Gajendra's Prayers

Chapter 3

Gajendra, who was formerly King Indradyumna, had offered beautiful prayers to the Supreme Lord in that previous birth. Faced with a crisis, the elephant remembered those exquisite verses and instinctively recited them to attract the Lord’s attention. Gajendra glorified the personality of the Supreme Lord, recognising that pure devotees only seek service and never request any superficial benedictions. Nevertheless, because he was in acute danger, he prayed for the Lord’s assistance.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, miraculously appeared there, seated upon Garuda. Gajendra immediately offered a flower to the Lord, who compassionately rescued the King of elephants from the water. The Lord then invoked His spinning disc weapon (cakra) and severed the crocodile’s mouth from his body.