Shloka 12
Aftermath of Gajendra’s Deliverance: Hūhū’s Release, Indradyumna’s Curse, and Sārūpya-mukti
श्रीशुक उवाच एवं शप्त्वा गतोऽगस्त्यो भगवान् नृप सानुग: । इन्द्रद्युम्नोऽपि राजर्षिर्दिष्टं तदुपधारयन् ॥ ११ ॥ आपन्न: कौञ्जरीं योनिमात्मस्मृतिविनाशिनीम् । हर्यर्चनानुभावेन यद्गजत्वेऽप्यनुस्मृति: ॥ १२ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ śaptvā gato ’gastyo bhagavān nṛpa sānugaḥ indradyumno ’pi rājarṣir diṣṭaṁ tad upadhārayan
Thereafter he entered the womb of an elephant, a birth that destroys one’s self-remembrance. Yet by the potency of his worship of Hari, even in an elephant’s body he retained the memory of how to adore the Lord and offer prayers.
This is the unique position of a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although the King was cursed, he welcomed the curse because a devotee is always aware that nothing can happen without the desire of the Supreme Lord. Although the King was not at fault, Agastya Muni cursed him, and when this happened the King considered it to be due to his past misdeeds. Tat te ’nukampāṁ susamīkṣamāṇaḥ ( Bhāg. 10.14.8 ). This is a practical example of how a devotee thinks. He regards any reverses in life as blessings of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, instead of being agitated by such reverses, he continues his activities of devotional service, and Kṛṣṇa takes care of him and enables him to be promoted to the spiritual world, back to Godhead. If a devotee has to suffer the reactions of his past misdeeds, the Supreme Lord arranges for him to be given only a token of these reactions, and very soon he is freed from all the reactions of material contamination. One should therefore adhere to devotional service, and the Lord Himself will very soon see to one’s promotion to the spiritual world. A devotee should not be disturbed by unfortunate circumstances, but must continue his regular program, depending on the Lord for everything. The word upadhārayan, “considering,” is very significant in this verse. This word indicates that a devotee knows what is what; he understands what is happening in material, conditional life.
FAQs
Because Indradyumna, absorbed in worship, did not properly receive the sage; Agastya took it as disrespect and pronounced a curse, setting the stage for the king’s later birth connected to Gajendra’s deliverance.
It means he did not retaliate or become bitter; he understood the event as providential arrangement and remained steady in dharma and devotion.
By reducing resentment and ego, one can respond to hardships with humility, continue sādhana, and see challenges as opportunities to deepen dependence on the Lord.