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 ones and the perfected ones 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 offering his obeisances to the Supreme Eternal Master Hailed in the Verses and then chanted the glories of His transcendental pastimes and qualities. (5) Enjoying the Lord His 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 resort. (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 the 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 the curse despite of his royal position was his fate. When he got born as an elephant the remembrance of his identity was destroyed, 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 ones 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 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 drives away the result of sleepiness oh best of the Kurus. (15) To put first of all an end to the [bad] consequences of sleepiness, twice-born souls who are motivated for this blessing rise early in the morning, purify themselves and faithfully chant this story.

(16) This is what the All-pervading Great Lord, pleased in the presence of everyone said to Gajendra oh best of the Kuru dynasty. (17-24) The Supreme Lord said: 'Those 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 greater 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.'