Shloka 1
श्रीशुक उवाच तदा देवर्षिगन्धर्वा ब्रह्मेशानपुरोगमा: । मुमुचु: कुसुमासारं शंसन्त: कर्म तद्धरे: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca tadā devarṣi-gandharvā brahmeśāna-purogamāḥ mumucuḥ kusumāsāraṁ śaṁsantaḥ karma tad dhareḥ
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When the Lord delivered Gajendra, the demigods, sages, and Gandharvas—led by Brahmā and Śiva—praised Hari’s deed and showered flowers upon both the Lord and Gajendra.
It is evident from this chapter that great sages like Devala Ṛṣi, Nārada Muni and Agastya Muni will sometimes curse someone. The curse of such a personality, however, is in fact a benediction. Both the crocodile, who had been a Gandharva in his previous life, and Gajendra, who had been a king named Indradyumna, were cursed, but both of them benefited. Indradyumna, in his birth as an elephant, attained salvation and became a personal associate of the Lord in Vaikuṇṭha, and the crocodile regained his status as a Gandharva. We find evidence in many places that the curse of a great saint or devotee is not a curse but a benediction.
FAQs
This verse shows that Brahmā, Śiva, the devarṣis, and Gandharvas respond to Hari’s saving act by showering flowers and glorifying Him, affirming that the Supreme Lord is the ultimate doer and worthy of praise.
They are presented as foremost among revered beings; by leading the praise, they demonstrate that even the greatest cosmic administrators honor Hari’s supremacy—especially after His merciful intervention in the Gajendra episode.
Cultivate gratitude and devotion by consciously remembering and praising the Lord’s protections and blessings—through kīrtana, prayer, or sharing uplifting narratives—rather than taking outcomes as merely ordinary events.