Geetha Saram 17-17 to 17-21..

..sloham 17-17..Kodikal asainthu nammai thoza azaikintrana..mudalil Garuda sannithi..aduthu Sri Maha Lakshmi Sannithi..aduthu ganda karna sannithi..Three times this Lord had been discovered under water. First time He was under Alakananda river. Next He was discovered in Narada kund. Third time He was found in Tapta kund. In each of the Three times, only great persons had discovered and installed Him in the temple. Some important Darshans are daily performed. Maha Abhishekam is performed in the morning from 4:30AM to 6:00 AM. It is combined with Nirmalya darshan and Viswaroopam. In this we can have a darshan of the Lord with all ornaments, flowers and garments removed…At the center is seated the Lord on golden throne, with gold crown. He is seated in Padmasanam with both legs folded. His lower Two arms are on His knees. Upper Two arms are holding discus and conch. On His right is Kubera and Garuda. To His left is Narada. As mentioned earlier, sage Narada had meditated here for a very long time. Narada kund is important as from it only the Lord was discovered. Near Narada is Uddhava. In the end of Dwapara yug, Lord Sri Krishna was about to depart for Sri Vaikuntam. Uddhava was very much grieved and wondered how His devotees would withstand His departure. Either He should carry all to Vaikuntam or He should remain in this world with them! When Uddhava prayed like that, Sri Krishna said that His departure was necessary; Uddhava could go to Gandamadana Parvatam [hills] and meditate on the Lord. The hill backdrop we see behind Sri Badrinath temple is Gandamadana parvatam. After Sri Krishna left for Vaikuntam, Uddhava came here and meditated on the Lord. Further left to Him, are Sri Nara and Sri Narayana. The Lord Himself appeared as Sri Nara and Sri Narayana…Thus in the garbhagruha there are Seven Murthi..To worship the Lord very near, we have to book for Gita pata seva or Veda pata seva, for which we have to book in the previous day itself. Here we can spend about Five minutes sitting very closely to the Lord! Again in the evening from 3:00 PM till 6:00 PM, these sevas are available. In the evening is Harati seva. At about 8:45 PM, just before the Lord retires to bed, sayana harati is performed. At that time all His ornaments and flowrs are removed. This is also called Gita Govinda seva..

.śraddhayā parayā taptaṃ tapas tat trividhaṃ naraiḥ
aphalākāṅkṣibhir yuktaiḥ sāttvikaṃ paricakṣate .

.thirumalaiyil anthill adiyil tapam panninathu pola Badriyil Sri narayanan tapam purihiraar..sadvika tapam..In this sloka the Lord has uttered a very important word ‘yuktai:’. Aphalaanksibhi = performed without any desire in rewards..Yuktai = [performing tapas for His pleasure is the only] objective. Paraya = best, sraddhaya = dedication, taptam tapas = so performed tapas or meditation, trividham = Three types [satvikam, rajasam and tamasam]. First line tells there are Three types of tapas and second line says what is satvika tapas, which is performing tapas for His pleasure alone.
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Ramanuja’s Commentary for sloham 17-17..The words aphala-akanksibhih means those who have no desire for rewards. Those devout and evolved jivas or embodied beings with ardent faith, who are imbued with the consciousness that all their actions are humble offerings of worship rendered to the Supreme Lord Krishna or any of His authorized incarnations and expansions as revealed in Vedic scriptures; performing the three aforementioned types of austerity of the physical body, speech and mind are known to be in sattva guna the mode of goodness. .

.sloham 17-18..Brahma kapalam..This is the place, where the Kapalam [skull], sticking on lord Shivas hand, was shattered to pieces…After performing Gaya shrarddham, people come to Badrikashram. In Gaya, the Lord is gracing after killing the demon Gaya. There, after bathing in Palguni river, pinda pradhanam [offering food] is to be performed. Likewise, here also after bathing in Alakananda, at this place pinda pradhanam is performed. By doing so the deceased souls as well as we attain welfare. Our sins are diminished. Therefore, pinda pradhanam here is customary..Any karma like Yagna, tapas, japam or shrarddham done here gives rewards of performing million times

satkāramānapūjārthaṃtapo dambhena caiva yat
kriyate tad iha proktaṃ rājasaṃ calam adhruvam

Tat = that, iha = here, proktam = is called, rajasam = rajasa [tapas]. What are its benefits? Calam = slippery, adhruvam = never permanent…Satkara = for others to think great of us, mana = others to praise by speech, pujartham = others to worship us..Caiva = also performed with, dambhena = publicity and pomp. Such tapas are performed only for others to have us in high esteem! Kriyate = [such tapas] are performed. This is regarded as rajasa tapas. Tapas was performed by Hiranyakasipu, Ravana, Kamsa, etc. They are all rajasa tapas and their results would slip and never be permanent. Only short term benefits, temporary gains and ordinary rewards are obtained..

Ramanuja’s Commentary for sloham 17-18.. Lord Krishna describes the austerities that are situated in raja guna the mode of passion are those that are enacted with the expectance of praise, prestige, acclaim and with the hope of receiving adulation and adoration from others is in raja guna along with any Vedic activity that is impelled by hidden motives of garnishing rewards or desire for recognition and worship from others even if enacted according to the Vedic scriptures

sloham 17-19..To the West of the river is Narayana Parvat and on the East is Nara mountain. Sri Badrinath temple is on Narayana parvat. Opposite this mountain is Nara mountain, slightly shorter in height. Alwar says ‘varanam konarndha gangai [வாரணம் கொணர்ந்த கங்கை]’ – Ganga was brought by elephant!When Ganga rushed down with force from heaven, at the prayer of Bhagiratha, this mass of earth stopped its flow further. Seeing this, Indra wanted the river should benefit people, and so, he ordered his Four tusked white elephant, Airavata to break the mass of the earth..சிஷ்யர் இருக்கும் இருப்பு நாட்டார் அறிகைக்காக naranaahavum vanthaar... Badrikasramam is on Narayana malai..This mass of land slowly drifted for about 55 Million years and joined present Asia continent. Thus our country was annexed with Asia some 35 Million years back! But when it joined Asia, it did with severe force. This resulted in upheaval at the junction and the earth raised to form mountain, which is Himalayas. This mountain range is for about 1500 Miles from Kashmir to South East of Nepal. Many perennial rivers like Ganga, Sindhu, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, etc., are flowing from Himalayas..eiravatha yanai konndu-four tusked elephant-pillantha malaikal..It is said that Sri Nara and Sri Narayana, were later born as Arjuna and Sri Krishna! While in Badarikashram, Tirumantram was preached..Thus Tirumantram and Charamasloka are united..

mūḍhagrāheṇātmano yat pīḍayā kriyate tapaḥ
parasyotsādanārthaṃ vā tat tāmasam udāhṛtam ..

Tat = that is, tamasam = tamasa [type of tapas], udahrtam = as described.Mudha grahena = fools, unable to grasp good…Atmana = themselves, pidaya = hurting..Utsadanartham = for causing troubles or injury to, parasya = others…Tat = such tapas, tamasam = is tamasa type of tapas..

Ramanuja’s Commentary for sloham 17-19..Now Lord Krishna explains the austerities that are of tama guna or mode of ignorance. The word mudha means foolish. The word grahena means endeavour. Those who foolishly endeavour are the ignorant. Those who torture and give pain to themselves and diabolically cause injury and suffering to others are depraved and their dark resolves are at the pinnacle of nescience. Whatever activity they enact by such convoluted resolves regardless of success or failure is in the darkness of tama guna. ..sloham 17-20..’JAIBADRI VISHAL!
JAI BADRINATH KI!!
JAI GANGA MATA KI !!’
..We have seen Narayana and Nara mountains, opposite to each other. Then there is Urvasi [or Oorvasi] parvat, where the Lord created Urvasi, the beautiful damsel of heaven. She emerged from the thigh of the Lord .. Behind Urvasi mountain is Nilakanta parvat, covered by snow. When Sun rises behind this mountain, we see the brilliant rays. Beyond this mountain is Charana Paduka…Sahasra Kavacha Rakshasa lived here..it took 10000 years of tapas to break one kavasam..nara/narayana did tapas for 9999 days to break all the kavasams..the Rakshasa was born as Karna with the remaining single kavacha, in Dwapara yug, when Sri Krishna appeared..

dātavyam iti yad dānaṃ dīyatenupakāriṇe
deśe kāle ca pātre ca tad dānaṃ sāttvikaṃ smṛtam
..in this place a dhanam made gets punya of 10 Million times dhanam made! Yad dhanam = that dhanam, diyate = donated, datavyam iti = according to dharma shastras..Anupakarine = to that person who had not helped us in the past or who is likely to favour us in the future..Dese = [dhanam should be made] in proper place, kale = at proper time, ca patre = and to proper person(s)…

Ramanuja’s Commentary for sloham 17-20..It is a duty to offer danam or charity to worthy recepients. Lord Krishna explains that danam that is offered without expectation of reward, hopes for services or wishing anything in return that is offered at an auspicious place, at an auspicious time to spiritually enlightened Vaisnavas brahmanas steeped in the conclusive knowledge of the Vedic scriptures is to be understood as the best of danam and situated in sattva guna the mode of goodness. ..sloham 17-21..Vyasaya vishnurupaya vyasarupaya vishnave |
Namovai brahmanidhaye vasishtaya namo nama: ||
Vyasam vasishta naptaram shakte pautramakalmasham |
Parasharatmajam vande shukatatam taponidhim ||
Tamyam nayakalapena mahata bharatena cha |
Upagrnvita vedaya namo vyasaya vishnave ||
Sage Veda Vyasa wrote 18 Puranas and Mahabharata epic, besides segregated Vedas into Four parts…At about 3 KMs from Badarikashram, is the place Mana, which is almost near the border of India. This is the last village and after about 40 KMs or so, our neighbouring country starts. In this cave in this village, Vyasa wrote the 18 Puranas and Mahabharata. He also propagated the Four Vedas from here, through his disciples. He spread Vedas through his disciples like Jaimini, Sumantu, Pyla, etc. Vyasa means segregating or dividing. He segregated Vedas into Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana and so he is Veda Vyasa..This cave-vyasa poti- is 5110 years old.We see an ancient small idol of Vyasa. A recent large idol is also installed here. Near him is a white marble idol of Swami Vallabhacharya. In North India, Vallabhacharya sampradhayam is very famous. Some 500 years back, Swami Vallabhacharya had come here. He was fortunate to have had direct vision of Veda Vyasa. Later, Swami Vallabhacharya spread all the Puranas and greatness of the Lord..this cave has the glory of birth of Mahabharatham, Srimad Bhagavatam and the 18 Puranas..He also authored Brahma Sootram, which is collection of aphorisms on Brahmam, exracted from Upanishads. It has 156 adhikaranams, 545 soothrams [aphorisms] in 16 Chapters in Four parts.

yat tu prattyupakārārthaṃ phalam uddiśya vā punaḥ
dīyate ca parikliṣṭaṃ tad dānaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam

..Yat tu = [that dhanam] which is, pratyupakarartham = for the sake of return help..uddisya = expecting, phalam = rewards like reaching heaven, etc..Pariklistam = [dhanams] done with displeasure..

Ramanuja’s Commentary for sloham 17-21..Lord Krishna clarifies that danam or charity that is bequeathed with an inner desire and expectation for reward or danam that is proffered reluctantly, or danam that is inferior due to damage or spoilage, or danam that is undamaged and perfectly good and fresh unspoiled articles are stingily given grudgingly are all known to be situated in raja guna the mode of passion.

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