The Elephant Gajendra's Crisis

Verse 1 (bhagavata.8.2.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच आसीद् गिरिवरो राजंस्त्रिकूट इति विश्रुतः । क्षीरोदेनावृतः श्रीमान्योजनायुतमुच्छ्रितः ॥ 2.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca āsīd girivaro rājaṁs trikūṭa iti viśrutaḥ kṣīrodenāvṛtaḥ śrīmān yojanāyutam ucchritaḥ

Sri Shukadeva said: O king, there was a great mountain famed as Trikuta, glorious, surrounded on all sides by the Ocean of Milk, rising ten thousand yojanas high.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.8.2.2)

तावता विस्तृतः पर्यक्त्रिभिः शृङ्गैः पयोनिधिम् । दिशः खं रोचयन्नास्ते रौप्यायसहिरण्मयैः ॥ 2.2 ॥

tāvatā vistṛtaḥ paryak tribhiḥ śṛṅgaiḥ payo-nidhim diśaḥ khaṁ rocayann āste raupyāyasa-hiraṇmayaiḥ

Equally wide all around, that mountain, with its three principal peaks of silver, iron and gold, adorned the ocean of milk, every direction, and the very sky.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.8.2.3)

अन्यैश्च ककुभः सर्वा रत्नधातुविचित्रितैः । नानाद्रुमलतागुल्मैर्निर्घोषैर्निर्झराम्भसाम् ॥ 2.3 ॥

anyaiś ca kakubhaḥ sarvā ratna-dhātu-vicitritaiḥ nānā-druma-latā-gulmair nirghoṣair nirjharāmbhasām

Its other peaks, richly variegated with gems and minerals, together with its many kinds of trees, creepers and shrubs, and the roar of its waterfalls, adorned every direction.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.8.2.4)

स चावनिज्यमानाङ्घ्रिः समन्तात् पयऊर्मिभिः । करोति श्यामलां भूमिं हरिन्मरकताश्मभिः ॥ 2.4 ॥

sa cāvanijyamānāṅghriḥ samantāt paya-ūrmibhiḥ karoti śyāmalāṁ bhūmiṁ harin-marakatāśmabhiḥ

Its base, ceaselessly washed on every side by the waves of the milk-ocean, gave the ground there a dark green hue from the emerald and green gemstones deposited there.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.8.2.5)

सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वैर्विद्याधरमहोरगैः । किन्नरैरप्सरोभिश्च क्रीडद्भिर्जुष्टकन्दरः ॥ 2.5 ॥

siddha-cāraṇa-gandharvair vidyādhara-mahoragaiḥ kinnarair apsarobhiś ca krīḍadbhir juṣṭa-kandaraḥ

The mountain's caves were ever filled with the Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, great serpents, Kinnaras and Apsaras who came there to sport.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.8.2.6)

यत्र सङ्गीतसन्नादैर्नदद्गुहममर्षया । अभिगर्जन्ति हरयः श्लाघिनः परशङ्कया ॥ 2.6 ॥

yatra saṅgīta-sannādair nadad-guham amarṣayā abhigarjanti harayaḥ ślāghinaḥ para-śaṅkayā

There, hearing the music echo through the caves, the proud lions, mistaking it for the roar of a rival, would roar back in fury.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.8.2.7)

नानारण्यपशुव्रातसङ्कुलद्रोण्यलङ्कृतः । चित्रद्रुमसुरोद्यानकलकण्ठविहङ्गमः ॥ 2.7 ॥

nānāraṇya-paśu-vrāta- saṅkula-droṇy-alaṅkṛtaḥ citra-druma-surodyāna- kalakaṇṭha-vihaṅgamaḥ

Its valleys, crowded and adorned with herds of every kind of forest creature, echoed with the sweet calls of birds nesting in the wondrous trees of the gardens of the gods.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.8.2.8)

सरित्सरोभिरच्छोदैः पुलिनैर्मणिवालुकैः । देवस्त्रीमज्जनामोदसौरभाम्ब्वनिलैर्युतः ॥ 2.8 ॥

sarit-sarobhir acchodaiḥ pulinair maṇi-vālukaiḥ deva-strī-majjanāmoda- saurabhāmbv-anilair yutaḥ

The mountain abounded in rivers and lakes of crystalline water, their banks bright with jeweled sand, and its waters and breezes were made fragrant by the bathing of the gods' consorts.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.8.2.9)

तस्य द्रोण्यां भगवतो वरुणस्य महात्मनः । उद्यानमृतुमन्नाम आक्रीडं सुरयोषिताम् ॥ 2.9 ॥

tasya droṇyāṁ bhagavato varuṇasya mahātmanaḥ udyānam ṛtuman nāma ākrīḍaṁ sura-yoṣitām

In one of its valleys lay the garden called Ritumat, belonging to the great and glorious Varuna, a pleasure-ground for the wives of the gods.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.8.2.10)

सर्वतोऽलङ्कृतं दिव्यैर्नित्यपुष्पफलद्रुमैः । मन्दारैः पारिजातैश्च पाटलाशोकचम्पकैः ॥ 2.10 ॥

sarvato ’laṅkṛtaṁ divyair nitya-puṣpa-phala-drumaiḥ mandāraiḥ pārijātaiś ca pāṭalāśoka-campakaiḥ

That garden was adorned on every side with celestial trees forever laden with flowers and fruit — mandara, parijata, patala, ashoka and champaka among them.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.8.2.11)

चूतैः पियालैः पनसैराम्रैराम्रातकैरपि । क्रमुकैर्नारिकेलैश्च खर्जूरैर्बीजपूरकैः ॥ 2.11 ॥

cūtaiḥ piyālaiḥ panasair āmrair āmrātakair api kramukair nārikelaiś ca kharjūrair bījapūrakaiḥ

There too stood mango, piyala, jackfruit and hog-plum trees, together with areca, coconut, date and citron trees.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.8.2.12)

मधुकैः शालतालैश्च तमालैरसनार्जुनैः । अरिष्टोडुम्बरप्लक्षैर्वटैः किंशुकचन्दनैः ॥ 2.12 ॥

madhukaiḥ śāla-tālaiś ca tamālair asanārjunaiḥ ariṣṭoḍumbara-plakṣair vaṭaiḥ kiṁśuka-candanaiḥ

Madhuka, sal, palmyra, tamala, asana and arjuna trees stood there, along with arishta, udumbara, plaksha, banyan, kimshuka and sandalwood trees.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.8.2.13)

पिचुमर्दैः कोविदारैः सरलैः सुरदारुभिः । द्राक्षेक्षुरम्भाजम्बुभिर्बदर्यक्षाभयामलैः ॥ 2.13 ॥

picumardaiḥ kovidāraiḥ saralaiḥ sura-dārubhiḥ drākṣekṣu-rambhā-jambubhir badary-akṣābhayāmalaiḥ

The garden was filled also with neem, kovidara, sarala and deodar trees, with grapevine, sugarcane, banana and jambu trees, and with jujube, aksha, myrobalan and amalaka trees.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.8.2.14)

बिल्वैः कपित्थैर्जम्बीरैर्वृतो भल्लातकादिभिः । तस्मिन्सरः सुविपुलं लसत्काञ्चनपङ्कजम् ॥ 2.14 ॥

bilvaiḥ kapitthair jambīrair vṛto bhallātakādibhiḥ tasmin saraḥ suvipulaṁ lasat-kāñcana-paṅkajam

Ringed by bilva, kapittha, jambira and bhallataka trees, and within that garden lay a vast lake, radiant with golden lotuses.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.8.2.15)

कुमुदोत्पलकह्लारशतपत्रश्रियोर्जितम् । मत्तषट्पदनिर्घुष्टं शकुन्तैश्च कलस्वनैः ॥ 2.15 ॥

kumudotpala-kahlāra- śatapatra-śriyorjitam matta-ṣaṭ-pada-nirghuṣṭaṁ śakuntaiś ca kala-svanaiḥ

That lake was made splendid with the beauty of kumuda, utpala, kahlara and hundred-petaled lotuses, and it resounded with the humming of intoxicated bees and the sweet calls of birds.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.8.2.16)

हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णं चक्राह्वैः सारसैरपि । जलकुक्कुटकोयष्टिदात्यूहकुलकूजितम् ॥ 2.16 ॥

haṁsa-kāraṇḍavākīrṇaṁ cakrāhvaiḥ sārasair api jalakukkuṭa-koyaṣṭi- dātyūha-kula-kūjitam

It was crowded with swans and karandava ducks, with chakravaka birds and cranes as well, and it echoed with the cries of flocks of water-hens, koyashti and datyuha birds.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.8.2.17)

मत्स्यकच्छपसञ्चारचलत्पद्मरजःपयः । कदम्बवेतसनलनीपवञ्जुलकैर्वृतम् ॥ 2.17 ॥

matsya-kacchapa-sañcāra- calat-padma-rajaḥ-payaḥ kadamba-vetasa-nala- nīpa-vañjulakair vṛtam

Its water carried the pollen of lotuses stirred by the movement of fish and turtles, and the lake was ringed by kadamba, vetasa, nala, nipa and vanjulaka trees.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.8.2.18)

कुन्दैः कुरुबकाशोकैः शिरीषैः कूटजेङ्गुदैः । कुब्जकैः स्वर्णयूथीभिर्नागपुन्नागजातिभिः ॥ 2.18 ॥

kundaiḥ kurubakāśokaiḥ śirīṣaiḥ kūṭajeṅgudaiḥ kubjakaiḥ svarṇa-yūthībhir nāga-punnāga-jātibhiḥ

It was graced also with kunda, kurubaka, ashoka, shirisha, kutaja and ingudi trees, and with kubjaka, golden yuthi, naga, punnaga and jati flowering trees.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.8.2.19)

मल्लिकाशतपत्रैश्च माधवीजालकादिभिः । शोभितं तीरजैश्चान्यैर्नित्यर्तुभिरलं द्रुमैः ॥ 2.19 ॥

mallikā-śatapatraiś ca mādhavī-jālakādibhiḥ śobhitaṁ tīra-jaiś cānyair nityartubhir alaṁ drumaiḥ

Adorned too with jasmine, hundred-petaled roses, madhavi and jalaka creepers, and with other bank-side trees that flowered and fruited abundantly in every season, that lake was altogether beautiful.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.8.2.20)

तत्रैकदा तद्गिरिकाननाश्रयः करेणुभिर्वारणयूथपश्चरन् । सकण्टकं कीचकवेणुवेत्रवद् विशालगुल्मं प्ररुजन्वनस्पतीन् ॥ 2.20 ॥

tatraikadā tad-giri-kānanāśrayaḥ kareṇubhir vāraṇa-yūtha-paś caran sakaṇṭakaṁ kīcaka-veṇu-vetravad viśāla-gulmaṁ prarujan vanaspatīn

One day the lord of the elephant herd who dwelt in that mountain's forest was roaming with his female elephants, trampling and breaking the thorny bushes, the kichaka canes and the great thickets and trees in his path.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.8.2.21)

यद्गन्धमात्राद्धरयो गजेन्द्रा व्याघ्रादयो व्यालमृगाः सखड्गाः । महोरगाश्चापि भयाद्द्रवन्ति सगौरकृष्णाः सरभाश्चमर्यः ॥ 2.21 ॥

yad-gandha-mātrād dharayo gajendrā vyāghrādayo vyāla-mṛgāḥ sakhaḍgāḥ mahoragāś cāpi bhayād dravanti sagaura-kṛṣṇāḥ sarabhāś camaryaḥ

At the mere scent of him, lions, other lordly elephants, tigers and other fierce beasts, rhinoceroses, great serpents, white and black sarabhas, and camari deer all fled in terror.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.8.2.22)

वृका वराहा महिषर्क्षशल्या गोपुच्छशालावृकमर्कटाश्च । अन्यत्र क्षुद्रा हरिणाः शशादय- श्चरन्त्यभीता यदनुग्रहेण ॥ 2.22 ॥

vṛkā varāhā mahiṣarkṣa-śalyā gopuccha-śālāvṛka-markaṭāś ca anyatra kṣudrā hariṇāḥ śaśādayaś caranty abhītā yad-anugraheṇa

Wolves, boars, buffaloes, bears and porcupines, foxes, jackals and monkeys — and, elsewhere, the lesser creatures such as deer and hares — all roamed without fear, by his sufferance.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.8.2.23)

स घर्मतप्तः करिभिः करेणुभि- र्वृतो मदच्युत्करभैरनुद्रुतः । गिरिं गरिम्णा परितः प्रकम्पयन् निषेव्यमाणोऽलिकुलैर्मदाशनैः ॥ 2.23 ॥

sa gharma-taptaḥ karibhiḥ kareṇubhir vṛto madacyut-karabhair anudrutaḥ giriṁ garimṇā paritaḥ prakampayan niṣevyamāṇo ’likulair madāśanaiḥ

Scorched by the heat, surrounded by his female elephants and companions, followed by young calves streaming with musth, shaking the mountain all around with the weight of his tread, and attended by swarms of honey-drinking bees, the lord of elephants pressed on toward the lake.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.8.2.24)

सरोऽनिलं पङ्कजरेणुरूषितं जिघ्रन्विदूरान्मदविह्वलेक्षणः । वृतः स्वयूथेन तृषार्दितेन तत् सरोवराभ्यासमथागमद्द्रुतम् ॥ 2.24 ॥

saro ’nilaṁ paṅkaja-reṇu-rūṣitaṁ jighran vidūrān mada-vihvalekṣaṇaḥ vṛtaḥ sva-yūthena tṛṣārditena tat sarovarābhyāsam athāgamad drutam

Catching from afar the scent of the lake's breeze, laden with lotus pollen, his eyes rolling with the intoxication of musth, that lord of elephants, together with his whole herd tormented by thirst, quickly drew near the lake.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.8.2.25)

विगाह्य तस्मिन्नमृताम्बु निर्मलं हेमारविन्दोत्पलरेणुरूषितम् । पपौ निकामं निजपुष्करोद्धृत- मात्मानमद्भिः स्नपयन्गतक्लमः ॥ 2.25 ॥

vigāhya tasminn amṛtāmbu nirmalaṁ hemāravindotpala-reṇu-rūṣitam papau nikāmaṁ nija-puṣkaroddhṛtam ātmānam adbhiḥ snapayan gata-klamaḥ

Plunging into that lake, he drew up with his trunk and drank his fill of its pure, nectar-like water, fragrant with the pollen of golden lotuses and lilies, and bathed himself in it until every trace of fatigue had left him.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.8.2.26)

स पुष्करेणोद्धृतशीकराम्बुभि- र्निपाययन्संस्नपयन्यथा गृही । घृणी करेणुः करभांश्च दुर्मदो नाचष्ट कृच्छ्रं कृपणोऽजमायया ॥ 2.26 ॥

sa puṣkareṇoddhṛta-śīkarāmbubhir nipāyayan saṁsnapayan yathā gṛhī ghṛṇī kareṇuḥ karabhāṁś ca durmado nācaṣṭa kṛcchraṁ kṛpaṇo ’ja-māyayā

Drawing up fine sprays of water with his trunk, he made his female elephants and their young drink and bathed them, out of affection, like a householder tending his family. Deluded by the illusive power of the unborn Lord and utterly intoxicated, the poor elephant felt none of this exertion as hardship.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.8.2.27)

तं तत्र कश्चिन्नृप दैवचोदितो ग्राहो बलीयांश्चरणे रुषाग्रहीत् । यदृच्छयैवं व्यसनं गतो गजो यथाबलं सोऽतिबलो विचक्रमे ॥ 2.27 ॥

taṁ tatra kaścin nṛpa daiva-codito grāho balīyāṁś caraṇe ruṣāgrahīt yadṛcchayaivaṁ vyasanaṁ gato gajo yathā-balaṁ so ’tibalo vicakrame

O king, in that very lake, by the working of fate, some exceedingly powerful crocodile seized his leg in fury. Fallen thus by mere chance into this calamity, the mighty elephant struggled with all the strength he had.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.8.2.28)

तथातुरं यूथपतिं करेणवो विकृष्यमाणं तरसा बलीयसा । विचुक्रुशुर्दीनधियोऽपरे गजाः पार्ष्णिग्रहास्तारयितुं न चाशकन् ॥ 2.28 ॥

tathāturaṁ yūtha-patiṁ kareṇavo vikṛṣyamāṇaṁ tarasā balīyasā vicukruśur dīna-dhiyo ’pare gajāḥ pārṣṇi-grahās tārayituṁ na cāśakan

Seeing their lord dragged about in such distress by that overwhelming force, his female elephants cried out in anguish; the other elephants too, grieved at heart, seized him from behind and tried to save him, but could not.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.8.2.29)

नियुध्यतोरेवमिभेन्द्रनक्रयो- र्विकर्षतोरन्तरतो बहिर्मिथः । समाः सहस्रं व्यगमन् महीपते सप्राणयोश्चित्रममंसतामराः ॥ 2.29 ॥

niyudhyator evam ibhendra-nakrayor vikarṣator antarato bahir mithaḥ samāḥ sahasraṁ vyagaman mahī-pate saprāṇayoś citram amaṁsatāmarāḥ

O lord of the earth, thus the elephant and the crocodile dragged each other in and out of the water and fought on for a thousand years, and the immortals marveled to see that both still lived.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.8.2.30)

ततो गजेन्द्रस्य मनोबलौजसां कालेन दीर्घेण महानभूद् व्ययः । विकृष्यमाणस्य जलेऽवसीदतो विपर्ययोऽभूत् सकलं जलौकसः ॥ 2.30 ॥

tato gajendrasya mano-balaujasāṁ kālena dīrgheṇa mahān abhūd vyayaḥ vikṛṣyamāṇasya jale ’vasīdato viparyayo ’bhūt sakalaṁ jalaukasaḥ

Over that long stretch of time, Gajendra's strength of mind, body and vigor was greatly worn away, and as he was dragged and sank in the water he grew weaker still; but for the water-dwelling crocodile it was the very reverse, and its strength only grew.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.8.2.31)

इत्थं गजेन्द्रः स यदाप सङ्कटं प्राणस्य देही विवशो यदृच्छया । अपारयन्नात्मविमोक्षणे चिरं दध्याविमां बुद्धिमथाभ्यपद्यत ॥ 2.31 ॥

itthaṁ gajendraḥ sa yadāpa saṅkaṭaṁ prāṇasya dehī vivaśo yadṛcchayā apārayann ātma-vimokṣaṇe ciraṁ dadhyāv imāṁ buddhim athābhyapadyata

Thus when the embodied Gajendra, rendered helpless by fate, found himself in mortal peril, and for a long time, unable to free himself, remained lost in thought, he finally arrived at this resolve.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.8.2.32)

न मामिमे ज्ञातय आतुरं गजाः कुतः करिण्यः प्रभवन्ति मोचितुम् । ग्राहेण पाशेन विधातुरावृतो- ऽप्यहं च तं यामि परं परायणम् ॥ 2.32 ॥

na mām ime jñātaya āturaṁ gajāḥ kutaḥ kariṇyaḥ prabhavanti mocitum grāheṇa pāśena vidhātur āvṛto ’py ahaṁ ca taṁ yāmi paraṁ parāyaṇam

These kinsmen of mine, the elephants, could not free me from this suffering — how then could the female elephants do so? Bound as I am, by the ordinance of fate, in the crocodile's snare, I now go for refuge to Him who is the supreme shelter of all.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.8.2.33)

यः कश्चनेशो बलिनोऽन्तकोरगात् प्रचण्डवेगादभिधावतो भृशम् । भीतं प्रपन्नं परिपाति यद्भया- न्मृत्युः प्रधावत्यरणं तमीमहि ॥ 2.33 ॥

yaḥ kaścaneśo balino ’ntakoragāt pracaṇḍa-vegād abhidhāvato bhṛśam bhītaṁ prapannaṁ paripāti yad-bhayān mṛtyuḥ pradhāvaty araṇaṁ tam īmahi

Whatever that Lord may be, who protects one who, terrified by the powerful serpent of death that pursues with such fearsome speed, takes refuge in Him — He, from fear of whom Death itself flees — that Lord alone I now seek as my refuge.