OHM: Chapter Two:

The Elephant Gajendras Crisis

The Second, Third and Fourth Chapters of this canto describe how the Lord, during the
reign of the fourth Manu, (Taamasa, son of Priyavrita, brother of Uttama), gave protection to the
king of the elephants. In this Taamasa Manwathara, the Lord took Avatara as Lord Sri Hari, born
through Harini from the loins of the sage Harimedha, her husband. The mighty leader of the
elephants, Gajendra, was extricated form the grip of the alligator by Lord Sri Hari.
In the midst of the ocean of milk, there was a very high and beautiful mountain with an
altitude of ten thousand yojanas, or eighty thousand miles. This mountain was known as Trikt a.
In a valley of Trikt a there was a nice garden named tumat, which was constructed by Varun a,
and was a sporting place of the sura ladies. In that area there was a very nice and beautiful lake.
With its three peaks all around, Trikooda Parvvatha, as wide as it was long, there was an island,
lush with trees, creepers and shrubs and the sounds of waterfalls in all directions, standing radiant
against the sky. It was composed of silver, iron and gold, with more peaks on all sides full of
precious stones and minerals. At its foot, there was the earth green with emerald stones. Venerable
and heavenly singers and dancing girls enjoyed the valleys there. The sounds of the singers made
the stout lions of envy, roar out for a mate. There were many jungle animals. But the gardens were
beautifully decorated and maintained by the enlightened there with all types of trees and chirping
birds. In the rivers and lakes, there was full of crystal-clear water. Godly damsels were bathing
there, enriching the air and the water with the fragrance of their bodies. In one valley there was the
great soul, the mighty personality of Varuna. The garden itumat was with full of trees with most
beautiful flowers and fruits. Mandra and prijta, ptala, as'oka and campaka trees were also
there in plenty. There were fruits like ctas, piylas, panasas, mangoes, mrtaka's, kramukas and
pomegranates as also coconut and date trees. There stood madhukas, palm trees, tamlas, asanas,
arjunas, arishthas, udumbara's, plakshas, banyans, kims'ukas and sandalwood trees. Also were
there found picumarda flowers, kovidra fruits, sarala- and sura-dru trees, grapes, sugar-cane,
bananas, jambu, badar, akhsa, abhaya and malak fruits. In that garden there was a very large
lake full of shining golden

lotuses surrounded by bilva, kapittha, jambra, bhalltaka and other trees and of the great beauty
of kumuda, kahlra, utpala and s'atapatra flowers. Bees were seen flying intoxicated, humming
along with the most melodious songs. Ponds were crowded with swans and krandavas,
cakrvakas, flocks of water chickens, koyashthis and dtyh's all making their noises. The water,
surrounded by kadamba, vetasa, nala, npa and vajulaka flowers, were agitated by the movements
of the fish and tortoises. Pollen falling from lotuses covered the surface. The kundas, kurubakas,
as'okas, s'irshas, kthajas, ingudas, kubjakas, svarna-yths, ngas, punngas, jts, malliks,
s'atapatras and the mdhav-lats and jlaks and other trees growing on the banks adorned the
place in all seasons abundantly.
On that mountain once lived the leader of the elephants, freely and joyfully, in the company
of his wives wandering there, breaking through many thickets full of thorns, creepers and all kinds
of trees and plants. Just the smell of him made the lions and other predators and fiery beasts, the
other elephants, the rhinoceroses and the big snakes as also the white and black camar deer, all
flee in fear. Because of his mercy could the foxes, boars, buffalo's, bears, porcupines, gopucchas
and other deer, the wolves, monkeys and other small animals like rabbits and others, roam
unafraid. He perspiring, with saliva dripping and surrounded by nectar drinking bees, followed by
the other he and she elephants went round the mountain trembling the earth. He smelled from a
distance the dust of the lotus flowers in the nearby lake. Intoxicated by the smell, he quickly went
to the bank of that lake. Entering its pellucid, cool water, he drew and filled his trunk with the
nectarine lotus-dust mixture. He bathed thoroughly in it and was relieved of all fatigue. Sucking
the water in, with his big trunk and spraying it over him as well, causing his wives and children to
bathe, like a concerned householder all too attached to his family, inconsiderate of any hardship,
and paying little attention to the disturbances the poor inhabitants of the water suffered. The poorminded elephant was under the influence of the external energy. Seeing the pride and arrogance of
the elephant, the chief crocodile in that water, who was very strong and powerful, immediately
attacked the elephants leg. 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 Lord, Sri Hari.

Subham