Chapter 2 - The Elephant Leader seized by the Alligator

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. Oh King, there was a mountain well known as Trikūṭa. The beautiful mountain was ten thousand yojanas in height and was surrounded by the milky ocean.

2. It was wide on all sides to the same extent as its height. It had three peaks of gold, silver and iron (respectively) wherewith it illuminated the milky ocean, the cardinal points and the sky.

3. (It stood radiating its charms) in all directions by its other summits which were variegated (in colours) with precious stones and mineral ores, and were covered with clusters of trees, creepers and shrubs of various kinds, and was resounded with the cascades of mountain torrents.

4. With its feet washed by the waves of milk on all sides, it makes the earth appear dark-green with its rocks and pebbles of emeralds.

5. Its valleys were resorted to by sporting Siddhas, Cāraṇaṣ, Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, big serpents, Kinnaras and Apsaras (celestial nymphs).

6. While its caves were resonant with the echoes of the music (of Kinnaras etc.), proud lions suspecting it to be due to the presence of a rival lion, impatiently roared back in indignation towards them.

7. It appeared picturesque (lit. was adorned) with valleys infested with herds of wild beasts of various kinds. In its celestial gardens abounding in a variety of trees, birds of sweet voice were warbling.

8. It appeared beautiful with streams and lakes of crystal waters, with banks covered with (sparkling) sand of jewels and precious stones. Their waters became highly fragrant by the bathing of celestial women in them, and the breezes blowing over them were charged with sweet scent.

9. In one of the valleys of that mountain, there is a garden called Ṛtumat belonging to the glorious high-souled god Varuṇa, which was the sporting ground of celestial ladies.

10-14. On all sides, it was adorned with celestial trees ever laden with fruits and blossoming flowers such as Mandāras, Pārijātas, Pāṭalas, Aśokas, Campakas, mangoes (of various species), Priyālas, bread fruit (Jack-fruit) trees, Amrātakas as well as with Kramukas (arecas), cocoanut trees, date-palms, Bījapūrakas (citrons), Madhūkas, Śāla trees, tala (palmyras) Tamālas, Asanas, Arjunas, Ariṣṭas (soap-berries) Udumbaras (Indian fig trees), Plakṣas, banyan trees, Kiṃśukas, sandal trees, Neem trees, Kovidāras, Saralas (pine trees?), Deodars, grape vines, sugar-canes, plantains, rose-apples, plum-trees, Akṣas, the yellow myrobalan, Emblic myrobalan trees and was surrounded by Bilva, Kapittha (wood apple tree), Jambīra, Bhallātaka (the marking-nut plant) and others. In that garden there was an extensive lake resplendent with golden lotuses.

15. It looked excellently beautiful with the splendour of lilies and various species of lotuses such as Utpala, Kalhāra and Śatapatra (white, blue and ordinary types). It was resonant with (the ceaseless) humming of intoxicated bees and with melodious notes of warbling birds.

16. It was swarmed with aquatic birds like swans, ducks called Kāraṇḍava, ruddy geese (Cakravāka) and cranes. It was resounded with the cries of water-fowls Koyaṣṭis and Dātyūha (the gallinules).

17-19. Its waters were covered with filaments of lotuses shaking with the movement of the fishes and tortoises. It was surrounded with trees and plants such as Kadambas, canes, Nalas (a variety of reed) and Nīpas (a kind of Kadamba), Vañjulaka, Kurbaka, Aśoka, Śirīṣa, Kuṭaja, Aṅguda, Kubjaka, Svarṇayūthi (yellow jasmine), Nāga, Punnāga, Jātis, Millikā, Śatapatras, Mādhavī Jālaka and other creepers.

It appears superbly beautiful with other trees growing on its banks, and bearing fruits and flowers throughout all seasons.

20. Once upon a time, there came in that garden the leader of a herd of elephants dwelling in the forest over the mountains. It was ranging about in the company of female elephants breaking and treading down thorny shrubs and clusters of various types of bamboos and canes (on their way).

21. Even at the scent of that King-elephant, lions, big elephants, carnivorous animals like tigers, rhinoceroses, huge serpents, white and black Śarabhas (an extinct animal more powerful than the lion), Camarīs (female yaks) take to flight through sheer terror.

22. It is by its sufference that weaker animals like wolves, boars, bisons, bears, porcupines, baboons, hyenas and monkeys as well as the deer, hares range about without fear.

23-24. The elephant which was exuding the temporal fluid as a consequence of which he was attended by swarms of blackbees feeding on that intoxicating fluid, was surrounded by (a herd of) elephants, male and female, and was followed by their young ones. Being oppressed with the heat of the Sun, and scenting from a distance the breeze blowing from the lake—(and hence) laden with the pollen of lotuses—he, with his eyes rolling under intoxication and accompanied by his herd, all panting for water, speedily approached the vicinity of the lake, shaking by its huge weight the mountain on all its sides.

25. Plunging into the lake, he, with the tip of his trunk, drank to his fill the translucent, nectar-like water perfumed with the pollen of golden and blue lotuses. Bathing himself with the waters of the lake, he became refreshed.

26. The proud yet compassionate elephant, like unto a house-holder, made his female mates and young ones drink water and bathe, spraying them with the cool water by means of his trunk. Being deluded by the Māyā power of the Lord, the poor creature could not foresee the (impending) peril.

27. There, some powerful alligator, directed by the will of the Providence, indignantly caught hold of the elephant by the leg, Oh King. Finding himself caught up into this calamity by the will of the Lord, the mighty elephant exerted himself to his utmost capacity (to extricate himself from the hold of the alligator).

28. Noticing that the leader of their herd is being dragged with powerful force, and is rendered helpless, the female elephants, with their minds perplexed, began merely to shriek. The other elephants, though helping him from behind and sides, did not succeed in their attempts to rescue him.

29. In this way, while the mighty elephant and the powerful alligator were struggling, the former trying to drag the other outside the water and the latter pulling him inside, one thousand years rolled by. Finding them equally powerful, even the gods marvelled greatly at this (tough fight).

30. In this way, due to his being dragged into the water and harassed for a very long period, the energy, strength and vitality of that king elephant became greatly depleted, while the very reverse of it took place in the case of the acquatic animal (the alligator).

31. When that mighty elephant, dependent on his physical strength only thus found himself in the peril of life and absolutely helpless and incapable of rescuing himself, he pondered over for a long time, and through the will of the Lord, arrived to the following conclusion.

32. “These elephants, my own kinsfolk are not able to liberate me in this plight. What to speak of these poor she- elephants! Caught up and bound down as I am in the snare of the Providence, in the form of this alligator, I shall now approach the Supreme Lord who is the last resort of all.

33. We seek refuge in that indescribable Supreme Lord through fear of whom even the (God of) Death flies away, and who, when resorted to as an asylum, protects in every way the affrighted fugitive, vehemently pursued with irresistible force by the mighty serpent (in the form) of Death.”