Dvisahasri of Tembesvami (Summary and Study)

by Upadhyay Mihirkumar Sudhirbhai | 2012 | 54,976 words

This page relates ‘Description Biding Audieu’ of the study of the Dvisahasri by Tembesvami:—a Sanskrit epic poem (mahakavya) narrating the legend and activities of Lord Dattatreya, including details on his divine sports and incarnations. Also known as Datta, he is considered one of the Holy Masters in the Natha cult imparting spiritual knowledge and adequate practice to the aspirant.

Chapter 23 - Description Biding Audieu

[Note: This page represents a summary English translation of the Dvisāhasrī by Ṭembesvāmī, chapter 23.—In the 23rd chapter it describes that the Holy master fulfilling the desire of the Yavan King, becomes invisible to the non-devotees but not to the others.]

23/01-11: Nāmadhāraka spoke: Siddha has nicely explained the place where the Holy Master, all the gods and pilgrimage reside. Every person residing there is fortunate. He is eager to hear about the account of a Mleccha-king (02-11).

23/12-64: Siddha spoke: Nāmadhāraka’s eagerness to listen the stories increases happiness (13). One day a poor devotee of Śrīpāda watches a king with his queens playing in the river and thinks whose grace could be this. Śrīpāda reads his thought and bestows him a kingship in next birth and eventually he is born as a Mleccha king (14-20). His previous impressions make the Mleccha-king averted to the Muslim religion (21). The Muslim priest instructs him to follow the Muslim religion, but the king overhears him and shows him the greatness of the Vedas (22-28). After some time the king suffers from a painful boil (29). He calls a Brahmin and inquires about the remedy (30). He does not reply, because the king is a Mleccha (31). Instead he leads the king to the pilgrimage named Pāpanāśana (32).

He narrates a story. A wretched Brahmin of Ujjain deeply attached to a prostitute named Piṅgalā, but he serves sage Ṛṣabha and by the grace of the sage he gets birth as the prince of king Vajrabāhu of Daśārṇa. One of the co-wives of the queen-mother gives her poison but she is not dead (33-39). But the painful torment does not get pacified by various types of treatment (40). The king being annoyed commands the charioteer to leave both of them in the forest (41). The king is happy with other queens (42). The crown queen suffering pains, laments and finally reaches to a lake (43-47). She approaches to king Padmākara and explains him the thing (48). The child dies after sometime (49) she laments (50-52). Sage Ṛṣabha comes there and instructs her not to lament, because the body is transitory (53-57). She requests the sage to make her mind happy (58-60). The sage knows the dead child as his attendant. He throws ashes on the dead body and the child gets life (61-62). The sage bestows the boon rulership over many kings (63-64).

23/65-67: The (Muslim) king spoke: Where is such a saint? and admits that he is the servant of a Brahmin.

23/68-81: Brahmin spoke spoke: He informs him about the place of the Holy Master (i.e. Nṛsiṃhasarasvati). When the Mleccha king approaches the Holy Master, He addresses him “O my disciple, Washerman” (70-74). He recollects the previous birth (75). He eulogizes (76-77). As soon as He asks to show the boil, but O God! there is no boil. He is astonished (78-80). The king requests Him for uplift (81).

23/82-84: Holy Master spoke: He asks him if he expects any thing more. He is ready to offer Him all the royal wealth.

23/85-86: Holy Master spoke: People would laugh at Him, if he visits his (Mleccha’s) palace.

23/87-92: The king spoke: He requests him repeatedly addressing Him by the name Śrīpāda (88). The Holy Master starts for his palace (92).

23/93-109: Holy Master spoke: On their way to the palace they arrive at the Pāpanāśatīrtha. The king venerates him with the 32 steps of veneration and asks for the Supreme sovereignty of His lotus-feet. The Holy Master bestows Him the desired boon.

23/110-111: Holy Master spoke: He is pleased by the king (111).

23/112-121: (Siddha spoke:) The Holy Master returns to the confluence (112-115). The devotion spreads all over. So He decides to disappear (116-117). He stays there hiding Himself, but exhibits innumerable divine sports (118-121).

23/122-124: Nāmadhāka becomes liberated (122-124).

23/125-128: Gangādhar’s son Sarasvatī has composed (in Marathi) the holy texts on His divine sports (125). Wherever this text (Dvisāhasrī) is placed, it removes the afflictions (126). Lord Dattātreya purifying the speech of Gaṇeśa’s son (i.e. Ṭembesvamī) in the form of this text (Dvisāhasrī) in this world, is victorious (127- 128).

Yogarahasya:

The Yogarahasya explains the depth of the Yoga philosophy and also indicates that the three paths (Knowledg, Action and Devotion) are interwoven. (in 43 verses).

Bodharahasya:

The Bodharahasya explains the depth of the Philosophy of Vedānta. (in 44 versess).

Conclusion:

Here ends the summary of the consisting of 23 chapters and 2008 verses. This humble effort shows how much difficult task it is to attempt in this direction, but the candidate believes firmly and devotedly that this is the blessings in the form of giving the opportunity to present such a brief narration.

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