Naama 601-607: The Lord who governs both paths of dharma

601. vṛṣabhākṣaḥ · वृषभाक्षः

The one who, in the form of dharma, is the axle that supports the wheel of samsara.

(oṃ) vṛṣabhākṣāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar begins the seventh hundred names with this naama. The word vrushabha means dharma, because dharma showers (varṣati) the fruits of our actions. The word aksha means an axle. Just as the axle supports the wheel of a chariot, the Lord, in the form of dharma, supports the wheel of samsara and showers fruits on all beings according to their dharma. Nammazhwar describes Him as "the one unique primordial cause who protects the three worlds."

602. vṛṣapriyaḥ · वृषप्रियः

The one who is pleased with dharma, both Pravritti Dharma and Nivritti Dharma.

(oṃ) vṛṣapriyāya namaḥ

Pravritti Dharma helps the jeevaathmas continue in this world and enjoy its fruits, while Nivritti Dharma brings about their release. Since both are dear to Him, the Lord grants the desired fruit when He is pleased with the dharma performed by His devotee. For example, a person who earns money through an honest profession and spends it in a dharmic way follows Pravritti Dharma. A person who is not involved in the material world and meditates on the Lord as the only purpose of life follows Nivritti Dharma.

The Brahma Sutras say that the fruits of all actions come from Him alone (phalam ata upapattēḥ).

अनिवर्ती निवृत्तात्मा सङ्क्षेप्ता क्षेमकृच्छिवः ।

श्रीवत्सवक्षाः श्रीवासः श्रीपतिः श्रीमतां वरः ॥ ६४ ॥

anivartī nivṛttātmā saṅkṣēptā kṣēmakṛcchivaḥ |

śrīvatsavakṣāḥ śrīvāsaḥ śrīpatiḥ śrīmatāṃ varaḥ || 64 ||

603. anivartī · अनिवर्ती

The one who does not turn back from samsara those who are attached to Pravritti Dharma. He lets them continue to enjoy the worldly fruits they seek.

(oṃ) anivartinē namaḥ

604. nivṛttātmā · निवृत्तात्मा

The one whose nature is superior to everything else, and who is the very soul of those who follow Nivritti Dharma.

(oṃ) nivṛttātmanē namaḥ

This naama is one of only two naamas that occur four times in Sri Bhattar's reading of the Sahasranamam (the 231st, 453rd, 604th, and 780th naamas). The other one is prāṇadaḥ. Each time, Sri Bhattar explains it differently according to its context, showing that there is no repetition in the stotram.

605. saṅkṣēptā · सङ्क्षेप्ता

The one who limits the light of knowledge of those who follow only Pravritti Dharma, so that they are born again in samsara, in accordance with their past karma, instead of attaining Him.

(oṃ) saṅkṣēptrē namaḥ

606. kṣēmakṛt · क्षेमकृत्

The one who does what is good for those who follow Nivritti Dharma by removing the obstacles to their knowledge.

(oṃ) kṣēmakṛtē namaḥ

Lord Krishna says in the Gita, "To those who worship Me alone, thinking of no one else, who are ever devoted to Me, I bring what they do not have and preserve what they have" (yōga kṣēmam vahāmyaham). Here, yōga is gaining what has not been attained, and kṣēma is protecting what has already been attained.

607. śivaḥ · शिवः

The one who does what is auspicious for all, whether they desire the enjoyments of this world or seek release from it.

(oṃ) śivāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Mahabharata, "He is auspicious to those who are auspicious, and inauspicious to those who are inauspicious" (śivō śivānām aśivō aśivānām). The Vishnu Purana says, "He is the cause of the bondage of worldly existence and also of release from it." Thirumangai Azhwar describes Him as "Narayana, who rules over the great earth with grace."