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"Raama" explained by Shankara
Here is a legend about Shankara Bhagavatpaada's commentary
on the Vishnu sahasranaama. The Achaarya once asked a disciple
of his in VaaraaNasii to randomly pull out a philosophical work
from among many such works. When the disciple did so, it was
the Vishnusahasra naama that was selected. For some mysterious
reason, Shankara asked the disciple to put the sahasranaama
back and try the experiment again. To everybody's surprise,
the same sahasranaama was selected for the second time, and
again for the third time! Considering this incident to be a
divine will, Shankara proceeded to write his commentary on it.
The commentary is considered so authoritative that NiilakaNTha,
the commentator of the Mahaabhaarata, has not commented on the
Vishnu sahasra naama or Shankara's bhaashhya.
Let us look at what Shankara says about the name, "raama."
The relevant text is:
raamo viraamo virato
maargo neyo nayo'nayaH |
Shaankarabhaashhya:
nityaanandalakshhaNe'smin yogino ramanta
iti raamaH ;
Raama, whose characteristic is eternal bliss, is one
in the contemplation of whom yogis delight.
ramante yogino yasminnityaanande chidaatmani |
iti raamapadenaitatparam brahmaabhidhiiyate ||
The Para Brahman is called Raama to indicate the fact that
yogis delight in the eternal bliss of Atman, which is pure
consciousness (chit).
iti padmapuraaNe ; thus says the Padma PuraaNa.
svechchhayaa ramaNiiyam vapurvahanvaa daasharathii raamaH
He assumed a handsome form, as the son of dasharatha, of
His own accord. So He is called Raama.
Anand
