Narayaneeyam: Dasakam: 26

Dashakam XXVI

Shloka:1

Kadaachit indradyumnah---------------------once upon a time, Indradyumna

Paandya-khanda-adhirajah-------------------the king of the Pandya land

tvatbhaktaatmaa magnadeeh----------------------and a great devotee of Yours was so deeply absorbed

tvatsevaayaam chandanaadrau------------------in worshipping You on the Malaya mountain

na eva aaluloke-----------------------------------that he did not even notice

Agastyam praaptam----------------------------Sage Agastya who had come there

Aatithya-kaamam-------------------------and was expecting the King's hospitality

It is said that even when a person is engaged in worship, he should get up and receive any holy man who comes there because a holy man is God Himself

Shloka: 2

Atha kumbhodbhootih------------------------then the sage Agastya who was born in a pot

Sambhrta-krodha-bhaarah------------------who was infuriated (make someone extremely angry and impatience) by the king's difference

Pratyagaat shaptvaa ainam iti-------------went back cursing him thus:

stabdhaatmaa tvam--------------As you are obstinate and motionless

bhaja hastibhooyam----------------may you become an elephant

Sah api lebhe hasteendratvam----------------he, Indradyuma, too got the form of a lordly (haughty, proud) elephant

tvatsmrti-vyakti-dhanyam--------------------with the good fortune to retain a clear memory of You.

The elephant is considered a very proud animal

Shloka: 3

Trikoote shaile---------------------on the Trikuta mountain

(There is a very large mountain called Trikūṭa. It is ten thousand yojanas [eighty thousand miles] high. Being surrounded by the Ocean of Milk, it is very beautifully situated.)

Madhyabhaaji dugdhaambhodeh---------------------situated in the centre of the milky ocean

Kreedan vashaabhih-------------------------------sporting with female elephants

Ayam yoothapah atyavartisht*a-----------------this leader of herds excelled

(t*a--pronounced as t in ant-hill)

Sarvaan jantoon shaktyaa-----------------------all other creatures or animals with his strength/might

Tvadbhaktaanaam------------------------for Your devotees

Kutra utkarshalaabhah na---------------where is the place they do not excel?

(Is there any place or sphere of activity where Your devotees do not excel?)

Shloka :4

Sah ayam ---------------------------that king elephant

Aprajaanan khedaan-----------------leading a life without experiencing any kind of sorrow/though not knowing any kind of difficulty

Svena sthemnaa-------------------owing to his own strength

Divyadeshat-vashaktyaa----------and the excellence of that divine region

Kadaachit dharmataantah------------once, oppressed by the heat of summer/overwhelmed by the heat

Abhireme yoothaih saardham--------------sported along with the other members of his herd

Sarasyaam shailapraante-------------------in a lake by the side of the mountain

Tvatpranunnah-------------------------prompted by You

O Lord! It is You who did prompt the King Indradyumna to go to that lake so as to create an opportunity to enhance his devotion and knowledge and also to give him sarupyam quickly as the time for the king-elephant's attainment of deliverance (liberation) was at hand.

Shloka: 5

Tavaat hoohooh api---------------------------At that time,a Gandharva, by name Huhu

Graaheebhootah shaapaat-----------------who had become a crocodile by the curse of

Devalasya----------------------------a sage by name, Devala

Vartamaanah tajjale jagraah-------------and who was living in those waters, caught

Ainam hastinam paadadeshe------------- this elephant by the leg

Shaantyartham hi------------------------------it is indeed, for their ultimate well being that You

Aasi shraantidah svakaanaam------------give sufferings to Your devotees

Once a Gandharva, by name Huhu was sporting in a lake with his women-folk. At that time, sage Devala came to the lake for the observance of the rituals. Huhu, mistaking the sage to be one of his own mates, pulled his feet from inside the water. Angered by this, the sage cursed the Gandharva to become a crocodile. That crocodile happened to be living in the very same lake where the elephant-king was playing with his herd.

The poet implies a parallel between his suffering and that of the elephant. He says, O Lord of Guruvayoor! You created this difficulty for the elephant-king in order to raise him from this mundane world. Similarly, You have given me this rheumatic affliction only for the enhancement of my virtues. Kindly protect me from this disease just as You did in the case of afflicted elephant king

Shloka :6

Tam hasitvaryam yuddhyantam-------------for that mighty (strong) elephant who was fighting

durnirodham vatsaraanaam sahasram-------------successfully for a thousand years

Vaibhavaat------------------------------------on account of the glory

Tvatsevaayaah--------------------------- of Your worship in the earlier life

Kaale praapte ------------------------------when the right time had come

Tvatpadaikaagrya-siddhyai---------------for attaining single-pointed devotion to Your feet

Tvam vyadhah nakraa- kraantam--------------you caused him to be defeated by the crocodile.

Because of the glory of being Your devotee, the elephant-king had been able to fight with the crocodile and remain invincible (unconquerable) for a thousand years. But when the time came for him to develop one-pointed devotion to Your feet, You did cause him to be defeated by the crocodile. Since the time for his redemption from the elephant-form had come.

Shloka: 7

He paraatman --------------------O Supreme being

Aarti-vyakta-praaktana-jnyaana-bhaktihi---------------with the  jnyaana and bhakti/devotion which he had acquired in the previous life as Indradyumna, came back to him/manifesting themselves under the stress of suffering

Sah samarchan pundareekaih-----------------------he, offering/worshipping You with the white lotus flowers

Shundot-kshiptaih anvagaadeet-------------------plucked with his trunk, sang continuously

Stotra shresht*am poorvaabhyastam-------------the great hymn he had mastered in the previous life

Nirvisheshaat- manisht*am---------------------------- relating to Brahman in the unmanifestedform/ Nirguna Brahman

Gajendra, the elephant king, in the period thereafter more and more lost his strength because of his fatigue of having fought so long against being pulled into the water. The crocodile by contrast was at home in the water and became more frantic, strong and powerful over the years.

The other elephants, who are my friends and relatives, could not rescue me from this danger. Then how could my wives free me from the tight grip of the crocodile? They cannot do anything. It is by the will of providence (the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth) that I have been attacked by this crocodile, and therefore I shall seek shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always the shelter of everyone, even of great personalities.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is certainly not known to everyone, but He is very powerful and influential. Therefore, although the serpent of eternal time, which is fearful in force, endlessly chases everyone, ready to swallow him, if one who fears this serpent seeks shelter of the Lord, the Lord gives him protection, for even death runs away in fear of the Lord. I therefore surrender unto Him, the great and powerful supreme authority who is the actual shelter of everyone.

Shloka: 8

Shrutvaa samastam stotram--------------After listening to the entire hymn

Nigunastham-----------------------------which related to Brahman without attributes

Brahmeshaadyaih-----------------------when Brahma, Shiva and other Gods

Iti na aham---------------------------thinking that it was not addressed to them

Aprayaate------------------------did not proceed to respond to the call of the elephant

Tvam sarvaatmaa prekshitah abhooh-------------------You the soul of all beings, did appear

Purastaat taarkshyaarood"ah-----------------------------before Gajendra, mounted on Garuda

(d"a---pronounced as d in god hood)

Bhoori-kaarunya-vegaat---------------------------out of infinite compassion

Gajendra's entire praise was directed towards Nirguna-brahman, which is Brahman without attributes, referring to a Lord devoid of any particular form. Therefore Gods like Brahma, shiva and others did not respond to the elephant as they identified themselves with their respective distinctive forms. But You, who are the soul of all beings, Lord of Guruvayoor, quickly proceeded on Your mount, Garuda and appeared before Gajendra

All merciful attribute less Lord assumes forms with attributes,in order to protect His devotees. You being Nishkala-Brahman, made Yourself perceptible to the external eyes of Gajendra

Shloka: 9

Tvam dhrtvaa---------------Then You, after pulling out

Tam hasteendram hastapadmena------------that mighty elephant with Your Lotus hand

Vyadaareeh nakravaryam chakrena ------------cut asunder (apart,divide into pieces) the crocodile with Your discus

Asmin gandharve muktashaape-----------when the gandharva was released from the curse

Sah hastee praapya tvatsaaroopyam--------that elephant,after attaining Your form,Sarupya,

Dedeepyate sma-----------------did shine brightly

Shloka: 10

Yah gaayet maam cha tvaam cha --------------he who sings in praise of Me and you

Prago etat vrttam--------------------- at dawn along with the recital of this episode

Sah ayam syaat bhooyase shreyase----------he will attain the greatest good, i.e. liberation

Uktvaa ainam iti tvam gatah-------------------telling him thus, You went

Dhishnyam saardham tena--------------------to Vaikunta-loka along with him

Vishno! Vaataalayesha! Paahi-----------------O All-Pervading Lord of Guruvayoor! Protect me

FROM BHAGAVATAM

After understanding the awkward condition of Gajendra, who had offered his prayers, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who lives everywhere, appeared with the demigods, who were offering prayers to Him. Carrying His disc and other weapons, He appeared there on the back of His carrier, Garuda, with great speed, according to His desire. Thus He appeared before Gajendra.

Gajendra had been forcefully captured by the crocodile in the water and was feeling acute pain, but when he saw that Narayana, wielding His disc, was coming in the sky on the back of Garuda, he immediately took a lotus flower in his trunk, and with great difficulty due to his painful condition, he uttered the following words: “O my Lord, Narayana, master of the universe, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.”

Thereafter, seeing Gajendra in such an aggrieved (feeling distress or pain)position, the unborn Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, immediately got down from the back of Garuda by His causeless mercy and pulled the King of the elephants, along with the crocodile, out of the water. Then, in the presence of all the demigods, who were looking on, the Lord severed the crocodile’s mouth from its body with His disc. In this way He saved Gajendra, the King of the elephants.

Because Gajendra, King of the elephants, had been touched directly by the hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he was immediately freed of all material ignorance and bondage. Thus he received the salvation of sārūpya-mukti, in which he achieved the same bodily features as the Lord, being dressed in yellow garments and possessing four hands.

Having described the wonderful power of Kṛṣṇa, as displayed when the Lord delivered the King of the elephants, those who hear this narration become fit to be promoted to the higher planetary systems. Simply because of hearing this narration, they gain a reputation as devotees, they are unaffected by the contamination of Kali-yuga, and they never see bad dreams.

Therefore, after getting up from bed in the morning, those who desire their own welfare — especially the braahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas and in particular the braahmana Vaishnavas — should chant this narration as it is, without deviation, to counteract the troubles of bad dreams.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul of everyone, being thus pleased, addressed Gajendra in the presence of everyone there. He spoke the following blessings.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Freed from all sinful reactions are those who rise from bed at the end of night, early in the morning, and fully concentrate their minds with great attention upon My form; your form; this lake; this mountain; the caves; the gardens; the cane plants; the bamboo plants; the celestial trees; the residential quarters of Me, Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva; the three peaks of Trikoota Mountain, made of gold, silver and iron; My very pleasing abode [the Ocean of Milk]; the white island, Shvetadveepa, which is always brilliant with spiritual rays; My mark of Shreevatsa; the Kaustubha gem; My Vaijaythere garland; My club, Kaumodakee; My Sudarshana disc and Paanchajanya conchshell; My bearer, Garuda, the king of the birds; My bed, Shesha Naaga; My expansion of energy the goddess of fortune; Lord Brahma; Narada Muni; Lord Shiva; Prahlada; My incarnations like Matsya, Koorma and Varaaha; My unlimited all-auspicious activities, which yield piety to he who hears them; the sun; the moon; fire; the mantra ohmkaaraa; the Absolute Truth; the total material energy; the cows and braahmanas; devotional service; the wives of Soma and Kashyapa, who are all daughters of King Daksha; the rivers Ganges, Sarasvati,Nanda and Yamuna[Kaalindee]; the elephant Airaavata; Dhruva Mahaaraaja; the seven rishis; and the pious human beings.

My dear devotee, unto those who rise from bed at the end of night and offer Me the prayers offered by you, I give an eternal residence in the spiritual world at the end of their lives.

After giving this instruction, the Lord, who is known as Hrishikeshaa bugled (making sound) with His Paanchajanya conchshell, in this way pleasing all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma. Then He mounted the back of His carrier, Garuda.