Bhagavatapurana 8.4

8.4.1

* //
/0 śrīśuka uvāca
tadā devarṣigandharvā brahmeśānapurogamāḥ /
mumucuḥ kusumāsāraṃ śaṃsantaḥ karma taddhareḥ //

Śrī Śuka said: / Then the divine sages and Gandharvas, led by Brahmā and Īśāna, / showered flowers, praising that deed of Hari.

1. Sri Suka said:—At that moment the gods, Rishis, Ghandarvas, Brahma, Rudra, and others let fall showers of flowers singing in praise of that work of Hari.

8.4.2

nedurdundubhayo divyā gandharvā nanṛturjaguḥ /
ṛṣayaścāraṇāḥ siddhāstuṣṭuvuḥ puruṣottamam //

Celestial kettledrums resounded, Gandharvas danced and sang, / and the sages, Cāraṇas, and Siddhas praised the Supreme Person.

2. The celestial drums were sounded; Ghandarvas danced and sang; Rishis, Charanas and Siddhas offered their praises to the supreme Person (Purushottama).

8.4.3

yo 'sau grāhaḥ sa vai sadyaḥ paramāścaryarūpadhṛk /
mukto devalaśāpena hūhūrgandharvasattamaḥ //

That crocodile immediately assumed a wondrous form: / released from Devala's curse, he was Hūhū, the foremost of Gandharvas.

3. That which was an alligator soon stood transformed in to a most wonderful form; he is the great Ghandarva called Hoo Hoo (now) released from the curse of Devala.

8.4.4

praṇamya śirasādhīśamuttamaślokamavyayam /
agāyata yaśodhāma kīrtanyaguṇasatkatham //

Bowing his head to the immutable sovereign, He of highest renown, / he sang of the abode of glory, whose virtuous pastimes and qualities are worthy of glorification.

4. He bowed down to the supreme Lord most highly praised and destitute of change and sang in praise of Hari who is the abode of all renown and whose excellent attributes are fit to be sung and whose story is good in the telling.

8.4.5

so 'nukampita īśena parikramya praṇamya tam /
lokasya paśyato lokaṃ svamagān muktakilbiṣaḥ //

Favored by the Lord, he circumambulated him, bowed down, / and, freed from evil, went to his own realm before the eyes of the world.

5. Having become the object of the Lord's compassion, he went round Him and bowed to Him; and all the world looking on he set off to his own region when (thus) set free from the curse.

8.4.6

gajendro bhagavatsparśādvimukto 'jñānabandhanāt /
prāpto bhagavato rūpaṃ pītavāsāścaturbhujaḥ //

By the touch of the Lord, the king of elephants was freed from the bondage of ignorance; / he obtained the form of the Lord, clad in yellow garments and four-armed.

6. Ganjendra become free from the bondage of ignorance through the touch of the glorious Lord, attained to a form like that of the Lord clad in Pitambara and endowed with four arms.

8.4.7

sa vai pūrvamabhūdrājā pāṇḍyo draviḍasattamaḥ /
indradyumna iti khyāto viṣṇuvrataparāyaṇaḥ //

In a previous life he was a Pāṇḍya king, the foremost among the Draviḍas, / known as Indradyumna, devoted to vows for Viṣṇu.

7. He was indeed formerly a king of the Pandya country, the foremost of the Dravidas. He was known as Indradyumna, solely given to austere observances (to propitiate) Vishnu.

8.4.8

sa ekadārādhanakāla ātmavān gṛhītamaunavrata īśvaraṃ harim /
jaṭādharastāpasa āpluto 'cyutaṃ samarcayāmāsa kulācalāśramaḥ //

Once, at the time of worship, self-composed, having taken a vow of silence, an ascetic with matted hair who had bathed, / residing in his hermitage at Kulācala, he was worshiping the sovereign Hari, Acyuta.

8. Once while in his hermitage on the Kulachala he had controlled his mind, worn matted hair, and undertaken the vow of silence and having bathed at the proper hour of worship he worshipped the imperishable Hari, the Ruler of Rulers.

8.4.9

yadṛcchayā tatra mahāyaśā muniḥ samāgamac chiṣyagaṇaiḥ pariśritaḥ /
taṃ vīkṣya tūṣṇīmakṛtārhaṇādikaṃ rahasy upāsīnamṛṣiścukopa ha //

By chance, the illustrious sage [Agastya], surrounded by his disciples, arrived there; / seeing him sitting silently in seclusion, without offering hospitality and honor, the sage grew angry.

9. Unexpectedly there came the celebrated Muni Agastya accompanied by the crowds of his pupils. Finding the king seated in a secret place and remaining silent, without offering worship and attention, the sage got angry with him.

8.4.10

tasmā imaṃ śāpamadādasādhur ayaṃ durātmākṛtabuddhiradya /
viprāvamantā viśatāṃ tamisraṃ yathā gajaḥ stabdhamatiḥ sa eva //

He gave him this curse: 'This impious, wicked-minded fool, / who disrespects a brahmin today, shall enter dense darkness as an elephant, stupid-minded as he is!'

10. He pronounced a curse upon the king saying·" this is an unrighteous wicked soul with no culture, who treats Brahmins with contempt. Let him be steeped in blinding darkness and become an elephant because he has a proud heart like that of an elephant.

8.4.11

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
evaṃ śaptvā gato 'gastyo bhagavān nṛpa sānugaḥ /
indradyumno 'pi rājarṣirdiṣṭaṃ tadupadhārayan //

Śuka said:
Having cursed him thus, O king, the venerable Agastya departed along with his followers;
and Indradyumna, the royal sage, accepting that as his destiny,

11. Sri Suka said:—O king, the worshipful Agastya cursed him thus and departed with his followers. The royal sage king Indradyumna also, considered that to be the will of the Lord.

8.4.12

āpannaḥ kauñjarīṃ yonimātmasmṛtivināśinīm /
haryarcanānubhāvena yadgajatve 'py anusmṛtiḥ //

entered an elephant's womb, which destroys remembrance of the self;
yet, through the power of his worship of Hari, memory persisted even in elephant form.

12. Though born as an elephant, which obscures self-knowledge, he even as an elephant had reminiscences of his past life and this was due to the virtue of his worship of Hari.

8.4.12.p1

evaṃ vimokṣya gajayūthapamabjanābhas $ tenāpi pārṣadagatiṃ gamitena yuktaḥ &

Having thus delivered the leader of the elephant herd, the lotus-navel [Lord], joined by him who had also attained the state of an attendant,

13. Having thus set the Lord of elephant herds at liberty, Hari, Padmanabha, riding on Garuda whose deeds are being sung by Gandharvas, Siddhas and the gods, returned to His wonderful abode along with him that has been restored to his position as his own attendant.

8.4.13

gandharvasiddhavibudhairupagīyamāna % karmādbhutaṃ svabhavanaṃ garuḍāsano 'gāt //

while His wondrous deeds were praised in song by Gandharvas, Siddhas, and gods, went to His own abode seated upon Garuḍa.

8.4.14

etan mahārāja taverito mayā kṛṣṇānubhāvo gajarājamokṣaṇam /
svargyaṃ yaśasyaṃ kalikalmaṣāpahaṃ duḥsvapnanāśaṃ kuruvarya śṛṇvatām //

This glory of Kṛṣṇa, the liberation of the elephant king, has been related by me to you, O great king;
it brings heaven, brings fame, removes the impurities of Kali, and destroys bad dreams for those who hear it, O best of the Kurus.

14. O king, this glorious work of Sri Krishna (Narayana), viz., the rescue of the great elephant has been told thee by me. It is capable of leading those who listen to it to Swarga and to renown; it removes their sins brought on by Kali and prevents their bad dreams, O best of Kurus.

8.4.15

yathānukīrtayanty etac chreyaskāmā dvijātayaḥ /
śucayaḥ prātarutthāya duḥsvapnādyupaśāntaye //

Twice-born men desiring welfare chant this
when they rise pure in the morning, for the pacification of bad dreams and other ills.

15. (Therefore) the Brahmanas, who seek after good and who are pure, rise betimes and sing this story with full faith for the prevention of bad dreams and other evils.

8.4.16

idamāha hariḥ prīto gajendraṃ kurusattama /
śṛṇvatāṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ sarvabhūtamayo vibhuḥ //

Pleased, Hari, the pervasive Lord who comprises all beings, spoke this to the elephant king,
O best of the Kurus, as all beings listened:

16. Hari the Omnipresent Lord, who is one with all creation, being pleased, O best of Kurus, said this to Gajendra, all beings listening to Him.

8.4.17

/0 śrībhagavān uvāca
ye māṃ tvāṃ ca saraścedaṃ girikandarakānanam /
vetrakīcakaveṇūnāṃ gulmāni surapādapān //

The Lord said:
Those who [remember] Me and you, this lake, the mountain caves and forests,
the thickets of cane, bamboo, and reeds, the heavenly trees,

17. The Lord said:—Those who rise towards the close of night and having become pure (by bathing) and concentrated their mind, remember Me, thee, this lake, the mountain valley and the forest, these bushes of canes and bamboos, the celestial trees,

8.4.18

śṛṅgāṇīmāni dhiṣṇyāni brahmaṇo me śivasya ca /
kṣīrodaṃ me priyaṃ dhāma śvetadvīpaṃ ca bhāsvaram //

these peaks, the abodes of Brahmā, of Me, and of Śiva,
the Ocean of Milk, my beloved abode, and the luminous Śvetadvīpa,

18. these summits, the abodes of Brahma and Siva, the sea of milk which is My beloved place, the brilliant Sweta Dwipa,

8.4.19

śrīvatsaṃ kaustubhaṃ mālāṃ gadāṃ kaumodakīṃ mama /
sudarśanaṃ pāñcajanyaṃ suparṇaṃ patageśvaram //

the Śrīvatsa mark, the Kaustubha jewel, my garland, my Kaumodakī mace,
the Sudarśana disc, the Pāñcajanya conch, and Suparṇa, the king of birds,

19. to 21. the Sri Vatsa mark, the Kaustubha jewel and the garland (on My bosom), My weapon Gada called Kaumodaki; Sudarsana called Panchajanya, My vehicle Garuda the king of birds, Sesha who is My subtle Amsa and Sri Devi who depends upon Me; the four-faced Brahma, the sage Narada, Siva, and also Prahlada; and also My deeds during My Avataras, Matsya, Kurma, Varaha etc, all productive of unlimited merit, the Sun and the Moon, and the god Agni;

8.4.20

śeṣaṃ ca matkalāṃ sūkṣmāṃ śriyaṃ devīṃ madāśrayām /
brahmāṇaṃ nāradamṛṣiṃ bhavaṃ prahrādameva ca //

Śeṣa, my subtle portion, the goddess Śrī who has taken refuge in Me,
Brahmā, the sage Nārada, Bhava, and Prahlāda,

19. to 21. the Sri Vatsa mark, the Kaustubha jewel and the garland (on My bosom), My weapon Gada called Kaumodaki; Sudarsana called Panchajanya, My vehicle Garuda the king of birds, Sesha who is My subtle Amsa and Sri Devi who depends upon Me; the four-faced Brahma, the sage Narada, Siva, and also Prahlada; and also My deeds during My Avataras, Matsya, Kurma, Varaha etc, all productive of unlimited merit, the Sun and the Moon, and the god Agni;

8.4.21

matsyakūrmavarāhādyairavatāraiḥ kṛtāni me /
karmāṇy anantapuṇyāni sūryaṃ somaṃ hutāśanam //

the boundlessly purifying deeds performed by Me
through incarnations such as the Fish, Tortoise, and Boar, the sun, moon, and fire,

19. to 21. the Sri Vatsa mark, the Kaustubha jewel and the garland (on My bosom), My weapon Gada called Kaumodaki; Sudarsana called Panchajanya, My vehicle Garuda the king of birds, Sesha who is My subtle Amsa and Sri Devi who depends upon Me; the four-faced Brahma, the sage Narada, Siva, and also Prahlada; and also My deeds during My Avataras, Matsya, Kurma, Varaha etc, all productive of unlimited merit, the Sun and the Moon, and the god Agni;

8.4.22

praṇavaṃ satyamavyaktaṃ goviprān dharmamavyayam /
dākṣāyaṇīrdharmapatnīḥ somakaśyapayorapi //

the syllable Om, truth, the unmanifest, cows and brāhmaṇas, the imperishable dharma,
the daughters of Dakṣa who are the wives of Dharma, as well as those of Soma and Kaśyapa,

22. to 24. the sacred Syllable, Truth, Maya the subtle, cows, wise Brahmins, eternal and unchanging righteousness (which is devotion to the Lord); also the daughters of Daksha who are the wives of Dharma, Soma, and Kasyapa; the Ganga, the Sarasvati, the Nanda, the Kalindi, the white elephant of Indra, Dhruva, the seven great sages and great men of hallowed reputation; also My various forms—those who remember all these do become free from all sin.

8.4.23

gaṅgāṃ sarasvatīṃ nandāṃ kālindīṃ sitavāraṇam /
dhruvaṃ brahmaṛṣīn sapta puṇyaślokāṃśca mānavān //

the Gaṅgā, Sarasvatī, Nandā, Kālindī, the white elephant,
Dhruva, the seven divine sages, and pious men whose praise is purifying—

22. to 24. the sacred Syllable, Truth, Maya the subtle, cows, wise Brahmins, eternal and unchanging righteousness (which is devotion to the Lord); also the daughters of Daksha who are the wives of Dharma, Soma, and Kasyapa; the Ganga, the Sarasvati, the Nanda, the Kalindi, the white elephant of Indra, Dhruva, the seven great sages and great men of hallowed reputation; also My various forms—those who remember all these do become free from all sin.

8.4.24

utthāyāpararātrānte prayatāḥ susamāhitāḥ /
smaranti mama rūpāṇi mucyante te 'ṃhaso 'khilāt //

rising at the end of the last watch of the night, purified and well concentrated,
those who remember these forms of Mine are released from all sin.

22. to 24. the sacred Syllable, Truth, Maya the subtle, cows, wise Brahmins, eternal and unchanging righteousness (which is devotion to the Lord); also the daughters of Daksha who are the wives of Dharma, Soma, and Kasyapa; the Ganga, the Sarasvati, the Nanda, the Kalindi, the white elephant of Indra, Dhruva, the seven great sages and great men of hallowed reputation; also My various forms—those who remember all these do become free from all sin.

8.4.25

ye māṃ stuvanty anenāṅga pratibudhya niśātyaye /
teṣāṃ prāṇātyaye cāhaṃ dadāmi vipulāṃ gatim //

Those who praise Me with this [hymn], my dear friend, upon awakening at the end of night,
to them I give an exalted destination at the departure of their life breaths.

25. On those who rise betimes, O dear Gajendra, and pray to me with this story I bestow unclouded memory (of Myself) at the time of death.

8.4.26

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
ity ādiśya hṛṣīkeśaḥ prādhmāya jalajottamam /
harṣayan vibudhānīkamāruroha khagādhipam //

Śuka said:
Having instructed thus, Hṛṣīkeśa, loudly blowing the finest of conches,
mounted the king of birds, gladdening the host of the gods.

26. Sri Suka said:—Having thus given His precept Hari, the Lord of all the senses, blew His excellent conch and to the joy of all the hosts of gods, mounted the king of birds, (Garuda).