SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
SlOkam – Original
tham Eva SaraNam gachcha sarvabhAvEna bhAratha |
thathprasAdhAth parAm SAnthim sthAnam prApsyasi SASvatham ||
word-by-word meaning
bhAratha – Oh descendant of bharatha clan!
tham Eva – supreme lord (me)
sarvabhAvEna – in all manner
SaraNam gachcha – follow;
thath prasAdhAth – by his mercy
parAm SAnthim – freedom from all bondage
SASvatham sthAnam cha – paramapadham which is the eternal abode of liberation
prApsyasi – will attain
Simple Translation
Oh descendant of bharatha clan! Follow the supreme lord (me) in all manner; by his mercy, you will attain freedom from all bondage and paramapadham which is the eternal abode of liberation.
Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam
‘With all the soul, Bhārata! seek Him as (your) Refuge. By his Grace shall you attain to supreme peace, and eternal state.’
Such being the case (referring to Stanza 61 ante), with all your soul (or being), fly for Refuge to Him, —Him the Governor of all, —Him Who governs you by saying: ‘Do thus etc.,’ —Him, indeed who out of love for his creatures has condescended even to become your Charioteer.
Seek Him as Refuge = Follow Him or His directions in every way; i.e., carry out all His injunctions such as prosecuting the (impending) war etc., as, even when you will otherwise, you will find yourself unable to carry out your mind prompted as you will be, —ignorant as you are,— by his māyā; and that will lead to your perishment. Obedience to Him, on the other hand, shall by His grace, procure for you supreme peace, or cessation of all karma-bonds, and also Eternal State or the Immortal Empyrean.
Śrutis by the hundred declare thus:
‘That is Vishṇu’s exalted Empyrean, which Saints ever see’[1. Tait: Samh: I-3-6 and IV-2-9: ‘Tad Vishṇoh &c.,’]
‘Verily do they, become meritorious, reach Heaven, where the Devas Sādhyas dwell.’[2. Tait: Āraṇ: III-12: ‘Teha nakam.’]
‘Where the archaic first-born Rishis (are).’[3. Tait: Samh: IV-7-13: ‘Yatra rishayaḥ.’]
‘Which is hidden away beyond the material heaven.’[4. Tait: Nārā: Up°: X-21: ‘Parena nākam &c.,’]
‘Who, in the Supreme Heaven, is the Lord of Kosmos’[5. Tait: Brāh: II-8-9: ‘Yo `sya &c.’]
‘Now, that Divine Light which shines above this’[6. Chh: Up°: III-13-7: ‘Atha yad ataḥ &c.’]
‘He reaches the End of the journey (viz;) Vishṇu’s Superb Empyrean’[7. Kath: Up: I-3-9: ‘So `dhavanah &c.’] etc.
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