Shloka 16
Manvantara Enumerations Begin: Svāyambhuva’s Austerity, Yajñapati’s Protection, and the Avatāras up to Hari
Gajendra Prelude
तमीहमानं निरहङ्कृतं बुधं निराशिषं पूर्णमनन्यचोदितम् । नृञ् शिक्षयन्तं निजवर्त्मसंस्थितं प्रभुं प्रपद्येऽखिलधर्मभावनम् ॥ १६ ॥
tam īhamānaṁ nirahaṅkṛtaṁ budhaṁ nirāśiṣaṁ pūrṇam ananya-coditam nṝñ śikṣayantaṁ nija-vartma-saṁsthitaṁ prabhuṁ prapadye ’khila-dharma-bhāvanam
میں اُس پروردگار کی پناہ لیتا ہوں جو عمل میں مشغول ہو کر بھی بے اَنا، دانا، بے آرزو، کامل اور کسی کے اشارے کا محتاج نہیں۔ وہ انسانوں کو اپنے ہی طریقِ عمل سے تعلیم دیتا ہے اور تمام دھرم کا حقیقی راستہ قائم کرتا ہے؛ سب کو چاہیے کہ اسی کی پیروی کریں۔
This is the sum and substance of our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We are simply requesting human society to follow in the footsteps of the teacher of Bhagavad-gītā. Follow the instructions of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, and your life will be successful. That is the summary of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. The organizer of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is teaching everyone how to follow Lord Rāmacandra, how to follow Lord Kṛṣṇa, and how to follow Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In this material world, we need a leader for a monarchy or good government. Lord Śrī Rāmacandra, by His practical example, showed how to live for the benefit of all human society. He fought with demons like Rāvaṇa, He carried out the orders of His father, and He remained the faithful husband of mother Sītā. Thus there is no comparison to Lord Rāmacandra’s acting as an ideal king. Indeed, people still hanker for rāma-rājya, a government conducted like that of Lord Rāmacandra. Similarly, although Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He taught His disciple and devotee Arjuna how to lead a life ending in going back home, back to Godhead ( tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ’rjuna ). All teachings — political, economic, social, religious, cultural and philosophical — are to be found in Bhagavad-gītā. One only has to follow them strictly. The Supreme Personality of Godhead also comes as Lord Caitanya just to play the part of a pure devotee. Thus the Lord teaches us in different ways just to make our lives successful, and Svāyambhuva Manu requests us to follow Him.
FAQs
This verse models śaraṇāgati: Gajendra takes shelter of the Lord as the self-sufficient, desireless master who alone awakens dharma and guides all beings.
To emphasize that God’s actions are not driven by personal need or pride; He acts independently and compassionately, teaching and uplifting humanity.
Cultivate humility and duty without selfish motives, and seek guidance through sincere prayer—trusting the Lord as the true source of dharma and inner direction.