Shloka 32
Gajendra’s Prayers and the Appearance of Lord Hari
Gajendra-stuti and Hari-darśana
सोऽन्त:सरस्युरुबलेन गृहीत आर्तो दृष्ट्वा गरुत्मति हरिं ख उपात्तचक्रम् । उत्क्षिप्य साम्बुजकरं गिरमाह कृच्छ्रा- न्नारायणाखिलगुरो भगवन् नमस्ते ॥ ३२ ॥
so ’ntaḥ-sarasy urubalena gṛhīta ārto dṛṣṭvā garutmati hariṁ kha upātta-cakram utkṣipya sāmbuja-karaṁ giramāha kṛcchrān nārāyaṇākhila-guro bhagavan namas te
Im See wurde Gajendra mit gewaltiger Kraft vom Krokodil gepackt und litt entsetzlich. Als er jedoch Nārāyaṇa am Himmel sah, auf Garuḍa herankommend und den Diskus tragend, hob er sogleich eine Lotosblüte mit seinem Rüssel und rief, mühsam vor Schmerz: „O Nārāyaṇa, Lehrer des ganzen Universums, o Bhagavān, meine Verneigung vor Dir!“
The King of the elephants was so very eager to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead that when he saw the Lord coming in the sky, with great pain and in a feeble voice he offered respect to the Lord. A devotee does not consider a dangerous position to be dangerous, for in such a dangerous position he can fervently pray to the Lord in great ecstasy. Thus a devotee regards danger as a good opportunity. Tat te ’nukampāṁ susamīkṣamāṇaḥ . When a devotee is in great danger, he sees that danger to be the great mercy of the Lord because it is an opportunity to think of the Lord very sincerely and with undiverted attention. Tat te ’nukampāṁ susamīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam ( Bhāg. 10.14.8 ). He does not accuse the Supreme Personality of Godhead for having let His devotee fall into such a dangerous condition. Rather, he considers that dangerous condition to be due to his past misdeeds and takes it as an opportunity to pray to the Lord and offer thanks for having been given such an opportunity. When a devotee lives in this way, his salvation — his going back home, back to Godhead — is guaranteed. We can see this to be true from the example of Gajendra, who anxiously prayed to the Lord and thus received an immediate chance to return home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse shows that even when one is overwhelmed and helpless, sincerely offering obeisances and calling upon Nārāyaṇa brings the Lord’s direct attention and protection.
Seeing the Lord arrive on Garuḍa with the discus, Gajendra addresses Him as Nārāyaṇa (the supreme refuge), akhila-guru (teacher of all), and Bhagavān (the Supreme Person), expressing complete surrender and dependence.
In moments of crisis, turn to God with humility and clarity—offer respect, seek refuge, and remember the Lord as the ultimate protector rather than relying only on one’s limited strength.