Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 18
Gajendra’s Prayers and the Appearance of Lord Hari
Gajendra-stuti and Hari-darśana
आत्मात्मजाप्तगृहवित्तजनेषु सक्तै- र्दुष्प्रापणाय गुणसङ्गविवर्जिताय । मुक्तात्मभि: स्वहृदये परिभाविताय ज्ञानात्मने भगवते नम ईश्वराय ॥ १८ ॥
ātmātma-jāpta-gṛha-vitta-janeṣu saktair duṣprāpaṇāya guṇa-saṅga-vivarjitāya muktātmabhiḥ sva-hṛdaye paribhāvitāya jñānātmane bhagavate nama īśvarāya
主啊！已脱离物质染污的解脱者，常在心髓中观想于你；而我执著于心意妄想、家宅、亲友、财物与仆从，故你于我极难得见。你超越诸性（guṇa），为觉知之源，至上主宰、至人格神；我向你顶礼。
Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes into the material world, He is unaffected by the modes of material nature. This is confirmed in Īśopaniṣad. Apāpa-viddham: He is not contaminated. This same fact is described here. Guṇa-saṅga-vivarjitāya. Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears as an incarnation within this material world, He is unaffected by the modes of material nature. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.11) , avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam: foolish men with insufficient knowledge deride the Personality of Godhead because He appears just like a human being. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be understood only by the muktātmā, the liberated soul. Muktātmabhiḥ sva-hṛdaye paribhāvitāya: only the liberated person can constantly think of Kṛṣṇa. Such a person is the greatest of all yogīs.
FAQs
This verse says that attachment to body, children, relatives, home, wealth, and social identity makes the Supreme Lord difficult to attain, because such attachment binds one to material consciousness.
In extreme danger, Gajendra turned from worldly dependence to surrender, acknowledging that the Lord is realized by the liberated and is not easily reached through material attachments.
Reduce identity-based clinging (possessions, status, relationships as ultimate), cultivate daily remembrance of the Lord within the heart, and seek freedom from the push of the material modes through devotional practice.