FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.3.31

तं तद्वदार्तमुपलभ्य जगन्निवास: स्तोत्रं निशम्य दिविजै: सह संस्तुवद्भ‍ि: । छन्दोमयेन गरुडेन समुह्यमान- श्चक्रायुधोऽभ्यगमदाशु यतो गजेन्द्र: ॥ ३१ ॥
taṁ tadvad ārtam upalabhya jagan-nivāsaḥ
[tam tadvad aartam upalabhya jagan-nivaasah]
stotraṁ niśamya divijaiḥ saha saṁstuvadbhiḥ
[stotram nishamya divijaih saha samstuvadbhih]
chandomayena garuḍena samuhyamānaś
[chandomayena garudena samuhyamaanash]
cakrāyudho ’bhyagamad āśu yato gajendraḥ
[chakraayudho ’bhyagamad aashu yato gajendrah]
Word-for-word
tam — unto him (Gajendra) tadvat — in that way ārtam — who was very depressed (because of being attacked by the crocodile) upalabhya — understanding jagat-nivāsaḥ — the Lord, who exists everywhere stotram — the prayer niśamya — hearing divijaiḥ — the denizens of the heavenly planets saha — with saṁstuvadbhiḥ — who were offering their prayers also chandomayena — with the speed He desired garuḍena — by Garuḍa samuhyamānaḥ — being carried cakra — carrying His disc āyudhaḥ — and other weapons, like the club abhyagamat — arrived āśu — immediately yataḥ — where gajendraḥ — the King of the elephants, Gajendra, was situated.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
taṁ tadvad ārtam upalabhya jagan-nivāsaḥ
tam
unto him (Gajendra)
tadvat
in that way
ārtam
who was very depressed (because of being attacked by the crocodile)
upalabhya
understanding
jagat-nivāsaḥ
the Lord, who exists everywhere
stotraṁ niśamya divijaiḥ saha saṁstuvadbhiḥ
stotram
the prayer
niśamya
hearing
divijaiḥ
the denizens of the heavenly planets
saha
with
saṁstuvadbhiḥ
who were offering their prayers also
chandomayena garuḍena samuhyamānaś
chandomayena
with the speed He desired
garuḍena
by Garuḍa
samuhyamānaḥ
being carried
cakrāyudho ’bhyagamad āśu yato gajendraḥ
cakra
carrying His disc
āyudhaḥ
and other weapons, like the club
abhyagamat
arrived
āśu
immediately
yataḥ
where
gajendraḥ
the King of the elephants, Gajendra, was situated.
After understanding the awkward condition of Gajendra, who had offered his prayers, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who lives everywhere, appeared with the demigods, who were offering prayers to Him. Carrying His disc and other weapons, He appeared there on the back of His carrier, Garuḍa, with great speed, according to His desire. Thus He appeared before Gajendra.
Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura specifically hints that since Gajendra was in such a difficult position and was praying for the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demigods, who could have immediately gone to his rescue, hesitated to go there. Since they considered Gajendra’s prayer to be directed toward the Lord, they felt offended, and this in itself was offensive. Consequently, when the Lord went there, they also went and offered prayers to the Lord so that their offense might be excused.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Realizing that Gajendra was suffering in this way, and hearing his prayer, the shelter of the universe, carried by Garuḍa, traveling at desired speed and carrying his weapons, immediately came to the place where Gajendra was struggling while the devatās praised him. The devatās also accompanied him with praise, in order to absolve themselves for their offensive thinking. Chandomayena means “at the speed desired.” Yataḥ means “where.”
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Hari appears on Garuḍa with His disc, accompanied by the demigods, the moment Gajendra has finished praying. The Lord's response can be remarkably swift when no other shelter is sought. The 'delay' we usually experience is often the time it takes for us to truly stop seeking elsewhere.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I still hedging by keeping other shelters in reserve?
  • What would happen if I let the Lord become my one and only call for a single difficult day?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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