Canto 8: Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations | Chapter 3: Gajendra's Prayers of Surrender |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 8.3.19
yaḿ dharma-kāmārtha-vimukti-kāmā
bhajanta iṣṭāḿ gatim āpnuvanti
kiḿ cāśiṣo rāty api deham avyayaḿ
karotu me 'dabhra-dayo vimokṣaṇam
SYNONYMS
yam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead who; dharma-kāma-artha-vimukti-kāmāḥ — persons who desire the four principles of religion, economic development, sense gratification and salvation; bhajantaḥ — by worshiping; iṣṭām — the objective; gatim — destination; āpnuvanti — can achieve; kim — what to speak of; ca — also; āśiṣaḥ — other benedictions; rāti — He bestows; api — even; deham — a body; avyayam — spiritual; karotu — may He bestow benediction; me — unto me; adabhra-dayaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is unlimitedly merciful; vimokṣaṇam — liberation from the present danger and from the material world.
TRANSLATION
After worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, those who are interested in the four principles of religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation obtain from Him what they desire. What then is to be said of other benedictions? Indeed, sometimes the Lord gives a spiritual body to such ambitious worshipers. May that Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is unlimitedly merciful, bestow upon me the benediction of liberation from this present danger and from the materialistic way of life.
PURPORT
Some men within this material world are akāmī, free from material desire, some are ambitious to get more and more material profit, and some desire fulfillment in religious life, economic development, sense gratification and finally liberation.
akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā
mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ
tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena
yajeta puruṣaḿ param
(Bhāg. 2.3.10)
It is recommended that whatever one's position — whether one demands no material profit, all material profit or ultimately liberation — one should offer his obedient devotional service to the Lord, and one will get what he desires. Kṛṣṇa is so kind. Ye yathā māḿ prapadyante tāḿs tathaiva bhajāmy aham [Bg. 4.11]. The Lord reciprocates. Whatever even an ordinary living entity wants, Kṛṣṇa gives. Kṛṣṇa is situated in everyone's heart, and He gives that which is desired by the living entity.
īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāḿ
hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati
bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni
yantrārūḍhāni māyayā
"The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy." (Bg. 18.61) The Lord gives everyone an opportunity to fulfill his ambitions. Even such a devotee as Dhruva Mahārāja wanted the material benediction of a kingdom greater than that of his father, and although he received a spiritual body, he also got the kingdom, for the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not disappoint anyone who takes shelter of His lotus feet. Therefore, since Gajendra, King of the elephants, had surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead to get free from the present danger and, indirectly, from the present danger of materialistic life, why should the Supreme Personality of Godhead not fulfill his desire?
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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness