Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 33
Gajendra’s Prayers and the Appearance of Lord Hari
Gajendra-stuti and Hari-darśana
तं वीक्ष्य पीडितमज: सहसावतीर्य सग्राहमाशु सरस: कृपयोज्जहार । ग्राहाद् विपाटितमुखादरिणा गजेन्द्रं संपश्यतां हरिरमूमुचदुच्छ्रियाणाम् ॥ ३३ ॥
taṁ vīkṣya pīḍitam ajaḥ sahasāvatīrya sa-grāham āśu sarasaḥ kṛpayojjahāra grāhād vipāṭita-mukhād ariṇā gajendraṁ saṁpaśyatāṁ harir amūmucad ucchriyāṇām
Thereafter, seeing Gajendra in such an aggrieved position, the unborn Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, immediately got down from the back of Garuḍa by His causeless mercy and pulled the King of the elephants, along with the crocodile, out of the water. Then, in the presence of all the demigods, who were looking on, the Lord severed the crocodile’s mouth from its body with His disc. In this way He saved Gajendra, the King of the elephants.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender.”
FAQs
This verse shows Hari immediately descending out of compassion, rescuing Gajendra from the lake and destroying the crocodile—illustrating that the Lord personally protects one who takes shelter of Him.
Gajendra, overwhelmed and helpless, surrendered to the Lord; moved by mercy, the unborn Lord descended at once and liberated him before the watching devas.
When trapped by suffering beyond one’s control, cultivate sincere surrender and prayer; the teaching is to seek divine shelter with humility and faith rather than relying only on limited strength.