Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.4.3-4
योऽसौ ग्राह: स वै सद्य: परमाश्चर्यरूपधृक् ।
मुक्तो देवलशापेन हूहूर्गन्धर्वसत्तम: ॥ ३ ॥
प्रणम्य शिरसाधीशमुत्तमश्लोकमव्ययम् ।
अगायत यशोधाम कीर्तन्यगुणसत्कथम् ॥ ४ ॥
yo ’sau grāhaḥ sa vai sadyaḥ
[yo ’sau graahah sa vai sadyah]
paramāścarya-rūpa-dhṛk
[paramaashcharya-roopa-dhrik]
mukto devala-śāpena
[mukto devala-shaapena]
hūhūr gandharva-sattamaḥ
[hoohoor gandharva-sattamah]
praṇamya śirasādhīśam
[pranamya shirasaadheesham]
uttama-ślokam avyayam
[uttama-shlokam avyayam]
agāyata yaśo-dhāma
[agaayata yasho-dhaama]
kīrtanya-guṇa-sat-katham
[keertanya-guna-sat-katham]
Word-for-word
yaḥ
—
he who
asau
—
that
grāhaḥ
—
became a crocodile
saḥ
—
he
vai
—
indeed
sadyaḥ
—
immediately
parama
—
very nice
āścarya
—
wonderful
rūpa-dhṛk
—
possessing the form (of his original Gandharva position)
muktaḥ
—
was delivered
devala-śāpena
—
by the cursing of Devala Ṛṣi
hūhūḥ
—
whose name was formerly Hūhū
gandharva-sattamaḥ
—
the best of Gandharvaloka
praṇamya
—
offering his obeisances
śirasā
—
by the head
adhīśam
—
unto the supreme master
uttama-ślokam
—
who is worshiped by the choicest verses
avyayam
—
who is the supreme eternal
agāyata
—
he began to chant
yaśaḥ-dhāma
—
the glories of the Lord
kīrtanya-guṇa-sat-katham
—
whose transcendental pastimes and qualities are glorious.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yo ’sau grāhaḥ sa vai sadyaḥ
yaḥ
he who
paramāścarya-rūpa-dhṛk
asau
that
grāhaḥ
became a crocodile
mukto devala-śāpena
saḥ
he
hūhūr gandharva-sattamaḥ
vai
indeed
sadyaḥ
immediately
parama
very nice
praṇamya śirasādhīśam
āścarya
wonderful
rūpa-dhṛk
possessing the form (of his original Gandharva position)
muktaḥ
was delivered
devala-śāpena
by the cursing of Devala Ṛṣi
hūhūḥ
whose name was formerly Hūhū
uttama-ślokam avyayam
agāyata yaśo-dhāma
gandharva-sattamaḥ
the best of Gandharvaloka
praṇamya
offering his obeisances
śirasā
by the head
adhīśam
unto the supreme master
uttama-ślokam
who is worshiped by the choicest verses
avyayam
who is the supreme eternal
kīrtanya-guṇa-sat-katham
agāyata
he began to chant
yaśaḥ-dhāma
the glories of the Lord
kīrtanya-guṇa-sat-katham
whose transcendental pastimes and qualities are glorious.
The best of the Gandharvas, King Hūhū, having been cursed by Devala Muni, had become a crocodile. Now, having been delivered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he assumed a very beautiful form as a Gandharva. Understanding by whose mercy this had happened, he immediately offered his respectful obeisances with his head and began chanting prayers just suitable for the transcendental Lord, the supreme eternal, who is worshiped by the choicest verses.
Purport
The story of how the Gandharva had become a crocodile will be described later. The curse by which the Gandharva took this position was actually a blessing, not a curse. One should not be displeased when a saintly person curses someone, for his curse, indirectly, is a blessing. The Gandharva had the mentality of an inhabitant of the celestial planetary system, and for him to become an associate of the Supreme Lord would have taken millions of long years. However, because he was cursed by Devala Ṛṣi, he became a crocodile and in only one life was fortunate enough to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face and be promoted to the spiritual world to become one of the Lord’s associates. Similarly, Gajendra was also delivered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead when he was freed from the curse of Agastya Muni.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The crocodile, being freed of Devala’s curse, assumed the most astonishing form of the best of the Gandharvas, King Hūhū. He offered his respects with his head and began to praise the indestructible Lord, the shelter of all good qualities, whose topics have qualities worthy of chanting.
Hūhū was cursed by Devala. Hūhū, playing in the water with some women, grabbed the foot of Devala and pulled it. Devala became angry and cursed him. “Become a crocodile!” But begin pacified by Hūhū, he spoke. “The Lord will free you when you attack Gajendra.” The Lord (adhīśam) is the shelter (dhāma) of fame.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
King Hūhū, cursed by Devala into crocodile form, regains his Gandharva body and immediately offers prayers. Apparent curses from saintly persons are blessings in disguise. Treat unwelcome turns of fortune from devoted sources as long-form mercy still in transit.
Reflection Questions
- Which 'curse' in my life might in fact be ushering me toward something better?
- Do I respond to seeming setbacks with curses of my own or with prayers?
My note
Source: vedabase.io