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Chitra Paddathi - Flying arrow

923. sArAGhavA shruthoU dhruShtA pAdhukA sanrupAsanA
     salAGhavA gathoU sliShtA svAdhurmE sadhupAsanA
sru dhra pA kA nru
sa rA gha vA tau shtA dhu sa pA sA nA >>
ga sli svA mE dhu
Flying Arrow

sru dhra pA kA nru
sa rA gha vA tau shtA dhu sa pA sA nA >>

Sloka line 1

Sloka line 2
sa lA gha vA tau shtA dhu sa pA sA nA >>
ga sli svA mE dhu

To read the figure

The layout of the syllables are in the shape of a flying arrow.
Starting at the left to read 

sloka line 1
sa rA ghA vA (Then go up) sru (down) tau (up) dhra (down) shta etc.... ending in pA sA nA

sloka line 2
sa lA (la ~= rA) ghA vA (Then go down) ga (up) tau (down) sli (up) shta etc.... ending in pA sA nA

Meaning & Details

The Paaduka is an excellent dish, delectable for me, to contemplate 
on-the Paaduka, that shines at the Sruti's head (It is the subject of 
the Vedas), the one that was inseparable from Rama, the one that 
ascended the throne, when Rama went to the forest; the one that stuck 
to the Lord's Feet and achieved many things in an easy, listlessly 
sportive manner. I enjoy relishing that Paaduka!

Namo Narayana,

SriMuralidhara Dasan

Special Notes by V.Sadagopan (v.S):

SlOkam 923: The sabdha chithram used here has the architecture of
a flying arrow. Hence , it is called Sara Bhandham . It has a sharp 
front  and a distinct tail ; the five of its intermediate parts are linked 
by four  individual aksharAs to form the full body of the arrow a seen above

One can see the symmetry from the slOkam construction:

sarAghavA sruthou dhrashta paadhukA sanrupAsanA
salAghavA gathou yaa gEyA svAdhurmE sadhupAsanA 

After reading the first four aksharams (Sa, raa, gha, vaa ) , one
has to go upwards to the next aksharam on the upper line ( sru)
and return to the aksharam "tau" found in the middle line and repeat 
this exercise to get the first line of slOkam.

Next , one has to use the rule that the aksharam "ra" and "la"
have no abEdham/difference ( similar to Va-bhayOr abedha: ) .Then 
the first four aksharams of the first line ( Saraaghavaa )will 
become "salaaghavaa" as the starting four aksharams of the second 
line . After this transformation exercise, we have to go past 
the "salAghavaa " to the next aksharams through an exercise similar 
to the above : That will give " salaaghavaa gathou slishtaa svAdhurmE 
sadhupAsanA ". 

2) SrImath Andavan's anubhavam:Swamy Desikan says that the supremely 
noble Paadhukais conferred great blessings on him , who was least 
fit to recieve them. The Paadhukais made it possible for him to 
perform AarAdhanam for Them . Swamy Desikan prays for the 
development of Parama Bhakthi for Them in this slOkam : " Oh 
PaadhukE ! It is not enough that You have become the easily 
accessible (param sulabham) object of worship ( aarAdhya vasthu)
for me but You should reveal to me your many glories and generate 
Parama bhakthi in me for You." 

3) The Paadhukai is with its Lord in all states ( SarAghavA ) . It is 
recognized as the inner content of the vedAs( Sruthou dhrushtA). It 
sat on throne of the lineage of Raghus ( SanrupAsanA). During 
sanchAra kaalam with its Lord , it has the skills to carry the Lord 
elegantly and quickly (salAghavA). As a pair, the Paadhukais are 
never seperated from each other (SlishtA). The Paadhukais are the 
object of worship by the righteous ( sadhupAsanA). Swamy Desikan's 
prayer is : May the Paadhukais become the enjoyable 
object of my Parama Bhakthi ( SadhupAsanA PaadhukA mE SvAdhu: ) !

The auspicious qualities of the Paadhukais of BhagavAn are :
Bhagavath Parathva Saamyam ( Superiority like the Lord 
through eternal association with Him ), Sruthi PrathipAdhyathvam
( being an object of celebration by the VedAs), Bhagavath kaarya
nirvAha SaamarTyathvam ( skills in leading the duties assigned by 
their Lord), LokAnugrahaaarTa sanchAra seelathvam ( Travels
for blessing the world), asooyAdhi dhOsha rahithathvam 
( state of freedom from malice and other dhurguNams) ,
Parama Maithrathvam ( Extreme friendliness and approachability),
SadhupAsyathvam ( fit object for worship by the Righteous).
All these noble guNams are also shared by SadAchAryAs.