Shloka 19

Gajendra's Deliverance — Gajendra’s Deliverance and the Protective Power of Remembrance (Japa)

Devanagari script

तस्मिन् सरसि दुष्टात्मा विरूपो ऽन्तर्जलेशयः आसीद् ग्राहो गजेन्द्राणां रिपुराकेकरेक्षमः

Transliteration

tasmin sarasi duṣṭātmā virūpo 'ntarjaleśayaḥ āsīd grāho gajendrāṇāṃ ripurākekarekṣamaḥ

Translation

{"has_teaching": true, "teaching_type": "dharma", "core_concept": "śiṣya-bhāva and vinaya as the doorway to dharma", "teaching_summary": "The brāhmaṇa adopts a posture of humility and inquiry, requesting clear instruction about duty and cause; receptivity to right counsel is presented as the first step in righteous conduct.", "vedantic_theme": "adhikāritva through śama-dama and vinaya; dharma as preparatory to higher realization", "practical_application": "When confronted with adversity, ask for the reason and the right course without anger; seek guidance from the wise before acting."}

Word by Word

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Speakers

• Narrator voice within the Purāṇic dialogue (exact interlocutors not provided in input)

Key Themes

• Moral contrast in sacred space (tirtha vs. lurking danger)
• Mythic prelude to divine rescue
• Predation as a narrative catalyst

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Why is a ‘wicked crocodile’ placed in a sacred lake narrative?

Purāṇic tirtha narratives often include a संकट (crisis) that triggers divine intervention or reveals the tirtha’s salvific power; the crocodile functions as the narrative instrument that brings the elephant-lord to a turning point.

Does grāha mean only ‘crocodile’?

Primarily it denotes a crocodile in such contexts, but etymologically it also means ‘seizer/grabber,’ fitting the motif of sudden capture that defines the Gajendra episode.

What does ‘watching for a single opportunity’ imply?

It portrays the crocodile as strategic and patient, heightening the inevitability of conflict when the elephant enters the water—an important setup for the next verses.