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Shloka 25

Trikūṭa Mountain, Ṛtumat Garden, and the Beginning of Gajendra’s Crisis

विगाह्य तस्मिन्नमृताम्बु निर्मलं हेमारविन्दोत्पलरेणुरूषितम् । पपौ निकामं निजपुष्करोद्‌धृत- मात्मानमद्भ‍ि: स्‍नपयन्गतक्लम: ॥ २५ ॥

vigāhya tasminn amṛtāmbu nirmalaṁ hemāravindotpala-reṇu-rūṣitam papau nikāmaṁ nija-puṣkaroddhṛtam ātmānam adbhiḥ snapayan gata-klamaḥ

The king of elephants entered that lake of pure, cool, nectar-like water, fragrant with the pollen of golden lotuses and water lilies. Bathing fully, his fatigue was washed away; then, drawing water with his trunk, he drank to his heart’s content until satisfied.

vigāhyahaving plunged into
vigāhya:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvi + gāh (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) = having entered/plunged
tasminin that (lake)
tasmin:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
FormNeuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular
amṛta-ambunectar-like water
amṛta-ambu:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootamṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय: amṛtam iva ambu = nectar-like water
nirmalampure
nirmalam:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootnirmala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying amṛtāmbu
hema-aravinda-utpala-reṇu-rūṣitamdusted with lotus and water-lily pollen
hema-aravinda-utpala-reṇu-rūṣitam:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roothema (प्रातिपदिक) + aravinda (प्रातिपदिक) + utpala (प्रातिपदिक) + reṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + rūṣita (रूष्/रुष् धातु से क्त/कृदन्त)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: hema-aravinda-utpala-reṇunā rūṣitam = dusted/tinged with pollen of golden lotuses and water-lilies
papaudrank
papau:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpā (धातु)
FormLiṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular
nikāmamto his fill
nikāmam:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootnikāma (अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'as much as desired/fully'
nija-puṣkara-uddhṛtamscooped up with his own trunk
nija-puṣkara-uddhṛtam:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootnija (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣkara (प्रातिपदिक) + uddhṛta (ud + hṛ धातु से क्त/कृदन्त)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: nijena puṣkareṇa uddhṛtam = lifted with his own trunk
ātmānamhimself
ātmānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootātman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; reflexive sense
adbhiḥwith water
adbhiḥ:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootap (प्रातिपदिक; plural-only)
FormFeminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; irregular stem ap- (water)
snapayanbathing (himself)
snapayan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootsna (धातु) / snap (causative stem)
FormCausative present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'causing to bathe' = bathing (himself)
gata-klamaḥwith fatigue gone
gata-klamaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootgata (gam धातु से क्त/कृदन्त) + klama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहि: gataḥ klamo yasya = whose fatigue has gone
G
Gajendra

FAQs

This verse describes entering pure, nectar-like water and bathing as a way that fatigue and impurity are removed—symbolizing refreshment and cleansing before deeper spiritual turning.

In the narrative, Gajendra refreshes himself in the pristine lake; the imagery of lotus-pollen and purity sets the scene for the coming crisis and his eventual surrender to the Lord.

Seek regular inner cleansing—through sādhana, prayer, and uplifting practices—so the mind becomes refreshed and steady, just as the elephant’s fatigue is removed by pure water.