Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 15
Bhagavān’s Avatāras, Their Protections (Poṣaṇa), and the Limits of Knowing Him
अन्त:सरस्युरुबलेन पदे गृहीतो ग्राहेण यूथपतिरम्बुजहस्त आर्त: । आहेदमादिपुरुषाखिललोकनाथ तीर्थश्रव: श्रवणमङ्गलनामधेय ॥ १५ ॥
antaḥ-sarasy uru-balena pade gṛhīto grāheṇa yūtha-patir ambuja-hasta ārtaḥ āhedam ādi-puruṣākhila-loka-nātha tīrtha-śravaḥ śravaṇa-maṅgala-nāmadheya
Dans le lac, un crocodile d’une force supérieure saisit la patte de Gajendra, chef des éléphants. Accablé, tenant un lotus de sa trompe, il implora : «Ô Ādipuruṣa, Seigneur de tous les mondes ! Entendre Ton saint Nom est déjà de bon augure et purifie ; ce Nom est digne d’être chanté».
The history of delivering the leader of the elephants, whose leg was attacked in the river by the superior strength of a crocodile, is described in the Eighth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Since the Lord is absolute knowledge, there is no difference between His holy name and the Personality of Godhead. The leader of the elephants was much distressed when he was attacked by the crocodile. Although the elephant is always stronger than the crocodile, the latter is stronger than the elephant when it is in the water. And because the elephant was a great devotee of the Lord in his previous birth, he was able to chant the holy name of the Lord by dint of his past good deeds. Every living entity is always distressed in this material world because this place is such that at every step one has to meet with some kind of distress. But one who is supported by his past good deeds engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.16) . Those who are supported by impious acts cannot be engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, even though they are distressed. This is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.15) . The Personality of Godhead Hari appeared at once on the back of His eternal bearer, Garuḍa, and delivered the elephant.
FAQs
This verse shows Gajendra’s surrender: in helplessness he calls the Lord “Ādi-puruṣa” and “Akhila-loka-nātha,” emphasizing that simply hearing and invoking the Lord’s auspicious name is itself purifying like a holy pilgrimage.
Because Bhagavatam teaches that the Lord’s fame and names, when heard (śravaṇa), sanctify the heart like visiting sacred places; Gajendra appeals to that saving, purifying power.
In crisis, practice śaraṇāgati: turn the mind to the Lord through sincere prayer and hearing/chanting His names—using sacred sound as immediate spiritual shelter.