Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

नियुध्यतोरेवमिभेन्द्रनक्रयो- र्विकर्षतोरन्तरतो बहिर्मिथ: । समा: सहस्रं व्यगमन् महीपते सप्राणयोश्चित्रममंसतामरा: ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

niyudhyator evam ibhendra-nakrayor vikarṣator antarato bahir mithaḥ samāḥ sahasraṁ vyagaman mahī-pate saprāṇayoś citram amaṁsatāmarāḥ

Translation

大王啊，就这样，象与鳄彼此争斗，互相拉扯，时而拖入水中，时而拽出水外，竟持续了一千年。诸天见两者尚有气息却久战不休，皆大为惊异。

Synonyms

• नियुध्यतोः: of the two who were fighting
• नियुध्यतोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√युध् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; 'of the two fighting'

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

• इभेन्द्रनक्रयोः: of the lordly elephant and the crocodile
• इभेन्द्रनक्रयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इभेन्द्र-नक्र (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (इभेन्द्रः + नक्रः)

• विकर्षतोः: of the two dragging (each other)
• विकर्षतोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√कृष् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), षष्ठी, द्विवचन; 'of the two dragging (each other)'

• अन्तरतः: from within
• अन्तरतः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक/स्थानवाचक (from within/inside)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (outside)

• मिथः: mutually
• मिथः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परस्परार्थे (mutually)

• समाः: years
• समाः: कर्ता (Karta; subject of 'passed')
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (संख्यावाचक)

• व्यगमन्: passed (elapsed)
• व्यगमन्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• महीपते: O lord of the earth (king)
• महीपते: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही-पति (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महीः पतिः)

• सप्राणयोः: of the two still alive
• सप्राणयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-प्राण (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (सह प्राणैः) = 'while still alive'

• चित्रम्: a wonder
• चित्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक

• अमंसत: considered/thought
• अमंसत: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद (मन्यते-गण)

• अमराः: the gods
• अमराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit
• Gajendra
• Crocodile (Nakrā)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the fight between Gajendra and the crocodile lasting 1000 years?

This verse states that their struggle continued for one thousand years, with each dragging the other between land and water, astonishing even the demigods by its extraordinary endurance.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe this long battle to King Parīkṣit?

He highlights the intensity and prolonged nature of Gajendra’s crisis, setting the stage for the deeper teaching that only wholehearted surrender to the Lord brings final deliverance.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from this verse today?

Material strength and struggle can continue for a long time without resolution; the Bhagavatam points the seeker toward turning to sincere prayer and surrender when ordinary efforts cannot free one from suffering.