Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 24
Trikūṭa Mountain, Ṛtumat Garden, and the Beginning of Gajendra’s Crisis
स घर्मतप्त: करिभि: करेणुभि- र्वृतो मदच्युत्करभैरनुद्रुत: । गिरिं गरिम्णा परित: प्रकम्पयन् निषेव्यमाणोऽलिकुलैर्मदाशनै: ॥ २३ ॥ सरोऽनिलं पङ्कजरेणुरूषितं जिघ्रन्विदूरान्मदविह्वलेक्षण: । वृत: स्वयूथेन तृषार्दितेन तत् सरोवराभ्यासमथागमद्द्रुतम् ॥ २४ ॥
sa gharma-taptaḥ karibhiḥ kareṇubhir vṛto madacyut-karabhair anudrutaḥ giriṁ garimṇā paritaḥ prakampayan niṣevyamāṇo ’likulair madāśanaiḥ
O chefe dos elefantes, abrasado pelo calor, vinha cercado por machos e fêmeas e seguido pelos filhotes, dos quais gotejava o licor do cio. Com o peso do corpo fazia tremer por toda parte o monte Trikūṭa; e enxames de abelhas, bebedoras de mel, o serviam sorvendo esse licor. De longe ele aspirava o pólen dos lótus trazido pela brisa do lago; com o olhar turvado pela embriaguez e acompanhado por sua manada sedenta, chegou depressa à margem do lago.
FAQs
It describes Gajendra as a powerful, majestic elephant-king moving with his herd, enjoying worldly strength and protection—setting the contrast for his later helpless surrender to the Lord.
The scene emphasizes material security—family, followers, strength—yet the coming crisis will show that only devotion to Hari ultimately saves.
Even strong social support and personal power cannot remove life’s unavoidable dangers; cultivate remembrance of God before adversity arrives.