O Vayu! Grant me Bhakti!

मूर्धन्येशोञ्जलिर्मे धृढतरमिह ते बध्यते बन्धपाश
च्छेत्रे दात्रे सुखानां भजति भुवि भविष्यद् विधात्रे द्युभर्त्रे |
अत्यन्तं सन्ततं त्वं प्रदिश पदयुगे हन्त सन्ताप भाजा-
मस्माकं भक्तिमेकां भगवत उत ते माधवस्याथ वायोः || 7 ||

In this shloka, the author Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya, brings out another important facet of our Siddhanta. While Bhakti is most important for spiritual progress, one’s own efforts are not enough to even develop this devotion towards Sri Hari. The blessings and guidance of a Guru are required for us to even cultivate bhakti in our hearts towards the Lord. The accumulation of sins over many lifetimes creates strong karmic roadblocks that can deviate us from the path of bhakti and make our journey towards Moksha impossible.

Therefore, the grace of Mukhyaprana who controls our karma is very important for us to overcome these karmic hurdles and obtain sufficient devotion towards Mukunda. Thus, the author prays to Sri Vayu and begs him to grant us devotion.

He starts by declaring that out of great respect towards, and in awe of, Mukhyaprana, both this hands are raised and folded above his head.

(O Vayu) For you ते, who in the matter of the servants भजति (the ordinary jeevas like us) in this world इह भुवि are the destroyer of the bonds of samsara बन्धपाशच्छेत्रे, who is the giver दात्रे of joy that is innate to our nature सुखानां – you who are the future Brahma भविष्यद्-विधात्रे and who are the consort of Bharati-devi द्युभर्त्रे – these hands एषः अञ्जलिः of mine मे are firmly धृढतर folded बध्यते over my head मूर्धनि.

O wondrous हन्त Vayudeva वायोः! To us अस्माकं who are afflicted by sorrow and anguish सन्तापभाजां, you त्वं please grant प्रदिश abundant अत्यन्तं and unending सन्ततं devotion भक्तिं at the feet of पदयुगे Bhagavan भगवत Madhava, the Lord of Lakshmi, माधवस्य and अथ also उत towards you ते.

In the first half of the shloka, the author sings glorious praise of Vayu and describes him as the one who shall occupy the seat of Brahma in the next Kalpa. He also reminds us that he is bharati-ramana-mukhyaprana i.e. the Lord of Dyu (bharati-devi). He highlights that it is Matarishva who is the presiding deity of our Karma and is therefore capable of destroying all our bonds that keep us attached to this material world. Once we gain realization of such greatness of Vayu, our hands automatically rise up folded above our heads and we lose ourselves in his prayer.

In the second part of the shloka, Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya makes a fervent appeal to Vayudeva to grant us true and everlasting devotion towards him and also towards the Lord of Lakshmi i.e Madhava. Once a jeeva gains true devotion towards Sri Hari and Vayu, there is nothing else that can come in the way of his spiritual growth and ultimate obtainment of Moksha.

Sri Krishnarpanamastu