प्राचार्यदशकम् - Stuti on Sri Melpakkam Narasimhachari Swami

प्राचार्यदशकम्

श्रीरंगनाथरघुवीरकृपात्तबोधं सांगश्रुतेरखिलतत्वविदं गुणाढ्यम् ।

धर्मस्वरूपमपि दर्शनषट्कपात्रं दम्भादिवर्जितनृसिंहगुरुं भजेऽहम् ।।

I salute that Guru, Sri Narasimhachari, who was free of conceit and the like, who was instructed with grace, by H.H 42nd and H.H 43rd pontiffs, who had mastered the entire Vedas along with its six angas, who was full of noble qualities and an embodiment of the dharma Sastras, and a receptacle of the six darshanas!

– by ஶ்ரீ பருத்திப்பட்டு வங்கிபுரம் தேவனார்விளாகம் பத்மநாபாசாரியார் (with a little help from me)

आर्यं वन्दे सदाचार्यं मेल्पाक्काभिजनं सदा ।

आचार्यलक्षणीभूतं प्राचार्यं मम दैवतः ।।  (1)

I salute always that noble Pracharya of mine, my fortune, a SadAchArya, a descendant (or a crest jewel) of Melpakkam (village or clan), who was indeed the definition (or example) of the word ‘Acharya’.

नाम्ना साक्षान्नृसिंहार्यः कृत्याऽपरपतञ्जलिः ।

सदाचारेण नित्यं तु धर्मशास्त्रस्य विग्रहः ।।  (2)

By name, he was Narasimha, by his works, another Patanjali, by his noble and flawless conduct he was an embodiment of dharmasastras! (please see Note 1)

मधुरान्तकसंसक्ते जज्ञे प्राक् शतवर्षतः ।

राजते यशसेहापि मुक्तगोष्ठ्यां यथा तथा ।। (3)

Swami was born near Madurantakam (in Chengalpet) before a hundred years and is (shining) present here (amidst us) through his fame (and glory) as he is shining amidst the assembly of muktas! (in Srivaikuntha).

शास्त्रे व्याकरणे भूत्वा शिरोमणिरराजत ।

अत्रस्थपाठशालायाम् अस्माकं सुकृतं किल ।। (4)

Swami obtained the Siromani degree in Vyakarana Sastra (from tirupati) and shone like a crest jewel (siromani) in our patashala, which is indeed our fortune! (see Note 2).

नवघोषप्रदेशे च कृत्वा कार्यमभून्महत् ।

महाभाष्यस्य सम्बद्धं राष्ट्रपतिपुरस्कृतः ।। (5)

Having completed a mammoth task (editing commentaries) on Mahabhashya in Puducherry (French institute), he was awarded with the President’s honour for Sanskrit! (See Note 3).

वेदे वेदाड़्गषट्के च धर्मे षड्दर्शने तथा ।

पारड़्गत्वापि यो बाल्ये तस्थौ प्रस्तौमि तद्यशः ।। (6)

I sing in praise of his fame who even after mastering the Vedas with its six angas, dharma Sastra and six darshanas just went about with childlike innocence! (See Note 4).

अवराणां परेषाञ्च विदुषां तु पतञ्जलिम् ।

धृतपाणिनिरुक्तञ्च रघुवररुचिं भजे ।। (7)

I salute the one who was an object of salutation (पतञ्जलि,) by scholars who were junior and senior to him, who held nirukta in his hands धृत पाणिनि रुक्त (that much thorough he was) and who was dear to Raghuvara (वररुचि) or Rama. (See Note 5).   

विश्रुताधीतवेदान्तम् आश्रुतपरवन्दनम् ।

अश्रुतापरनिन्दं तं श्रुतान्वितं भजेऽनिशम् ।।  (8)

I salute him incessantly who was a famous scholar of Vedanta, devoted to hearing the praise of the Lord, who would not listen to people complaining about others and who was very conversant with the Vedas!

श्रोत्रनुरूपवक्तारं पात्रानुसारबोधकम् ।

आत्मगुणैश्च सम्पूर्णं वन्देऽनुत्तमदेशिकम् ।। (9)

I salute that unsurpassed Acharya who would just speak what suits the listener (not beyond his capacity to digest), teach what suits the student (would not impose on with his genius), who was completely filled with noble qualities! (See Note 6).

उपलब्धौ न वै लब्धौ यस्याभवत् सदा रतिः ।

सुधीश्चापि सुधीरस्तं शिरसा प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। (10)

I bow to that wise and resolute (Acharya) who was devoted to knowledge (उपलब्धि) and not to any material gain (लब्धि) indeed.

प्राचार्यार्चनरूपेण विरचितोऽयमञ्जलिः ।

तत्कृपयोपशिष्येण शताब्धिकमहोत्सवे ।। (11)

This anjali in the form of paying homage to Pracharya is composed by his pupil’s pupil, with his grace, during his centenary celebrations.

This was composed by ஶ்ரீ Dr. ஶ்ரீராமன் ஜகந்நாதன், disciple of ஶ்ரீ பருத்திப்பட்டு வங்கிபுரம் தேவனார்விளாகம் பத்மநாபாசாரியார் (the current Srikaryam Swamy of Sri Ahobila Mutt).

NOTE 1 : Acharya was a master of Vyakarana Sastra and Dharmasastras and was especially renowned for these two (though he was undoubtedly a master in other fields as well).

NOTE 2 : Swami taught Vyakarana Sastra for roughly 20 years in Madurantakam patashala .

NOTE 3 : புது is नव சேரி is घोष; so புதுச்சேரி is नवघोष.

NOTE 4 : There is a Vedic injunction which says ‘even after learning all shastras 

one should be with a child’s inquisitiveness to learn and maintain modesty and not be puffed with pride’. I am told Swami never showed off his vidvat! If Swami did not know something it was the two bhavas of anger and arrogance!

NOTE 5 : Since Swami was an outstanding grammarian,the author has made an attempt to bring in the names of the three munis of Vyakarana – Panini, Patanjali and Vararuci.

NOTE 6 : This sloka was specially appreciated in the assembly by an elderly scholar (Annadur Swami, 94 years old), who had spent much time with the Acharya, as a befitting one!

Please go through the below blog to know more about Sri Melpakkam swami.

http://srimelpakkamswamy.in/articles/