Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 28
Trikūṭa Mountain, Ṛtumat Garden, and the Beginning of Gajendra’s Crisis
तथातुरं यूथपतिं करेणवो विकृष्यमाणं तरसा बलीयसा । विचुक्रुशुर्दीनधियोऽपरे गजा: पार्ष्णिग्रहास्तारयितुं न चाशकन् ॥ २८ ॥
tathāturaṁ yūtha-patiṁ kareṇavo vikṛṣyamāṇaṁ tarasā balīyasā vicukruśur dīna-dhiyo ’pare gajāḥ pārṣṇi-grahās tārayituṁ na cāśakan
その後、より強い鰐に勢いよく引きずられる群れの長ガジェーンドラを見て、雌象たちは深い悲しみに泣き叫んだ。他の象たちも後ろから掴んで救おうとしたが、鰐の強大な力のため助け出せなかった。
FAQs
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.
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.
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.