1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 4: Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World
8.4.58.4.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.4.6

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.4.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

गजेन्द्रो भगवत्स्पर्शाद् विमुक्तोऽज्ञानबन्धनात् ।

प्राप्तो भगवतो रूपं पीतवासाश्चतुर्भुज: ॥ ६ ॥

gajendro bhagavat-sparśād

vimukto ’jñāna-bandhanāt

prāpto bhagavato rūpaṁ

pīta-vāsāś catur-bhujaḥ

Translation

Because Gajendra, King of the elephants, had been touched directly by the hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he was immediately freed of all material ignorance and bondage. Thus he received the salvation of sārūpya-mukti, in which he achieved the same bodily features as the Lord, being dressed in yellow garments and possessing four hands.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Purifies and Leads Home

  1. 1

    Touched by the Lord’s hands, Gajendra was immediately freed from material ignorance and bondage. He received sārūpya-mukti, attaining bodily features like the Lord’s, with yellow garments and four hands.

  2. 2

    Daily worship of the Deity provides an opportunity to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Hearing His pastimes, chanting His glories and offering worship also purify one of material contamination.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee acts according to śāstra and the Lord’s words, without other desires. Like Gajendra, such a devotee receives a spiritual body and returns home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • If one is favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead by having his gross body touched by the Lord, his body turns into a spiritual body, and he can go back home, back to Godhead.
  • Arcanā-paddhati, daily worship of the Deity, provides an opportunity to touch the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus it enables one to be fortunate enough to get a spiritual body and go back to Godhead.
  • Like Gajendra, he assumes a spiritual body and returns home, back to Godhead.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Helplessness → Surrender and rescue. A mighty animal finally realizes the limits of strength.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 8: Gajendra's struggle and prayers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 4: Gajendra Returns to the Spiritual World

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

King Hūhū was very sorry when cursed in that way, and he begged pardon from the sage, who in compassion gave him the benediction that he would be freed when Gajendra was delivered by the Personality of Godhead. Thus the crocodile was delivered when killed by Nārāyaṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. gajendraḥthe King of the elephants, Gajendra
  2. bhagavat-sparśātbecause of being touched by the hand of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. vimuktaḥwas immediately freed
  4. ajñāna-bandhanātfrom all kinds of ignorance, especially the bodily concept of life
  5. prāptaḥachieved
  6. bhagavataḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. rūpamthe same bodily features
  8. pīta-vāsāḥwearing yellow garments
  9. catuḥ-bhujaḥand four-handed, with conchshell, disc, club and lotus
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.4

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.4

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.4

    In this verse: “devotee”, “worship”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which form of devotional service can I give more attentive time to today?

Practice

Spend five minutes hearing or reading about the Lord’s pastimes as an act of devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.4's connections

Live this todayDevotional Service Purifies and Leads HomeThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 8.4.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories