Shloka 4
Gajendra’s Prayers and the Appearance of Lord Hari
Gajendra-stuti and Hari-darśana
य: स्वात्मनीदं निजमाययार्पितं क्वचिद् विभातं क्व च तत् तिरोहितम् । अविद्धदृक् साक्ष्युभयं तदीक्षते स आत्ममूलोऽवतु मां परात्पर: ॥ ४ ॥
yaḥ svātmanīdaṁ nija-māyayārpitaṁ kvacid vibhātaṁ kva ca tat tirohitam aviddha-dṛk sākṣy ubhayaṁ tad īkṣate sa ātma-mūlo ’vatu māṁ parāt-paraḥ
至上人格神以自身的幻力（摩耶）时而令此宇宙显现，时而令其隐没。祂既是至上之因亦是至上之果，处处为观者与见证者，超越一切。愿那至上主护佑我。
The Supreme Personality of Godhead has multipotencies ( parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate ). Therefore, as soon as He likes, He uses one of His potencies, and by that expansion He creates this cosmic manifestation. Again, when the cosmic manifestation is annihilated, it rests in Him. Nonetheless, He is infallibly the supreme observer. Under any circumstances, the Supreme Lord is changeless. He is simply a witness and is aloof from all creation and annihilation.
FAQs
This verse says the universe appears and disappears by the Lord’s own māyā within Him, while He remains unchanged as the clear, unobstructed witness of both states.
In helpless surrender, Gajendra praises Narayana as the ultimate reality beyond changing conditions—One who observes all transformations yet is never covered by them—therefore the only sure protector.
Remember that situations rise and fall, but the Supreme Witness is steady; turning to Him in prayer and devotion helps one respond with faith and clarity rather than panic.