Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 8 · Chapter 4
श्रीशुक उवाच तदा देवर्षिगन्धर्वा ब्रह्मेशानपुरोगमा: । मुमुचु: कुसुमासारं शंसन्त: कर्म तद्धरे: ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca tada devarsi-gandharva brahmesana-purogamah mumucuh kusumasaram samsantah karma tad dhareh
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: When the Lord delivered Gajendra, King of the elephants, all the demigods, sages and Gandharvas, headed by Brahma and Siva, praised this activity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and showered flowers upon both the Lord and Gajendra.
नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो दिव्या गन्धर्वा ननृतुर्जगु: । ऋषयश्चारणा: सिद्धास्तुष्टुवु: पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ २ ॥
nedur dundubhayo divya gandharva nanrtur jaguh rsayas caranah siddhas tustuvuh purusottamam
There was a beating of kettledrums in the heavenly planes, the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka began to dance and sing, while great sages and the inhabitants of Caranaloka and Siddhaloka offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Purusottama.
योऽसौ ग्राह: स वै सद्य: परमाश्चर्यरूपधृक् । मुक्तो देवलशापेन हूहूर्गन्धर्वसत्तम: ॥ ३ ॥ प्रणम्य शिरसाधीशमुत्तमश्लोकमव्ययम् । अगायत यशोधाम कीर्तन्यगुणसत्कथम् ॥ ४ ॥
yo ’sau grahah sa vai sadyah paramascarya-rupa-dhrk mukto devala-sapena huhur gandharva-sattamah pranamya sirasadhisam uttama-slokam avyayam agayata yaso-dhama kirtanya-guna-sat-katham
The best of the Gandharvas, King Huhu, having been cursed by Devala Muni, had become a crocodile. Now, having been delivered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he assumed a very beautiful form as a Gandharva. Understanding by whose mercy this had happened, he immediately offered his respectful obeisances with his head and began chanting prayers just suitable for the transcendental Lord, the supreme eternal, who is worshiped by the choicest verses.
सोऽनुकम्पित ईशेन परिक्रम्य प्रणम्य तम् । लोकस्य पश्यतो लोकं स्वमगान्मुक्तकिल्बिष: ॥ ५ ॥
so ’nukampita isena parikramya pranamya tam lokasya pasyato lokam svam agan mukta-kilbisah
Having been favored by the causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and having regained his original form, King Huhu circumambulated the Lord and offered his obeisances. Then, in the presence of all the demigods, headed by Brahma, he returned to Gandharvaloka. He had been freed of all sinful reactions.
गजेन्द्रो भगवत्स्पर्शाद् विमुक्तोऽज्ञानबन्धनात् । प्राप्तो भगवतो रूपं पीतवासाश्चतुर्भुज: ॥ ६ ॥
gajendro bhagavat-sparsad vimukto ’jnana-bandhanat prapto bhagavato rupam pita-vasas catur-bhujah
Because Gajendra, King of the elephants, had been touched directly by the hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he was immediately freed of all material ignorance and bondage. Thus he received the salvation of sarupya-mukti, in which he achieved the same bodily features as the Lord, being dressed in yellow garments and possessing four hands.
स वै पूर्वमभूद् राजा पाण्ड्यो द्रविडसत्तम: । इन्द्रद्युम्न इति ख्यातो विष्णुव्रतपरायण: ॥ ७ ॥
sa vai purvam abhud raja pandyo dravida-sattamah indradyumna iti khyato visnu-vrata-parayanah
This Gajendra had formerly been a Vaisnava and the king of the country known as Pandya, which is in the province of Dravida (South India). In his previous life, he was known as Indradyumna Maharaja.
स एकदाराधनकाल आत्मवान् गृहीतमौनव्रत ईश्वरं हरिम् । जटाधरस्तापस आप्लुतोऽच्युतं समर्चयामास कुलाचलाश्रम: ॥ ८ ॥
sa ekadaradhana-kala atmavan grhita-mauna-vrata isvaram harim jata-dharas tapasa apluto ’cyutam samarcayam asa kulacalasramah
Indradyumna Maharaja retired from family life and went to the Malaya Hills, where he had a small cottage for his asrama. He wore matted locks on his head and always engaged in austerities. Once, while observing a vow of silence, he was fully engaged in the worship of the Lord and absorbed in the ecstasy of love of Godhead.
यदृच्छया तत्र महायशा मुनि: समागमच्छिष्यगणै: परिश्रित: । तं वीक्ष्य तूष्णीमकृतार्हणादिकं रहस्युपासीनमृषिश्चुकोप ह ॥ ९ ॥
yadrcchaya tatra maha-yasa munih samagamac chisya-ganaih parisritah tam viksya tusnim akrtarhanadikam rahasy upasinam rsis cukopa ha
While Indradyumna Maharaja was engaged in ecstatic meditation, worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the great sage Agastya Muni arrived there, surrounded by his disciples. When the Muni saw that Maharaja Indradyumna, who was sitting in a secluded place, remained silent and did not follow the etiquette of offering him a reception, he was very angry.
तस्मा इमं शापमदादसाधु- रयं दुरात्माकृतबुद्धिरद्य । विप्रावमन्ता विशतां तमिस्रं यथा गज: स्तब्धमति: स एव ॥ १० ॥
tasma imam sapam adad asadhur ayam duratmakrta-buddhir adya vipravamanta visatam tamisram yatha gajah stabdha-matih sa eva
Agastya Muni then spoke this curse against the King: This King Indradyumna is not at all gentle. Being low and uneducated, he has insulted a brahmana. May he therefore enter the region of darkness and receive the dull, dumb body of an elephant.
श्रीशुक उवाच एवं शप्त्वा गतोऽगस्त्यो भगवान् नृप सानुग: । इन्द्रद्युम्नोऽपि राजर्षिर्दिष्टं तदुपधारयन् ॥ ११ ॥ आपन्न: कौञ्जरीं योनिमात्मस्मृतिविनाशिनीम् । हर्यर्चनानुभावेन यद्गजत्वेऽप्यनुस्मृति: ॥ १२ ॥
sri-suka uvaca evam saptva gato ’gastyo bhagavan nrpa sanugah indradyumno ’pi rajarsir distam tad upadharayan apannah kaunjarim yonim atma-smrti-vinasinim hary-arcananubhavena yad-gajatve ’py anusmrtih
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, after Agastya Muni had thus cursed King Indradyumna, the Muni left that place along with his disciples. Since the King was a devotee, he accepted Agastya Muni’s curse as welcome because it was the desire of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, although in his next life he got the body of an elephant, because of devotional service he remembered how to worship and offer prayers to the Lord.
एवं विमोक्ष्य गजयूथपमब्जनाभ- स्तेनापि पार्षदगतिं गमितेन युक्त: । गन्धर्वसिद्धविबुधैरुपगीयमान- कर्माद्भुतं स्वभवनं गरुडासनोऽगात् ॥ १३ ॥
evam vimoksya gaja-yutha-pam abja-nabhas tenapi parsada-gatim gamitena yuktah gandharva-siddha-vibudhair upagiyamana- karmadbhutam sva-bhavanam garudasano ’gat
Upon delivering the King of the elephants from the clutches of the crocodile, and from material existence, which resembles a crocodile, the Lord awarded him the status of sarupya-mukti. In the presence of the Gandharvas, the Siddhas and the other demigods, who were praising the Lord for His wonderful transcendental activities, the Lord, sitting on the back of His carrier, Garuda, returned to His all-wonderful abode and took Gajendra with Him.
एतन्महाराज तवेरितो मया कृष्णानुभावो गजराजमोक्षणम् । स्वर्ग्यं यशस्यं कलिकल्मषापहं दु:स्वप्ननाशं कुरुवर्य शृण्वताम् ॥ १४ ॥
etan maha-raja taverito maya krsnanubhavo gaja-raja-moksanam svargyam yasasyam kali-kalmasapaham duhsvapna-nasam kuru-varya srnvatam
My dear King Pariksit, I have now described the wonderful power of Krsna, as displayed when the Lord delivered the King of the elephants. O best of the Kuru dynasty, those who hear this narration become fit to be promoted to the higher planeary systems. Simply because of hearing this narration, they gain a reputation as devotees, they are unaffected by the contamination of Kali-yuga, and they never see bad dreams.
यथानुकीर्तयन्त्येतच्छ्रेयस्कामा द्विजातय: । शुचय: प्रातरुत्थाय दु:स्वप्नाद्युपशान्तये ॥ १५ ॥
yathanukirtayanty etac chreyas-kama dvijatayah sucayah pratar utthaya duhsvapnady-upasantaye
Therefore, after getting up from bed in the morning, those who desire their own welfare—especially the brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and in particular the brahmana Vaisnavas—should chant this narration as it is, without deviation, to counteract the troubles of bad dreams.
इदमाह हरि: प्रीतो गजेन्द्रं कुरुसत्तम । शृण्वतां सर्वभूतानां सर्वभूतमयो विभु: ॥ १६ ॥
idam aha harih prito gajendram kuru-sattama srnvatam sarva-bhutanam sarva-bhuta-mayo vibhuh
O best of the Kuru dynasty, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul of everyone, being thus pleased, addressed Gajendra in the presence of everyone there. He spoke the following blessings.
श्रीभगवानुवाच ये मां त्वां च सरश्चेदं गिरिकन्दरकाननम् । वेत्रकीचकवेणूनां गुल्मानि सुरपादपान् ॥ १७ ॥ शृङ्गाणीमानि धिष्ण्यानि ब्रह्मणो मे शिवस्य च । क्षीरोदं मे प्रियं धाम श्वेतद्वीपं च भास्वरम् ॥ १८ ॥ श्रीवत्सं कौस्तुभं मालां गदां कौमोदकीं मम । सुदर्शनं पाञ्चजन्यं सुपर्णं पतगेश्वरम् ॥ १९ ॥ शेषं च मत्कलां सूक्ष्मां श्रियं देवीं मदाश्रयाम् । ब्रह्माणं नारदमृषिं भवं प्रह्लादमेव च ॥ २० ॥ मत्स्यकूर्मवराहाद्यैरवतारै: कृतानि मे । कर्माण्यनन्तपुण्यानि सूर्यं सोमं हुताशनम् ॥ २१ ॥ प्रणवं सत्यमव्यक्तं गोविप्रान् धर्ममव्ययम् । दाक्षायणीर्धर्मपत्नी: सोमकश्यपयोरपि ॥ २२ ॥ गङ्गां सरस्वतीं नन्दां कालिन्दीं सितवारणम् । ध्रुवं ब्रह्मऋषीन्सप्त पुण्यश्लोकांश्च मानवान् ॥ २३ ॥ उत्थायापररात्रान्ते प्रयता: सुसमाहिता: । स्मरन्ति मम रूपाणि मुच्यन्ते तेꣷहसोऽखिलात् ॥ २४ ॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca ye mam tvam ca saras cedam giri-kandara-kananam vetra-kicaka-venunam gulmani sura-padapan srnganimani dhisnyani brahmano me sivasya ca ksirodam me priyam dhama sveta-dvipam ca bhasvaram srivatsam kaustubham malam gadam kaumodakim mama sudarsanam pancajanyam suparnam patagesvaram sesam ca mat-kalam suksmam sriyam devim mad-asrayam brahmanam naradam rsim bhavam prahradam eva ca matsya-kurma-varahadyair avataraih krtani me karmany ananta-punyani suryam somam hutasanam pranavam satyam avyaktam go-vipran dharmam avyayam daksayanir dharma-patnih soma-kasyapayor api gangam sarasvatim nandam kalindim sita-varanam dhruvam brahma-rsin sapta punya-slokams ca manavan utthayapara-ratrante prayatah susamahitah smaranti mama rupani mucyante te ’mhaso ’khilat
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Freed from all sinful reactions are those who rise from bed at the end of night, early in the morning, and fully concentrate their minds with great attention upon My form; your form; this lake; this mountain; the caves; the gardens; the cane plants; the bamboo plants; the celestial trees; the residential quarters of Me, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva; the three peaks of Trikuta Mountain, made of gold, silver and iron; My very pleasing abode [the Ocean of Milk]; the white island, Svetadvipa, which is always brilliant with spiritual rays; My mark of Srivatsa; the Kaustubha gem; My Vaijayanti garland; My club, Kaumodaki; My Sudarsana disc and Pancajanya conchshell; My bearer, Garuda, the king of the birds; My bed, Sesa Naga; My expansion of energy the goddess of fortune; Lord Brahma; Narada Muni; Lord Siva; Prahlada; My incarnations like Matsya, Kurma and Varaha; My unlimited all-auspicious activities, which yield piety to he who hears them; the sun; the moon; fire; the mantra omkara; the Absolute Truth; the total material energy; the cows and brahmanas; devotional service; the wives of Soma and Kasyapa, who are all daughters of King Daksa; the rivers Ganges, Sarasvati, Nanda and Yamuna [Kalindi]; the elephant Airavata; Dhruva Maharaja; the seven rsis; and the pious human beings.
ये मां स्तुवन्त्यनेनाङ्ग प्रतिबुध्य निशात्यये । तेषां प्राणात्यये चाहं ददामि विपुलां गतिम् ॥ २५ ॥
ye mam stuvanty anenanga pratibudhya nisatyaye tesam pranatyaye caham dadami vipulam gatim
My dear devotee, unto those who rise from bed at the end of night and offer Me the prayers offered by you, I give an eternal residence in the spiritual world at the end of their lives.
श्रीशुक उवाच इत्यादिश्य हृषीकेश: प्राध्माय जलजोत्तमम् । हर्षयन्विबुधानीकमारुरोह खगाधिपम् ॥ २६ ॥
sri-suka uvaca ity adisya hrsikesah pradhmaya jalajottamam harsayan vibudhanikam aruroha khagadhipam
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued: After giving this instruction, the Lord, who is known as Hrsikesa, bugled with His Pancajanya conchshell, in this way pleasing all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma. Then He mounted the back of His carrier, Garuda.
