Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 13
Aftermath of Gajendra’s Deliverance: Hūhū’s Release, Indradyumna’s Curse, and Sārūpya-mukti
एवं विमोक्ष्य गजयूथपमब्जनाभ- स्तेनापि पार्षदगतिं गमितेन युक्त: । गन्धर्वसिद्धविबुधैरुपगीयमान- कर्माद्भुतं स्वभवनं गरुडासनोऽगात् ॥ १३ ॥
evaṁ vimokṣya gaja-yūtha-pam abja-nābhas tenāpi pārṣada-gatiṁ gamitena yuktaḥ gandharva-siddha-vibudhair upagīyamāna- karmādbhutaṁ sva-bhavanaṁ garuḍāsano ’gāt
Matapos palayain ng Panginoong Padmanābha ang hari ng mga elepante mula sa kapit ng buwaya—at mula sa pag-iral na materyal na tulad ng buwaya—iginawad Niya ang sārūpya-mukti at katayuang kasamahan sa Kanyang mga parṣada. Sa harap ng mga Gandharva, Siddha, at iba pang mga deva na umaawit ng papuri sa Kanyang kamangha-manghang gawa, ang Panginoong nakasakay kay Garuḍa ay nagbalik sa Kanyang kahanga-hangang tahanan at isinama si Gajendra.
In this verse the word vimokṣya is significant. For a devotee, mokṣa or mukti — salvation — means getting the position of the Lord’s associate. The impersonalists are satisfied to get the liberation of merging in the Brahman effulgence, but for a devotee, mukti (liberation) means not to merge in the effulgence of the Lord, but to be directly promoted to the Vaikuṇṭha planets and to become an associate of the Lord. In this regard, there is a relevant verse in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.8) :
FAQs
In this verse, 'pārṣada-gati' indicates that Gajendra was granted the destination/status of the Lord’s personal associate—liberation with devotional service in the Lord’s presence.
Because the Lord’s rescue of Gajendra is described as an 'adbhuta-karma'—a wondrous act of divine compassion—worthy of praise by celestial beings.
Sincere surrender to the Lord brings divine protection and the highest spiritual outcome; devotion is portrayed as the direct cause of the Lord’s saving grace.