Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.4.1
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionA Saint’s Curse Can Be a Blessing
“Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When the Lord delivered Gajendra, King of the elephants, all the demigods, sages and Gandharvas, headed by Brahmā and Śiva, praised this activity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and showered flowers upon both the Lord and Gajendra.”
What the purport teaches
- The demigods, sages and Gandharvas praised the Supreme Personality of Godhead for delivering Gajendra. They showered flowers upon both the Lord and Gajendra.
- The curse of a great saint or devotee can actually be a benediction. Both Gajendra and the crocodile benefited from the curses they received.
- Indradyumna, in his birth as an elephant, became a personal associate of the Lord in Vaikuṇṭha. The crocodile regained his status as a Gandharva.
Try this today
Read the translation aloud once, pausing to appreciate the Lord’s mercy toward Gajendra.
Ask yourself
How does the outcome of these curses help me look beyond an initially painful event?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.