Shloka 28
Trikūṭa Mountain, Ṛtumat Garden, and the Beginning of Gajendra’s Crisis
तथातुरं यूथपतिं करेणवो विकृष्यमाणं तरसा बलीयसा । विचुक्रुशुर्दीनधियोऽपरे गजा: पार्ष्णिग्रहास्तारयितुं न चाशकन् ॥ २८ ॥
tathāturaṁ yūtha-patiṁ kareṇavo vikṛṣyamāṇaṁ tarasā balīyasā vicukruśur dīna-dhiyo ’pare gajāḥ pārṣṇi-grahās tārayituṁ na cāśakan
Daraufhin sahen die Elefantenkühe ihren Herdenführer Gajendra, wie er von dem stärkeren Krokodil mit Wucht fortgezerrt wurde, und schrien in tiefem Kummer. Die anderen Elefanten wollten ihn retten, indem sie ihn von hinten packten, doch wegen der gewaltigen Kraft des Krokodils konnten sie ihn nicht befreien.
FAQs
This verse shows that even sincere allies and great strength may fail against a stronger destiny; such helplessness prepares the soul to seek the Lord’s shelter beyond material support.
Because the crocodile was “balīyān”—stronger in that situation—and despite the herd’s intense effort and lamentation, their material power was insufficient to free Gajendra.
Do your best with available support, but recognize limits; when solutions fail, turn inward to prayer, humility, and sincere surrender to God rather than despair.