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The history of the crocodile and Gajendra is as follows: There was once a King of the Gandharva planet whose name was Huhu. One day King Huha was enjoying with women in the water, and while enjoying he pulled the leg of Devala Rsi, who was also bathing in the water. The sage became very angry and immediately cursed Huhu to become a crocodile.
King Huhu was very sorry when cursed in that way, and he begged pardon from the sage, who out of 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 Narayana.
As for Gajendra, in his previous birth he had been a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. His name was Indradyumna, and He was the King of the Tamila country. Following the Vedic principles, this king retired from family life and constructed a small cottage in the Malayacala Hills, where he always worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead in silence.
Agastya Rsi, along with many disciples, once approached King Indradyumna's asrama, but because the king was meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he could not receive Agastya Rsi properly. Thus the rsi became very angry and cursed the king to become a dull elephant. In accordance with this curse, the king was born as an elephant, and he forgot all about his previous activities in devotional service.
Nonetheless, in his birth as an elephant, when he was attacked by the crocodile, he remembered his past life in devotional service and also remembered a prayer he had learned in that life. Because of this prayer, he again received the mercy of the Lord. Thus he was immediately delivered, and he became one of the Lord's four-handed associates.
