The Ancient Hindu scriptures are filled with numerous gems. Gajendra Mokshanam is one such jewel that comes in various scriptures and acquires a prominent place in Srimad Bhagavatam. The episode occurs in the Taamasa Manvantara (while our current Manvantara is called as Vaiwasvata). Just like Adi Shankara took out the gem of the Gita from Mahabharata and made this available as a self-contained scripture for reading by all, Gajendra Mokshana Stotra is a scripture useful for daily Japa by all. This stotra gives the most perfect definition of Paramatma. While the background to this Stotra is that of a battle between an elephant and a crocodile at the end of which Sri Hari frees the elephant from the grip of the crocodile, many learned scholars ask the readers to assume ourselves as the elephant, the lake in which the crocodile lives as Samsara (world of suffering) and crocodile as Moha or excessive attachment to the world. Gajendra Mokshanam can be seen elsewhere on the internet but the reason to bring this in a blog is owing to two reasons:

a. Only the main Stotra is presented elsewhere and not the entire episode and I felt that reading the entire episode is more helpful to provide a wider perspective of the importance of this Stotra.
b. To have the entire Stotra in Samskrita with its related English translation is generally found more useful than having the Stotra in English or only a translation without the Stotra.

The translation has been taken from Swami Tapasyananda’s translation of Srimad Bhagavatam.

गजेन्द्र मोक्षम्

आसीद् गिरिवरो राजंस्त्रिकूट इति विश्रुत:। क्षीरोदेनावृत: श्रीमान् योजनायुत्तमुच्छृत:।।
तावता विस्तृत: त्रिभि: श्रिृंगै: पयोनिधिम्। दिश: खं रोजयन्नास्ते रौप्यायसहिरण्मयै:।।

There was a famous mountain by the name त्रिकूट, १०००० Yojanas in height, full of precious things and circled by an ocean of milk. १०००० Yojanas wide, it has three peaks of silver, steel and gold in them having in them such a profusion of metals that they illuminated the ocean and the quarters with their glitter.

अन्यैश्च ककुभ: सर्वा रत्नधातुविचित्रितै:। नानाद्रुमलतागुल्मैर्निर्घोषैर्निर्झराम्भसाम्।।
स चावनिज्यमानांध्रि: समन्तात् पयऊर्मिभि:। करोति श्यामलां भूमिं हरिन्मरकताश्मभि:।।

It stood as an ornament to all the quarters, with its precious stones and metals, with its abundance of various types of trees and creepers, and with its waterfalls spreading their sound on all sides. Washed by the waves of the milk ocean, its base was rendered green by the multitude of emeralds and other stones of greenish hue.

सिद्धि चारण गंधर्व विद्याधर महोरगै:। किन्नर अप्सरोभिश्च क्रीडद्भिर्जष्टकन्दर:।।
यत्र संगीत सन्नादैर्नदद्गुहममर्षया। अभिगर्जन्ति हरय: श्लाघिन: परशंकया।।

It had many caves that were used for their sports by various specifies of beings – सिद्धि, चारण, गंधर्व, विद्याधर, great serpents, किन्नर, Apsaras & others. The echo of the music of the किन्नर coming from the caves there often provoked the proud lions to roar under the mistaken impression of presence of other lions in the neighborhood.

नानारण्यपशुव्रातसंकुलद्रोण्यलंकृत:। चित्रद्रुमसुरोद्यानकलकण्ठविहंगम:।।
सरित्सरोभिरच्छोदै: पुलिनैर्मणिवालुकै:। देवस्त्रीमज्जनामोदसौरभाम्ब्वनिलैर्युत:।।

It was made attractive by its numerous valleys full of wild animals of various species, and by the woodlands abounding in trees that were the resort of numerous warbling birds. That region had many rivers and lakes of transparent water, bordered by sand dunes with pearl like sand. The water and the atmosphere there were charged with the fragrance from the bodies of celestial damsels who had their ablutions in the lakes.

तस्य द्रोण्यां भगवतो वरुणस्य महात्मन:। उद्यानमृतुमन्नाम आक्रीडं सुरयोषिताम्।।
सर्वतो अलंकृतं दिव्यैर्नित्यं पुष्पफलद्रुमै:। मन्दारै: पारिजातैश्च पाटलाशोकचम्पकै:।।

In one of the valleys of that mountain was a garden belonging to the high souled and worshipful Varuna named Rituman, who was a field of sports for celestial women. That garden was full of heavenly trees having an abundance of flowers and fruits. The mountain round about it abounded in trees like Mandara, Parijata, Patala, Ashoka, Champaka

चूतै: प्रियालै: पनसैराम्रैराम्रातकैरपि। क्रमकैर्नालिकेरैश्च खर्जूरैर्बीजपूरकै:।।
मधूकै: सालतालैश्च तमालैरसनार्जुनै:। अरिष्टोदुम्बरप्लक्षैर्वटै: किंशुकचन्दनै:।।

Mango, Priyala, Jackfruit, Amra, Hogplum, Arecanut, coconut, date-Palm, Bijapooraka, Madhuka, Sala, palmyra, Tamaala, Rasana, Arjuna, Arishta, Udumbara, Plaksha, Vata, Kimsuka, Chandana.

पुचुमन्दै: कोविदारै: सरलै: सुरदारुभि:। द्राक्षेक्षुरम्भाजम्बूभिर्बदर्यक्षाभयामलै:।
बिल्वै: कपित्थैर्जम्बीरैर्वृतो भल्लातकादिभि:। तस्मिन् सर:सुविपुलं लसत्कांचनपंकजम्।।

Pichumanda, Kovidara, Sarala, Devadaru, Draksha, Sugar-cane, Rambha, Jambu, Badari, Aksha, Abhaya, Aamala, Bilwa, Kapittha, Jambeera, Bhallataka and many others. In their midst was an extensive lake with golden lotuses.

कुमुदोत्पलकह्लारशतपत्रश्रियोर्जितम्। मत्तषट्पदनिर्घुष्टं शकुन्तैश्च कलस्वनै:।।
हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णं चक्राव्है: सारसैरपि। जलकुक्कुटकोयष्टिदात्यूहकुलकूजितम्।।

The lake in that region was beautified by the wealth of a acquatic flowers like Kumuda, Utpala, Saugandhika & Shatapatra and atmosphere filled with buzzing of inebriated honey-bees and sweet sound of birds. The lake was also filled with water birds like Hamsa, Karandakas, Chakravakas and Sarasas, while the crooning of Jalakukkutas, Koyashtis and Datyoohas could be heard everywhere.

मत्स्यकचछपसंचारचलत्पद्मरज:पय:। कदम्ब वेतसनलनीपवण्जुलकैरवृतम्।

Shaken by the movements of fish, turtle, and other acquatic creatures, the blooming lotus flowers shed their pollen into the water of the lake, giving it an agreeable fragrance. Its banks were lined with trees like Kadamba, Vetasa, Nala, Nipa and Vanjulaka.

कुन्दै: कुरबकाशोकै: शिरीषै: कुटजेंगुदै: कुब्जकै: स्वर्णयूथीभिर्नागपुन्नागजातिभि:।।
मल्लिकाशतपत्रैश्च माधवीजालकादिभि:। शोभितं तीरजैश्वान्यैर्नित्यर्तुभिरलं द्रुमै:।।

Its banks were thick with trees and creepers that bore flowers and fruits during all seasons – trees and creepers like Kunda, Kurabaka, Asoka, Sireesha, Kutaja, Inguda, Kubjaka, Svarna-Yuthi, Naaga, Punnaaga, Jaati, Mallika, Shatapatra and Madhavi.

तत्रैकदा तद्गिरिकाननाश्रय: करेणुभिर्वारणयूथपश्चरन्। सकण्टकान् कीचकवेणुवेत्रवद्विशालगुल्मं प्ररूजन् वनस्पतीन्।।

Once a Lordly Elephant, the leader of his herd, arrived on the banks of this lake with his cows, ranging through the forest and in the course of it breaking into bits the branches of thorny trees and bushes of bamboos as also groves of creepers clustering over canes and other kinds of reeds.

यद्गन्धमात्राद्धरयो गजेन्द्रा व्याघ्रादयो व्यालमृगा: सखंगा:। महोरगाश्चापि भयाद् द्रवन्ति सगौरकृष्णा: शरभाश्चमर्य:। वृका वराहा महिषर्क्षशल्या गोपुच्छशालावृकमर्कटाश्च। अन्यत्र क्षुद्रा हरिणा: शशादयश्चरन्त्यभीता यदनुग्रहेण।।

The very smell of him was enough to frighten and put to flight all kinds of wild beasts – lions, tuskers, Tigers, rhinoceros, serpents, white-faced and black-faced monkeys, Chaamari deer and others. While other animals like wolves, wild boars, bisons, bears and porcupines ran away in fear of him, there were smaller and less conspicuous creatures fearlessly moving about as he took no notice of them.

स घर्मतप्त: करिभि: करेणुभिर्वृतो मदच्यत्कलभैरनुद्रुत:। गिरिं गरिम्णा परित: प्रकम्पयन् निषेव्यमाणो अलिकुलैर्मदाशनै:।। सरोऽनिलं पंकजरेणुरूषितं जिघ्रन् विदूरान्मदविह्वलेक्षण:। वृत: स्वयूथेन तृषार्दितेन तत्सरोवराभ्याशमथागमद् द्रुतम्।।

Scorched by the heat of the sun, the lordly elephant, surrounded by other bulls and cows and followed by calves, moved forward shaking the earth by his weight. He was pursued by swarms of black beas inebriated by feeding on the ichor flowing from him and he was himself in a mood of inebriation that was reflected in his rolling eyes. Drawn by the fragrance of the lotus pollen spreading throughout the air, the thirsty elephants with their leader approached the lake quickly.

विग्राह्य तस्मिन्नमृताम्बु निर्मलं हेमरविन्दोत्पलरेणुवासितम्। पपौ निकामं निजपुष्करोद्धृतमात्मानमद्भि: स्नपयन् गतक्लम:।।

The lordly elephant submerged himself in water to get relief from the heat. Then with his trunk, he drank to his fill the clear water of the lake which was rendered fragrant with the pollen of the golden lotuses and lilies in it.

स्वपुष्करेणोद्धृतशीकराम्बुभिर्निपाययन् संस्नपयन् यथा गृही। धृणी करेणू: कलभांश्च दुर्मदो नाचष्ट कृच्छ्रं कृपणोऽजमायया।। तं तत्र कश्चिन्नृप दैवचोदितो ग्राहो बलीयांश्चरणे रुषाग्रहीत्। यदृच्छयैवं व्यसनं गतो गजो यथाबलं सोऽतिबलो विचक्रमे।।

Deluded by the Lord’s Maya, he was unaware, like a pitiable and a foolish family man, of the imminent danger lurking, as he bathed and fed the cows and the calves with water he drew in his trunk. As providence would have it, he found all of a sudden that his foot was in the grip of an infuriated crocodile stronger than himself. The powerful elephant tried as best as he could to release himself from its hold.

तथाऽऽतुरं यूथपतिं करेणवो विकृष्यमाणं तरसा बलीयसा। विचुक्रुशुर्दीनधियोऽपरे गजा: पाष्णिर्ग्रहास्तारयितुं न चाशकन्।। नियुध्यतोरेवमिभेन्द्रनक्रयोर्विकर्षतोरन्तरतो बहिर्मिथ:। समा: सहस्रं व्यगमन् महीपते सप्राणयोश्चित्रममंसतामरा:।।

As the exhausted elephant king was thus being pulled away by that strong crocodile, the cow elephants stood around crying loudly in distress while the males of the herd tried their best from behind to save him but with no success. In that tug of war from within and without the water, the elephant and the crocodile spent a thousand years with unimpeded strength to the astonishment of onlooking celestials.

ततो गजेन्द्रस्य मनोबलौजसां कालेन दीर्घेण महामभूद् व्यय:। विकृष्यमाणस्य जलेऽवसीदतो विपर्ययोऽभूत् सकलं जलौकस:।। इत्थं गजेन्द्र: स यदाऽऽप संकटं प्राणस्य देही विवशो यदृच्छया। अपारयन्नात्मविमोक्षणे चिरं दध्याविमां बुद्धिमताभ्यपद्यत।।

Submerged in water and pulled by the leg for such a long and protracted period, the lordly elephant became exhausted in body and weak in his mental resolution while the contrary was the case with the crocodile who was operating from his own watery home. The lordly elephant who identified himself with his huge body now found himself weak and shut off from all chance of escape from that unforeseen danger. As he thought deeply in that state of utter distress, there arose in him an awakening which made him resolve thus:

न मामिमे ज्ञातय आतुरं गजा: कुत: करिण्य: प्रभवन्ति मोचितुम्। ग्राहेण पाशेन विधातुरावृतोऽप्यहं च तं यामि परं परायणम्।। य: कश्चनेशो बलिनोऽन्तकोरगात् प्रचण्डवेगादभिधावतो भृशम्। भतम् प्रपंनं परिपाति यद्भयान्मृत्यु: प्रधावत्यरणं तमीमहि।।

These sorrowing friends of my species are not able to release me. The cow elephants are still more helpless. Though I am in the grip of this crocodile, the stranglehold of destiny, I take shelter in Him, the Lord who is the refuge of even Brahma and others. He who gives shelter to all who seek refuge in Him from the fear of the powerful serpent of death that is irresistibly encircling them; He for fear of whom even Death operates on all – in Him I seek refuge

श्रीशुक उवाच
एवं व्यवसितो बुद्धय्या समाधाय मनो हृदि। जजाप परमं जाप्यं प्राग्जन्मन्यनुशिक्षितम्।।

Sri Shuka said – Resolving in this way and concentrating the mind, the lordly elephant began to utter the great Mantra he had practiced in his previous births.

गजेन्द्र उवाच
ॐ नमो भगवते तस्मै यत एतच्चिदात्मकम्। परुषायादिबीजाय परेशायाभिधीमहि।। यस्मिन्निदं यतश्चेदं येनेदं य इदं स्वयं। योऽस्मात् परस्माच्च परस्तं प्रपद्ये स्वयंभुवम्।।

ॐ My salutation to that worshipful One, who bestows consciousness to inert nature; who is both प्रकृति & पुरुष as also their controller, who is pervading everything; and who is the source of all. I seek shelter in that eternally existent One from whom this universe has come, in whom it subsists, who is its instrumental cause, of whom it is a manifestation and who at the same time transcends that world manifestation both in the causal and effect conditions.

य: स्वात्मनीदं निजमाययार्पितं कुचिद् विभातं कु च तत् तिरोहितम्। अविद्धदृक् साक्ष्युभयं तदीक्षते स आत्ममूलोऽवतु मां परत्पर:।। कालेन पंचत्वमितेषु कृत्स्नशो लोकेषु पालेषु च सर्वहेतुषु। तमस्तदाऽऽसीद् गहनं गभीरं यस्तस्य पारेऽभिविराजते विभु:।।

He is the unimpeded awareness and the Witness of all, who by his own Maya has established in Himself this universe, which is seen in its manifested condition and unseen in its causal state of affairs but is witnessed by Himself in both these conditions. He is the basic self-conscious awareness from whom all other centers of self-conscious awareness arise. I seek refuge in that Being transcending all the highest human conceptions of Him. When all the worlds and their protectors and all the causal agencies had been dissolved in their primeval condition by the inexorable power of Time, and only the darkness of dissolution, abysmal in depth and endless in extent remained, He is the Supreme Light of Consciousness that shines undimmed over that darkness. The ordinary people in an audience do not understand the identity of an actor from his make-up and movements on the stage. In the same way,

न यस्य देवा ऋषय: पदं विदुर्जन्तु: पुनः कोऽर्हति गन्तुमीरितुम्। यथा नाटस्याकृतिभिर्विचेष्टतो दुरत्ययानुक्रमण: स मावतु।।

neither the Rishis or the Devas are able to grasp His Being in the disguise provided by His own Yogamaya. How then can an ordinary man understand or describe anything about His inscrutable ways? May that Lord whom none knows in truth and in reality protect me.

दिदृक्षवो यस्य पदं सुमंगलं विमुक्तसंगा मुनय: सुसाधव:। चरन्त्यलोकव्रतमवणं वने भूतात्मभूता: सुहृद: स मे गति:।। न विद्यते यस्य च जन्म कर्म वा न नामरूपे गुणदोष एव वा। तथापिलोकाप्ययसम्भवाय य: स्वमायया तान्यनुकालमृच्छति।।

He is the most Auspicious Being, to have the intuitive knowledge of whom sages, free of attachments, practice the sense of oneness and friendship with all beings, observe the vow of unbroken ब्रह्मचर्य and live in the solitude of forests – may He, the Lord of all beings, be my refuge. He who has neither birth nor activity, who has neither name, form, nor is subject to the गुण of प्रकृति, yet assumes all these through His inherent power of Maya from time to time for the creation, preservation and dissolution of the universe – to that Supreme Being, my salutations.

तस्मै नम: परेशाय ब्रह्मणेऽनंन्तशक्तये। अरूपायरोरुरूपाय नम आश्चर्यकर्मणे। नम आत्मप्रदीपाय साक्षिणे परमात्मने। नमो गिरां विदूराय मनसश्चेतसामपि।।

He the ब्रह्म, the formless, who yet assumes infinite forms and performs astounding deeds – to Him the Lord of all, my salutations. He who is self-luminous consciousness, the witness of all, the Supreme Self, the one beyond the grasp of minds, words and every kind of mental mode, to Him the Lord of all, my salutations.

सत्त्वेन प्रतिलभ्याय नैष्कर्म्येण विपश्चिता। नम: कैवल्यनाथाय निर्वाणसुखसंविदे।। नम: शांताय घोराय मूढाय गुणधर्मिणे। निर्विशेषाय साम्याय नमो ज्ञानघनाय च।।

He who is none the less attained as the indwelling Self by those purified by absolute renunciation, who is the dispenser of absolute consciousness and is of the nature of absolute bliss, to Him the Lord of all, my salutations. Salutations to Him who through the assumption of the गुण of प्रकृति appears as the calm, the terrible and the inert – who is also the one without modifications, the same always and everywhere, and the condensation of pure consciousness.

क्षेत्रज्ञाय नमस्तुभ्यं सर्वाध्यक्षाय साक्षिणे। पुरुषायात्ममूलाय मूलप्रकृतये नम:।। सर्वेन्द्रियगुणद्रष्टे सर्वप्रत्ययहेतवे। असताच्छाययोक्ताय सदाभासाय ते नम:।।

To You the knower within the body, to You the Lord of all, to You the witness of all, to You the original Being, the source of both Aatma and प्रकृति, my salutations. To You the seer of the functions of all the senses, to You who makes all concepts and precepts knowable, to You whose truth-nature is made known through its reflection in the shape of the impermanent I-sense, as an image does in regard to its object; to You who are the substance behind this shadowy world – my salutations.

नमो नमस्तेऽखिलकारणाय निष्कारणायाद्भुतकारणाय। सर्वागमाम्रायमहार्णवाय नमोऽपवर्गाय परायणाय।।

Salutations to You who are the cause of all causes and who therefore are without any cause; to You who are the unique first and absolute cause who in becoming the multiplicity of effects, are unaffected in the least unlike other relative causes; to You the limitless ocean into which all scriptures like the Vedas and Agamas flow and find fulfillment; to You who is the bliss of Moksha and the one resort for all Adhyatma aspirants.

गुणारणिच्छन्न्चिदूष्मपाय तत्क्षोभविस्फूर्जितमानसाय। नैष्कर्म्यभावेन विवर्जितागमस्वयंप्रकाशाय नमस्करोमि। मादृकप्रपन्नपशुपाशविमोक्षणाय मुक्ताय भुरिकरुणाय नमोऽलयाय। स्वांशेन सर्वतनुभृन्मनसि प्रतीतप्रत्यगदृशे भगवते बृहते नमस्ते।।

To You who are the Adhyatmic Fire hidden in the fire-sticks of the Gunas of प्रकृति, to You who wills to create when the Gunas of प्रकृति get agitated; to You who are self-manifested in those who are established in Aatma-consciousness behind the purview of the injunctions and prohibitions of the Vedas – to You my salutations. Salutations to You who blesses ignorant creatures like me by cutting off our binding cords of ignorance; who are ever free Yourself and ever-vigilant in exercising Your mercy to save your Bhaktas; and who by a particle of Yourself shines in all embodied Beings as individualized self-consciousness without any impairment to Yourself as the Absolute Being and the Absolute Will.

आत्मात्मजाप्तगृहवित्तजनेषु सक्तैर्दुष्प्रापणाय गुणसंगविव्रजिताय। मुक्तात्मभि: स्वहृदये परिभाविताय ज्ञानात्मने भगवते नम ईश्वराय।। यं धर्मकामार्थ विमुक्तिकामा भजन्त इष्टां गतिमाप्नुवन्ति। किं त्वाशिषो रात्यपि देहमव्ययं करोतु मेऽभ्रदयो विमोक्षणम्।।

Salutations to You, the embodiment of Pure Consciousness and the Lord of all who though the indweller within all, is difficult to approach by those who are attached to their own body and relations like wife, kids, kith and kin and to possessions like properties, wealth, etc; who are Yourself without any involvement with the Gunas of प्रकृति though functioning through them; and who is immediately intuited in their hearts by those who are free from ignorance.

May He adoring whom the seekers of धर्म, अर्थ, काम & मोक्ष attain their objects; who even rewards His votaries with something more than they pray for, as also with an imperishable Divine body – may He be gracious enough to release me.

एकान्तिनो यस्य न कण्चनार्थं वाण्छन्ति ये वै भगवत्प्रपन्ना। अत्यद्भुतम् तच्चरितं सुमंगलं गायन्त आनंदसमिद्रमग्ना।। तमक्षर ब्रह्म परं परेशमव्यक्तमाध्यात्मिकयोगगम्यम्। अतीन्द्रियं सूक्ष्ममिवातिदूरमनन्तमाद्यम् परिपूर्णमीडे।।

I sing the praise of Him, whose unique and glorious deeds His surrendered devotees hymn about in a mood of whole-hearted and blissful abandon to the exclusion of desire for every fulfillment including Moksha – of Him the imperishable, the ब्रह्म, the Lord of Lords, the unclear to the senses and to the mind, the one that can be gained by the inward communion of devotion, the subtle, the infinite One, the primeval and perfect Being, and the One who though the closest to all, is far off to those of unregenerate mind.

यस्य ब्रह्मादयो देवा वेदा लोकाश्चराचरा:। नामरूपविभेदेन फल्ग्व्या च कलया कृता:।।

He, from a very minor particle of whom all the Devas, the Vedas and the mighty universe of living and non-living beings were given shape with name and form.

यथार्चिषोऽग्ने: सवितुर्गभस्तयो निर्यान्ति संयान्त्यसकृत् स्वरोचिष:। तथा यतोऽयं गुणसंप्रवाहो बुद्धिर्मन: खानि शरीरसर्गा:।। स वै न देवासुरमर्त्यतिर्यं न स्त्री न षण्डो न पुंमान् न जन्तु:। नायं गुण: कर्म न सन्न चासन् निषेधशेषो जयतादशेष:।।

He out of whom, as sparks from fire or rays from the Sun, the evolutes from प्रकृति like the intellect, the mind, the senses and the body emerge and into whom they dissolve; He who is neither Deva or Asura, nor man nor brute, nor woman nor neuter; who is neither an attribute nor a product; neither being (Sat) nor non-being (Asat); who is the residue left after total negation but who is also the all-inclusive One – to Him I sing my Salutations.

जिजीविषे नाहमिहामुया किमन्तर्बहिश्चावृत्तयेभयोन्या। इच्छामि कालेन न यस्य विप्लवस्तस्यात्मलोकावरणस्य मोक्षम्।।

I have no desire to live on in this world. Of what use is life in this elephant body wherein veils of ignorance hide the spiritual vision both from within and without? It is not from the crocodile threatening my life that I pray for release, but from this obstructive screen of ignorance, hiding the awareness of my Adhyatmic self – an obstructive screen that Time cannot undo but only illumination can. For, Time will put an end to this physical body but not to ignorance, which persists until Your grace removes it.

सोऽहं विश्वसृजं विश्वमविश्वम् विश्ववेदसम्। विश्वात्मानमजं ब्रह्म प्रणतोऽस्मि परं पदम्।।

I prostrate myself before Him who is the creator of the worlds, who is of the form of the world; who is none the less not affected by the world; for whom the world is a toy, an object of sport; who is the Aatma of the universe; who is birth less, all pervading and the Supreme Status.

योगरन्धितकर्माणो हृदि योगविभाविते। योगिनो यं प्रपश्यन्ति योगेशं तं नतोऽस्म्यम्।।
नमो नमस्तुभ्यमसह्यवेगशक्तित्रयायाखिलधीगुणाय। प्रपन्नपालाय दुरन्तशक्तये कदिन्द्रियाणामनवाप्यवर्त्मने।।

I salute Him who is the master and the reward of all Yogic disciplines, and who is perceived by the Yogis who have been freed from the effects of their past Karma by the observance of Bhagavata Dharma and whose hearts are purified by constant meditation of Him. I do homage again and again to You who are endowed with the Threefold SHAKTI of irresistible might, who is infinite in power, who makes Yourself visible through all objects of the senses and understanding, who is every ready to protect the devotees who take shelter in You, but who is not accessible to those who do not care to control their senses.

नायं वेद स्वमात्मानं यच्छक्त्याहंधिया हतम्। तं दुरत्ययमहात्म्यं भगवन्तमितोऽस्म्यहम्।।

I seek refuge in that worshipful Lord by whose Yogamaya is generated the “I-sense” which hides the real sense from all in this world, and whose glory and power are endless.

श्रीशुक उवाच
एवं गजेन्द्रमुपवर्णितनिर्विशेषं ब्रह्मादयो विविधलिंगभिदाभिमाना:। नैते यदोपससृपुर्निखिलात्मकत्वात् तत्राखिलामरमयो हरिराविरासीत्।।

Shri Shuka said – When the lordly elephant thus invoked the Divine without any particularizing attributes, none of the deities like Brahma, who are characterized by such attributes appeared. It was Hari, who is the Aatma of all, and who therefore includes in Himself all the Deities, that came to the scene.

तंतद्वदार्तमुपलभ्य जगन्निवास: स्तोत्रं निशम्य दिविजै: सह संस्तुवद्भि:। छन्दोमयेन गरूडेन समुह्यमानश्चक्रायुधोऽभ्यगमदाशु यतो गजेन्द्र:।। सोऽन्त: सरस्युरुबलेन गृहीत आर्तो दृष्ट्वा गरुत्मति हरिं ख उपात्तचक्रम्। उत्क्षित्य साम्बुजकरं गिरमाह कृच्छ्रान्नारायणाखिलगुरो भगवान् नमस्ते।।

Quickly did the discuss armed Lord Hari, the indweller in all beings, arrive by the side of the distressed elephant, seated on his Veda-formed eagle vehicle and accompanied by a large army of Devas who were singing the praise of the Lord.

Caught in the powerful jaws of the crocodile and suffering to the extreme limit, that lordly elephant, on seeing Sri Hari arrive on the Garuda with the Sudarshana discuss upraised, lifted his trunk with a lotus in it by way of worship and said with great difficulty : O Narayana! O Teacher of All! O Bhagavan! You are endowed with all powers and excellences! Salutations!

तं वीक्ष्य पीडितमज: सहसावतीर्य सग्राहमाशु सरस: कृपयोज्जहार। ग्राहाद् विपाटितमुखादरिणा गजेन्द्रं सम्पश्यतां हरिरमूमुचदुस्त्रियाणाम्।।

इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायामष्टमस्कन्धे गजेन्द्रमोक्षणे तृतियोध्याय:।।

Seeing him in an agonizing situation, Sri Hari got down from Garuda in haste, and out of his mercy, pulled out the elephant along with the crocodile out of the water; cutting open the mouth of the crocodile with his discuss, He released the Lordly Elephant in the presence of all Devas.

श्रीशुक उवाच
तदा देवर्षिगन्धर्वा ब्रह्मेशानपुरोगमा:। मुमुचु: कुसुमासारं शंसन्त: कर्म तद्धरे:।। नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो दिव्या गन्धर्वा ननृतुर्जगु:। ऋषयश्चारणा: सिद्धास्तुष्टुवु: परुषोत्तमम्।। योऽसौ ग्राह: स वै सद्य: परमाश्चर्यरूपधृक्। मुक्तो देवलशापेन हूहूगन्धर्वसत्तम:।।

Shri Suka said – In acclamation of the Lord’s deed revealing his redeeming love for devotees, Brahma, Parameshwara, the Devas, Rishis and Gandharvas rained a shower of flowers. Kettle-drums sounded. The Gandharvas sang and danced. The Rishis, Charanas and Siddhas sang in praise of the Supreme Person. The crocodile who was none but a leading Gandharva by name Huhu turned into that form by a curse of Rishi Devala, now attained freedom from the curse all of a sudden by the Lord’s touch and assumed a uniquely wonderful form.

प्रणस्य शिरसाधीशमुत्तमश्लोकमव्ययम्। अगायत यशोधाम कीर्तन्यगुणसत्कथम्। सोऽनुकम्पित ईशेन परिक्रम्य प्रणम्य तम्। लोकस्य पश्यतो लोकं स्वमगान्मुक्तकिल्बिष:।।

Prostrating, he sang hymns in praise of the Lord, the imperishable, the most famous, renowned as Supreme, and noted for qualities and deeds for which no extolling is too much. Blessed by the Lord, he circumambulated Him and prostrated at His feet. He was freed from all his sins and as others looked on, he departed to his abode in the sphere of Gandharvas.

गजेन्द्रो भगवत्स्पर्शाद् विमुक्तोऽज्ञानबन्धनात्। प्राप्तो भगवतो रूपं पीतवासाश्चतुर्भुज:।। स वै पूर्वमभूद् राजा पाण्डयो द्रविडसत्त्म:। इन्द्रद्युम्न इति ख्यातो विष्णुव्रतपरायण:।।

And as for the lordly elephant, he was freed from the bondage of ignorance by the touch of the Lord, as he got a form resembling that of the Lord Himself, having four arms and yellow wearing cloth. He was in his previous birth इन्द्रद्युम्न, the well known king of the Pandyas in the Dravida country. He was devoted to all observances connected with the worship of Mahavishnu.

स एकदाऽऽराधनकाल आत्मवान् गृहीतमौनव्रत ईश्वरं हरिम्। जटाधरस्तापस आप्लुतोऽच्यतं समर्चयामास कुलाचलाश्रम:।। यदृच्छया तत्र महायशा मुनि: समागमच्छिष्यगणै: परिश्रित:। तं वीक्ष्य तूष्णीमकृतार्हणादिकं रहस्युपासीनमृषिश्चुकोप ह।।

While staying at an Ashrama on the Kulaachala as an ascetic wearing matted hair, observing silence and control of mind, he was, after his bath, engaged in devout worship of Sri Hari, the undecaying Being. Just at the time, the great sage अगस्त्य surrounded by numerous disciples happened to visit his आश्रम. The King who was sitting silently in solitude for his worship, did not do any obeisance or give any reception to the sage, whose anger was provoked by the conduct of his.

तस्मा इमं शापमदादसाधुरयं दुरात्माकृतबुद्धिरद्य। विप्रावमन्ता विशतां तमोऽन्धं यथा गज: स्तब्धमति स एव।।

He thereupon cursed the king thus – May this evil-minded fellow of undisciplined intellect who has insulted holy personages in this way; sink into the blinding darkness of ignorance. He has shown himself to be stupid like an elephant. I curse him to become in truth like that – an elephant immersed in the dullness of ignorance.

एवं शप्त्वा गतोऽगस्त्यो भगवान् नृप सानुग:। इन्द्रद्युम्नोऽपि राजर्षिर्दिष्टं तदुपधारयन्। आपन्न कौंजरीं योनिमात्मस्मृतिविनाशिनीम्। हर्यर्चनानुभावेन यद्गजत्वेऽप्यनुस्मृति:।।

Having cursed him this way, ऋषि अगस्त्य went away with his followers. And the राजर्षि इन्द्रद्युम्न consoled himself with the thought that this was the dictate of destiny. इन्द्रद्युम्न was soon born as an elephant, a birth in which there was complete forgetfulness of his spiritual nature. But as a result of worship of Sri Hari, he had his memory of the Lord restored at the last moment inspire of his elephant consciousness.

एवं विमोक्ष्य गजयूथपमब्जनाभस्तेनापि पार्षदगतिं गमितेन युक्त:। गन्धर्वसिद्धविबुधैरूपगीयमानकर्माद्भुतं स्वभवनं गरुडासनोऽगात्।। एतन्महाराज तवेरितो मया कृष्णानुभावो गजराजमोक्षणम्। स्वर्ग्यं यशस्यं कलिकल्मषापहं दु:खस्वप्ननाशं कुरुवर्य श्रृण्वताम्।।

Thus was the गज released and given a place along the Lord’s attendants. Then accompanied by him and extolled by the देव & गंधर्व, Sri Hari went on गरुड़ आसन to His unique abode. I have with this finished narrating to you, the glory of the Lord revealed through the story of release of the lordly गज. Those who hear it will be spiritually elevated; the adverse influence of Kali will have no hold on them; and they will be freed from the suffering-filled dream of world existence.

यथानुकीर्तयन्त्येतच्छ्रेयस्कामा द्विजातय:। शुचय: प्रातरुत्थाय दु:खस्वप्नाद्युतशान्तये।। इदमाह हरि: प्रीतो गजेन्द्रं कुरुसत्तम। श्रृण्वताम् सर्वभूतानाम् सर्वभूतमयो विभु:।।

The द्विज who care for their Adhyatmic good and want elimination of bad dreams; recite this account early in the morning after purifying themselves. Highly pleased, Sri Hari, the all comprehensive and all pervading Being, declared as follows in the hearing of all

श्रीभगवानुवाच
ये मां त्वां च सरश्चेदं गिरिकन्दरकाननम्। वेत्रकीचकवेणूनां गुल्मानि सुरपादपान्।। श्रृंगाणीमानि धिष्ण्यानि ब्रह्मणो मे शिवस्य च। क्षीरोदं मे प्रियं धाम श्वेतद्वीपं च भास्वरम्।।

The भगवान said – Those who in their morning prayers remind themselves of Me, of you, this lake and this forest with its caves, trees and thicket of bamboo and cane – will be freed from all sins. One should remember these mountains. Also worthy of remembrance for the purification of one’s mind are the following – these mountain peaks constituting the stations of ब्रह्म, शिव & Myself; the milk ocean where I have My abode, the luminous continent of श्वेतद्वीप so dear to Me

श्रीवत्सं कौस्तुभं मालां गदां कौमोदकीं मम। सुदर्शनं पाण्चजन्यं सुपर्णं पतगेश्वरम्।। शेषं च मत्कलां सूक्ष्मां श्रियं देवीं मदाश्रयाम्। ब्रह्माणं नारदमृषिं भवं प्रह्लादमेव च।।

श्रीवत्स, the mark on My chest, कौस्तुभ, My neck-jewel, वनमाला My floral wreath; कौमोदकी My mace, सुदर्शन My Discus; पाण्चजन्य My conch, सुपर्ण My वाहन; शेषं My subtle part & श्रीदेवी My Power inseparable from Me. My son ब्रह्म, my devotee नारद, My part Bhava and the greatest of the Bhagavatas Prahlada.

मत्स्य कूर्म वराहाद्यैरवतारै: कृतानि मे। कर्माण्यनन्त पुण्यानि सूर्यं सोमं हुताशनम्।। प्रणवं सत्यम् अव्यक्तम् गोविप्रान् धर्मं अव्ययम्। दाक्षायणी धर्मपत्नी: सोमकश्यपयोरपि।।

My Avataras like मत्स्य, कूर्म, वराहा & others and countless acts of spiritual glory performed by these Avataras; and My manifestations consisting of the Sun, moon and fire; the Mantra OM, truth, the अव्यक्तम् (meant here as प्रधान or root-matter), cows, holy men and the eternal Dharma; the daughters of Daksha who married the ऋषि धर्म, चंद्र & ऋषि कश्यप,

गंगां सरस्वतीं नन्दां कालिन्दीं सितवारणम्। ध्रुवं ब्रह्मऋषीन् सप्त पुण्यश्लोकांश्च मानवान्।। उत्थायापररात्रान्ते प्रयता: सुसमाहिता:। स्मरन्ति मम रूपाणि मुच्यन्ते ह्येनसोऽखिलात्।।

The rivers Ganga, Saraswati, Nanda and Kalindi and the white गज ऐरावत; ध्रुव, सप्तऋषि, ब्रह्मऋषी and other holy men – if all the above mentioned places, objects and personages are remembered in the mornings with the firm conviction that they are My parts, those who do so will be freed from their sins.

ये मां स्तुवन्त्यनेनांग प्रतिबुध्य निशात्यये। तेषां प्राणात्यये चाहं ददामि विमलां मतिम्।।

To those who extol me at the close of night with this hymn, I grant a pure understanding before the end of their lives.

श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्यादिश्य ह्रषीकेश: प्रध्माय जलजोत्तमम्। हर्षयन् विबुधानिकमारुरोह खगाधिपम्।।
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायामष्टमस्कन्धे गजेन्द्र मोक्षणम् नाम चतुर्थोऽध्याय:।।

Sri Shuka said – With these words, Mahavishnu, the Prime Mover of all senses, sounded his divine conch to the great delight of the Devas and then ascended His गरूड़ वाहन to depart.

SWASTI