Gajendra moksana - The Liberation of Gajendra
Gajendra Moksham is one of the most famous exploits of Vishnu
in Srimad Bhagavatam. A recitation of this episode early in the morning has great
immortal powers like the recitation of the sacred hymn Sri Vishnu Sahasranama.
There is no disaster from which, the mighty and the compassionate Lord would not
protect the devotees, that with faith and devotion remember His feet as their
refuge.
The Elephant and the Crocodile
Once
a lordly elephant, leader of a herd, inhabiting that mountainous forest, roamed
with his retinue of female ones, breaking through trees, bamboo clusters and clumps
of cane. By the mere odour of animal, even lions and tigers not to talk of the
elephants, hyenas, rhinos, pythons, sarabhas, yaks, wolves, boars, bisons, bears,
porcupines, baboons, jackals, monkeys, all ran away in fear, while the weaker
ones like the deer and the hares moved about joyously by the protective presence
of that very animal. (20-22).
Oppressed by the heat of summer, dripping ichor and swarmed by
bees settled on it for its sheer taste, tormented by thirst, accompanied by the
whole herd of bull and female elephants and the young ones, almost causing tremors
in the mountain by their weight, he smelt from afar the lotus pollen-filled breeze
on the lake, and with eyes tremulous in a state of rut, speedily approached the
vicinity of the lake. (23-24). Plunging into it, he drank to his heart's content
the immaculate, sweet ambrosial water, flavoured by the pollen of the golden lotuses,
lilies, sucking it with his trunk and freely showering on himself, and with his
fatigue gone, equally offering mouthfuls and a liberal sprinkle of bath to his
retinue of cubs and female elephants like a loving householder, unaware in his
self importance of impending peril (25-26).
There,
Oh king! as ill luck would have it, a powerful crocodile fiercely caught his leg,
and the elephant, accidentally so caught unaware, himself of immense strength,
accordingly tugged his best. The cow - elephant and other chicken hearted ones
seeing their leader in distress, just pulled forcibly, trumpeted in sorrow, unable
to extricate him by pulling him holding from the rear. (27-28).
As the noble elephant and the crocodile so fought one pulling
in and the other out, a thousand years elapsed, both yet alive and alert to the
amazement of even the celestials (29).
Then by the long passage of time the strength of the elephant
both mental and physical as well as his energy slowly ebbed; and as the strength
of the one pulled into the water diminished, that of the aquatic animal increased.
Thus when the elephant was in a sad situation and despaired of his life, unable
ever so long to free himself, thought of an idea. Those of my ilk cannot save
me, how can the female ones help? Caught by the noose of Providence in the shape
of the crocodile I shall seek Him the ultimate refuge. I seek refuge of the Lord
that protects the scared seeking His refuge, for refuge from the powerful serpent
of Death that pursues ever so swiftly, but yet itself runs away in utter fear
of the Lord. (30-33).
Here ends the second chapter
The
Lord Frees the Tusker
Sri Suka Spoke: Having so resolved and with his mind at ease the
elephant repeated the most noble prayers he had learned in a previous birth. (1)
The Lord of elephants uttered:
(Note : The text of Srimad Bhagavatam here gives one of the most
magnificent hymns addressed to Vishnu as the Supreme one, the Almighty who is
extolled in multiform in the Upanishads, Ithihasas and in the various Puranas.
Hence the relevant Sanskrit slokas are also given here, with the English translation).
Gajendra's Prayers of Surrender to Lord Vishnu
shri-ganjendra
uvacha
om namo bhagavate
tasmai
yata etac chid-atmakam
purushayadi-bijaya
pareshayabhidhimahi
Gajendra said: I
offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Person, Vasudeva [om namo bhagavate
vasudevaya]. Because of Him this material body acts due to the presence of spirit,
and He is therefore the root cause of everyone. He is worshipable for such exalted
persons as Brahma and Shiva, and He has entered the heart of every living being.
Let me meditate upon Him. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.3.2)
yasminn idam yatash
chedam
yenedam ya idam
svayam
yo 'smat parasmach
cha paras
tam prapadye svayambhuvam
The Supreme Godhead
is the supreme platform on which everything rests, the ingredient by which everything
has been produced, and the person who has created and is the only cause of this
cosmic manifestation. Nonetheless, He is different from the cause and the result.
I surrender unto Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is self-sufficient
in everything. (8.3.3)
yah svatmanidam
nija-mayayarpitam
kvachid vibhatam
kva cha tat tirohitam
aviddha-drik sakshy
ubhayam tad ikshate
sa atma-mula 'vatu
mam parat-paraha
The Supreme Personality
of Godhead, by expanding His own energy, keeps this cosmic manifestation visible
and again sometimes renders it invisible. He is both the supreme cause and the
supreme result, the observer and the witness, in all circumstances. Thus He is
transcendental to everything. May that Supreme Personality of Godhead give me
protection. (8.3.4)
kalena pancatvam
iteshu kritsnasho
lokeshu paleshu
cha sarva-hetushu
tamas tadasid gahanam
gabhiram
yas tasya pare
'bhivirajate vibhuhu
In due course of
time, when all the causative and effective manifestations of the universe, including
the planets and their directors and maintainers, are annihilated, there is a situation
of dense darkness. Above this darkness, however, is the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, I take shelter of His lotus feet. (8.3.5)
na yasya deva rishayah
padam vidur
jantuh punah ko
'rhati gantum iritum
yatha natasyakritibhir
vicheshtato
duratyayanukramanah
sa mavatu
An artist onstage,
being covered by attractive dresses and dancing with different movements, is not
understood by his audience; similarly, the activities and features of the Supreme
Artist cannot be understood even by the demigods or great sages, and certainly
not by those who are unintelligent like animals. Neither the demigods and sages
nor the unintelligent can understand the features of the Lord, nor can they express
in words His actual position. May that Supreme Personality of Godhead give me
protection. (8.3.6)
didrikshavo yasya
padam sumangalam
vimukta-sanga munayah
susadhavaha
charanty aloka-vratam
avranam vane
bhutatma-bhutah
suhridah sa me gatihi
Renunciants and great
sages who see all living beings equally, who are friendly to everyone and who
flawlessly practice in the forest the vows of brahmacarya [celibate student],
vanaprastha [retired] and sannyasa [renunciation] desire to see the all-auspicious
lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. May that same Supreme Personality
of Godhead be my destination. (8.3.7)
na vidyate yasya
cha janma karma va
na nama-rupe guna-dosha
eva va
tathapi lokapyaya-sambhavaya
yaha
sva-mayaya tany
anukalam ricchati
tasmai namah pareshaya
brahmane 'nanta-shaktaye
arupayoru-rupaya
nama ashcarya-karmane
The Supreme Personality
of Godhead has no material birth, activities, name, form, qualities or faults.
To fulfill the purpose for which this material world is created and destroyed,
He comes in the form of a human being like Lord Rama or Lord Krishna by His original
internal potency. He has immense potency, and in various forms, all free from
material contamination, He acts wonderfully. He is therefore the Supreme Brahman.
I offer my respects to Him. (8.3.8-9)
nama atma-pradipaya
sakshine paramatmane
namo giram viduraya
manasash chetasam
api
I offer my respectful
obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the self-effulgent Supersoul,
who is the witness in everyone's heart, who enlightens the individual soul and
who cannot be reached by exercises of the mind, words or consciousness. (8.3.10)
sattveno pratilabhyaya
naishkarmyena vipashcita
namah kaivalya-nathaya
nirvana-sukha-samvide
The Supreme Personality
of Godhead is realized by pure devotees who act in the transcendental existence
of bhakti-yoga. He is the bestower of uncontaminated happiness and is the master
of the transcendental world. Therefore I offer my respects unto Him. (8.3.11)
namah shantaya
ghoraya
mudhaya guna-dharmine
nirvisheshaya samyaya
namo jnana-ghanaya
cha
I offer my respectful
obeisances to Lord Vasudev, who is all-pervading, to the Lord's fierce form as
Lord Nrisimhadeva, to the Lord's form as an animal [Lord Varahadeva], to Lord
Dattatreya, who preached impersonalism, to Lord Buddha, and to all the other incarnations.
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Lord, who has no material qualities
but who accepts the three qualities of goodness, passion and ignorance within
this material world. I also offer my respectful obeisances unto the impersonal
Brahman effulgence. (8.3.12)
ksetra-jnaya namas
tubhyam
sarvadhyakshaya
sakshine
purushayatma-mulaya
mula-prakritaye
namaha
I beg to offer my
respectful obeisances unto You, who are the Supersoul, the superintendent of everything,
and the witness of all that occurs. You are the Supreme Person, the origin of
material nature and of the total material energy. You are also the owner of the
material body. Therefore, You are the supreme complete. I offer my respectful
obeisances unto You. (8.3.13)
sarvendriya-guna-drashtre
sarva-pratyaya-hetave
asata cchayayoktaya
sad-abhasaya te
namaha
My Lord, You are
the observer of all the objectives of the senses. Without Your mercy, there is
no possibility of solving the problem of doubts. The material world is just like
a shadow resembling You. Indeed, one accepts this material world as real because
it gives a glimpse of Your existence. (8.3.14)
namo namas te 'khila-karanaya
nishkaranayadbhuta-karanaya
sarvagamamnaya-maharnavaya
namo 'pavargaya
parayanaya
My Lord, You are
the cause of all causes, but You Yourself have no causes. Therefore You are the
wonderful cause of everything. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, who
are the shelter of the Vedic knowledge contained in the shastras like the Pancharatras
and Vedanta-sutra, which are Your representations, and who are the source of the
parampara system. Because it is You who can give liberation, You are the only
shelter for all transcendentalists. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto
You. (8.3.15)
gunarani-cchanna-chid-ushmapaya
tat-kshobha-visphurjita-manasaya
naishkarmya-bhavena
vivarjitagama
svayam-prakashaya
namas karomi
My Lord, as the fire
in arani wood is covered, You and Your unlimited knowledge are covered by the
material modes of nature. Your mind, however, is not attentive to the activities
of the modes of nature. Those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge are not
subject to the regulative principles directed in the Vedic literature. Because
such advanced souls are transcendental, You personally appear in their pure minds.
Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. (8.3.16)
madrik prapanna-pashu-pashu-vimokshanaya
muktaya bhuri-karunaya
namo 'layaya
svamshena sarva-tanu-bhrin-manasi
pratita-
pratyag-drishe
bhagavate brihate namaste
Since an animal such
as I has surrendered unto You, who are supremely liberated, certainly You will
release me from this dangerous position. Indeed, being extremely merciful, You
incessantly try to deliver me. By Your partial feature as Paramatma, You are situated
in the hearts of all embodied beings. You are celebrated as direct transcendental
knowledge, and You are unlimited. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. (8.3.17)
atmatma-japti-griha-vitta-janeshu
saktair
dushprapanaya guna-sanga-vivarjitaya
muktatmabhih sva-hridaya
paribhavitaya
jnanatmane bhagavate
nama ishvaraya
My Lord, those who
are completely freed from material contamination always meditate upon You within
the cores of their hearts. You are extremely difficult to attain for those like
me who are too attached to mental concoction, home, relatives, friends, money,
servants and assistants. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, uncontaminated
by the modes of nature. You are the reservoir of all enlightenment, the supreme
controller. I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto You. (8.3.18)
yam dharma-kamartha-vimukti-kama
bhajanta ishtam
gatim apnuvanti
kim chashisho raty
api deham avyayam
karotu me 'dabhra-dayo
vimokshanam
After worshiping
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, those who are interested in the four principles
of religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation obtain from
Him what they desire. What then is to be said of other benedictions? Indeed, sometimes
the Lord gives a spiritual body to such ambitious worshipers. May that Supreme
Personality of Godhead, who is unlimitedly merciful, bestow upon me the benediction
of liberation from this present danger and from the materialistic way of life.
(8.3.19)
ekantino yasya
na kanchanartham
vanchanti ye vai
bhagavat-prapannaha
aty-adbhutam tach-charitam
sumangalam
gayanta ananda-samudra-magnaha
tam aksharam brahma
param paresham
avyaktam adhyatmika-yoga-gamyam
atindriyam sukshmam
ivatiduram
anantam adyam paripurnam
ide
Unalloyed devotees,
who have no desire other than to serve the Lord, worship Him in full surrender
and always hear and chant about His activities, which are most wonderful and auspicious.
Thus they always merge in an ocean of transcendental bliss. Such devotees never
ask the Lord for any benediction. I, however, am in danger. Thus I pray to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is eternally existing, who is invisible, who
is the Lord of all great personalities, such as Brahma, and who is available only
by transcendental bhakti-yoga. Being extremely subtle, He is beyond the reach
of my senses and transcendental to all external realization. He is unlimited,
He is the original cause, and He is completely full in everything. I offer my
obeisances unto Him. (8.3.20-21)
yasya bramadayo
deva
veda lokash characharaha
nama-rupa-vibhedena
phalgvya cha kalaya
kritaha
yatharchisho 'gneh
savitur gabhastayo
niryanti samyanty
asakrit sva-rochishaha
tatha yato 'yam
guna-sampravaho
buddhir manah khani
sharira-sargaha
sa vai na devasura-martya-tiryan
na stri na sandho
na puman na jantuhu
nayam gunah karma
na san na casan
nishedha-shesho
jayatad ashesaha
The Supreme Personality
of Godhead creates His minor parts and parcels, the jiva-tattva, beginning with
Lord Brahma, the demigods and the expansions of Vedic knowledge [Sama, Rig, Yajur
and Atharva Vedas] and including all other living entities, moving and nonmoving,
with their different names and characteristics. As the sparks of a fire or the
shining rays of the sun emanate from their source and merge into it again and
again, the mind, the intelligence, the senses, the gross and subtle material bodies,
and the continuous transformations of the different modes of nature all emanate
from the Lord and again merge into Him. He is neither demigod nor demon, neither
human nor bird nor beast. He is not woman, man or neuter, nor is He an animal.
He is not a material quality, a fruitive activity, a manifestation or nonmanifestation.
He is the last word in the discrimination of "not this, or not that," and He is
unlimited. All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (8.3.22-24)
jijivishe naham
ihamuya kim
antar bahish chavritayebha-yonya
icchami kalena
na yasya viplavas
tasyatma-lokavaranasya
moksham
I do not wish to
live anymore after I am released from the attack of the crocodile. What is the
use of an elephant's body covered externally and internally by ignorance? I simply
desire eternal liberation from the covering of ignorance. That covering is not
destroyed by the influence of time. (8.3.25)
so 'ham vishva-srijam
vishvam
avishvan vishva-vedasam
vishvatmanam ajam
brahma
pranato 'smi param
padam
Now, fully desiring
release from material life, I offer my respectful obeisances unto that Supreme
Person who is the creator of the universe, who is Himself the form of the universe
and who is nonetheless transcendental to this cosmic manifestation. He is the
supreme knower of everything in this world, the Supersoul of the universe. He
is the unborn, supremely situated Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto
Him. (8.3.26)
yoga-randhita-karmano
hridi yoga-vibhavite
yogino yam prapashyanti
yogesham tam nato
'smy aham
I offer my respectful
obeisances unto the Supreme, the Supersoul, the master of all mystic yoga, who
is seen in the core of the heart by perfect mystics when they are completely purified
and freed from the reactions of fruitive activity by practicing bhakti-yoga. (8.3.27)
namo namas tubhyam
asahya-vega-
shakti-trayayakhila-dhi-gunaya
prapanna-palaya
duranta-shaktaye
kad-indriyanam
anavapya-vartmane
My Lord, You are
the controller of formidable strength in three kinds of energy. You appear as
the reservoir of all sense pleasure and the protector of the surrendered souls.
You possess unlimited energy, but You are unapproachable by those who are unable
to control their senses. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You again and again.
(8.3.28)
nayam veda svam
atmanam
yach-chaktyaham-dhiya
hatam
tam duratyaya-mahatmyam
bhagavantam ito
'smy aham
I offer my respectful
obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whose illusory energy the
jiva [individual spirit soul], who is part and parcel of God, forgets his real
identity because of the bodily concept of life. I take shelter of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, whose glories are difficult to understand. (8.3.29)
[The Lord now replies
to Gajendra]
ye mam stuvanty
anenanga
pratibudhya nishatyaye
tesham pranatyaye
chaham
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." (8.4.25)