Shloka 13
Trikūṭa Mountain, Ṛtumat Garden, and the Beginning of Gajendra’s Crisis
तस्य द्रोण्यां भगवतो वरुणस्य महात्मन: । उद्यानमृतुमन्नाम आक्रीडं सुरयोषिताम् ॥ ९ ॥ सर्वतोऽलङ्कृतं दिव्यैर्नित्यपुष्पफलद्रुमै: । मन्दारै: पारिजातैश्च पाटलाशोकचम्पकै: ॥ १० ॥ चूतै: पियालै: पनसैराम्रैराम्रातकैरपि । क्रमुकैर्नारिकेलैश्च खर्जूरैर्बीजपूरकै: ॥ ११ ॥ मधुकै: शालतालैश्च तमालैरसनार्जुनै: । अरिष्टोडुम्बरप्लक्षैर्वटै: किंशुकचन्दनै: ॥ १२ ॥ पिचुमर्दै: कोविदारै: सरलै: सुरदारुभि: । द्राक्षेक्षुरम्भाजम्बुभिर्बदर्यक्षाभयामलै: ॥ १३ ॥
tasya droṇyāṁ bhagavato varuṇasya mahātmanaḥ udyānam ṛtuman nāma ākrīḍaṁ sura-yoṣitām
There were also grapes, sugarcane, bananas, jambu, badarīs, akṣas, abhayas, and āmalakīs, with picumardas, kovidāras, saralas, and sura-dārus all around. Thus, enriched with flowers and fruits in every season, the garden displayed divine splendor in the valley of Trikūṭa.
FAQs
It describes Ṛtumān as Varuṇa’s splendid pleasure-garden, filled with celestial trees that bear flowers and fruits in every season, enjoyed by the heavenly ladies.
He sets the scene of the lake and its surroundings—an opulent heavenly environment—where Gajendra later faces danger, highlighting that even in paradise only devotion to the Lord brings ultimate protection.
Beauty and abundance are temporary settings; cultivate remembrance of God beyond external comfort, so the heart remains steady when crisis appears.