Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

तथातुरं यूथपतिं करेणवो विकृष्यमाणं तरसा बलीयसा । विचुक्रुशुर्दीनधियोऽपरे गजा: पार्ष्णिग्रहास्तारयितुं न चाशकन् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

tathāturaṁ yūtha-patiṁ kareṇavo vikṛṣyamāṇaṁ tarasā balīyasā vicukruśur dīna-dhiyo ’pare gajāḥ pārṣṇi-grahās tārayituṁ na cāśakan

Translation

Thereafter, seeing their leader Gajendra dragged swiftly by the stronger crocodile, the she-elephants, hearts stricken, cried out in grief. The other elephants tried to rescue him by grasping from behind, but the crocodile’s great strength made deliverance impossible.

Synonyms

• तथा: thus
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• आतुरम्: distressed
• आतुरम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यूथपतिम्: the leader of the herd
• यूथपतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यूथ-पति (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यूथस्य पतिः)

• करेणवः: the female elephants
• करेणवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विकृष्यमाणम्: being dragged
• विकृष्यमाणम्: कर्म (Karma; described object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√कृष् (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (कर्मणि/Passive present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तरसा: by force
• तरसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• बलीयसा: by the stronger (crocodile)
• बलीयसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-भावे, तृतीया, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (by the stronger one)

• विचुक्रुशुः: cried out
• विचुक्रुशुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√क्रुश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दीनधियः: with dejected minds
• दीनधियः: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन-धि (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (दीनाः धियः यस्य/येषाम्) here as 'having dejected minds'

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गजाः: elephants
• गजाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पार्ष्णिग्रहाः: (those) grasping his heel
• पार्ष्णिग्रहाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्ष्णि-ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पार्ष्णेः ग्रहः) = 'heel-graspers'

• तारयितुम्: to rescue
• तारयितुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तॄ (धातु) + णिच् + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-अन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अशकन्: were not able
• अशकन्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शक् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Gajendra
• Gajendra’s herd (she-elephants and other elephants)
• The crocodile (Grahā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about relying on worldly help during संकट (crisis)?

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.

Why could Gajendra’s herd not save him from the crocodile in Canto 8?

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.

Practical application of Gajendra’s lesson in modern life?

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.