Upendrāya namah
“Gajendra and the crocodile were now engaged in a one-on-one struggle. The crocodile tried, with all its might, to drag the elephant into the waters, while the elephant forcefully tried to pull itself free. This battle between the elephant and the crocodile went on for a thousand years causing astonishment to all the Devatas. The waters of the lake became turbulent owing to their fight.
As time went by, bodily strength, sensory strength, mental confidence began to deplete in the elephant which was being dragged into the waters, while the bodily strength, mental confidence and sensory strength continued to surge in the crocodile.
In this way, the elephant king Gajendra, who was extremely self-respecting, fought the crocodile for a long period but gradually began to lose the battle. He began to lose consciousness. He lost the ability to roar. He was thirsty and was unable to speak. The realization that it was impossible to escape from the clutches of the crocodile dawned in him. He, who was on the verge of death, introspected carefully for some time and then came to the following conclusion.
‘Despite their power and might, the other male elephants from my herd with their collective strength, failed to save me from the crocodile. Then is it right to expect female elephants to rescue me? The noose of Lord Brahma has attacked me in the form of this crocodile.
ahaṁ ca taṁ yāmi paraṁ parāyaṇam- Even though I am an animal I will now seek refuge under the Supreme Lord. He is my sole supreme shelter.
The serpent called death, which is exceedingly powerful, is chasing everyone at frightening speeds. Fearing its might I surrender and seek shelter under the Supreme Lord.”
With this the second chapter of the eighth canto comes to an end.
Eighth Canto Chapter three
In this chapter, the hymn sung by Gajendra and his liberation are explained.
Maharishi Śuka said to Emperor Parikshit, “Gajendra who had resolved to surrender completely to the Lord, now using his intellect fixed his mind in the heart. With absolute concentration, he chanted a hymn which he had learnt in his previous birth.
‘Oṁ namo bhagavate tasmai yata etac cid-ātmakam Puruṣāyādi-bījāya pareśāyābhidhīmahi
I offer obeisance to the Supreme Lord who is complete in all aspects, who is the cause for this entire creation, and who is the Lord of all living beings. I meditate upon Him from whom this world filled with His consciousness has emerged.
This world has emerged from the Supreme Lord. It exists within Him and ultimately merges into Him. The Supreme Lord himself manifests as this universe. Nevertheless, the Supreme Lord remains untouched by the illusory energy, which is the root cause of this creation. I surrender to such Supreme Lord who is self-sufficient.
His illusionary energy causes this world to manifest within Him at times! At other times, it causes the world to merge into Him and exists purely as illusionary energy. The Lord who is Pure Consciousness remains witness to both the cause and the effect. May that Supreme Lord who is self-sufficient and is untouched by His illusory power, protect me!
The ever-competent Supreme Lord, who exists beyond illusory energy, shines resplendently in His original form. Even Devatas or eminent Maharishis are unable to understand His original form. How then can I, an ordinary ignorant living being, ever comprehend the form of the Lord or glorify Him?”
Who can understand Your form, O Lord? Who can describe Your glories effectively? Who can understand Your essence? When great saints and Devatas fail, how can I succeed? “Just as it is impossible to understand the true character of the actor who dons different disguises to enact different roles, it is impossible to understand the complete true essence of the Supreme Lord. May such Supreme Lord protect me!
Maharishis, who are desirous of seeing the ever-auspicious, transcendental form of the Supreme Lord, give up all desires towards this material world in totality. Strictly adhering to celibacy and other disciplines they reside within deep forests. They perceive all living beings to be their own Self. They are overflowing with compassion. Such Supreme Lord, who is an embodiment of all auspiciousness, is my sole refuge”.
Achyutaya namah