa Sastre kathakAgragAnAm |
Adyena tatra kriyate svarakshA
pratyarthi bhangaH kalahe anyataH syAt ||

Meaning:

For those who are in the forefront of the war of vAdam on our
siddhAntam, svAmi DeSikan‟s vAda granthams of sarvArthasiddhi
and SatadUshaNI are like shield and the sword. sarvArthasiddhi
provides protection to parry against the opponent‟s sword attacks
and SatadUshaNI helps to defeat the opponent (para mata vAdi).

Swami Maha Desikan, Ratnagi seva, Thiruvaheendrapuram

saptati ratnamAlikA -62 -

Slokam 49

त एल वल त व
मत ल तभत भ द
लत यद ऩ भ
त त तब भदभ॥

ata eva sarva jagatAm sa guruH

yaticakravarti mata matta diggajaH |
kavitArkika dvirada pancamukho
hyata Urjitam hyakrta bhAshyamidam ||

Meaning:

KavitArkika simham, svAmi DeSikan is like the directional

elephants (dig gajams), which hold up the universe. Playing this
role, He established firmly SrI BhAshyam (AcArya RaamAnuja‟s
commentary on Brahma sUtrams) on this earth. With this
kaimkaryam, he became the AcAryan for the whole world.

Swami Desikan Thirunakshatra Utsavam in Srimushnam

saptati ratnamAlikA -63 -

Slokam 50

तळ ऴ- द ळ - ळय भ णन
न न मन श व ळ षतध
लयद म तय -भत -
तल द- ट-ळत टयबत॥

SrutiSIrsha deSika SiromaNinA

janakena yena hi suSikshitadhIH |
varado guruSca yatirAja mata-
prativAdi koTi SatakoTirabhUt ||

Meaning:

KumAra VaradAcAr underwent rigorous training under his father

cum AcAryan, svAmi DeSikan and gained sharp intellect and
thereafter he engaged the paramata vAdis who opposed the sound
doctrines of Bhagavad RaamAnuja siddhAntam. For each crore of
opponents, he took on the form of multiple crores of debaters and
defeated them all decisively.

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -64 -

Slokam 51

वलत धलश ल टळध भत

लत लभ नन त न धन ल
श !श !यभ ऴण बध मन
भ य लण नव यण भ॥

sarvatantra dhUrvahasya venkaTeSadhImataH

kurvate avamAnanAm tu kecanAdhunodbhavAH |
hanta! hanta! rAmakrshNa dUshaNAbhidhAyinAM
kinnu citramatra caidya rAvaNAnusAriNAm ||

Meaning:

Today, some small minded ignorant ones belittle svAmi DeSikan,

who overshadows them as a sarva tantra svatantrar. It is a
ridiculous effort on their part. There is nothing to be surprised
about their foolish acts, which reminds us of the aparAdhams of
SiSupAlan and RaavaNan against Lord KrshNa and Raamacandra
in the days of yore!

saptati ratnamAlikA -65 -

Slokam 52

ऩ भ-भद-र ब-ळठत द-य शत

ऩ न त-ध त-ळ -भ त-द -व शत
म तय भत-धयम-ऩदऩ - लभ
लर -न त-भ न-न त-फ - लऴम ॥

api kAma mada lobha SaThatAdi rahitAH

api nIti dhrti SAnti mati dAnti sahitAH |
yatirAjamata dhurya padapadma vimukhAH
avaloka nati mAna nuti bAhya vishayAH ||

Meaning:

Even if some one has auspicious guNams like courage, tranquility

(Saanti), intellect and humility and even if they are devoid of
inauspicious attributes like desire for vishaya sukhams,
deceitfulness, miserliness and anger, they are not fit to be seen,
honored or celebrated as long as they do not have bhakti for
svAmi DeSikan‟s sacred feet.

saptati ratnamAlikA -66 -

Slokam 53

लभ तयथल तऴ म मत य- लन
ल थ -ऩ दल वत धय य
ऩय तयश त श - ळ -त त-
ऩ रल भत ऴ मत न श ल त॥

vimatirathavA teshAm yuktA yatISvara jIvane

kavikathaka pancAsye deve satAm ca dhurandhare |
paricitiraho tanmAhAtmya prakASaka tatkrtishu
api lavamitA svapnepyeshAm yato na hi vidyate ||

Meaning:

It is understandable that some are hostile to KavitArkika simham,

svAmi DeSikan, who is like prANan for AcArya RaamAnuja and the
first among those who understand the intricacies of tattva trayam
(cetanam, acetanam and ISvaran). Clearly, they are not
acquainted with the SrI sUktis of svAmi DeSikan. It is well known
that those who have studied svAmi DeSikan‟s SrI sUktis are
incapable of developing enmity to Him.

saptati ratnamAlikA -67 -

Slokam 54

न य लबल वषत
नल व त मऴ भ
मऴ न भ नव व वम
तऴ ब त थ ल टळ॥

na drashTAro vaibhavasyAsya sAkshAt

naivAbhyAsaH tatkrtishvasti yeshAm |
yeshAm nityam mAnasam sAbhyasUyam
teshAm bhaktiH syAt katham venkaTeSe? ||

Meaning:

Those who condemn svAmi DeSikan have never experienced in

person his vaibhavam. They have not studied his SrI sUktis. Their
mind will always be filled with rage and jealousy. How can one
expect them to develop bhakti towards this AcArya
sArvabhauman?

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -68 -

Slokam 55

य ल द-शव द म- ळ
न ब श न मत म
मत म ल - म- य
त भ -ल त श त लध न भ॥

gurau vAdi hamsAmbudAcArya Sishye

janAH bhaktihInAH yatIndrApriyAH syuH |
yatIndrApriyAH vishNu kAruNya dUrAH
kuto mukti vArtA hi tAdrgvidhAnAm |||

Meaning:

Those who do not display respect and bhakti to svAmi DeSikan,

the disciple of the noble AcAryan, KiDambi AppuLLAr akA
VaadihamsAmbuvAhar will not be recognized by EmperumAnAr.
Those who do not become the object of grace of EmperumAnAr
will not be accepted by EmperumAn. If that were to be so, how
can we expect these unfortunate souls to become eligible to gain
the boon of moksham from the moksha-dAyaka Mukundan?

Swami Desikan Thirunakshatra Utsavam in Srimushnam

saptati ratnamAlikA -69 -

Slokam 56

न मव म बरऴ त
भर ऩ ऩ यभ व
दम मत तयल म
म शब लल द वश॥

niSSreyasam ye abhilashanti tasya

mUlam krpAm cApi ramAsakhasya |
dayAm yatIndrasya ca tairavaSyam
kAryA hi bhaktiH kavivAdisimhe ||

Meaning:

Those who desire moksham (mumukshu) arising from the grace of

EmperumAn and EmperumAnAr should cultivate Bhakti to svAmi
DeSikan.

Swami Desikan Thirunakshatra Utsavam in Srimushnam

saptati ratnamAlikA -70 -

Slokam 57

वल ल ल ल य धन
त ल भन मभ न भ
लद म ऩ न
म द ल टळ वय ॥

sevA vishNoH vaishNavArAdhanAntA

tadvat sevA svAminaH samyamInAm |
vedAntAcAryAnghri padmArcanAntA
yasmAt AtmA venkaTeSasya sUreH ||

Meaning:

The ArAdhanam performed for BhagavAn is fulfilled through

kaimkaryam to His BhAgavatAs. Similarly, the ArAdhanam done
for EmperumAnAr is completed by arcanA at the sacred feet of
svAmi DeSikan since EmperumAnAr is like the soul (antrAtmA) for
svAmi DeSikan.

saptati ratnamAlikA -71 -

Slokam 58

भ ऩम श न
र यभण ऩम
भ त - म-ल टळ
ल - ऩ म लमभल ध ॥

karmAt upAyAH iha kecana syuH

kecicca lakshmIramaNAnghra upAyAH |

SrImat yatIndrapriya venkaTeSa
gurvAnghra upAyA vayameva dhanyAH ||

Meaning:

In this world, some have elected the pursuit of the difficult to

practice Karma yogam as their means (upAyam) for moksham.
Others have selected the Lord‟s sacred feet as the upAyam to gain
moksha sukham. As for ourselves, we are fortunate to choose the
lotus feet of svAmi DeSikan, dear to AcArya RaamAnuja as our
upAyam and gati.

Swami Desikan Vidayatr Utsavam in Sri Devanathan

Perumal Temple, Thiruvaheendrapuram

saptati ratnamAlikA -72 -

Slokam 59

वळ र न ऩ -भ डत-
ठ-र -व र न ऩ भ र
वत य म-व य म-मसव -ळ बत
भभ लय भ नव ल ट य॥

saSankha cakra lAnchanaH sadUrdhvapuNDra maNDitaH

sakaNTha lagna sattulasyanargha padmamAlikaH |
sitAntarIya sUttarIya yaj~na sUtra SobhitaH
mamAvirastu mAnase guruH sa venkaTeSvaraH ||

Meaning:

svAmi DeSikan has the Lord‟s disc and conch imprinted on His
shoulders. He adorns the UrdhvapuNDram on his tirumEni. He has
the mAlAs of tuLasI and lotus beads around his neck. The sacred
thread rests over his shoulder. May the image of svAmi DeSikan
with all these features appear before my mind‟s eye!

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -73 -

Slokam 60

न भ -द ळ -ऩद म
नयवम-ल ल न- म धनभ
रदलत भभ -भ -
ष तब ब द- रळ मध मतभ॥

nigamAnta deSika padAmbuja dvayam

nirasUya vaishNavajana priyam dhanam |
kuladaivatam mama kudrshTi mastaka
kshitibhrdvibhedi kuliSAyudhAyitam ||

Meaning:

The lotus feet of svAmi DeSikan is aDiyEn‟s family treasure (kula

danam). They are the cherished wealth of SrI VaishNavAs free
from jealousy. They are like the adamantine weapon
(vajrAyudham of Indran), which break open the heads
(mountains) of para mata vAdins.

saptati ratnamAlikA -74 -

Slokams 61 and 62

भश र मत ऩ दम र
य त मऴ ध- तय ध-व भ
भ न-व न भ त
य ट - लरव यध न भ॥ ६१॥

mahotpalAyita pAda yugalam

ratipriyeshudhi pratirodhi sujanghikam |
kakut samAna sujAnukamancita
sphuratkaTI vilasat paridhAnakam || 61||

ळ -न ब भ र-लषव
व -व त-व -ऩ भ
भद म- भर वन-व त
ब भ ल टन थ लऩ तभ॥ ६२॥

praSasta nAbhikamujjvala vakshasam

prasanna sasmita sanmukha pankajam |
madIya hrtkamalAsana samsthitam
bhajAmi venkaTanAtha vipaScitam || 62||

Combined meanings for Slokams 61 and 62:

aDiyEn eulogizes svAmi DeSikan seated in my heart lotus with the

following sAmudrikA lakshaNams:

Sacred feet resembling a large lotus flower, ankles shaped like the
arrow case of Manmathan, the knees of perfect shape like the
hump of a bull, beautiful navel, radiant chest with tuLasI and lotus
bead mAlAs and a face filled with joyous smile. He adorns a
beautiful vastram on his waist.

saptati ratnamAlikA -75 -

 Swami Desikan

Slokams 63 and 64

फ -त भयव ब- लर न
व -ळ न ऩ यल यतभ
फ -य तभ ऩ दम
फ - तवभथ-वभथन॥ ६३॥

prabuddha tAmarasAbha vilocanam

prasiddha SishyajanaiH parivAritam |
prabuddha rAgatamam gurupAdayoH
prabuddha cetasam artha samarthane || 63||

वय र-ऩ ठ-ऩ य श
वभथभ त-वळम-न दन
लय त-व न-व - ळय भ ण
ब भ ल टन थ लऩ तभ॥ ६४॥

saptati ratnamAlikA -76 -

saratnakambaLa pITha parigraham
samarthamutthita samSaya nodane |
virakta sajjana sangha SiromaNim
bhajAmi venkaTanAtha vipaScitam || 64||

Combined meanings of Slokams 63 and 64:

aDiyEn eulogizes svAmi DeSikan with beautiful eyes like the fully
blossomed lotus and surrounded by reputed SishyAs. He has deep
bhakti to his AcAryAs and is intent on interpreting the true
meanings of the tattvams and rahasyams that has come his way.
He is seated on an AcArya simhAsanam covered with a special rug
(ratna kambaLam). He is the leader of all vairAgyasAlis and is
gifted to clear up all kinds of doubts about our sampradAyam.

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -77 -

Slokam 65

लत - रब- - फर त- वश
भर ऩ त- ण यव-ऩ यल धत-फ धभ
म तन म -ऩद-ऩ -म र -ऩयत
ब भ नव ! फध-ल टऩ त-द ळ भ नळभ॥

kavitArkika kalabha vraja kabaLI krti simham

kamalApati karuNArasa parivardhita bodham |
yatinAyaka padapankaja yugalIparatantram
bhaja mAnasa budha venkaTapati deSikam aniSam ||

Meaning:

Oh my mind! Please always eulogize svAmi Desikan. He is like the

mighty lion that could swallow the assembly of tarka vAdis (the
herd of elephants). He has received the highest of sampradAyic
j~nAnam through the special grace of SrIman NaarAyaNan. He
has dedicated his life for performing kaimkaryams to the lotus feet
of AcArya RaamAnuja and to propagate His darSanam through
grantha nirmANam and SrI BhAshya pravacanam.

saptati ratnamAlikA -78 -

Slokam 66

म तनऩ त-ऩद भर-व र लध-फ

ल ळ यऩ त-न य-व य- तल वभ
ब दम ल थ -श यभ ऩ य -
ष त-यभण- यणम -वतत- त-वलभ॥

yatinrpati padakamala sakalavidha bandhum

kaviSikharipati nagara sucira krtavAsam |
bhaja hrdaya kavikathaka harimapi ca ranga-
kshiti ramaNa caraNayuga satata krtasevam ||

Meaning:

Oh my mind! Please always praise svAmi DeSikan, who considers

the lotus feet of AcArya RaamAnuja as every kind of relative.
svAmi DeSikan lived during his bAlyam (younger days) at KaancI,
which is the eternal home of the dark hued PeraruLALar (SrI
VaradarAjar). Our Kavi vAdi simham, nigamAnta mahA DeSikan
has dedicated his entire life on earth to serve the sacred feet of
Lord RanganAthan of Srirangam.

Swami Desikan possesses brahma tejas –

Thiruvaheendrapuram

saptati ratnamAlikA -79 -

Slokam 67

तभ र-भनवभ त लऩर-ळबन
त तयभ ध ण म तनऩ त-ब
ऩ यण ऩयभ नळभऩ यण ळ र-
ऩ रम भभ दम ! ल थ वशभ॥

atimrdula manasam ativipula Subhanetram

aticaturam adhikaguNa yatinrpati bhAshye |
upakaraNa paramaniSam apakaraNa SIleshu
api kalaya mama hrdaya! kavikathaka simham ||

Meaning:

Oh my mind! Please prostrate before svAmi DeSikan, who has the

most compassionate mind. He does good to even those who do
not wish him well. He is the authority in interpreting SrI
BhAshyam of Guru sArvabhauman, SrI RaamAnuja through
kAlakshepa mukham. He has the most beautiful (dayA laden)
eyes, which extend all the way to his ears.

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -80 -

Slokam 68

ब न भभ रम -द ळ ! दम भत-वभ ! ब लन !
भ भ भद ल नभ णनथ! लत -शय !
व शभ त भश ल नभ बलद - लभ
त ल ऩद म लणभ ऩम ॥

bho nigamamauIyuga deSika! dayAmrta samudra! bhagavan !

mAmakamidam vacanamadya SruNu nAtha! kavitArkikahare! |
sohamatikhinnam iha vIkshya janamatra bhavadanghri vimukham
tvam ca kuru tAvaka padAmbujayuga pravaNamadya krpayA ||

Meaning:

Oh ubhaya VedAnta, KavitArkika simha Guru! Oh Ocean of

compassion! Oh my Lord! aDiyEn begs you to listen to this appeal.
aDiyEn is saddened by those, who do not seek your lotus feet as
protection form the samsAric ills. Please make this listless and
disinterested ones benefit from attachment to your sacred feet
and cast Your benevolent glances to make this a reality!

saptati ratnamAlikA -81 -

Slokam 69

भभ भ नव भद वभद त भश नम लऴम-
तन त लल द य-ऩ भ ! त ल -ऩदभ
ल नऩय ळठभ न- न- म ! वऩ ळय
र भद ऩनय रतय बल यणम ॥

kim ca mama mAnasamidam ca samudancitamihAnya vishayeshu

ancati na jAtu kavivAdikari pancamukha! tAvakapadam |
vancanaparam SaTham akincanajanapriya! sapancaSarajam
cancalamidam punaracancalataram kuru bhavaccaraNayoH ||

Meaning:

Oh Lion among poets and logicians! My mind roams among

various vishaya sukhams and does not engage in prostrating
before your sacred feet. Oh compassionate AcAryan with special
affection for those who have no other resources to pursue steadily
the path of our sanAtana dharmam. Please bless aDiyEn‟s mind to
stay rooted at your lotus feet as protection against its penchant
for perishable sukhams and lusting after them by all deceitful
means.

Swami Desikan - Thiruvaheendrapuram

saptati ratnamAlikA -82 -

Slokam 70

ल टळ य ऩद म
वभ ऩत व तय भ र
धत वध ब दम लभ य
ऩ त ळ ब ऩ ऴ थ- नबय भ॥

SrIvenkaTeSasya guroH padAbjayoH

samarpitA saptati ratnamAlikA |
dhrtA sudhIbhiH hrdaye vimatsaraiH
pushNAti SobhAm purushArtha nirbharAm ||

Meaning:

aDiyEn has placed at the lotus feet of svAmi DeSikan the necklace
(mAlA) with seventy gems named saptati Ratna mAlikA. When
AstikAs without jealousy adorn this mAlA on their minds (chests),
they will be resplendent with the jyoti generated from the gaining
of sakala PurushArhtams.

saptati ratnamAlikA -83 -

 AchArya sArva bouman - tUppul

Slokam 71

लद मव णल ऩय त
लद ल ब य म- य ॥

vedAntAcArya saptatyA guNavatyA parishkrtAH |

vedAnta vedya SrIbhAshyakAra kAruNya gocarAH ||

Meaning:

aDiyEn‟s saptati is rich with the salutations to the ananta kalyANa

guNams of svAmi DeSikan. Those who adorn this saptati mAlai will
gain for sure the grace of both EmperumAn and EmperumAnAr.

saptati ratnamAlikA -84 -

 Swami Desikan- Rathnangi in Thiruvaheendrapuram

Slokam 72

ल तय ल ळ थ लद म-व त
ल ल दय ल ल तभ य ॥

vItarAgA viSishTArthA vedAntAcArya saptatiH |

vaishNavaiH sAdaram grAhyA vidvadbhiH vItamatsaraiH ||

Meaning:

aDiyEn prays to the SrI VaishNavAs without jealousy to accept

with warmth this dispassionate saptati on VedAntAcArya with deep
meanings.

saptati ratnamAlikA -85 -

 Thirukudanthai Desikan Thirunakshatra Utsavam at
Rayampettai Avathara Sthalam

Slokam 73

तल द-बम यण व व धम व तय भ र
न भ य वभ ऩत दम त त म धम ॥

prativAdi bhayankareNa sA sudhiyA saptati ratnamAlikA |

nigamAntagurau samarpitA hrdaye tadbhajatAm svayA dhiyA ||

Meaning:

This stuti named "saptati ratnamAlikA" is presented by PrativAdi

Bhayankarar to svAmi DeSikan and to the hearts of people of true
j~nAnam, who worship this AcArya sArvabhauman.

saptati ratnamAlikA -86 -

 लत वश म ण णळ रन
भत ल टळ म लद यल नभ ॥

kavitArkika simhAya kalyANa guNaSAline |

SrImate venkaTeSAya vedAnta gurave namaH ||

svAmi DeSikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam,

dAsan, Oppiliappan Koil V. Sadagopan

saptati ratnamAlikA -87 -

Swami Desikan

saptati ratnamAlikA -88 -

 Annexure

Transliteration Scheme for the Sanskrit 2003 font

For converting to Sanskrit (Font Sanksrit99 or Sanskrit2003)

ITRANS99 or 2003 converter is used and slightly different in
actual transliteration of the texts.

ई ऋ क ऌ ख
a A i I u U ru* rU* ** **

ए ऐ ओ औ
e (not E) ai o (not O) au

anusvaram – generally „M‟, but „m‟ is used

: visargam –„H”

* Per universal notation this is different and also not per the
ITRANS notation (R^i, R^I). just 'r', or 'R' (eg. mrga, not
mruga, pitR not pitrU etc)

It is not lu or lU

ङ
ka kha ga gha ~Na

झ ञ
ca cha ja jha ~na

ट ठ ड ढ ण
Ta Tha Da Dha Na

त थ द ध न
ta tha da dha na

saptati ratnamAlikA -89 -

ऩ प फ ब भ
pa pha ba bha ma
म य र ल
ya ra la va

ळ ऴ व श
Sa sha sa ha

ऱ ष
La ksha

In addition to the above

स j~na

-85 -

saptati ratnamAlikA -90 -