Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: Canto 8: “Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
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 Trikūṭa. In a valley of Trikūṭa there is a nice garden named Ṛtumat, which was constructed by Varuṇa, 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 śrī-śuka uvāca āsīd girivaro rājaṁs trikūṭa iti viśrutaḥ kṣīrodenāvṛtaḥ śrīmān yojanāyutam ucchritaḥ SYNONYMS śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; āsīt—there was; girivaraḥ—a very big mountain; rājan—O King; tri-kūṭaḥ—Trikūṭa; iti—thus; viśrutaḥ—celebrated; kṣīra-udena—by the ocean of milk; āvṛtaḥ—surrounded; śrīmān—very beautiful; yojana—a measurement of eight miles; ayutam—ten thousand; ucchritaḥ—very high.
TRANSLATION Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, there is a very large mountain called Trikūṭa. 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 tāvatā vistṛtaḥ paryak tribhiḥ śṛṅgaiḥ payo-nidhim diśaḥ khaṁ rocayann āste raupyāyasa-hiraṇmayaiḥ anyaiś ca kakubhaḥ sarvā ratna-dhātu-vicitritaiḥ nānā-druma-latā-gulmair nirghoṣair nirjharāmbhasām SYNONYMS tāvatā—in that way; vistṛtaḥ—length and breadth (eighty thousand miles); paryak—all around; tribhiḥ—with three; śṛṅgaiḥ—peaks; payaḥ-nidhim—situated on an island in the ocean of milk; diśaḥ—all directions; kham—the sky; rocayan—pleasing; āste—standing; raupya—made of silver; ayasa—iron; hiraṇmayaiḥ—and gold; anyaiḥ—with other peaks; ca—also; kakubhaḥ—directions; sarvāḥ—all; ratna—with jewels; dhātu—and minerals; vicitritaiḥ—decorated very nicely; nānā—with various; druma-latā—trees and creepers; gulmaiḥ—and shrubs; nirghoṣaiḥ—with the sounds of; nirjhara—waterfalls; ambhasām—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 cāvanijyamānāṅghriḥ samantāt paya-ūrmibhiḥ karoti śyāmalāṁ bhūmiṁ harin-marakatāśmabhiḥ SYNONYMS saḥ—that mountain; ca—also; avanijyamāna-aṅghriḥ—whose foot is always washed; samantāt—all around; payaḥ-ūrmibhiḥ—by waves of milk; karoti—makes; śyāmalām—dark green; bhūmim—ground; harit—green; marakata—with emerald; aśmabhiḥ—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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 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-cāraṇa-gandharvair vidyādhara-mahoragaiḥ kinnarair apsarobhiś ca krīḍadbhir juṣṭa-kandaraḥ SYNONYMS siddha—by the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; cāraṇa—the inhabitants of Cāraṇaloka; gandharvaiḥ—the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka; vidyādhara—the inhabitants of Vidyādhara-loka; mahā-uragaiḥ—the inhabitants of the serpent loka; kinnaraiḥ—the Kinnaras; apsarobhiḥ—the Apsarās; ca—and; krīḍadbhiḥ—who were engaged in sporting; juṣṭa—enjoyed; kandaraḥ—the caves.
TRANSLATION The inhabitants of the higher planets—the Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, serpents, Kinnaras and Apsarās—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 Trikūṭa Mountain.
SB8.2.6 TEXT 6 yatra saṅgīta-sannādair nadad-guham amarṣayā abhigarjanti harayaḥ ślāghinaḥ para-śaṅkayā SYNONYMS yatra—in that mountain (Trikūṭa); saṅgīta—of singing; sannādaiḥ—with the vibrations; nadat—resounding; guham—the caves; amarṣayā—because of unbearable anger or envy; abhigarjanti—roar; harayaḥ—the lions; ślāghinaḥ—being very proud of their strength; para-śaṅkayā—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. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has sung in this regard, keśava! tuyā jagata vicitra: “My Lord Keśava, 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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.19), śva-vid-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ: 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 Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ: our duty is to follow the instructions of the mahājanas. There are twelve mahājanas, and Śukadeva Gosvāmī is one of them.
svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ Vaiyāsaki is Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Whatever he says we consider to be factual. That is perfect knowledge.
SB8.2.7 TEXT 7 nānāraṇya-paśu-vrāta- saṅkula-droṇy-alaṅkṛtaḥ citra-druma-surodyāna- kalakaṇṭha-vihaṅgamaḥ SYNONYMS nānā—with varieties of; araṇya-paśu—jungle animals; vrāta—with a multitude; saṅkula—filled; droṇi—with valleys; alaṅkṛtaḥ—very beautifully decorated; citra—with varieties of; druma—trees; sura-udyāna—in gardens maintained by the demigods; kalakaṇṭha—sweetly chirping; vihaṅgamaḥ—birds.
TRANSLATION The valleys beneath Trikūṭa 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 acchodaiḥ pulinair maṇi-vālukaiḥ deva-strī-majjanāmoda- saurabhāmbv-anilair yutaḥ SYNONYMS sarit—with rivers; sarobhiḥ—and lakes; acchodaiḥ—filled with crystal-clear water; pulinaiḥ—beaches; maṇi—with small gems; vālukaiḥ—resembling grains of sand; deva-strī—of the damsels of the demigods; majjana—by bathing (in that water); āmoda—bodily fragrance; saurabha—very fragrant; ambu—with the water; anilaiḥ—and the air; yutaḥ—enriched (the atmosphere of Trikūṭa Mountain).
TRANSLATION Trikūṭa 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 Trikūṭa 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 Vaikuṇṭha damsels or the damsels in Vṛndāvana, the gopīs.
SB8.2.9-13 TEXTS 9–13 tasya droṇyāṁ bhagavato varuṇasya mahātmanaḥ udyānam ṛtuman nāma ākrīḍaṁ sura-yoṣitām sarvato ’laṅkṛtaṁ divyair nitya-puṣpa-phala-drumaiḥ mandāraiḥ pārijātaiś ca pāṭalāśoka-campakaiḥ cūtaiḥ piyālaiḥ panasair āmrair āmrātakair api kramukair nārikelaiś ca kharjūrair bījapūrakaiḥ madhukaiḥ śāla-tālaiś ca tamālair asanārjunaiḥ ariṣṭoḍumbara-plakṣair vaṭaiḥ kiṁśuka-candanaiḥ picumardaiḥ kovidāraiḥ saralaiḥ sura-dārubhiḥ drākṣekṣu-rambhā-jambubhir badary-akṣābhayāmalaiḥ SYNONYMS tasya—of that mountain (Trikūṭa); droṇyām—in a valley; bhagavataḥ—of the great personality; varuṇasya—the demigod Varuṇa; mahā-ātmanaḥ—who is a great devotee of the Lord; udyānam—a garden; ṛtumat—Ṛtumat; nāma—of the name; ākrīḍam—a place of sporting pastimes; sura-yoṣitām—of the damsels of the demigods; sarvataḥ—everywhere; alaṅkṛtam—beautifully decorated; divyaiḥ—pertaining to the demigods; nitya—always; puṣpa—of flowers; phala—and fruits; drumaiḥ—by trees; mandāraiḥ—mandāra; pārijātaiḥ—pārijāta; ca—also; pāṭala—pāṭala; aśoka—aśoka; campakaiḥ—campaka; cūtaiḥ—cūta fruits; piyālaiḥ—piyāla fruits; panasaiḥ—panasa fruits; āmraiḥ—mangoes; āmrātakaiḥ—sour fruits called āmrātaka; api—also; kramukaiḥ—kramuka fruits; nārikelaiḥ—coconut trees; ca—and; kharjūraiḥ—date trees; bījapūrakaiḥ—pomegranates; madhukaiḥ—madhuka fruits; śāla-tālaiḥ—palm fruits; ca—and; tamālaiḥ—tamāla trees; asana—asana trees; arjunaiḥ—arjuna trees; ariṣṭa—ariṣṭa fruits; uḍumbara—big udumbara trees; plakṣaiḥ—plakṣa trees; vaṭaiḥ—banyan trees; kiṁśuka—red flowers with no scent; candanaiḥ—sandalwood trees; picumardaiḥ—picumarda flowers; kovidāraiḥ—kovidāra fruits; saralaiḥ—sarala trees; sura-dārubhiḥ—sura-dāru trees; drākṣā—grapes; ikṣuḥ—sugarcane; rambhā—bananas; jambubhiḥ—jambu fruits; badarī—badarī fruits; akṣa—akṣa fruits; abhaya—abhaya fruits; āmalaiḥ—āmalakī, a sour fruit.
TRANSLATION In a valley of Trikūṭa Mountain there was a garden called Ṛtumat. This garden belonged to the great devotee Varuṇa and was a sporting place for the damsels of the demigods. Flowers and fruits grew there in all seasons. Among them were mandāras, pārijātas, pāṭalas, aśokas, campakas, cūtas, piyālas, panasas, mangoes, āmrātakas, kramukas, coconut trees, date trees and pomegranates. There were madhukas, palm trees, tamālas, asanas, arjunas, ariṣṭas, uḍumbaras, plakṣas, banyan trees, kiṁśukas and sandalwood trees. There were also picumardas, kovidāras, saralas, sura-dārus, grapes, sugarcane, bananas, jambu, badarīs, akṣas, abhayas and āmalakīs. SB8.2.14-19 TEXTS 14–19 bilvaiḥ kapitthair jambīrair vṛto bhallātakādibhiḥ tasmin saraḥ suvipulaṁ lasat-kāñcana-paṅkajam kumudotpala-kahlāra- śatapatra-śriyorjitam matta-ṣaṭ-pada-nirghuṣṭaṁ śakuntaiś ca kala-svanaiḥ haṁsa-kāraṇḍavākīrṇaṁ cakrāhvaiḥ sārasair api jalakukkuṭa-koyaṣṭi- dātyūha-kula-kūjitam matsya-kacchapa-sañcāra- calat-padma-rajaḥ-payaḥ kadamba-vetasa-nala- nīpa-vañjulakair vṛtam kundaiḥ kurubakāśokaiḥ śirīṣaiḥ kūṭajeṅgudaiḥ kubjakaiḥ svarṇa-yūthībhir nāga-punnāga-jātibhiḥ mallikā-śatapatraiś ca mādhavī-jālakādibhiḥ śobhitaṁ tīra-jaiś cānyair nityartubhir alaṁ drumaiḥ SYNONYMS bilvaiḥ—bilva trees; kapitthaiḥ—kapittha trees; jambīraiḥ—jambīra trees; vṛtaḥ—surrounded by; bhallātaka-ādibhiḥ—bhallātaka and other trees; tasmin—in that garden; saraḥ—a lake; su-vipulam—which was very large; lasat—shining; kāñcana—golden; paṅka-jam—filled with lotus flowers; kumuda—of kumuda flowers; utpala—utpala flowers; kahlāra—kahlāra flowers; śatapatra—and śatapatra flowers; śriyā—with the beauty; ūrjitam—excellent; matta—intoxicated; ṣaṭ-pada—bees; nirghuṣṭam—hummed; śakuntaiḥ—with the chirping of birds; ca—and; kala-svanaiḥ—whose songs were very melodious; haṁsa—swans; kāraṇḍava—kāraṇḍavas; ākīrṇam—crowded with; cakrāhvaiḥ—cakrāvakas; sārasaiḥ—cranes; api—as well as; jalakukkuṭa—water chickens; koyaṣṭi—koyaṣṭis; dātyūha—dātyūhas; kula—flocks of; kūjitam—murmured; matsya—of the fish; kacchapa—and tortoises; sañcāra—because of the movements; calat—agitating; padma—of the lotuses; rajaḥ—by the pollen; payaḥ—the water (was decorated); kadamba—kadambas; vetasa—vetasas; nala—nalas; nīpa—nīpas; vañjulakaiḥ—vañjulakas; vṛtam—surrounded by; kundaiḥ—kundas; kurubaka—kurubakas; aśokaiḥ—aśokas; śirīṣaiḥ—śirīṣas; kūṭaja—kūṭajas; iṅgudaiḥ—iṅgudas; kubjakaiḥ—kubjakas; svarṇa-yūthībhiḥ—svarṇa-yūthīs; nāga—nāgas; punnāga—punnāgas; jātibhiḥ—jātīs; mallikā—mallikās; śatapatraiḥ—śatapatras; ca—also; mādhavī—mādhavīs; jālakādibhiḥ—jālakās; śobhitam—adorned; tīrajaiḥ—growing on the banks; ca—and; anyaiḥ—others; nitya-ṛtubhiḥ—in all seasons; alam—abundantly; drumaiḥ—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, kahlāra, utpala and śatapatra, which added excellent beauty to the mountain. There were also bilva, kapittha, jambīra and bhallātaka trees. Intoxicated bumblebees drank honey and hummed with the chirping of the birds, whose songs were very melodious. The lake was crowded with swans, kāraṇḍavas, cakrāvakas, cranes, and flocks of water chickens, dātyūhas, koyaṣṭis 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, nīpas, vañjulakas, kundas, kurubakas, aśokas, śirīṣas, kūṭajas, iṅgudas, kubjakas, svarṇa-yūthīs, nāgas, punnāgas, jātīs, mallikās, śatapatras, jālakās and mādhavī-latās. 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 Trikūṭa 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. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam’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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and be satisfied.
SB8.2.20 TEXT 20 tatraikadā tad-giri-kānanāśrayaḥ kareṇubhir vāraṇa-yūtha-paś caran sakaṇṭakaṁ kīcaka-veṇu-vetravad viśāla-gulmaṁ prarujan vanaspatīn SYNONYMS tatra—therein; ekadā—once upon a time; tat-giri—of that mountain (Trikūṭa); kānana-āśrayaḥ—who lives in the forest; kareṇubhiḥ—accompanied by female elephants; vāraṇa-yūtha-paḥ—the leader of the elephants; caran—while wandering (toward the lake); sa-kaṇṭakam—a place full of thorns; kīcaka-veṇu-vetra-vat—with plants and creepers of different names; viśāla-gulmam—many thickets; prarujan—breaking; vanaḥ-patīn—trees and plants.
TRANSLATION The leader of the elephants who lived in the forest of the mountain Trikūṭa 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-mātrād dharayo gajendrā vyāghrādayo vyāla-mṛgāḥ sakhaḍgāḥ mahoragāś cāpi bhayād dravanti sagaura-kṛṣṇāḥ sarabhāś camaryaḥ SYNONYMS yat-gandha-mātrāt—simply by the scent of that elephant; harayaḥ—lions; gaja-indrāḥ—other elephants; vyāghra-ādayaḥ—ferocious animals like tigers; vyāla-mṛgāḥ—other ferocious animals; sakhaḍgāḥ—rhinoceroses; mahā-uragāḥ—big, big serpents; ca—also; api—indeed; bhayāt—because of fear; dravanti—running away; sa—with; gaura-kṛṣṇāḥ—some of them white, some of them black; sarabhāḥ—sarabhas; camaryaḥ—also camarīs.
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 camarī deer also fled. SB8.2.22 TEXT 22 vṛkā varāhā mahiṣarkṣa-śalyā gopuccha-śālāvṛka-markaṭāś ca anyatra kṣudrā hariṇāḥ śaśādayaś caranty abhītā yad-anugraheṇa SYNONYMS vṛkāḥ—foxes; varāhāḥ—boars; mahiṣa—buffalos; ṛkṣa—bears; śalyāḥ—porcupines; gopuccha—a type of deer; śālāvṛka—wolves; markaṭāḥ—monkeys; ca—and; anyatra—elsewhere; kṣudrāḥ—small animals; hariṇāḥ—deer; śaśa-ādayaḥ—rabbits and others; caranti—roaming (in the forest); abhītāḥ—without fear; yat-anugraheṇa—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-taptaḥ karibhiḥ kareṇubhir vṛto madacyut-karabhair anudrutaḥ giriṁ garimṇā paritaḥ prakampayan niṣevyamāṇo ’likulair madāśanaiḥ saro ’nilaṁ paṅkaja-reṇu-rūṣitaṁ jighran vidūrān mada-vihvalekṣaṇaḥ vṛtaḥ sva-yūthena tṛṣārditena tat sarovarābhyāsam athāgamad drutam SYNONYMS saḥ—he (the leader of the elephants); gharma-taptaḥ—perspiring; karibhiḥ—by other elephants; kareṇubhiḥ—as well as female elephants; vṛtaḥ—surrounded; mada-cyut—liquor dripping from his mouth; karabhaiḥ—by small elephants; anudrutaḥ—was followed; girim—that mountain; garimṇā—by the weight of the body; paritaḥ—all around; prakampayan—causing to tremble; niṣevyamāṇaḥ—being served; alikulaiḥ—by the bumblebees; mada-aśanaiḥ—who drank honey; saraḥ—from the lake; anilam—the breeze; paṅkaja-reṇu-rūṣitam—carrying the dust from the lotus flowers; jighran—smelling; vidūrāt—from a distance; mada-vihvala—being intoxicated; īkṣaṇaḥ—whose vision; vṛtaḥ—surrounded; sva-yūthena—by his own associates; tṛṣārditena—who were afflicted by thirst; tat—that; sarovara-abhyāsam—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 Trikūṭa 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. THIS WEB PAGE URL: http://causelessmercy.com/SB8.2.htm
kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ
prahlādo janako bhīṣmo
balir vaiyāsakir vayam