Gajendra's Past Life

Chapter 4

Sukadeva Goswami described the joyous scene after Gajendra was saved, and then detailed the previous lives of the two personalities.

Once, King Indradyumna, while in spiritual trance, failed to appropriately welcome Agastya Rishi and his disciples. Seeing his lack of sensitivity, the sage cursed him to become a dull elephant in his next life. The King accepted the curse with dignity, thus, when he did become Gajendra, he still remembered the prayers from his previous life.

Previously, when the Gandharva, King Huhu, was sporting with women in the water, he pulled the leg of Devala Rishi, who was also bathing in the water. Due to this offence, Devala Rishi cursed him to become a crocodile. When Huhu profusely begged forgiveness, the sage blessed him to receive the Lord’s favour along with Gajendra.