Narayaneeyam Dasakam-26 Gajendra Moksha

Gajendra Moksha 

Gajendra Moksha, or Gajendramoksham, is an important incident found in the Bhagavad Purana and it shows the importance of Bhakti, prayer and true devotion.Indradyumna, Thy great devotee and the king of Paandya land was once engrossed in worshipping Thee on the Malaya mountain. He was so absorbed that he did not even notice sage Agastya who approached expecting his hospitality. Agastya who was overcome with anger cursed the king that as he was of such haughty nature he would be born as an elephant and departed. Indradyumna got the form of a lordly elephant with the good fortune of retaining a clear memory of Thee.

A  gandharva   his name was Huhu. He had been cursed by a sage that he would become a crocodile. And the sage had told him that he would be freed from the curse by Lord Vishnu. That had now happened.There was a beautiful mountain named Trikuta. The waves of the ocean lapped at the foot of Trikuta. There were thick forests on the mountain. And in the forests there lived a king of elephants named Gajendra. He ruled over all the other elephants in the herd.and he had thousands of queen elephants with whom he used to bathe and play in a huge lake. Gajendra was proud about his status and on a summer day he was arrogantly bathing in the lake with his friends.

One day Gajendra was playing with his family & friends, the other elephants in a lake in the forest.  Suddenly, a crocodile that lived in the pond caught Gajendra by his leg.  Gajendra, in spite of being an elephant could not break free.  He then, called out for help.  All his friends, the other elephants gathered around him and tried to help, but in vain. The crocodile was stronger than all the elephants put together.  They gave up. Gajendra tried for a long time to escape from the crocodile.  He trumpeted until he was hoarse.  The crocodile simply would not let go.

The elephant and the crocodile struggled for a thousand years. When a thousand years over, the elephant began to tire, although the crocodile’s strength was still undiminished. Gajendra lost a lot of blood and he became very weak. He finally realized that only God could help him and called out to Lord Narayana.

The elephant started to pray to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu heard Gajendra’s cries for help and appeared on his vehicle, Garuda.  He sent the Sudarshana Chakra whirling down.  The Chakra killed the crocodile and set Gajendra free.  Gajendra offered Lord Narayana a Lotus and thanked him for saving his life.

When we are caught in the jaws of death, there is no one who can save us. Friends flee, relatives disappear. Our own body fails us miserably. Like the elephant in the story, the only solution from suffering is to turn to the Lord. In the moment of that utter surrender, God rushes to our aid, destroys death, and releases our soul from the clutches of death – and that is liberation or Moksha that comes by the grace of the Supreme.

 

Dasakam: 26-- Shlokam: 01

इन्द्रद्युम्न: पाण्ड्यखण्डाधिराज-
स्त्वद्भक्तात्मा चन्दनाद्रौ कदाचित् ।
त्वत् सेवायां मग्नधीरालुलोके
नैवागस्त्यं प्राप्तमातिथ्यकामम् ॥१॥

indradyumnaH paaNDyakhaNDaadhiraajaH

tvadbhaktaatmaa chandanaadraukadaachit |

tvatsevaayaaM magnadhiiraalul

Oke naivaagastyaM praaptamaatithyakaamam || 1

Indradyumna, Thy great devotee and the king of Paandya land was once engrossed in worshipping Thee on the Malaya mountain. SageAgastya, came there, expecting to be welcomed as an honoured guest by the king; butthe king, his mind fully immersed in Thee, did not notice the sage at all.  

Dasakam: 26-- Shlokam: 02


कुम्भोद्भूति: संभृतक्रोधभार:
स्तब्धात्मा त्वं हस्तिभूयं भजेति ।
शप्त्वाऽथैनं प्रत्यगात् सोऽपि लेभे
हस्तीन्द्रत्वं त्वत्स्मृतिव्यक्तिधन्यम् ॥२॥

kumbhOdbhuutiH sambhR^itakrOdhabhaaraH

stabdhaatmaa tvaM hasti bhuuyaM bhajeti |

shaptvaa(a)thainaM pratyagaatsO(a)pi lebhe

hastiindratvaM tvatsmR^iti vyakti dhanyam || 2

Sage Agastya, overcome by rage, cursed him to become an elephant of inferior intellect, for his arrogance, and went away. The king became the lord of elephants, but was graced with Thy remembrance as he had been thinking of Thee, when he was cursed thus.

Dasakam: 26-- Shlokam: 03

दग्धाम्भोधेर्मध्यभाजि त्रिकूटे
क्रीडञ्छैले यूथपोऽयं वशाभि: ।
सर्वान् जन्तूनत्यवर्तिष्ट शक्त्या
त्वद्भक्तानां कुत्र नोत्कर्षलाभ: ॥३॥

dugdhaambhOdheH madhyabhaaji trikuuTe

kriiDan shaile yuuthapO(a)yaMvashaabhiH |

sarvaan jantuunatyavartiShTa shaktyaa

 tvadbhaktaanaaM kutranOtkarShalaabhaH || 3

 

This king of elephants was engaged in romantic sports with the female elephants in theTrikuta mountain, situated in the middle of the ocean of milk, and was superior instrength to all other animals. Oh Lord, Thy devotees attain glory, wherever they go.

 Dasakam: 26-- Shlokam: 04

स्वेन स्थेम्ना दिव्यदेशत्वशक्त्या
सोऽयं खेदानप्रजानन् कदाचित् ।
शैलप्रान्ते घर्मतान्त: सरस्यां
यूथैस्सार्धं त्वत्प्रणुन्नोऽभिरेमे ॥४॥

svena sthemnaa divyadeshatva shaktyaa sO(a)yaM

khedaanaprajaanan kadaachit |

shailapraante gharmataantaH sarasyaaM

 yuuthaissaardhaMtvatpraNunnO(a)bhireme || 4

Owing to his strength and by the power of the divine region, where he lived, the elephant king did not face any hardships of life. One day, roaming on the mountainious region, unable to bear the heat of the sun, he sought relief in a lake and sported therein with his herds, indeed prompted by Thee.

Dasakam: 26-- Shlokam: 05

हूहूस्तावद्देवलस्यापि शापात्
ग्राहीभूतस्तज्जले बर्तमान: ।
जग्राहैनं हस्तिनं पाददेशे
शान्त्यर्थं हि श्रान्तिदोऽसि स्वकानाम् ॥५॥

huuhuustaavaddevalasyaapi shaapaat

graahiibhuutastajjale vartamaanaH |

jagraahainaM hastinaM paadadeshe

shaantyarthaM hi shraantidO(a)sisvakaanaam

 

At that time, a gandharva, named Huhu, having become a crocodile, due to the curseof Sage Devala, was present there. This crocodile caught hold of the elephant's foot.Oh Lord, in order to give ultimate peace to Thy devotees, Thou tests them by puttingthem through trial and tribulation.

Dasakam: 26-- Shlokam: 06

 त्वत्सेवाया वैभवात् दुर्निरोधं
युध्यन्तं तं वत्सराणां सहस्रम् ।
प्राप्ते काले त्वत्पदैकाग्र्यसिध्यै
नक्राक्रान्तं हस्तिवर्यं व्यधास्त्वम् ॥६॥

tvatsevaayaa vaibhavaaddurnirOdhaM

yuddhyantaM taM vatsaraaNaaM sahasram |

praapte kaale tvatpadaikaagryasiddhyai

nakraakraantaM hasti varyaMvyadhaastvam || 6

Supported by the power derived from the glory of Thy worship, the elephant king was invincible and went on fighting for a thousand years. When the time for his redemption had come, and he was fit for one-pointed devotion to Thee, Thou subjected him to this situation.

Dasakam: 26-- Shlokam: 07


आर्तिव्यक्तप्राक्तनज्ञानभक्ति:
शुण्डोत्क्षिप्तै: पुण्डरीकै: समर्चन् ।
पूर्वाभ्यस्तं निर्विशेषात्मनिष्ठं
स्तोत्रं श्रेष्ठं सोऽन्वगादीत् परात्मन् ॥७॥

aartivyakta praaktana j~naanabhaktiH shuN

DOtkshiptaiHpuNDariikaissamarchan |

puurvaabhyastannirvisheShaatmaniShThaM

stOtra shreShThaMsO(a)nvagaadiitparaatman || 7

Under the stress of suffering, his inherent devotion and pure knowledge unfolded and he began to offer Thee worship with white lotus flowers plucked with his trunk. Relating to the attribute less Brahman, he sang continuously a great hymn which he had learnt in the past life.

  Dasakam: 26-- Shlokam: 08
श्रुत्वा स्तोत्रं निर्गुणस्थं समस्तं
ब्रह्मेशाद्यैर्नाहमित्यप्रयाते ।
सर्वात्मा त्वं भूरिकारुण्यवेगात्
तार्क्ष्यारूढ: प्रेक्षितोऽभू: पुरस्तात् ॥८॥

shrR^itvaa stOtraM nirguNasthaM samastaM

brahmeshaadyairnaahamityaprayaate |

sarvaatmaa tvaM bhuuri kaaruNya vegaat

taarkshyaaruuDhaH prekshitObhuuHpurastaat || 8

 

On hearing the entire hymn, Gods Brahma, Siva and others, knowing that it did not refer to them, did not comethere. But Thou, who art all knowing, manifested before him, seated on Garuda,impelled by Thy flow of mercy. 

Dasakam: 26-- Shlokam: 09
हस्तीन्द्रं तं हस्तपद्मेन धृत्वा
चक्रेण त्वं नक्रवर्यं व्यदारी: ।
गन्धर्वेऽस्मिन् मुक्तशापे स हस्ती
त्वत्सारूप्यं प्राप्य देदीप्यते स्म ॥९॥

hastiindraM taM hastapadmena dhR^itvaa

chakreNa tvaM nakravaryaMvyadaariiH |

gandharve(a)smin muktashaape sa hastii

tvatsaaruupyaM praapya dediipyatesma || 9

Thou with Thy lotus hands caught jolt of that elephant king and cut asunder the powerful crocodile with Thy discus. The crocodile was thus released from the curse of sage Devala and got back his Gandharva form. The elephant was, by Thee, then endowed with a brilliant form similar to Thy from.

Dasakam: 26-- Shlokam:10 एतद्वृत्तं त्वां च मां च प्रगे यो
गायेत्सोऽयं भूयसे श्रेयसे स्यात् ।
इत्युक्त्वैनं तेन सार्धं गतस्त्वं
धिष्ण्यं विष्णो पाहि वातालयेश ॥१०॥

etad vR^ittaM tvaaM cha maaM cha prageyO gaayets

O(a)yaM bhuuyase shreyasesyaat |

ityuktvainaM tena saardhaM gatastva

M dhiShNyaM viShNO paahivaataalayesha ||

Oh All pervading Lord, According to Thee, whoever sings this episode of GajendraMoksham, at dawn and chants the name of Gajendra and Thee, will attain all wealthand prosperity. Having said this, Thou departed for Vaikunta, along with him. OhGuruvayurappa ! May Thou protect me.

Narayaneeyam Daskam-25 The Narasimha Incarnation

Dasakam: 25-- Shlokam: 01

स्तंभे घट्टयतो हिरण्यकशिपो: कर्णौ समाचूर्णय-
न्नाघूर्णज्जगदण्डकुण्डकुहरो घोरस्तवाभूद्रव: ।
श्रुत्वा यं किल दैत्यराजहृदये पूर्वं कदाप्यश्रुतं
कम्प: कश्चन संपपात चलितोऽप्यम्भोजभूर्विष्टरात् ॥१॥

stambhe ghaTTayatO hiraNyakashipOH karNau samaachuurNayan
aaghuurNajjagadaNDakuNDa kuharO ghOrastavaabhuudravaH |
shrutvaa yaM kila daityaraaja hR^idaye puurvaM kadaa(a)pyashrutaM
kampaH kashchana sampapaata chalitO(a)pyambhOjabhuurviShTaraat || 1

As Hiranyakashipu struck at the pillar, he heard a terrific sound which split his ears.Thy roar was so fierce that it made everything inside the vessel of Brahmaanda tremble. Hearing this sound which was never heard before, the Asura king king's heart was shaken by an unknown feeling of dread. Even the lotus born Brahmaa was shaken from his throne.

Dasakam: 25-- Shlokam: 02

दैत्ये दिक्षु विसृष्टचक्षुषि महासंरम्भिणि स्तम्भत:
सम्भूतं न मृगात्मकं न मनुजाकारं वपुस्ते विभो ।
किं किं भीषणमेतदद्भुतमिति व्युद्भ्रान्तचित्तेऽसुरे
विस्फूर्ज्जद्धवलोग्ररोमविकसद्वर्ष्मा समाजृम्भथा: ॥२

daitye dikshu visR^iShTachakshuShi mahaasanrambhiNi stambhataH
sambhuutaM na mR^igaatmakaM na manujaakaaraM vapuste vibhO |
kiM kiM bhiiShaNametadadbhutamiti vyudbhraantachitte(a)sure
visphuurjaddhavalOgrarOmavikasadvarShmaa samaajR^imbhathaaH

As the Asura cast his eyes all around in great confused excitement, from the pillar emerged, O Lord! Thy  form which was neither of a beast nor of a human being. While the Asura in an agitated state of mind wondered as to what this terrific creature could be,  Thou expanded into a form with a shining body on which sharp hair was bristling.

Dasakam: 25-- Shlokam: 03

तप्तस्वर्णसवर्णघूर्णदतिरूक्षाक्षं सटाकेसर-
प्रोत्कम्पप्रनिकुम्बितांबरमहो जीयात्तवेदं वपु: ।
व्यात्तव्याप्तमहादरीसखमुखं खड्गोग्रवल्गन्महा-
जिह्वानिर्गमदृश्यमानसुमहादंष्ट्रायुगोड्डामरम् ॥३॥
taptasvarNa savarNa ghuurNadatiruukshaakshaM saTaakesara
prOtkampapranikumbitaambaramahO jiiyaattavedaM vapuH |
vyaatta vyaapta mahaadariisakhamukhaM khaDgOgravalganmahaajihvaanirgama
dR^ishyamaana sumahaadanShTraayugODDaamaram ||

May this divine form of Thine flourish and conquer. Thy eyes shining like molten gold,rolling fiercely; Thy copious, flying mane seeming to obscure the entire sky; Thy mouthwide open like a huge cave, with its long projecting tongue, flitting like a sword; the twoincisor teeth on either side of the tongue, looking fierce and terrible. Oh Lord ! Thisform of Thine is the wonder of wonders.

 Dasakam: 25-- Shlokam: 04

उत्सर्पद्वलिभङ्गभीषणहनु ह्रस्वस्थवीयस्तर-
ग्रीवं पीवरदोश्शतोद्गतनखक्रूरांशुदूरोल्बणम् ।
व्योमोल्लङ्घि घनाघनोपमघनप्रध्वाननिर्धावित-
स्पर्धालुप्रकरं नमामि भवतस्तन्नारसिंहं वपु: ॥४॥

utsarpadvalibhanga bhiiShaNahanuM hrasvasthaviiyastara
griivampiivaradOshshatOdgata nakhakruuraamshuduurOlbaNam |
vyOmOllanghi ghanaaghanOpamaghana pradhvaana nirdhaavitasparddhaaluprakaraM
namaami bhavatastaM naarasinhaM vapuH ||

Oh Lord !  I salute Thy Man-Lion form Narasimha form of Thine which is a fusion of man and lion; the fierce looking jaw, criss crossed by swollen nerve ends, seeming to tear thecheeks apart, the short, stout neck, the hundreds of strong hands with pointed claws,emitting fiery rays, the terrible roar like that of thunder clouds, driving away theenemies; I bow down to all these divine features of Thy Narasimha form.

Dasakam: 25-- Shlokam: 05

नूनं विष्णुरयं निहन्म्यमुमिति भ्राम्यद्गदाभीषणं
दैत्येन्द्रं समुपाद्रवन्तमधृथा दोर्भ्यां पृथुभ्याममुम् ।
वीरो निर्गलितोऽथ खड्गफलकौ गृह्णन्विचित्रश्रमान्
व्यावृण्वन् पुनरापपात भुवनग्रासोद्यतं त्वामहो ॥५॥

nuunaM viShNurayaM nihanmyamumiti bhraamyadgadaabhiiShaNaM
daityendraM samupaadravantamadhR^ithaa dOrbhyaaM pR^ithubhyaamamum |
viirO nirgalitO(a)tha khaDgaphalakegR^ihNan vichitra shramaan
vyaavR^iNvan punaraapapaata bhuvanagraasOdyataM tvaamahO ||

The Asura king rushed towards Thee, Realising without doubt that this must be Vishnu and that he would kill him. He was caught hold of by Thy powerful two arms. The mighty Asura slipped out from Thy clutches. Then grabbing a sword and shield, he displayed astonishing feats of swordsmanship and rushed towards Thee, who were in a mood to swallow all the worlds. O what a wonder!

Dasakam: 25-- Shlokam: 06

भ्राम्यन्तं दितिजाधमं पुनरपि प्रोद्गृह्य दोर्भ्यां जवात्
द्वारेऽथोरुयुगे निपात्य नखरान् व्युत्खाय वक्षोभुवि ।
निर्भिन्दन्नधिगर्भनिर्भरगलद्रक्ताम्बु बद्धोत्सवं
पायं पायमुदैरयो बहु जगत्संहारिसिंहारवान् ॥६॥

bhraamyantaM ditijaadhamaM punarapi prOdgR^ihya dOrbhyaaM javaat
dvaare(a)thOruyuge nipaatya nakharaan vyutkhaaya vakshObhuvi |
nirbhindannadhigarbha nirbharagaladraktaambu baddhOtsavaM
paayaM paayamudairayO bahujagatsanhaari sinhaaravaan ||

Catching hold of the wicked Asura quickly with two hands, who was circling around, Thou threw him flat on Thy lap in the doorway, deeply embedded Thy nails in his chest and tore it open. Thou then with great glee drank again and again the blood that gushed out of the Asura's  body, fiercely roaring with lion roars which were powerful enough to shatter the whole universe.

Dasakam: 25-- Shlokam: 07

त्यक्त्वा तं हतमाशु रक्तलहरीसिक्तोन्नमद्वर्ष्मणि
प्रत्युत्पत्य समस्तदैत्यपटलीं चाखाद्यमाने त्वयि ।
भ्राम्यद्भूमि विकम्पिताम्बुधिकुलं व्यालोलशैलोत्करं
प्रोत्सर्पत्खचरं चराचरमहो दु:स्थामवस्थां दधौ ॥७॥

tyaktvaa taM hatamaashu raktalahariisiktOnnamadvarShmaNi
pratyutpatya samasta daityapaTaliiM chaakhaadyamaane tvayi |
bhraamyadbhuumi vikampitaambudhikulaM vyaalOlashailOtkaraM
prOtsarpatkhacharaM charaacharamahO duHsthaamavasthaaM dadhau ||

Abondoning the dead Asura, Thou sprang up hastily with Thy gigantic body bathed in blood and started eating up the entire host of Asuras. O What a wonder! All the worlds whirled, the oceans got turbulent, the mountains trembled, the stars and celestial luminaries and all animate and inanimate things got scattered. Universe, affecting both movable and immovable objects .A state of total and unbearable chaos took over.

Dasakam: 25-- Shlokam: 08

तावन्मांसवपाकरालवपुषं घोरान्त्रमालाधरं
त्वां मध्येसभमिद्धकोपमुषितं दुर्वारगुर्वारवम् ।
अभ्येतुं न शशाक कोपि भुवने दूरे स्थिता भीरव:
सर्वे शर्वविरिञ्चवासवमुखा: प्रत्येकमस्तोषत ॥८॥

taavanmaamsa vapaakaraalavapuShaM ghOraantra maalaadharaM
tvaaM madhye sabhamiddhakOpamuShitaM durvaara gurvaaravam |
abhyetuM na shashaaka kO(a)pi bhuvane duure sthitaa bhiiravaH
sarve sharvaviri~ncha vaasava mukhaaH pratyekamastOShata ||

Thy body looking gruesome with its gory coating of flesh and fat, and wearing the bloodsoaked entrails of the demon, like a garland, Thou wert seated in the midst of the assembly hall, roaring loudly with uncontrollable rage. At that time, none had the courage to come near Thee, in the entire world. All gods, including Siva, Brahma and Indra, stood afar, out of fear, praising Thee, individually. 

Dasakam: 25-- Shlokam: 09

भूयोऽप्यक्षतरोषधाम्नि भवति ब्रह्माज्ञया बालके
प्रह्लादे पदयोर्नमत्यपभये कारुण्यभाराकुल: ।
शान्तस्त्वं करमस्य मूर्ध्नि समधा: स्तोत्रैरथोद्गायत-
स्तस्याकामधियोऽपि तेनिथ वरं लोकाय चानुग्रहम् ॥९॥

bhuuyO(a)pyakshata rOShadhaamni bhavati brahmaaj~nayaa baalake

prahlaade padayOrnamatyapabhaye kaaruNya bhaaraakulaH |
shaantastvaM karamasya muurdhni samadhaaH stOtrairathOdgaayataH
tasyaakaamadhiyO(a)pi tenitha varaM lOkaaya chaanugraham ||

Even then, when Thou were still in a state of unabated rage, by Brahmaa's instruction the boy Prahlaad free of fear prostrated at Thy feet. Thou calmed down being overcome by love and compassion and placed Thy hand on Prahlaad's head. He burst into a hymn in praise of Thee and unasked for received a boon from Thee which was for the benefit of the whole world.

Dasakam: 25-- Shlokam:10

 एवं नाटितरौद्रचेष्टित विभो श्रीतापनीयाभिध-
श्रुत्यन्तस्फ़ुटगीतसर्वमहिमन्नत्यन्तशुद्धाकृते ।
तत्तादृङ्निखिलोत्तरं पुनरहो कस्त्वां परो लङ्घयेत्
प्रह्लादप्रिय हे मरुत्पुरपते सर्वामयात्पाहि माम् ॥१०॥
evaM naaTita raudracheShTita vibhO shriitaapaniiyaabhidha
shrutyantasphuTagiita sarvamahimannatyanta shuddhaakR^ite |
tattaadR^iN nikhilOttaraM punarahO kastvaaM parOlanghayet
prahlaada priya he marutpurapate sarvaamayaatpaahi maam ||

In this way Thou enacted a drama of ferocity. O All Pervading Lord! As described in the Shruti named Taapaneeya, as per the hymns of Thy excellences sung there in, Thou are absolutely pure and free from anger. Thou who are thus, superceding everything else, O Lord! who can overcome Thee? O Thou who are fond of Prahlaad! O Lord of Guruvaayur! be pleased to cure me of all my ailments and protect me from all maladies.