Naama 529-538: Kapila Avataram

529. ānandaḥ · आनन्दः

The one who is endowed with bliss that is beyond the reach of thought and word, as described in the Ananda-valli of the Taittiriya Upanishad.

(oṃ) ānandāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "vāṅmanasa durgrahō mahānandaḥ asya asti iti ānandaḥ", "He has a great bliss that cannot be grasped by words or the mind." He refers to the Ananda Valli of the Taittiriya Upanishad, which measures the bliss of human beings, the gandharvas, the devas, and Brahma, each a hundred times greater than the one before, and then says of the bliss of Brahman, "from which words turn back, along with the mind, without reaching it" (yatō vācō nivartantē aprāpya manasā saha).

Sri Bhattar interprets the next few naamas in the context of the Kapila incarnation.

530. nandanaḥ · नन्दनः

The one who confers this bliss on the released souls and makes them happy.

(oṃ) nandanāya namaḥ

The Taittiriya Upanishad says, "He alone confers bliss. All other beings enjoy only a fraction of this bliss."

531. nandaḥ · नन्दः

The one in whom countless objects of enjoyment are found in great abundance.

(oṃ) nandāya namaḥ

He has with Him, in full and at all times, everything needed for enjoyment: the objects of enjoyment, the means of enjoyment, the places of enjoyment, and those who enjoy. Because He has no need or desire of His own, all of this exists only for the joy of His devotees.

532. satyadharmā · सत्यधर्मा

The one who is true in all His acts and is noted for His uprightness towards His devotees, from the time they begin to approach Him until they attain Him.

(oṃ) satyadharmaṇē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that the Lord is upright towards His devotees from the moment they begin to approach Him until they finally attain Him. Lord Rama says, "Even to one who has surrendered only once, saying 'I am yours', I give protection from all beings. This is My vow" (sakṛdēva prapannāya tavāsmīti ca yācatē | abhayaṃ sarvabhūtēbhyō dadāmyētadvrataṃ mama ||).

533. trivikramaḥ · त्रिविक्रमः

The one who, by His greatness, pervades the three Vedas as their main subject.

(oṃ) trivikramāya namaḥ

It is said, "The three Vedas are called the Triad by the great seers. You pervade all three of them, and so You are known as Trivikrama." The Vedas say, "Narayana is the main topic of the Vedas."

महर्षिः कपिलाचार्यः कृतज्ञो मेदिनीपतिः ।

त्रिपदस्त्रिदशाध्यक्षो महाशृङ्गः कृतान्तकृत् ॥ ५७ ॥

maharṣiḥ kapilācāryaḥ kṛtajñō mēdinīpatiḥ |

tripadastridaśādhyakṣō mahāśṛṅgaḥ kṛtāntakṛt || 57 ||

534. maharṣiḥ · महर्षिः

The great seer, who, in His incarnation as Kapila, realised the three Vedas by direct perception.

(oṃ) maharṣayē namaḥ

It is said, "Kapila was a seer from His very birth." He is the one who propounded the Sankhya system.

535. kapilācāryaḥ · कपिलाचार्यः

The one who, as Kapila, is of a brown complexion, and is the Acharya who collected together all knowledge about the tattvas in His system of philosophy.

(oṃ) kapilācāryāya namaḥ

He is meditated upon as "the one who has a lustre like that of a burning but smokeless ember, and who holds the conch and lotus beads in His hand."

536. kṛtajñaḥ · कृतज्ञः

The one who remembers even the smallest good deed done to Him.

(oṃ) kṛtajñāya namaḥ

The sons of King Sagara had offended Sage Kapila and were reduced to ashes. Later, when Amsuman, the grandson of Sagara, came before Kapila and bowed to Him with respect, Kapila remembered only that good act. He was so pleased that He said to Amsuman, "Choose a boon."

537. mēdinīpatiḥ · मेदिनीपतिः

The Lord of the earth, who in the form of Kapila always bears the earth.

(oṃ) mēdinīpatayē namaḥ

Brahma said to the devas, "All the earth belongs to the omniscient Lord Vasudeva. Taking the form of Kapila, He always bears the earth."

538. tripadaḥ · त्रिपदः

The one who revealed the three tattvas for the benefit of the world, namely the enjoyer (the jeevaathma), the object of enjoyment (non-sentient matter), and the ruler (Isvara).

(oṃ) tripadāya namaḥ

The Lord says, "Having assumed the form of Kapila, I am going to reveal the three realities for the benefit of all beings in the world." The name may also refer to the Pranava, which has three letters, A, U, and M.