rule



 

Canto 8

Govinda jaya jaya

 

 

Chapter 4: Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thereafter [when Gajendra was freed] the gods, the rishis and the heavenly singers headed by Brahmâ and S'iva, showered flowers to praise that accomplishment of the Lord. (2) The sky vibrated because of the kettledrums, the Gandharvas sang and danced and the saints, the venerable souls and perfected souls offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (3-4) That very moment the crocodile assumed the most wonderful form of Hûhû, the best of the Gandharvas who, now that he was freed from a curse pronounced by sage Devala, with his head bowed down began to offer his obeisances to the Supreme Eternal Master Hailed in the Verses and thereafter chanted the glories of His transcendental pastimes and qualities. (5) Enjoying the Lord’s grace, he circumambulated Him while offering his respects, whereupon he, being freed from all sin, before the eyes of everyone returned to his abode.

(6)
Gajendra was because of the touch of the Supreme Lord instantly freed from the ignorance of his state of bondage and acquired the form of the Lord with four arms and yellow garments [sârûpya-mukti, see also 3.29: 13]. (7) In his former life he had been born as the best of Dravida-des'a, the king of Pândya. Known as Indradyumna he swore by Vishnu as his ultimate refuge. (8) [In that life] he, when the time to do penance had arrived, with the greatest care had taken the vow of silence and performed, with matted locks, his austerities in Kulâcala [the Malaya hills] where he had his âs'rama. One day worshiping the Infallible Lord, he was immersed in his love for the Supreme Controller. (9) The renown Âgastya, surrounded by his disciples, then on his own initiative arrived there and saw him sitting silently alone in meditation without offering him a respectful welcome. The rishi got very angry about it. (10) He then cursed him by saying: 'This degraded soul, so unfriendly and indifferent of mind, despises [me as] a brahmin. May he enter darkness, as a dull-minded elephant.'

(11-12)
S'rî S'uka said: 'After thus condemning him, the so very powerful Âgastya departed together with his associates, oh King, leaving Indradyumna thinking that to be cursed as a king because of his past deeds was his fate. When he got born as an elephant the remembrance of his identity was lost, but because he worshiped the Lord by offering prayers, he nevertheless in that elephant's body managed to remember [his past devotion]. (13) After the Lord of the Lotus navel thus had delivered the king of the elephants and He for His wonderful deeds was praised by the Gandharvas, the perfected souls and the sages, he [after first having given a declaration] returned to His heavenly abode sitting on the back of Garuda, in the company of him [Indradyumna] who was awarded the position of being His associate.

(14) What I have described to you, oh great King, concerning the belief in Lord Krishna that delivered King Gajendra, promotes those who hear about it to the heavenly spheres and increases their reputation. It takes away the darkness of the immorality of Kali-yuga [see 1.17: 24-25] and puts an end to bad dreams, oh best of the Kurus. (15) In order to find peace in the morning after waking up from unpleasant dreams, twice-born souls, who are motivated for this blessing, rise early, purify themselves and faithfully chant this story.

(16)
This is what the All-pervading Great Lord, being pleased, in the presence of everyone said to Gajendra, oh best of the Kuru dynasty. (17-24) The Supreme Lord said: 'They will be delivered from all their worries who, when they get up at the end of the night, by carefully concentrating their minds remember My forms - the forms of Me and you, the forms of the lake, this hill, these caves and gardens, those of the cane and the bamboos, the groups of trees, these peaks and the abodes of Me as also those of Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva; this ocean of milk, this white island with its brilliant luster so dear to Me, My S'rîvatsa mark, Kaustubha jewel, [Vaijayantî] garland, Kaumodakî club, Sudars'ana disc and Pâñcajanya conch; Garuda, Ananta S'esha, My subtle plenary portion the Goddess of Fortune, all who depend on Me, Lord Brahmâ, Nârada rishi, S'iva and Prahlâda; My Matsya incarnation, Kûrma, Varâha, the other avatâras and the countless number of all My auspicious deeds; the deities of the sun, the moon and the fire, the Omkâra mantra, the Absolute Truth and that what is not manifest [of the universe]; the cows, the brahmins, the eternal dharma, the daughters of Daksha, the dutiful wives of the moon god and Kas'yapa, as also the Ganges, the Sarasvatî, the Nandâ and the Yamunâ, Airâvata [Indra's elephant], Dhruva, the seven so very pious sages and the human beings. (25) My best one, they who offer Me prayers this way when they rise at the end of the night, I will grant the eternal destination when they expire their last breath.'

(26) S'rî S'uka said: 'After having declared this, Hrishîkes'a, to the pleasure of the host of demigods, blew on His conch, the best one of the sea, and climbed on the back of Garuda.'

 

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Third revised edition, loaded May 6, 2019.

 
 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rî S'uka said: Thereafter [when Gajendra was freed] the gods, the rishis and the heavenly singers headed by Brahmâ and S'iva, showered flowers to praise that accomplishment of the Lord.
S'rî S'uka said: 'Thereafter [when Gajendra was freed] showered the godly, the rishis and the heavenly singers headed by Brahmâ and S'iva, flowers in praise of that feat of the Lord. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

The sky vibrated because of the kettledrums, the Gandharvas sang and danced and the saints, the venerable souls and perfected souls offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

The sky vibrated of the kettledrums, the Gandharvas sang and danced and the saints, the venerable ones and the perfected offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3-4

That very moment the crocodile assumed the most wonderful form of Hûhû, the best of the Gandharvas who, now that he was freed from a curse pronounced by sage Devala, with his head bowed down began to offer his obeisances to the Supreme Eternal Master Hailed in the Verses and thereafter chanted the glories of His transcendental pastimes and qualities.

He, Hûhû, a singer of heaven who by a curse of sage Devala, had become that crocodile, appeared that very moment as a most wonderfully beautiful Gandharva indeed, who, offering obeisances with his head to the Supreme Eternal Master Hailed in the Verses, began to chant the glories of His transcendental pastimes and qualities. (Vedabase)

  

Text 5

Enjoying the Lord’s grace, he circumambulated Him while offering his respects, whereupon he, being freed from all sin, before the eyes of everyone returned to his abode.

He being favored by the Lord circumambulated Him offering his respects, and with everybody watching went he, being delivered from all sin, back to his own abode. (Vedabase)


Text 6

Gajendra was because of the touch of the Supreme Lord instantly freed from the ignorance of his state of bondage and acquired the form of the Lord with four arms and yellow garments [sârûpya-mukti, see also 3.29: 13].

Gajendra was by the touch of the Supreme Lord instantly freed from the ignorance of being bound and had achieved the selfsame form with four arms and yellow garments [sârûpya-mukti, see also 3.29: 13]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

In his former life he had been born as the best of Dravida-des'a, the king of Pândya. Known as Indradyumna he swore by Vishnu as his ultimate refuge.

He in fact before had, born as the best of Dravida-des'a, been the king of Pândya and was, sworn to Vishnu always being on the transcendental path, thus known as Indradyumna. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

[In that life] he, when the time to do penance had arrived, with the greatest care had taken the vow of silence and performed, with matted locks, his austerities in Kulâcala [the Malaya hills] where he had his âs'rama. One day worshiping the Infallible Lord, he was immersed in his love for the Supreme Controller.

He had, when the time had come for his penance, with the greatest care taken to the vow of silence and was, with matted locks doing his austerity in Kulâcala [the Malaya hills] where he had his âs'rama, one day worshipping the Infallible Lord, immersed in love for the Supreme Controller. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

The renown Âgastya, surrounded by his disciples, then on his own initiative arrived there and saw him sitting silently alone in meditation without offering him a respectful welcome. The rishi got very angry about it.

Out of his own will arrived at the spot the renown Âgastya surrounded by his disciples and seeing him silent, sitting alone in meditation without offering a respectful reception, it so happened that the rishi became very angry. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

He then cursed him by saying: 'This degraded soul, so unfriendly and indifferent of mind, despises [me as] a brahmin. May he enter darkness, as a dull-minded elephant.'

He then gave him this curse: 'This degraded soul so unfriendly and inapt of mind before me as an insult to the brahminical, let him enter the darkness as a dull minded elephant indeed.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 11-12

S'rî S'uka said: 'After thus condemning him, the so very powerful Âgastya departed together with his associates, oh King, leaving Indradyumna thinking that to be cursed as a king because of his past deeds was his fate. When he got born as an elephant the remembrance of his identity was lost, but because he worshiped the Lord by offering prayers, he nevertheless in that elephant's body managed to remember [his past devotion].

S'rî S'uka said: 'After thus condemning him left the so powerful Âgastya from there with his associates, o King, leaving Indradyumna thinking that the curse despite of his elevated position was a result of his past deeds. When he got born as an elephant was the remembrance of his identity destroyed, but because he worshiped the Lord offering prayers, got he despite of that elephant's body the chance to remember his past. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

After the Lord of the Lotus navel thus had delivered the king of the elephants and He for His wonderful deeds was praised by the Gandharvas, the perfected souls and the sages, he [after first having given a declaration] returned to His heavenly abode sitting on the back of Garuda, in the company of him [Indradyumna] who was awarded the position of being His associate.

When the Lord of the Lotus navel thus had delivered the king of the elephants, returned He accompanied by him, who was awarded the position of being His associate, together with the Gandharvas, the perfected and the sages - who all praised Him for His wonderful deeds - to His own abode sitting on the back of Garuda. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

What I have  described to you, oh great King, concerning the belief in Lord Krishna that delivered King Gajendra, promotes those who hear about it to the heavenly spheres and increases their reputation. It takes away the darkness of the immorality of Kali-yuga [see 1.17: 24-25] and puts an end to bad dreams, oh best of the Kurus.

This what I described to you, o King, about the unlimited potency of Lord Krishna in delivering the devotee Gajendra, promotes those who hear of it to the heavenly spheres and increases their reputation as a devotee; it takes away the contaminations of Kali-yuga [see 1.17: 24-25] and drives away the bad dreams, o best of the Kurus. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

In order to find peace in the morning after waking up from unpleasant dreams, twice-born souls, who are motivated for this blessing, rise early, purify themselves and faithfully chant this story.

To counteract the troubles of having had a bad night do people out for the blessing, especially the pure of the twice-born, faithfully recite this story when they rise in the morning. (Vedabase)


Text 16

This is what the All-pervading Great Lord, being pleased, in the presence of everyone said to Gajendra, oh best of the Kuru dynasty.

This is what the All-pervading Great Lord being pleased in the presence of everyone has said to Gajendra, o best of the Kuru dynasty. (Vedabase)


Text 17-24

The Supreme Lord said: 'They will be delivered from all their worries who, when they get up at the end of the night, by carefully concentrating their minds remember My forms - the forms of Me and you, the forms of the lake, this hill, these caves and gardens, those of the cane and the bamboos, the groups of trees, these peaks and the abodes of Me as also those of Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva; this ocean of milk, this white island with its brilliant luster so dear to Me, My S'rîvatsa mark, Kaustubha jewel, [Vaijayantî] garland, Kaumodakî club, Sudars'ana disc and Pâñcajanya conch; Garuda, Ananta S'esha, My subtle plenary portion the Goddess of Fortune, all who depend on Me, Lord Brahmâ, Nârada rishi, S'iva and Prahlâda; My Matsya incarnation, Kûrma, Varâha, the other avatâras and the countless number of all My auspicious deeds; the deities of the sun, the moon and the fire, the Omkâra mantra, the Absolute Truth and that what is not manifest [of the universe]; the cows, the brahmins, the eternal dharma, the daughters of Daksha, the dutiful wives of the moon god and Kas'yapa, as also the Ganges, the Sarasvatî, the Nandâ and the Yamunâ, Airâvata [Indra's elephant], Dhruva, the seven so very pious sages and the human beings.

The Supreme Lord said: 'Those who, when they get up at the end of the night, with care concentrating do remember My forms - the forms of Me and you; the forms of the lake, this hill, these caves and gardens; those of the cane and bamboos, the groups of trees, these peaks and the abodes of Me and those of Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva; as also this ocean of milk and this white island with its brilliant luster so dear to Me; My S'rîvatsa-mark, Kaustubha-jewel, [Vaijayantî] garland, Kaumodakî club, Sudars'ana disc and Pâñcajanya conch; Garuda, Ananta S'esha, My subtle plenary portion the Goddess of Fortune; all who depend on me, Lord Brahmâ, Nârada rishi, S'iva and Prahlâda; My Matsya incarnation, Kûrma, Varâha, and the other avatâras; the countless of all My auspicious deeds; the deities of the sun, the moon and the fire; the Omkâra mantra, the Absolute Truth and the total material energy; the cows, the brahmins and the eternal dharma; the daughters of Daksha, the dutiful wives of the moongod, Kas'yapa and also the Ganges, the Sarasvatî, the Nandâ and the Yamunâ; Airâvata [Indra's elephant], Dhruva, the seven so very pious sages and the human beings - are delivered from all their worries. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

My best one, they who offer Me prayers this way when they rise at the end of the night, I will grant the eternal destination when they expire their last breath.'

Those offering Me prayers this way, my best, rising at the end of the night, will I, also at the time of their death, grant the greater destination.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

S'rî S'uka said: 'After having declared this, Hrishîkes'a, to the pleasure of the host of demigods, blew on His conch, the best one of the sea, and climbed on the back of Garuda.'

S'rî S'uka said: 'Hrishîkes'a, thus having given his address, mounting the back of Garuda then blew on the best one of the sea [His conch] to the pleasure of the host of divine lordships.' (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

 

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The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The painting of Vishnu is a vintage Hindu picture.

Production: Filognostic Association of The Order of Time



  

 

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