Srimad Bhagavatam – day 449
Janardhanaya namah
Pagoda flowers, gorinṭa, kankeḷi, dariśana, linseed, gāra, uttareṇi, yerra tenkai, ponna, suraponna, gooseberry, crab’s eye, plantain and many other varieties of trees which grew along the banks of the lakes together with the fragrant jasmine creepers that grew on these trees enhanced the exquisiteness of the lake. These trees bore flowers and fruit all through the year.
One day, elephant-king Gajendra who lived in these Trikuṭa Mountains, wandered through the forests crushing and trampling the mighty thorny bushes and trees on his path. He was accompanied by hordes of female elephants. It is normal for other wild animals to fear elephants. Merely by catching the scent of the approaching elephant Gajendra, the mighty lions, tigers, other carnivorous wild animals, poisonous serpents as well as other elephant herds which were in the path fled in great fright.
Jackals, foxes, wild pigs, buffaloes, bears, boars, monkeys, wild dogs, scorpions, rabbits and other small animals, which had the protection of elephant-king Gajendra, wandered freely maintaining a great distance from him.
Gajendra was surrounded by many male and female elephants from his herd. Young elephants ran behind him. It appeared as if Trikuṭa Mountain was trembling under Gajendra’s weight. Swarms of bees hovered around him trying to drink the honey dripping from his mouth.
As he was thus wandering through the forests, the wind carried to him, the fragrance of the lotus pollen from the lake. Due to intoxication, Gajendra’s vision was unclear. To add to it, the sultry weather made him excessively thirsty. Eager to quench thirst, he along with his herd of elephants, quickly approached the lake.
Quickly entering into the lake, Gajendra gulped down the nectarine waters to quench his thirst. He relieved himself of tiredness and then, like a householder, began to shower his love upon other members of his herd. It was deeply attached to the female elephants in his herd. Using his trunk, he pulled up water from the lake and bathed them all, unmindful that it would be tiring. He also ensured that they quenched their thirst.
Due to illusion cast by the Lord, Gajendra, who took care of all his family members, could not anticipate the danger that was lurking around to catch him. Oblivious to the world he was engrossed in sporting with the other female elephants, when a mighty crocodile that lived in that lake suddenly rushed and caught his leg forcefully.
It was God’s will that the mighty elephant was suddenly trapped in unimaginable danger. Using all its might it tried its best to break free from the crocodile’s grip, however, the crocodile which was equally powerful forcefully began to drag the elephant into the deeper waters. Seeing the plight of Gajendra, all the female elephants that were standing on the banks of the lake began to shed profuse tears. Helplessly they watched him fight the crocodile.
Here the crocodile represents the destiny. A crocodile is far more powerful when it is in waters than when it is on land. Even on land a crocodile is feared for its strength. It forcefully drags its prey into the water. When it enters the water its strength doubles. The female elephants and other male elephants, which totalled nearly thousand, tried to pull their king but it was of no avail. Helplessly they began to shed profuse tears.
Gajendra and the crocodile were now engaged in a one-on-one fight.