Shloka 33
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
तं पीडितं गजेन्द्रं दृष्ट्वा अजः श्रीहरिः सहसा गरुडपृष्ठादवतीर्य कृपया सग्राहं सरसः समुद्धृतवान्। ततः सर्वदेवानां पश्यतां चक्रेण ग्राहस्य मुखं देहात् विच्छिद्य गजेन्द्रं मोचयामास॥
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender.”
FAQs
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.