Surrender unto His Lotus Feet - Part 23

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering, "Surrender unto His Lotus Feet" wherein we were meditating on Srimad Bhagavatam verse 2.6.7 and about elephant king Gajendra surrendering to Lord's lotus feet when being attacked by crocodile in the lake. In the last offering we saw the verse 8.3.16 wherein Gajendra glorifies the Lord Who give spiritual enlightenment to those who are surrendered unto Him.

In verse 8.3.17

mādṛk prapanna-paśu-pāśa-vimokṣaṇāya
muktāya bhūri-karuṇāya namo ’layāya
svāṁśena sarva-tanu-bhṛn-manasi pratīta-
pratyag-dṛśe bhagavate bṛhate namas te

Since an animal such as me has surrendered unto You, who are supremely liberated, certainly You will release me from this dangerous position. Indeed, being extremely merciful, You incessantly try to deliver me. By your partial feature as Paramātmā, You are situated in the hearts of all embodied beings. You are celebrated as direct transcendental knowledge, and You are unlimited. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

This is a very beautiful verse revealing the nice devotional mood of Sri Gajendra. It shows the full faith which Gajendra has on Lord. Krishna assures in Bhagavad Gita verse 9.31 - kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati -  O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.

1. vimokṣaṇāya — unto Him Who releases;

2. muktāya — unto the Supreme, Who is untouched by the contamination of material nature;

4. bhūri-karuṇāya — Who are unlimitedly merciful; 

5. alayāya — Who are never inattentive or idle (for the purpose of my (Gajendra's) deliverance);

6. svāṁśena sarva-tanu-bhṛn- by Your partial feature as Paramātmā You are in the living entities embodied in material nature.

7. pratyak-dṛśe — as the direct observer (of all activities);

8. bhagavate — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

9. bṛhate — Who are unlimited; 

Gajendra knew Krishna alone is the Supreme Lord who could release him from the clutches of crocodile as well as the material entanglement in this world. Lord is very very very kind (bhūri-karuṇāya) and that's why He is patiently accompanying conditioned living entities like us, birth after the birth, irrespective of whatever kind of body we take. The closest person whom we can relate to Him, to some extent in this world is parents. Just like how parent's love their child, without any reason, the Lord's love is causeless. A caring parent definitely chastises the children to correct them. Likewise Lord also rewards punishments for our own benefit. But at the same time His love never reduces. Even when Duryodhana was being killed, Lord felt sorry for his miserable condition.

When someone misbehaves or ill-treats or neglects us, we may tolerate for a few times, but later we might decide never to care for them. But Lord tolerates, ignores our misdeeds, forgives the innumerable offences we do and continues to accompany as Paramatma - for millions and millions of birth, always giving opportunity, so that we somehow or the other turn to Him. This quality is nicely glorified by Gajendra as alayāya — Who are never inattentive or idle for the purpose of deliverance.

To such unlimited, merciful Supreme Lord, Sri Gajendra offers his obeisances with full faith that Lord will come to deliver Him.

Krishna willing we shall meditate further on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva
Sudarshana devi dasi