One may read and re-read Yatiraja Saptati any number of times: he will not be able to make up his mind whether Desika's fascination is for Yatiraja, the Person, or for his works, or for the siddhanta evolved and postulated in those works. That Vedanta Desika was first drawn towards Yatiraja because of his works is seen from the first sloka in his praise in this work (10). Desika's eulogy of the works in sloka 33 can be taken as typical of his great esteem and admiration. The reason is that only Ramanuja's works truly reflect (as in a mirror), Lakshmi-kaanta (Consort of Sri) as He really is, whereas in other systems He is seen distorted, if He is seen at all. Sloka 16 also postulates that the Tattva known as Hari can be seen whole and entire (akshatam) only in Yatiraja's siddhanta. A study of Ramanuja's works under a proper acharya will preserve our purity and prevent us from straying in to faulty systems of thought (16).
All the greatness and glory that Desika achieved in his life are attributed to his association with the system promulgated by Yatiraja (73) and to the blessings showered on him by great acharyas immersed in Yatiraja's yaSas (renown) (71).
Shrii Shriimate raamaanujaaya namaha Shriimate nigamaanta mahaa desikaaya namaha yatiraaja saptatiH shriimaan.h veN^kaTa naathaaryaH kavitaarkika kesarii | vedaantaa chaarya varyome sannidhattaaM sadaahR^idi || kamapyaadhyaM guruM vande kamalaa gR^ihamedhinam.h. pravaktaa chhandasaaM vaktaa pa~ncha raatrasya yaH svayam.h..1 saha dharmachariiM shaureH saMmantrita jagadhditaam.h. anugrahamayiiM vande nityamaj~naata nigrahaam.h..2 vande vaikuNTha senaanyaM devaM suutravatii sakham.h. yadvetra shikhara spande vishvametad.h vyavasthitam.h..3 yasya saarasvata sroto vakulaamoda vaasitam.h. shrutiinaaM vishramaayaalaM shaThaariiM tamupaasmahe..4 naathena muninaa tena bhaveyaM naathavaahanam.h. yasya naigamikaM tatvaM hastaamalakataaM gatam.h..5 namasyaamyaravindaaxaM naatha bhaave vyavasthitam.h. shudhda satva mayaM shaureH avataaramivaaparam.h..6 anujjhita xamaa yogamapuNyajana baadhakam.h. aspR^iShTa madiraa gandhaM raamaM turyamupaasmahe..7 vigaahe yaamunaM tiirthaM saadhu bR^indaavane sthitam.h. nirasta jihmaga sparshe yatra kR^iShNaH kR^itaadaraH..8 dayaa nighnaM yatiindrasya deshikaM puurNamaashraye. yena vishva sR^ijo viShNoH apuuryata manorathaH..9 praNaamaM laxmaNamuniH pratigR^ihNaatu maamakam.h. prasaadhayati yatsuuktiH svaadhiina patikaaM shrutim.h..10 upaviitinam.h uurdhva puNDravantaM trijagat.h puNya phalaM tridaNDa hastam.h. sharaNaagata saartha vaahamiiDe shikhayaa shekhariNaM patiM yatiinaam.h..11 prathayan.h vimateShu tiixNa bhaavaM prabhurasmat.h pariraxaNe yatiindraH. apR^ithak.h pratipanna yanmayatvaiH vavR^idhe pa~nchabhir.h aayudhairmuraareH..12 shamitodaya sha~Nkaraadi garvaH sva balaadudhdR^ita yaadavaprakaashaH. avaropi tavaan.h shrutera paarthaan.h nanu raamaavarajaH sa eSha bhuuyaH..13 abahushruta saMbhavaM shrutiinaaM jaratii naama yathaayatha prachaaram.h. vinivarta yituM yatiishvaroktiH vidadhe taaH sthira niiti pa~njara sthaaH..14 amunaa tapanaatishaayi bhuumnaa yatiraajena nibadhda naayaka shriiH. mahatii guru pa~Nkti haara yaShTiH vibudhaanaaM hR^idaya~Ngamaa vibhaati..15 aluuna paxasya yati xamaabhR^ito vibhaati vaMshe hari tatvam.h axatam.h. yadudbhavaaH shudhda suvR^itta shiitalaaH bhavanti muktaavali bhuuShaNaM bhuvaH..16 anapaaya viShNupada saMshrayaM bhaje kalayaa kayaa.api kalayaa.apyanujjhitam.h. akala~Nka yogam.h ajaDaashayodayaM yatiraaja chandram.h uparaaga duuragam.h..17 abhigamya samya ganaghaaH sumedhaso yati chakravarti pada padma pattanam.h. hari bhakta daasya rasikaaH parasparaM kraya vikrayaarha dashayaa samindhate..18 paruShaati vaada parivaada paishuna- prabhR^iti prabhuuta pataniiya pa~Nkilaa. svadate mamaadhya subhagaa sarasvatii yatiraaja kiirtti katakair.h vishodhitaa..19 anukalpa bhuuta murabhit.h padaM sataaM ajahat.h trivargam.h apavarga vaibhavam.h. chala chitta vR^itti vinivartta nauShadhaM sharaNaM yatiindra charaNaM vR^iNii mahe..20 shvasi taava dhuuta paravaati vaibhavaaH nigamaanta niiti jaladhestalas.h pR^ishaH. prati paadayanti gatim.h aapavargikiiM yati saarvabhauma padasaat.h kR^itaashayaaH..21 muule nivishya mahataaM nigama drumaaNaaM muShNan.h prataaraka bhayaM dhR^ita naikadaNDaH. ra~Ngesha bhaktajana maanasa raajahaMso raamaanujaH sharaNamastu muniH svayaM naH..22 sanmantravit.h xipati saMyaminaaM narendraH saMsaara jihmaga mukhaiH samupasthitaM naH. viShvak.h tataM viShaya lobha viShaM nijaabhiH gaaDhaanu bhaava garuDa dhvaja bhaavanaabhiH..23 naathaH sa eSha yaminaaM nakha rashmi jaalaiH antar.h niliinam.h apaniiya tamo madiiyam.h. vij~naana chitram.h anaghaM likhatiiva chitte vyaakhyaana keli rasikena karaambujena..24 udgR^ihNatiimupaniShatsu niguuDhamarthaM chitte niveshayitum.h alpa dhiyaaM svayaM naH. pashyema laxmaNa muneH pratipanna hastaam.h unnidra padma subhagaam.h upadesha mudraam.h..25 aakarShaNaani nigamaanta sarasvatiinaaM uchchaaTa naani bahir.h antar.h upaplavaanaaM. pathyaani ghora bhava saMjvara piiDitaanaaM hR^idhyaani bhaanti yatiraaja muner.h vachaaMsi..26 shiita svabhaava subhagaanubhavaH shikhaavaan.h doShaavamarda niyatonnati roShadhiishaH. taapaanubandha shamanastapanaH prajaanaaM raamaanujo jayati saMvalita tridhaamaa..27 jayati sakala vidhyaa vaahinii janma shailo jani patha parivR^itti shraanta vishraanti shaakhii. nikhila kumati maayaa sharvarii baala suuryo nigama jaladhi velaa puurNa chandro yatiindraH..28 muni bahumata saaraa mukti nishreNi keyaM sahR^idaya hR^idayaanaaM shaashvatii diShTa sidhdiH. shamita durita gandhaa saMyami indrasya suuktiH parichita gahanaa naH prasnuviita prasaadam.h..29 bhava maru parikhinna sphiita paaniiya sindhuH durita rahita jihvaa dugdha kulyaa sakulyaa. shruta nayana sanaabhiH shobhate laxmaNoktiH naraka mathana sevaasvaada naaDiMdhamaa naH..30 haripada makaranda syandinaH saMshritaanaaM anugata bahushaakhaastaapam.h unmuulayanti. shamita durita gandhaaH saMyamiindra prabandhaaH kathaka jana maniiShaa kalpanaa kalpa vR^ixaaH..31 naanaabhuutair.h jagati samayair.h narma liilaaM vidhitsoH antyaM varNaM prathayati vibhor.h aadima vyuuha bhede. vishvaM traatuM viShaya niyataM vya~njitaanugrahaH san.h viShvakseno yatipatira bhuud.h vetra saaras.h tridaNDaH..32 laxyaM budhde rasika rasanaa laasya liilaa nidaanaM shudhdaasvaadaM kimapi jagati shrotra divyauShadhaM naH. laxyaa laxayaiH sita jaladhivadbhaati taatparya ratnaiH laxmiikaanta sphaTika mukuro laxmaNaarya upadeshaH..33 sthitim.h avadhiir.h ayantyati manoratha sidhdimatiiM yatipati saMpradaaya nirapaaya dhanopachitaaH. madhukara mauli daghna mada dantura danti ghaTaa- karaTa kaTaaha vaahi ghana shiikara shiibharitaam.h..34 nirupadhi ra~Nga vR^itti rasikaan.h abhitaaNDavayan.h nigama vimarsha keli rasikair.h nibhR^itair.h vidhR^itaH guNa pariNadhda suukti dR^iDha koNa vighaTTa nayaa raTati dishaa mukheShu yatiraaja yashaH paTahaH..35 idaM prathama saMbhavat.h kumati jaala kuula~NgaShaaH mR^iShaa mata viShaanala jvalita jiiva jiivaatavaH. xarantya mR^itam.h axaraM yati purandarasya uktayaH chirantana sarasvati chikura bandha sairandhrikaaH..36 sudhaashana sudurgraha shruti samaShTi muShTindhyaH kathaahavamasau gataan.h kapaTa saugataan.h khaNDayan.h munir.h manasi laxmaNo mudam.h uda~nchayat.h ya~njasaa mukunda guNa mauktika prakara shuktibhiH suuktibhiH..37 kapardi mata kardamaM kapila kalpanaa vaaguraaM duratyayam.h atiitya tad.h druhiNa tantra yantrodaram.h. kudR^iShTi kuhanaa muke nipatataH parabR^ihmaNaH kara graha vichaxaNo jayati laxmaNo.ayaM muniH..38 kaNaada paripaaTibhiH kapila kalpanaa naaTakaiH kumaarila kubhaaShitair.h guru nibandhana granthibhiH. tathaagata kathaashatais.h tadanusaari jalpairapi prataaritam.h idaM jagat.h praguNitaM yatiindroktibhiH..39 kathaa kalaha kautuka gR^iha gruhiita kautaskuta- prathaa jaladhi samplava gR^isana kumbha sambhuutayaH. jayanti sudhiyo yati xitibhR^id.h antika upaasanaa- prabhaava paripaktrima pramiti bhaaratii saMpadaH..40 yatiishvara sarasvatii surabhitaashayaanaaM sataaM vahaami charaNaambujaM praNati shaalinaa maulinaa. tadanya mata durmada jvalita chetasaaM vaadinaaM shirassu nihitaM mayaa padama daxiNaM laxyataam.h..41 bhajasva yati bhuupater.h anidamaadi durvaasanaa- kadadhva parivartana shrama nivartaniiM vartaniim.h. labhasya hR^idaya svayaM tatha padaayudhaanugraha- druta prahR^iti nistR^iTad.h durita durvR^itiM nirvR^itim.h..42 kumati vihita grantha granthi prabhuuta mataantara- grahila manasaH pashyantyalpaaM yatiishvara bhaaratiim.h. vikaTa murabhidvaxaH piiThii pariShkaraNochitaH kula giri tulaarohe bhaavii kiyaaniva kaustubhaH..43 sthavira nigama stoma stheyaaM yatiishvara bhaaratiiM kumati phaNiti xobha xiibaaH xipantu bhajantu vaa. rasa parimala shlaaghaa ghoSha sphuTatpuTa bhedanaM lavaNa vaNijaH karpuuraarghaM kiM iti abhimanvate..44 vahati mahilaam.h aadhyo vedhaastrayii mukharair.h mukhaiH vara tanutayaa vaamo bhaagaH shivasya vivartate. tadapi paramaM tatvaM gopii janasya vashaMvadaM madana kadanair.h na klishyante yatiishvara saMshrayaaH..45 nigama pathikachchhaayaa shaakhii niraasha mahaanidhiH mahita vividhachchhaatra shreNii manoratha saarathiH. tribhuvana tamaH pratyuuSho.ayaM trividya shikhaamaNiH prathayati yati xmaabhR^itpaaraavariim.h aviparyayaam.h..46 jaDa mati mudhaa dantaa danti vyathauShadha sidhdayaH pramiti nidhayaH praj~naa shaali prapaalana yaShTayaH. shruti surabhayaH shudhdaananda abhivarShuka vaaridaaH yama gati kathaa vichchhedinyo yatiishvara suuktayaH..47 pratikala miha pratyak.h tatva avalokana diipikaaH yati paribR^iDha granthaashchintaaM nirantarayanti naH. akaluSha paraj~naana autsukya xudhaatura durdashaa- pariNata phala pratyaasiidat.h phalegrahi sugrahaaH..48 mukundaa~Nhgri shradhdaa kumuda vana chandraatapa nibhaaH mumuxaaM axobhyaaM dadati muni bR^indaaraka giraH. sva sidhdaanta dhvaanta sthira kutuka durvaadi pariShad.h divaabhiita prexaa dinakara samutthaana paruShaaH..49 niraabaadhaa bodhaayana bhaNita niShyanda subhagaaH vishudhda upanyaasa vyatibhidura shaariiraka nayaaH. akuNThaiH kalpante yatipati nibandhaa nija mukhaiH anidraaNa praj~naa rasa dhamani vedhaaya sudhiyaam.h..50 vikalpaaTopena shrutipatham.h asheShaM vighaTayan.h yadR^ichchhaa nirdiShTe yati nR^ipati shabde viramati. vitaNDaahaM kurvat.h prati kathaka vetaNDa pR^itanaa- viyaata vyaapaara vyati mathana saMrambha kalahaH..51 pratiShThaa tarkaaNaaM pratipadamR^ichaaM dhaama yajuShaaM pariShkaaraH saamnaaM paripaNam.h atharvaa~NgirasayoH. pradiipas.h tatvaanaaM prati kR^itirasau taapasa giraaM prasattim.h saMvitteH pradishati yatiishaana phaNitiH..52 hataavadhye hR^idhye hari charaNa pa~Nkeruha yuge nibadhnantyai kaantyaM kimapi yati bhuubhR^it.h phaNitayaH. shunaasiira skandha druhiNa hara heramba hutabhuk.h- prabheshaadi xudra praNati parihaara pratibhuvaH..53 yathaabhuuta svaarthaa yati nR^ipati suuktir.h vijayate sudhaa saMdohaabdhiH sucharita vipaktiH shrutimataam.h. kathaa dR^ipyat.h kautaskuta kalaha kolaahala hata- trivedii nirveda prashamana vinoda praNayiinii..54 shruti shreNii chuuDaapada bahumate laxmaNa mate sva paxasthaan.h doShaan.h vitatha matir.h aaropayati yaH. sva hastena utxiptaiH sa khalu nija gaatreShu bahulaM galadbhir.h jambaalair.h gagana talam.h aalimpati jaDaH..55 niraaloke loke nirupadhi para sneha bharito yati xamaabhR^idh.h diipo yadi na kila jaajvalyata iha. ahaMkaara dhvaantaM vijahati kathaMkaaramanaghaaH kutarka vyaalaughaM kumati mata paataaLa kuharam.h..56 yati xamaabhR^id.h dhR^iShTaM matamiha naviinaM tadapi kiM tataH praageva anyad.h vada tadapi kiM varNa nikaShe. nishaam.h yantaaM yadvaa nijamati tiraskaara vigamaat.h niraata~NkaaShTa~Nka dramiDa guhadeva prabhR^itayaH..57 sudhaasaaraM shriimadhyativara bhuvaH shrotra kuhare niShi~nchanti nya~nchan.h nigama garimaaNaH phaNitayaH. yadaas.h vaadaabhyaasa prachaya mahima ullaasita dhiyaaM sadaa svaadhyaM kaale tadamR^itaM anantaM sumanasaam.h..58 yati xoNii bhartur.h yadi damanidaM bhoga janataa- shiraH shreNii juShTaM tadiha dR^iDha bandhaM prabhavati. avidhyaa aNyaanii kuhara viharan.h maamaka manaH- pramaadyan.h maata~Nga prathama nigalaM paada yugalam.h..59 savitrii muktaanaaM sakala jagadenaH prashamanii gariiyobhis.h tiirtthair.h upachita rasaa yaamuna mukhaiH. niruchchhedaa nimna itaram.h api samaaplaavayati maaM yadR^ichchhaa vixepaad.h yatipati dayaa divya taTinii..60 chintaasheSha durartha dantura vachaH kanthaa shata granthilaaH sidhdaantaa na samindhate yativara granthaanu saMdhaayini. muktaa shukti vishudhda sidhda taTinii chuuDaala chuuDaapadaH kiM kulyaaM kalayeta khaNDa parashur.h maNDuuka ma~njuuShikaam.h..61 vande taM yaminaaM dhurandharam.h ahaM maanaandhakaara druhaa panthaanaM paripanthinaaM nija dR^ishaa rundhaanam.h indhaanayaa. dattaM yena dayaa sudhaambu nidhinaa piitvaa vishudhdaM payaH kaale naH karishaila kR^iShNa jaladaH kaa~NxaadhikaM varShati..62 kaaShaayeNa gR^ihiita piita vasanaa daNDaistrabhir.h maNDitaa saa muurtir.h muramardanasya jayati trayyanta saMraxiNii. yat.h prakhyaapita tiirtha vardhita dhiyaam.h abhyasyataaM yadguNaan.h aa sindhor.h anidaM pradesha niyataa kiirtiH prajaagarti naH..63 lipse laxmaNa yoginaH padayugaM rathyaa paraagachchhaTaa raxaaropaNa dhanya suuri pariShat.h siimanta siimaantikam.h bhixaa paryaTana xaNeShu bibharaaMchakre gaLat.h kilbiShaa yad.h vinyaasa miSheNa patra makarii mudraaM samudraambaraa..64 naanaa tantra vilobhitena manasaa nirNiita durniitibhiH kaShTaM kutsita dR^iShTabhir.h yatipater.h aadesha vaideshikaiH. vyaaso haasapadii kR^itaH parihR^itaH praachetasash.h chetasaH kluptaH keli shukaH shukaH sa cha mudhaa baadhaaya bodhaayanaH..65 arthyaa tiShThati maamikaa matirasaa vaajanma raajanvatii patyaa saMyaminaam.h anena jagataam.h atyaahita chchhedinaa. yat.h saarasvata dugdha saagara sudhaa sidhdauShadha aasvaadinaaM prasvaapaaya na bobhaviiti bhagavan.h maayaa mahaayaaminii..66 shudhdaadesha vashaMdadii kR^ita yati xoNiisha vaaNiishataa- pratyaadiShTa bahirgatiH shruti shiraH prasaadam.h aasiidati. dugdho danvada patya sannidhi sadaa saamoda daamodara- shlaxNaa lokena daur.h lalitya lalita unmeShaa maniiShaa mama..67 aastaaM naama yatiindra padhdati juShaam.h aajaana shudhdaa matiH tachchaa vyaaja vidagdha mugdha madhuraM saarasvataM shaashvatam.h. ko vaa chaxur.h uda~nchayedapi puraH saaTopa tarkachchhaTaa shastraa shastri vihaara saMbhR^ita raNaas.h vaasdeShu vaadeShu naH..68 paryaaptaM paryachaiShaM kaNacharaNa kathaam.h aaxapaadaM shishixe miimaaMsaa maaMsalaatmaa samajaniShi muhuH saaMkhya yogau samaakhyam.h. itthaM taistair.h yatiindra truTita bahumR^iShaa tantra kaantaara paanthaiH antarmoha xapaandhair.h ahaha kimiha nashchintaniiyaM taniiyaH..69 gaathaa taathaagataanaaM gaLati gamanikaa kaapilii kvaa.api liinaa xiiNaa kaaNaada vaaNii dR^ihiNa hara giraH saurabhaM naarabhante. xaamaa kaumaari loktir.h jagati gurumataM gauravaat.h duuravaantaM kaa sha~Nkaa sha~Nkaraader.h bhajati yatipatau bhadra vediiM trivediim.h..70 viShvag.h vyaapinya gaadhe yati nR^ipati yashaH saMpade kaarNa ve.asmin.h shradhdaa shudhdaavagaahaiH shubhamati bhirasau ve~NkasTesho.abhiShiktaH praj~naa daurjanya garjat.h prati kathaka vachastuula vaatuula vR^ityaa saptatyaa saaravatyaa samatanuta sataaM priitimetaaM sametaam.h..71 aashaa mata~Ngaja gaNaan.h viShahya vegaan.h paade yati xiti bhR^itaH prasabhaM nirundhan.h. kaaryaH kathaahava kutuuhalibhiH pareShaaM karNe sa eSha kavitaarkika siMha naadaH..72 upashamita kudR^iShTi viplavaanaam.h upaniShadaam.h upachaara diipikeyam.h kahalita bhagavad.h vibhuuti yugmaaM diShatu matiM yatiraaja saptatir.h naH..73 karatala aamalakiikR^ita satpathaaH shruti vataMsita suunR^ita suuktayaH. divasa taarakayanti samatsaraan.h yati purandara saptati saadaraaH..74 kavitaarkika siMhaaya kalyaaNaguNashaaline . shriimate veN^kaTeshaaya vedaantagurave namaH