Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 8: “Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Two
The Elephant Gajendra’s Crisis
SB8.2Summary
The Second, Third and Fourth Chapters of this canto describe how the Lord, during the reign of the fourth Manu, gave protection to the king of the elephants. As described in this Second Chapter, when the King of the elephants, along with his female elephants, was enjoying in the water, a crocodile suddenly attacked him, and the elephant surrendered to the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead for protection.
In the midst of the ocean of milk, there is a very high and beautiful mountain that has an altitude of ten thousand yojanas, or eighty thousand miles. This mountain is known as Trikuta. In a valley of Trikuta there is a nice garden named Rtumat, which was constructed by Varuna, and in that area there is a very nice lake. Once the chief of the elephants, along with female elephants, went to enjoy bathing in that lake, and they disturbed the inhabitants of the water. Because of this, the chief crocodile in that water, who was very powerful, immediately attacked the elephant’s leg. Thus there ensued a great fight between the elephant and the crocodile. This fight continued for one thousand years. Neither the elephant nor the crocodile died, but since they were in the water, the elephant gradually became weak whereas the power of the crocodile increased more and more. Thus the crocodile became more and more encouraged. Then the elephant, being helpless and seeing that there was no other way for his protection, sought shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. SB8.2.1 TEXT 1 sri-suka uvaca asid girivaro rajams trikuta iti visrutah ksirodenavrtah sriman yojanayutam ucchritah SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; asit—there was; girivarah—a very big mountain; rajan—O King; tri-kutah—Trikuta; iti—thus; visrutah—celebrated; ksira-udena—by the ocean of milk; avrtah—surrounded; sriman—very beautiful; yojana—a measurement of eight miles; ayutam—ten thousand; ucchritah—very high. TRANSLATION Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, there is a very large mountain called Trikuta. It is ten thousand yojanas [eighty thousand miles] high. Being surrounded by the ocean of milk, it is very beautifully situated. SB8.2.2-3 TEXTS 2–3 tavata vistrtah paryak tribhih srngaih payo-nidhim disah kham rocayann aste raupyayasa-hiranmayaih anyais ca kakubhah sarva ratna-dhatu-vicitritaih nana-druma-lata-gulmair nirghosair nirjharambhasam SYNONYMS tavata—in that way; vistrtah—length and breadth (eighty thousand miles); paryak—all around; tribhih—with three; srngaih—peaks; payah-nidhim—situated on an island in the ocean of milk; disah—all directions; kham—the sky; rocayan—pleasing; aste—standing; raupya—made of silver; ayasa—iron; hiranmayaih—and gold; anyaih—with other peaks; ca—also; kakubhah—directions; sarvah—all; ratna—with jewels; dhatu—and minerals; vicitritaih—decorated very nicely; nana—with various; druma-lata—trees and creepers; gulmaih—and shrubs; nirghosaih—with the sounds of; nirjhara—waterfalls; ambhasam—of water. TRANSLATION The length and breadth of the mountain are of the same measurement [eighty thousand miles]. Its three principal peaks, which are made of iron, silver and gold, beautify all directions and the sky. The mountain also has other peaks, which are full of jewels and minerals and are decorated with nice trees, creepers and shrubs. The sounds of the waterfalls on the mountain create a pleasing vibration. In this way the mountain stands, increasing the beauty of all directions. SB8.2.4 TEXT 4 sa cavanijyamananghrih samantat paya-urmibhih karoti syamalam bhumim harin-marakatasmabhih SYNONYMS sah—that mountain; ca—also; avanijyamana-anghrih—whose foot is always washed; samantat—all around; payah-urmibhih—by waves of milk; karoti—makes; syamalam—dark green; bhumim—ground; harit—green; marakata—with emerald; asmabhih—stones. TRANSLATION The ground at the foot of the mountain is always washed by waves of milk that produce emeralds all around in the eight directions [north, south, east, west and the directions midway between them]. PURPORT From Srimad-Bhagavatam we understand that there are various oceans. Somewhere there is an ocean filled with milk, somewhere an ocean of liquor, an ocean of ghee, an ocean of oil, and an ocean of sweet water. Thus there are different varieties of oceans within this universe. The modern scientists, who have only limited experience, cannot defy these statements; they cannot give us full information about any planet, even the planet on which we live. From this verse, however, we can understand that if the valleys of some mountains are washed with milk, this produces emeralds. No one has the ability to imitate the activities of material nature as conducted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. SB8.2.5 TEXT 5 siddha-carana-gandharvair vidyadhara-mahoragaih kinnarair apsarobhis ca kridadbhir justa-kandarah SYNONYMS siddha—by the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; carana—the inhabitants of Caranaloka; gandharvaih—the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka; vidyadhara—the inhabitants of Vidyadhara-loka; maha-uragaih—the inhabitants of the serpent loka; kinnaraih—the Kinnaras; apsarobhih—the Apsaras; ca—and; kridadbhih—who were engaged in sporting; justa—enjoyed; kandarah—the caves. TRANSLATION The inhabitants of the higher planets—the Siddhas, Caranas, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, serpents, Kinnaras and Apsaras—go to that mountain to sport. Thus all the caves of the mountain are full of these denizens of the heavenly planets. PURPORT As ordinary men may play in the salty ocean, the inhabitants of the higher planetary systems go to the ocean of milk. They float in the ocean of milk and also enjoy various sports within the caves of Trikuta Mountain. SB8.2.6 TEXT 6 yatra sangita-sannadair nadad-guham amarsaya abhigarjanti harayah slaghinah para-sankaya SYNONYMS yatra—in that mountain (Trikuta); sangita—of singing; sannadaih—with the vibrations; nadat—resounding; guham—the caves; amarsaya—because of unbearable anger or envy; abhigarjanti—roar; harayah—the lions; slaghinah—being very proud of their strength; para-sankaya—because of suspecting another lion. TRANSLATION Because of the resounding vibrations of the denizens of heaven singing in the caves, the lions there, being very proud of their strength, roar with unbearable envy, thinking that another lion is roaring in that way. PURPORT In the higher planetary systems, there are not only different types of human beings, but also animals like lions and elephants. There are trees, and the land is made of emeralds. Such is the creation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung in this regard, kesava! tuya jagata vicitra: “My Lord Kesava, Your creation is colorful and full of varieties.” Geologists, botanists and other so-called scientists speculate about other planetary systems, but being unable to estimate the varieties on other planets, they falsely imagine that all planets but this one are vacant, uninhabited, and full of dust. Although they cannot even estimate the varieties existing throughout the universe, they are very proud of their knowledge, and they are accepted as learned by persons of a similar caliber. As described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.3.19), sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih samstutah purusah pasuh: materialistic leaders are praised by dogs, hogs, camels and asses, and they themselves are also big animals. One should not be satisfied with the knowledge imparted by a big animal. Rather, one must take knowledge from a perfect person like Sukadeva Gosvami. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah: our duty is to follow the instructions of the mahajanas. There are twelve mahajanas, and Sukadeva Gosvami is one of them. svayambhur naradah sambhuh Vaiyasaki is Sukadeva Gosvami. Whatever he says we consider to be factual. That is perfect knowledge. SB8.2.7 TEXT 7 nanaranya-pasu-vrata- sankula-drony-alankrtah citra-druma-surodyana- kalakantha-vihangamah SYNONYMS nana—with varieties of; aranya-pasu—jungle animals; vrata—with a multitude; sankula—filled; droni—with valleys; alankrtah—very beautifully decorated; citra—with varieties of; druma—trees; sura-udyana—in gardens maintained by the demigods; kalakantha—sweetly chirping; vihangamah—birds. TRANSLATION The valleys beneath Trikuta Mountain are beautifully decorated by many varieties of jungle animals, and in the trees, which are maintained in gardens by the demigods, varieties of birds chirp with sweet voices. SB8.2.8 TEXT 8 sarit-sarobhir acchodaih pulinair mani-valukaih deva-stri-majjanamoda- saurabhambv-anilair yutah SYNONYMS sarit—with rivers; sarobhih—and lakes; acchodaih—filled with crystal-clear water; pulinaih—beaches; mani—with small gems; valukaih—resembling grains of sand; deva-stri—of the damsels of the demigods; majjana—by bathing (in that water); amoda—bodily fragrance; saurabha—very fragrant; ambu—with the water; anilaih—and the air; yutah—enriched (the atmosphere of Trikuta Mountain). TRANSLATION Trikuta Mountain has many lakes and rivers, with beaches covered by small gems resembling grains of sand. The water is as clear as crystal, and when the demigod damsels bathe in it, their bodies lend fragrance to the water and the breeze, thus enriching the atmosphere. PURPORT Even in the material world, there are many grades of living entities. The human beings on earth generally cover themselves with external fragrances to stop their bad bodily odors, but here we find that because of the bodily fragrance of the demigod damsels, the rivers, the lakes, the breeze and the entire atmosphere of Trikuta Mountain also become fragrant. Since the bodies of the damsels in the upper planetary systems are so beautiful, we can just imagine how beautifully formed are the bodies of the Vaikuntha damsels or the damsels in Vrndavana, the gopis. SB8.2.9-13 TEXTS 9–13 tasya dronyam bhagavato varunasya mahatmanah udyanam rtuman nama akridam sura-yositam sarvato ’lankrtam divyair nitya-puspa-phala-drumaih mandaraih parijatais ca patalasoka-campakaih cutaih piyalaih panasair amrair amratakair api kramukair narikelais ca kharjurair bijapurakaih madhukaih sala-talais ca tamalair asanarjunaih aristodumbara-plaksair vataih kimsuka-candanaih picumardaih kovidaraih saralaih sura-darubhih drakseksu-rambha-jambubhir badary-aksabhayamalaih SYNONYMS tasya—of that mountain (Trikuta); dronyam—in a valley; bhagavatah—of the great personality; varunasya—the demigod Varuna; maha-atmanah—who is a great devotee of the Lord; udyanam—a garden; rtumat—Rtumat; nama—of the name; akridam—a place of sporting pastimes; sura-yositam—of the damsels of the demigods; sarvatah—everywhere; alankrtam—beautifully decorated; divyaih—pertaining to the demigods; nitya—always; puspa—of flowers; phala—and fruits; drumaih—by trees; mandaraih—mandara; parijataih—parijata; ca—also; patala—patala; asoka—asoka; campakaih—campaka; cutaih—cuta fruits; piyalaih—piyala fruits; panasaih—panasa fruits; amraih—mangoes; amratakaih—sour fruits called amrataka; api—also; kramukaih—kramuka fruits; narikelaih—coconut trees; ca—and; kharjuraih—date trees; bijapurakaih—pomegranates; madhukaih—madhuka fruits; sala-talaih—palm fruits; ca—and; tamalaih—tamala trees; asana—asana trees; arjunaih—arjuna trees; arista—arista fruits; udumbara—big udumbara trees; plaksaih—plaksa trees; vataih—banyan trees; kimsuka—red flowers with no scent; candanaih—sandalwood trees; picumardaih—picumarda flowers; kovidaraih—kovidara fruits; saralaih—sarala trees; sura-darubhih—sura-daru trees; draksa—grapes; iksuh—sugarcane; rambha—bananas; jambubhih—jambu fruits; badari—badari fruits; aksa—aksa fruits; abhaya—abhaya fruits; amalaih—amalaki, a sour fruit. TRANSLATION In a valley of Trikuta Mountain there was a garden called Rtumat. This garden belonged to the great devotee Varuna and was a sporting place for the damsels of the demigods. Flowers and fruits grew there in all seasons. Among them were mandaras, parijatas, patalas, asokas, campakas, cutas, piyalas, panasas, mangoes, amratakas, kramukas, coconut trees, date trees and pomegranates. There were madhukas, palm trees, tamalas, asanas, arjunas, aristas, udumbaras, plaksas, banyan trees, kimsukas and sandalwood trees. There were also picumardas, kovidaras, saralas, sura-darus, grapes, sugarcane, bananas, jambu, badaris, aksas, abhayas and amalakis. SB8.2.14-19 TEXTS 14–19 bilvaih kapitthair jambirair vrto bhallatakadibhih tasmin sarah suvipulam lasat-kancana-pankajam kumudotpala-kahlara- satapatra-sriyorjitam matta-sat-pada-nirghustam sakuntais ca kala-svanaih hamsa-karandavakirnam cakrahvaih sarasair api jalakukkuta-koyasti- datyuha-kula-kujitam matsya-kacchapa-sancara- calat-padma-rajah-payah kadamba-vetasa-nala- nipa-vanjulakair vrtam kundaih kurubakasokaih sirisaih kutajengudaih kubjakaih svarna-yuthibhir naga-punnaga-jatibhih mallika-satapatrais ca madhavi-jalakadibhih sobhitam tira-jais canyair nityartubhir alam drumaih SYNONYMS bilvaih—bilva trees; kapitthaih—kapittha trees; jambiraih—jambira trees; vrtah—surrounded by; bhallataka-adibhih—bhallataka and other trees; tasmin—in that garden; sarah—a lake; su-vipulam—which was very large; lasat—shining; kancana—golden; panka-jam—filled with lotus flowers; kumuda—of kumuda flowers; utpala—utpala flowers; kahlara—kahlara flowers; satapatra—and satapatra flowers; sriya—with the beauty; urjitam—excellent; matta—intoxicated; sat-pada—bees; nirghustam—hummed; sakuntaih—with the chirping of birds; ca—and; kala-svanaih—whose songs were very melodious; hamsa—swans; karandava—karandavas; akirnam—crowded with; cakrahvaih—cakravakas; sarasaih—cranes; api—as well as; jalakukkuta—water chickens; koyasti—koyastis; datyuha—datyuhas; kula—flocks of; kujitam—murmured; matsya—of the fish; kacchapa—and tortoises; sancara—because of the movements; calat—agitating; padma—of the lotuses; rajah—by the pollen; payah—the water (was decorated); kadamba—kadambas; vetasa—vetasas; nala—nalas; nipa—nipas; vanjulakaih—vanjulakas; vrtam—surrounded by; kundaih—kundas; kurubaka—kurubakas; asokaih—asokas; sirisaih—sirisas; kutaja—kutajas; ingudaih—ingudas; kubjakaih—kubjakas; svarna-yuthibhih—svarna-yuthis; naga—nagas; punnaga—punnagas; jatibhih—jatis; mallika—mallikas; satapatraih—satapatras; ca—also; madhavi—madhavis; jalakadibhih—jalakas; sobhitam—adorned; tirajaih—growing on the banks; ca—and; anyaih—others; nitya-rtubhih—in all seasons; alam—abundantly; drumaih—with trees (bearing flowers and fruits). TRANSLATION In that garden there was a very large lake filled with shining golden lotus flowers and the flowers known as kumuda, kahlara, utpala and satapatra, which added excellent beauty to the mountain. There were also bilva, kapittha, jambira and bhallataka trees. Intoxicated bumblebees drank honey and hummed with the chirping of the birds, whose songs were very melodious. The lake was crowded with swans, karandavas, cakravakas, cranes, and flocks of water chickens, datyuhas, koyastis and other murmuring birds. Because of the agitating movements of the fish and tortoises, the water was decorated with pollen that had fallen from the lotus flowers. The lake was surrounded by kadamba flowers, vetasa flowers, nalas, nipas, vanjulakas, kundas, kurubakas, asokas, sirisas, kutajas, ingudas, kubjakas, svarna-yuthis, nagas, punnagas, jatis, mallikas, satapatras, jalakas and madhavi-latas. The banks were also abundantly adorned with varieties of trees that yielded flowers and fruits in all seasons. Thus the entire mountain stood gloriously decorated. PURPORT Judging from the exhaustive description of the lakes and rivers on Trikuta Mountain, on earth there is no comparison to their super-excellence. On other planets, however, there are many such wonders. For instance, we understand that there are two million different types of trees, and not all of them are exhibited on earth. Srimad-Bhagavatam presents the total knowledge of the affairs of the universe. It not only describes this universe, but also takes into account the spiritual world beyond the universe. No one can challenge the Srimad-Bhagavatam’s descriptions of the material and spiritual worlds. The attempts to go from the earth to the moon have failed, but the people of earth can understand what exists on other planets. There is no need of imagination; one may take actual knowledge from Srimad-Bhagavatam and be satisfied. SB8.2.20 TEXT 20 tatraikada tad-giri-kananasrayah karenubhir varana-yutha-pas caran sakantakam kicaka-venu-vetravad visala-gulmam prarujan vanaspatin SYNONYMS tatra—therein; ekada—once upon a time; tat-giri—of that mountain (Trikuta); kanana-asrayah—who lives in the forest; karenubhih—accompanied by female elephants; varana-yutha-pah—the leader of the elephants; caran—while wandering (toward the lake); sa-kantakam—a place full of thorns; kicaka-venu-vetra-vat—with plants and creepers of different names; visala-gulmam—many thickets; prarujan—breaking; vanah-patin—trees and plants. TRANSLATION The leader of the elephants who lived in the forest of the mountain Trikuta once wandered toward the lake with his female elephants. He broke many plants, creepers, thickets and trees, not caring for their piercing thorns. SB8.2.21 TEXT 21 yad-gandha-matrad dharayo gajendra vyaghradayo vyala-mrgah sakhadgah mahoragas capi bhayad dravanti sagaura-krsnah sarabhas camaryah SYNONYMS yat-gandha-matrat—simply by the scent of that elephant; harayah—lions; gaja-indrah—other elephants; vyaghra-adayah—ferocious animals like tigers; vyala-mrgah—other ferocious animals; sakhadgah—rhinoceroses; maha-uragah—big, big serpents; ca—also; api—indeed; bhayat—because of fear; dravanti—running away; sa—with; gaura-krsnah—some of them white, some of them black; sarabhah—sarabhas; camaryah—also camaris. TRANSLATION Simply by catching scent of that elephant, all the other elephants, the tigers and the other ferocious animals, such as lions, rhinoceroses, great serpents and black and white sarabhas, fled in fear. The camari deer also fled. SB8.2.22 TEXT 22 vrka varaha mahisarksa-salya gopuccha-salavrka-markatas ca anyatra ksudra harinah sasadayas caranty abhita yad-anugrahena SYNONYMS vrkah—foxes; varahah—boars; mahisa—buffalos; rksa—bears; salyah—porcupines; gopuccha—a type of deer; salavrka—wolves; markatah—monkeys; ca—and; anyatra—elsewhere; ksudrah—small animals; harinah—deer; sasa-adayah—rabbits and others; caranti—roaming (in the forest); abhitah—without fear; yat-anugrahena—by the mercy of that elephant. TRANSLATION By the mercy of this elephant, animals like the foxes, wolves, buffalos, bears, boars, gopucchas, porcupines, monkeys, rabbits, the other deer and many other small animals loitered elsewhere in the forest. They were not afraid of him. PURPORT All the animals were practically controlled by this elephant, yet although they could move without fear, because of respect they did not stand before him. SB8.2.23-24 TEXTS 23–24 sa gharma-taptah karibhih karenubhir vrto madacyut-karabhair anudrutah girim garimna paritah prakampayan nisevyamano ’likulair madasanaih saro ’nilam pankaja-renu-rusitam jighran viduran mada-vihvaleksanah vrtah sva-yuthena trsarditena tat sarovarabhyasam athagamad drutam SYNONYMS sah—he (the leader of the elephants); gharma-taptah—perspiring; karibhih—by other elephants; karenubhih—as well as female elephants; vrtah—surrounded; mada-cyut—liquor dripping from his mouth; karabhaih—by small elephants; anudrutah—was followed; girim—that mountain; garimna—by the weight of the body; paritah—all around; prakampayan—causing to tremble; nisevyamanah—being served; alikulaih—by the bumblebees; mada-asanaih—who drank honey; sarah—from the lake; anilam—the breeze; pankaja-renu-rusitam—carrying the dust from the lotus flowers; jighran—smelling; vidurat—from a distance; mada-vihvala—being intoxicated; iksanah—whose vision; vrtah—surrounded; sva-yuthena—by his own associates; trsarditena—who were afflicted by thirst; tat—that; sarovara-abhyasam—to the bank of the lake; atha—thus; agamat—went; drutam—very soon. TRANSLATION Surrounded by the herd’s other elephants, including females, and followed by the young ones, Gajapati, the leader of the elephants, made Trikuta Mountain tremble all around because of the weight of his body. He was perspiring, liquor dripped from his mouth, and his vision was overwhelmed by intoxication. He was being served by bumblebees who drank honey, and from a distance he could smell the dust of the lotus flowers, which was carried from the lake by the breeze. Thus surrounded by his associates, who were afflicted by thirst, he soon arrived at the bank of the lake.
kumarah kapilo manuh
prahlado janako bhismo
balir vaiyasakir vayam