Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 3
Aftermath of Gajendra’s Deliverance: Hūhū’s Release, Indradyumna’s Curse, and Sārūpya-mukti
योऽसौ ग्राह: स वै सद्य: परमाश्चर्यरूपधृक् । मुक्तो देवलशापेन हूहूर्गन्धर्वसत्तम: ॥ ३ ॥ प्रणम्य शिरसाधीशमुत्तमश्लोकमव्ययम् । अगायत यशोधाम कीर्तन्यगुणसत्कथम् ॥ ४ ॥
yo ’sau grāhaḥ sa vai sadyaḥ paramāścarya-rūpa-dhṛk mukto devala-śāpena hūhūr gandharva-sattamaḥ
The best of the Gandharvas, King Hūhū, 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.
The story of how the Gandharva had become a crocodile will be described later. The curse by which the Gandharva took this position was actually a blessing, not a curse. One should not be displeased when a saintly person curses someone, for his curse, indirectly, is a blessing. The Gandharva had the mentality of an inhabitant of the celestial planetary system, and for him to become an associate of the Supreme Lord would have taken millions of long years. However, because he was cursed by Devala Ṛṣi, he became a crocodile and in only one life was fortunate enough to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face and be promoted to the spiritual world to become one of the Lord’s associates. Similarly, Gajendra was also delivered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead when he was freed from the curse of Agastya Muni.
FAQs
This verse identifies the crocodile as Hūhū, a Gandharva who had taken that form due to the curse of the sage Devala.
It shows that a curse may bind one to a lower condition, yet divine grace can immediately restore one’s original identity and grant release.
Even long-standing suffering can end swiftly when one receives the Lord’s mercy—so one should remain prayerful, humble, and devoted through adversity.