Shloka 9
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
In a valley of Trikūṭa Mountain stood a garden named Ṛtumat, owned by the great-souled devotee Varuṇa and serving as a pleasure-ground for the celestial maidens. It was adorned on every side with divine trees that bore flowers and fruits in every season—mandāras, pārijātas, pāṭalas, aśokas, campakas; cūtas, piyālas, jackfruits, mangoes, āmrātakas, areca palms, coconut palms, date palms, pomegranates; madhukas, śālas, palms, tamālas, asanas, arjunas, ariṣṭas, uḍumbaras, plakṣas, banyans, kiṁśukas, sandalwoods; and also picumardas, kovidāras, saralas, deodaras, grapes, sugarcane, bananas, jambu, badarīs, akṣas, abhayas, and āmalakīs.
FAQs
Ṛtumat is described as a famous pleasure-garden in a valley belonging to Lord Varuṇa, where the wives of the demigods would sport.
He sets the scene for the events leading to Gajendra’s crisis—describing the divine environment where the elephant later enters and encounters danger.
Even the most beautiful, comfortable surroundings can change suddenly; lasting shelter is found through remembrance and surrender to the Supreme.