Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World

Verse 1 (bhagavata.8.4.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच तदा देवर्षिगन्धर्वा ब्रह्मेशानपुरोगमाः । मुमुचुः कुसुमासारं शंसन्तः कर्म तद्धरेः ॥ 4.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca tadā devarṣi-gandharvā brahmeśāna-purogamāḥ mumucuḥ kusumāsāraṁ śaṁsantaḥ karma tad dhareḥ

Sri Shukadeva said: Then the gods, sages and Gandharvas, headed by Brahma and Shiva, showered a rain of flowers, praising that deed of Hari.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.8.4.2)

नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो दिव्या गन्धर्वा ननृतुर्जगुः । ऋषयश्चारणाः सिद्धास्तुष्टुवुः पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ 4.2 ॥

nedur dundubhayo divyā gandharvā nanṛtur jaguḥ ṛṣayaś cāraṇāḥ siddhās tuṣṭuvuḥ puruṣottamam

Celestial kettledrums resounded, the Gandharvas broke into dance and song, and the sages, Charanas and Siddhas offered praises to the Supreme Person.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.8.4.3)

योऽसौ ग्राहः स वै सद्यः परमाश्चर्यरूपधृक् । मुक्तो देवलशापेन हूहूर्गन्धर्वसत्तमः ॥ 4.3 ॥

yo ’sau grāhaḥ sa vai sadyaḥ paramāścarya-rūpa-dhṛk mukto devala-śāpena hūhūr gandharva-sattamaḥ

That very crocodile, at once taking on a form of supreme wonder, was revealed as Huhu, the greatest of the Gandharvas, now freed from the curse of the sage Devala.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.8.4.4)

प्रणम्य शिरसाधीशमुत्तमश्लोकमव्ययम् । अगायत यशोधाम कीर्तन्यगुणसत्कथम् ॥ 4.4 ॥

praṇamya śirasādhīśam uttama-ślokam avyayam agāyata yaśo-dhāma kīrtanya-guṇa-sat-katham

Bowing his head before the Lord of excellent renown, the imperishable one, he began to sing of the abode of glory, whose virtues and sacred deeds are ever worthy of praise.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.8.4.5)

सोऽनुकम्पित ईशेन परिक्रम्य प्रणम्य तम् । लोकस्य पश्यतो लोकं स्वमगान्मुक्तकिल्बिषः ॥ 4.5 ॥

so ’nukampita īśena parikramya praṇamya tam lokasya paśyato lokaṁ svam agān mukta-kilbiṣaḥ

Blessed by the Lord's compassion, having circled Him and bowed before Him, he returned to his own celestial realm, freed of all sin, in full view of all the worlds.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.8.4.6)

गजेन्द्रो भगवत्स्पर्शाद् विमुक्तोऽज्ञानबन्धनात् । प्राप्तो भगवतो रूपं पीतवासाश्चतुर्भुजः ॥ 4.6 ॥

gajendro bhagavat-sparśād vimukto ’jñāna-bandhanāt prāpto bhagavato rūpaṁ pīta-vāsāś catur-bhujaḥ

Gajendra, freed from the bondage of ignorance by the very touch of Bhagavan, attained a form like the Lord's own — clad in yellow garments, four-armed.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.8.4.7)

स वै पूर्वमभूद् राजा पाण्ड्यो द्रविडसत्तमः । इन्द्रद्युम्न इति ख्यातो विष्णुव्रतपरायणः ॥ 4.7 ॥

sa vai pūrvam abhūd rājā pāṇḍyo draviḍa-sattamaḥ indradyumna iti khyāto viṣṇu-vrata-parāyaṇaḥ

In a former birth, this Gajendra had been a king of the Pandya line, foremost among the rulers of the Dravida land, known by the name Indradyumna and wholly devoted to the worship of Vishnu.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.8.4.8)

स एकदाराधनकाल आत्मवान् गृहीतमौनव्रत ईश्वरं हरिम् । जटाधरस्तापस आप्लुतोऽच्युतं समर्चयामास कुलाचलाश्रमः ॥ 4.8 ॥

sa ekadārādhana-kāla ātmavān gṛhīta-mauna-vrata īśvaraṁ harim jaṭā-dharas tāpasa āpluto ’cyutaṁ samarcayām āsa kulācalāśramaḥ

That self-controlled king, once at the hour of his worship, having taken a vow of silence, matted-haired and ascetic, sat rapt in devotion at his hermitage on Mount Kulachala, worshipping the imperishable Lord Hari.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.8.4.9)

यदृच्छया तत्र महायशा मुनिः समागमच्छिष्यगणैः परिश्रितः । तं वीक्ष्य तूष्णीमकृतार्हणादिकं रहस्युपासीनमृषिश्चुकोप ह ॥ 4.9 ॥

yadṛcchayā tatra mahā-yaśā muniḥ samāgamac chiṣya-gaṇaiḥ pariśritaḥ taṁ vīkṣya tūṣṇīm akṛtārhaṇādikaṁ rahasy upāsīnam ṛṣiś cukopa ha

By chance, at that very moment, a sage of great renown arrived there with his disciples; and seeing the king sitting silent in seclusion, offering him no welcome or honor, the sage grew angry.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.8.4.10)

तस्मा इमं शापमदादसाधु- रयं दुरात्माकृतबुद्धिरद्य । विप्रावमन्ता विशतां तमिस्रं यथा गजः स्तब्धमतिः स एव ॥ 4.10 ॥

tasmā imaṁ śāpam adād asādhur ayaṁ durātmākṛta-buddhir adya viprāvamantā viśatāṁ tamisraṁ yathā gajaḥ stabdha-matiḥ sa eva

He pronounced this curse upon him: 'This wicked, evil-minded, unrefined man has this day insulted a brahmin; let him therefore enter into darkness, and become an elephant, carrying that same dullness of mind with him.'

Verse 11 (bhagavata.8.4.11)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं शप्त्वा गतोऽगस्त्यो भगवान् नृप सानुगः । इन्द्रद्युम्नोऽपि राजर्षिर्दिष्टं तदुपधारयन् ॥ 4.11 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ śaptvā gato ’gastyo bhagavān nṛpa sānugaḥ indradyumno ’pi rājarṣir diṣṭaṁ tad upadhārayan

Sri Shukadeva said: O king, having thus cursed him, the illustrious Agastya departed from that place with his followers; and the royal sage Indradyumna accepted it as the ordinance of providence.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.8.4.12)

आपन्नः कौञ्जरीं योनिमात्मस्मृतिविनाशिनीम् । हर्यर्चनानुभावेन यद्गजत्वेऽप्यनुस्मृतिः ॥ 4.12 ॥

āpannaḥ kauñjarīṁ yonim ātma-smṛti-vināśinīm hary-arcanānubhāvena yad-gajatve ’py anusmṛtiḥ

Though he came to be born in the elephant's womb, a birth that destroys all memory of one's true self, yet by the power of his worship of Hari, that memory remained with him even in the body of an elephant.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.8.4.13)

एवं विमोक्ष्य गजयूथपमब्जनाभ- स्तेनापि पार्षदगतिं गमितेन युक्तः । गन्धर्वसिद्धविबुधैरुपगीयमान- कर्माद्भुतं स्वभवनं गरुडासनोऽगात् ॥ 4.13 ॥

evaṁ vimokṣya gaja-yūtha-pam abja-nābhas tenāpi pārṣada-gatiṁ gamitena yuktaḥ gandharva-siddha-vibudhair upagīyamāna- karmādbhutaṁ sva-bhavanaṁ garuḍāsano ’gāt

Thus having freed the lord of the elephant herd and raising him also to the rank of His own attendant, the lotus-naveled Lord, His wondrous deeds sung by Gandharvas, Siddhas and gods, mounted Garuda and returned to His own abode.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.8.4.14)

एतन्महाराज तवेरितो मया कृष्णानुभावो गजराजमोक्षणम् । स्वर्ग्यं यशस्यं कलिकल्मषापहं दुःस्वप्ननाशं कुरुवर्य शृण्वताम् ॥ 4.14 ॥

etan mahā-rāja taverito mayā kṛṣṇānubhāvo gaja-rāja-mokṣaṇam svargyaṁ yaśasyaṁ kali-kalmaṣāpahaṁ duḥsvapna-nāśaṁ kuru-varya śṛṇvatām

O great king, thus I have related to you this glory of Krishna, the deliverance of the lord of elephants — an account that leads to heaven, that confers renown, that removes the taint of Kali-yuga, and that destroys bad dreams for those who hear it, O best of the Kurus.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.8.4.15)

यथानुकीर्तयन्त्येतच्छ्रेयस्कामा द्विजातयः । शुचयः प्रातरुत्थाय दुःस्वप्नाद्युपशान्तये ॥ 4.15 ॥

yathānukīrtayanty etac chreyas-kāmā dvijātayaḥ śucayaḥ prātar utthāya duḥsvapnādy-upaśāntaye

For this reason, twice-born who desire their own welfare rise at dawn, purify themselves, and recite this account, so as to still bad dreams and the like.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.8.4.16)

इदमाह हरिः प्रीतो गजेन्द्रं कुरुसत्तम । शृण्वतां सर्वभूतानां सर्वभूतमयो विभुः ॥ 4.16 ॥

idam āha hariḥ prīto gajendraṁ kuru-sattama śṛṇvatāṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ sarva-bhūta-mayo vibhuḥ

O best of the Kurus, the almighty Lord, who is the very Self of all beings, being pleased, spoke thus to Gajendra as all who were present listened.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.8.4.17)

श्रीभगवानुवाच ये मां त्वां च सरश्चेदं गिरिकन्दरकाननम् । वेत्रकीचकवेणूनां गुल्मानि सुरपादपान् ॥ 4.17 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca ye māṁ tvāṁ ca saraś cedaṁ giri-kandara-kānanam vetra-kīcaka-veṇūnāṁ gulmāni sura-pādapān

Bhagavan said: Those who remember Me, and you, and this lake, this mountain with its caves and forest, its thickets of cane, kichaka bamboo and reeds, and its celestial trees.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.8.4.18)

शृङ्गाणीमानि धिष्ण्यानि ब्रह्मणो मे शिवस्य च । क्षीरोदं मे प्रियं धाम श्वेतद्वीपं च भास्वरम् ॥ 4.18 ॥

śṛṅgāṇīmāni dhiṣṇyāni brahmaṇo me śivasya ca kṣīrodaṁ me priyaṁ dhāma śveta-dvīpaṁ ca bhāsvaram

Who remember these peaks, the abodes of Brahma, of Myself, and of Shiva; the Ocean of Milk, My beloved realm; and the radiant White Island.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.8.4.19)

श्रीवत्सं कौस्तुभं मालां गदां कौमोदकीं मम । सुदर्शनं पाञ्चजन्यं सुपर्णं पतगेश्वरम् ॥ 4.19 ॥

śrīvatsaṁ kaustubhaṁ mālāṁ gadāṁ kaumodakīṁ mama sudarśanaṁ pāñcajanyaṁ suparṇaṁ patageśvaram

Who remember My mark of Shrivatsa, the Kaustubha gem, My garland, My mace Kaumodaki, My discus Sudarshana and conch Panchajanya, and Suparna, the king of birds who bears Me.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.8.4.20)

शेषं च मत्कलां सूक्ष्मां श्रियं देवीं मदाश्रयाम् । ब्रह्माणं नारदमृषिं भवं प्रह्लादमेव च ॥ 4.20 ॥

śeṣaṁ ca mat-kalāṁ sūkṣmāṁ śriyaṁ devīṁ mad-āśrayām brahmāṇaṁ nāradam ṛṣiṁ bhavaṁ prahrādam eva ca

Who remember Shesha, My subtle expansion; the goddess Lakshmi, who has her being in Me; Brahma; the sage Narada; Shiva; and Prahlada.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.8.4.21)

मत्स्यकूर्मवराहाद्यैरवतारैः कृतानि मे । कर्माण्यनन्तपुण्यानि सूर्यं सोमं हुताशनम् ॥ 4.21 ॥

matsya-kūrma-varāhādyair avatāraiḥ kṛtāni me karmāṇy ananta-puṇyāni sūryaṁ somaṁ hutāśanam

Who remember My deeds of boundless merit performed through incarnations such as Matsya, Kurma and Varaha, and also the sun, the moon, and fire.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.8.4.22)

प्रणवं सत्यमव्यक्तं गोविप्रान् धर्ममव्ययम् । दाक्षायणीर्धर्मपत्नीः सोमकश्यपयोरपि ॥ 4.22 ॥

praṇavaṁ satyam avyaktaṁ go-viprān dharmam avyayam dākṣāyaṇīr dharma-patnīḥ soma-kaśyapayor api

Who remember the syllable Om, the Truth, the Unmanifest, the cows and the brahmins, imperishable dharma, and the daughters of Daksha who are the wives of Soma and Kashyapa.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.8.4.23)

गङ्गां सरस्वतीं नन्दां कालिन्दीं सितवारणम् । ध्रुवं ब्रह्मऋषीन्सप्त पुण्यश्लोकांश्च मानवान् ॥ 4.23 ॥

gaṅgāṁ sarasvatīṁ nandāṁ kālindīṁ sita-vāraṇam dhruvaṁ brahma-ṛṣīn sapta puṇya-ślokāṁś ca mānavān

Who remember the rivers Ganga, Sarasvati, Nanda and Kalindi, the white elephant Airavata, Dhruva, the seven great sages, and all pious, celebrated men.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.8.4.24)

उत्थायापररात्रान्ते प्रयताः सुसमाहिताः । स्मरन्ति मम रूपाणि मुच्यन्ते तेंहसोऽखिलात् ॥ 4.24 ॥

utthāyāpara-rātrānte prayatāḥ susamāhitāḥ smaranti mama rūpāṇi mucyante te ’ṁhaso ’khilāt

Those who rise at the end of the night, disciplined and deeply composed, and remember these forms of Mine, are freed from every sin.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.8.4.25)

ये मां स्तुवन्त्यनेनाङ्ग प्रतिबुध्य निशात्यये । तेषां प्राणात्यये चाहं ददामि विपुलां गतिम् ॥ 4.25 ॥

ye māṁ stuvanty anenāṅga pratibudhya niśātyaye teṣāṁ prāṇātyaye cāhaṁ dadāmi vipulāṁ gatim

O dear one, to those who wake at the end of night and praise Me with this hymn, I grant, at the ending of their life's breath, the highest of destinations.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.8.4.26)

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्यादिश्य हृषीकेशः प्राध्माय जलजोत्तमम् । हर्षयन्विबुधानीकमारुरोह खगाधिपम् ॥ 4.26 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ity ādiśya hṛṣīkeśaḥ prādhmāya jalajottamam harṣayan vibudhānīkam āruroha khagādhipam

Sri Shukadeva said: Having spoken thus, Hrishikesha sounded His finest conch, and, filling the ranks of the gods with joy, mounted the king of birds.