Gajendra’s Prayers and the Appearance of Lord Hari
Gajendra-stuti and Hari-darśana
तं वीक्ष्य पीडितमज: सहसावतीर्य सग्राहमाशु सरस: कृपयोज्जहार । ग्राहाद् विपाटितमुखादरिणा गजेन्द्रं संपश्यतां हरिरमूमुचदुच्छ्रियाणाम् ॥ ३३ ॥
taṁ vīkṣya pīḍitam ajaḥ sahasāvatīrya sa-grāham āśu sarasaḥ kṛpayojjahāra grāhād vipāṭita-mukhād ariṇā gajendraṁ saṁpaśyatāṁ harir amūmucad ucchriyāṇām
Ao ver Gajendra tão aflito, o Senhor Hari, o não-nascido, desceu imediatamente do dorso de Garuḍa por Sua misericórdia sem causa e puxou o rei dos elefantes para fora do lago junto com o crocodilo. Diante dos semideuses, o Senhor decepou com Seu disco a boca do crocodilo de seu corpo e assim salvou Gajendra.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender.”
This verse shows Hari immediately descending out of compassion, rescuing Gajendra from the lake and destroying the crocodile—illustrating that the Lord personally protects one who takes shelter of Him.
Gajendra, overwhelmed and helpless, surrendered to the Lord; moved by mercy, the unborn Lord descended at once and liberated him before the watching devas.
When trapped by suffering beyond one’s control, cultivate sincere surrender and prayer; the teaching is to seek divine shelter with humility and faith rather than relying only on limited strength.