Shloka 10
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
En un valle del Trikūṭa había un jardín llamado Ṛtumat, perteneciente al gran devoto Varuṇa, lugar de recreo de las doncellas celestiales. Estaba adornado por doquier con árboles divinos que daban flores y frutos en toda estación: mandāras, pārijātas, pāṭalas, aśokas y campakas; cūtas, piyālas, panasas, mangos, āmrātakas, kramukas, cocoteros, palmeras datileras y granados; madhukas, śālas, palmeras, tamālas, asanas, arjunas, ariṣṭas, uḍumbaras, plakṣas, banyanes, kiṁśukas y sándalos; y también picumardas, kovidāras, saralas, cedros deodara, uvas, caña de azúcar, plátanos, jambu, badarīs, akṣas, abhayas y āmalakīs.
FAQs
Ṛtumat is described as Varuṇa’s celestial garden—an exquisitely adorned pleasure-grove filled with ever-flowering, ever-fruiting divine trees, setting the sacred scene for the events leading to Gajendra’s deliverance.
He establishes the heavenly setting and richness of the place to contrast it with the sudden crisis that arises there, highlighting how even in opulence one may face danger and must ultimately take shelter of the Supreme Lord.
Even when life appears “perfect,” circumstances can change; the practical takeaway is to cultivate steady remembrance of God through hearing and devotion, rather than relying on external comfort for security.