Bhagavatapurana 8.2: atha dvitīyo'dhyāyaḥ

8.2.1

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
āsīdgirivaro rājaṃstrikūṭa iti viśrutaḥ /
kṣīrodenāvṛtaḥ śrīmān yojanāyutamucchritaḥ //

Śrī Śuka said: / There was a best of mountains, O king, renowned as Trikūṭa, / surrounded by the Ocean of Milk, splendid, ten thousand yojanas high.

1. Sri Suka said:—There was a beautiful and lofty mountain, O king, well known as the Trikuta surrounded by the sea of milk, ten thousand yojanas in height.

8.2.2

tāvatā vistṛtaḥ paryak tribhiḥ śṛṅgaiḥ payonidhim /
diśaḥ khaṃ rocayannāste raupyāyasahiraṇmayaiḥ //

Equally broad all around, it stands illuminating the ocean of milk,
the directions, and the sky with its three peaks of silver, iron, and gold.

2. It occupies an area of as many yojanas as it is high, and it has three summits of gold, silver and iron with which it illuminates the sea of milk, the cardinal points and the sky;

8.2.3

anyaiśca kakubhaḥ sarvā ratnadhātuvicitritaiḥ /
nānādrumalatāgulmairnirghoṣairnirjharāmbhasām //

And with other peaks variegated with gems and minerals,
with diverse trees, creepers, and shrubs, and with the roaring sounds of cascade waters, [it illuminates] all the quarters.

3. And also the directions with other summits beautifully formed of precious jewels and minerals and covered with various trees, creepers and shrubs and resounding with cataracts of mountain currents.

8.2.4

sa cāvanijyamānāṅghriḥ samantāt payaūrmibhiḥ /
karoti śyāmalāṃ bhūmiṃ harinmarakatāśmabhiḥ //

Its base constantly washed all around by the waves of milk,
it makes the earth dark-green with emerald stones.

4. On every side its foot is washed by the waves of milk and

so it makes the earth (about it) dark green on account of its glossy rocks of emerald green.

8.2.5

siddhacāraṇagandharvairvidyādharamahoragaiḥ /
kinnarairapsarobhiśca krīḍadbhirjuṣṭakandaraḥ //

Its caves are frequented by sporting Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and Gandharvas,
by Vidyādharas, great serpents, Kinnaras, and Apsarases.

5. Its valleys are frequented by Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, great Nagas, Kinnaras and Apsaras women, who (all) gather there for sport.

8.2.6

yatra saṅgītasannādairnadadguhamamarṣayā /
abhigarjanti harayaḥ ślāghinaḥ paraśaṅkayā //

Where, when the caves echo with the resonant sounds of music,
lions, proud of their strength, roar aggressively in anger, suspecting a rival.

6. There, noble lions roar impatiently as if in reply to rival lions at the mountain, the caves of which are deeply resonant with the sounds of Kinnara music.

8.2.7

nānāraṇyapaśuvrāta saṅkuladroṇyalaṅkṛtaḥ /
citradrumasurodyāna kalakaṇṭhavihaṅgamaḥ //

Adorned with valleys teeming with herds of various wild beasts,
it has celestial gardens of wondrous trees where sweet-voiced birds sing.

7. It was picturesque with valleys studded with many forests, herds of beasts, charming trees, lakes, parks and birds of sweet voices.

8.2.8

saritsarobhiracchodaiḥ pulinairmaṇivālukaiḥ /
devastrīmajjanāmoda saurabhāmbvanilairyutaḥ //

Endowed with rivers and lakes of clear water, sandbanks of jewel-like sands,
and breezes carrying the fragrant scent of waters stirred by the bathing of divine women.

8. It was adorned with rills and lakes of crystal water in which shoals of sand glittered like jewels and it was wafted with winds, fragrant and cool, by blowing over perfumed waters in which the celestial women bathed and sported.

8.2.9

tasya droṇyāṃ bhagavato varuṇasya mahātmanaḥ /
udyānamṛtuman nāma ākrīḍaṃ surayoṣitām //

In a valley of that mountain was a garden belonging to the glorious Varuṇa,
named Ṛtumat, a pleasure-ground for celestial women,

9. In one of its valleys there was a garden (paradise) called ‘Ritumat’ belonging to the noble and glorious Varuna, which was the play-ground of the celestial women.

8.2.10

sarvato 'laṅkṛtaṃ divyairnityapuṣpaphaladrumaiḥ /
mandāraiḥ pārijātaiśca pāṭalāśokacampakaiḥ //

Adorned on all sides with divine trees bearing perpetual flowers and fruits:
mandāras, pārijātas, pāṭalas, aśokas, campakas,

10. to 14. On every side it was adorned with celestial trees, always bearing flowers and fruits, viz., Mandaras, Parijatas, Asokas and Champakas, Chutas, Priyalas, Jack trees, Mango trees, and Amratakas, Kramukas, Nalikeras, Karjuras and Bijapurakas, Madhukas, Salatalas, Tamalas, Asanas, Arjunas, Arishtas, Udumburas, Plakshas, Banian trees, Kimsuka and Sandalwood trees, Pichumandas, Kovidaras, Saralas, Suradarus, Draksha, Ikshu, Rambha, Jambu, Badari, Akshabhayamalas, and surrounded by Bilva, Kapitha, Jambiras, Bhallataka and others. In that garden was a great lake full of golden lotuses in blossom.

8.2.11

cūtaiḥ piyālaiḥ panasairāmrairāmrātakairapi /
kramukairnārikelaiśca kharjūrairbījapūrakaiḥ //

Cūtas, piyālas, jackfruits, mangos, and amrātakas,
areca palms, coconuts, dates, and bījapūrakas,

8.2.12

madhukaiḥ śālatālaiśca tamālairasanārjunaiḥ /
ariṣṭoḍumbaraplakṣairvaṭaiḥ kiṃśukacandanaiḥ //

Madhukas, śālas, palmyras, tamālas, asanas, arjunas,
ariṣṭas, uḍumbaras, plakṣas, banyans, kiṃśukas, and sandalwoods,

8.2.13

picumardaiḥ kovidāraiḥ saralaiḥ suradārubhiḥ /
drākṣekṣurambhājambubhirbadaryakṣābhayāmalaiḥ //

Picumardas, kovidāras, pines, devdars,
grapes, sugarcanes, plantains, jambus, jujubes, akṣas, abhayās, āmalakas,

8.2.14

bilvaiḥ kapitthairjambīrairvṛto bhallātakādibhiḥ /
tasmin saraḥ suvipulaṃ lasatkāñcanapaṅkajam //

Surrounded by bilvas, kapitthas, citrons, bhallātakas, and others.
In that [garden] was a vast lake with shining golden lotuses,

8.2.15

kumudotpalakahlāra śatapatraśriyorjitam /
mattaṣaṭpadanirghuṣṭaṃ śakuntaiśca kalasvanaiḥ //

Abundant with the beauty of white water lilies, blue lotuses, red water lilies, and lotuses,
resounding with intoxicated six-legged bees and birds of sweet calls,

15. It looked grand with the splendour of Lilies, Utpalas, Kalharas, and Satapatras and was delightful with gladsome bees humming and with birds singing sweet notes.

8.2.16

haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇaṃ cakrāhvaiḥ sārasairapi /
jalakukkuṭakoyaṣṭi dātyūhakulakūjitam //

Filled with swans, kāraṇḍavas, cakravākas, and cranes,
and echoing with flocks of water-fowls, koyaṣṭis, and gallinules,

16. It was full of swans, Ruddy geese, and water-fowls called Chakravakas; over the lake everywhere were heard the grateful cries of innumerable water-fowls, Koyashties and Datyuhas.

8.2.17

matsyakacchapasañcāra calatpadmarajaḥpayaḥ /
kadambavetasanala nīpavañjulakairvṛtam //

Its waters covered with lotus pollen stirred up by the movement of fish and turtles,
surrounded by kadambas, reeds, nalas, nīpas, and vañjulakas,

17. to 19. Its waters were overlaid with the pollen of lotuses agitated by the movements of fishes and turtles; it was surrounded with Kadambas, Canes, Nala, Nipa, Vanchulakas, Kundas, Kurabakas, Asokas, Sirishas, Kutajas, Ingudas, Kubjakas, Swarnayuthas, Nagas and Punnagas; Mallikas, Satapatras, Madhavi and other creepers; thus it was full of grandeur with these trees and many others bearing fruits in every season.

8.2.18

kundaiḥ kurubakāśokaiḥ śirīṣaiḥ kūṭajeṅgudaiḥ /
kubjakaiḥ svarṇayūthībhirnāgapunnāgajātibhiḥ //

By kundas, kurubakas, aśokas, śirīṣas, kūṭajas, iṅgudas,
kubjakas, golden jasmine, nāgas, punnāgas, and jātīs,

8.2.19

mallikāśatapatraiśca mādhavījālakādibhiḥ /
śobhitaṃ tīrajaiścānyairnityartubhiralaṃ drumaiḥ //

And adorned with mallikās, lotuses, bower creepers,
and other trees growing on its banks, ever in flower and fruit throughout all seasons.

8.2.20

tatraikadā tadgirikānanāśrayaḥ kareṇubhirvāraṇayūthapaścaran /
sakaṇṭakaṃ kīcakaveṇuvetravad viśālagulmaṃ prarujan vanaspatīn //

Once, dwelling in the forests of that mountain, a lord of an elephant herd wandered there with his female elephants,
breaking down trees and vast thickets filled with thorns, whispering bamboos, canebrakes, and reeds.

20. There, once upon a time, a king elephant resorted to that mountain and those forests, in company with his consorts and ranged about, breaking and treading down the thorny shrubs growing under Canes and Kichaka bamboos.

8.2.21

yadgandhamātrāddharayo gajendrā vyāghrādayo vyālamṛgāḥ sakhaḍgāḥ /
mahoragāścāpi bhayāddravanti sagaurakṛṣṇāḥ sarabhāścamaryaḥ //

By whose mere scent lions, great elephants, and ferocious beasts like tigers and rhinoceroses flee in terror,
as do huge serpents, white and black antelopes, sarabhas, and yaks.

21. Perceiving him by scent alone, lions and great elephants, tigersand other wild beasts and beasts of prey, and rhinoceroses and huge serpents, white and black sarabhas and chamaris take to flight in terror.

8.2.22

vṛkā varāhā mahiṣarkṣaśalyā gopucchaśālāvṛkamarkaṭāśca /
anyatra kṣudrā hariṇāḥ śaśādayaś caranty abhītā yadanugraheṇa //

While wolves, boars, buffaloes, bears, porcupines, langurs, jackals, and monkeys,
as well as small deer, hares, and others roam elsewhere without fear, by his grace.

22. Elsewhere the weaker animals, *viz.*, wolves, hogs, buffaloes, bisons, bears, porcupines, gopuchchas, salavrikas, monkeys; deer, hares and others fearlessly roam by suffrage.

8.2.23

sa gharmataptaḥ karibhiḥ kareṇubhir vṛto madacyutkarabhairanudrutaḥ /
giriṃ garimṇā paritaḥ prakampayan niṣevyamāṇo 'likulairmadāśanaiḥ //

Tormented by the heat, surrounded by elephants and female elephants, followed by young calves dripping with temple secretions,
he made the mountain tremble all around by his massive weight, while attended by swarms of bees feeding on rut-juice.

23. Oppressed with heat, surrounded by other elephants, male and female, and followed by the youthful elephants dripping with temporal juice, shaking by its weight the mountain all over and attended by swarms of bees drinking the temporal juice;.

8.2.24

saro 'nilaṃ paṅkajareṇurūṣitaṃ jighran vidūrān madavihvalekṣaṇaḥ /
vṛtaḥ svayūthena tṛṣārditena tat sarovarābhyāsamathāgamaddrutam //

Smelling from afar the breeze from the lake tinged with lotus pollen, his eyes bewildered with rut,
he, surrounded by his herd oppressed by thirst, quickly went near that lake.

24. The king elephant scented the breeze blowing from the lake not very far off, — the breeze laden with the pollen of lotus, his eyes wild with pride, accompanied by his herd, panting with thirst, soon made to the vicinity of the lake.

8.2.25

vigāhya tasminnamṛtāmbu nirmalaṃ hemāravindotpalareṇurūṣitam /
papau nikāmaṃ nijapuṣkaroddhṛtam ātmānamadbhiḥ snapayan gataklamaḥ //

Plunging into that pure, nectar-like water covered with the pollen of golden and blue lotuses,
he drank his fill using his trunk, and bathing himself with the water, his fatigue vanished.

25. He plunged into it; and to his heart's content drank of its nectar-like water highly perfumed with the pollen of golden lotuses and lilies and, also sucking it up with his trunk, showered himself all over with that water and became refreshed.

8.2.26

sa puṣkareṇoddhṛtaśīkarāmbubhir nipāyayan saṃsnapayan yathā gṛhī /
ghṛṇī kareṇuḥ karabhāṃśca durmado nācaṣṭa kṛcchraṃ kṛpaṇo 'jamāyayā //

Drawing up spray and water with his trunk, causing the female elephants and calves to drink and bathe, like a householder
affectionate [toward his family], intoxicated and pitiable, he did not foresee danger due to the creative power of the Unborn.

26. The haughty elephant, yet full of compassion and like unto a householder, made his mates and youthful attendants drink of the water and bathed them with the water drawn up by means of his trunk; but through the supreme will of the Lord, the poor creature did not perceive the (impending) peril.

8.2.27

taṃ tatra kaścin nṛpa daivacodito grāho balīyāṃścaraṇe ruṣāgrahīt /
yadṛcchayaivaṃ vyasanaṃ gato gajo yathābalaṃ so 'tibalo vicakrame //

There, O King, impelled by fate, a powerful crocodile angrily seized him by the foot.
Having thus fallen into calamity by chance, that exceedingly strong elephant exerted all his might [to resist].

27. There, O king, a very powerful alligator prompted by Providence revengefully seized him by the foot. Having thus come to distress through the will of the Lord, the powerful elephant exerted himself according to his strength (to shake off the hold).

8.2.28

tathāturaṃ yūthapatiṃ kareṇavo vikṛṣyamāṇaṃ tarasā balīyasā /
vicukruśurdīnadhiyo 'pare gajāḥ pārṣṇigrahāstārayituṃ na cāśakan //

Seeing the leader of the herd thus afflicted, being dragged forcibly by the stronger [crocodile],
the female elephants cried out in distress, and the other elephants, seizing him from behind, were unable to pull him out.

28. On seeing the Lord of the herd being dragged with great force, the she-elephants shrieked, not knowing what to do, while the other elephants (though helping him) from behind and on the sides could not rescue him.

8.2.29

niyudhyatorevamibhendranakrayor vikarṣatorantarato bahirmithaḥ /
samāḥ sahasraṃ vyagaman mahīpate saprāṇayościtramamaṃsatāmarāḥ //

As the lord of elephants and the crocodile thus fought, dragging each other back and forth inside and outside [the water],
a thousand years passed, O ruler of the earth, and the immortals marvelled at their endurance.

29. O Lord of the earth, while the great elephant and the alligator were thus fighting the duel and were dragging each other from outside and inside and (still) both alive, a thousand years rolled away and at this the Immortals were astonished.

8.2.30

tato gajendrasya manobalaujasāṃ kālena dīrgheṇa mahān abhūdvyayaḥ /
vikṛṣyamāṇasya jale 'vasīdato viparyayo 'bhūt sakalaṃ jalaukasaḥ //

Then, over that long time, a great depletion took place in the mental energy, physical force, and vitality of the king of elephants
who was being dragged into the water and exhausted; while for the water-dweller, everything was the exact opposite.

30. Then it came about that through that long period of time the courage, energy, strength, and force of the great elephant thus dragged and harassed in water were almost exhausted; on the other hand everything was in the other way with the aquatic monster (the inhabitant of water).

8.2.31

itthaṃ gajendraḥ sa yadāpa saṅkaṭaṃ prāṇasya dehī vivaśo yadṛcchayā /
apārayannātmavimokṣaṇe ciraṃ dadhyāvimāṃ buddhimathābhyapadyata //

Thus, when that king of elephants, an embodied soul, came into peril of his life, helpless by circumstance,
unable to free himself after so long a time, he reflected deeply and arrived at this resolve:

31. When the lordly elephant was thus in danger of life, the creature long unable to rescue himself, under imperceptible force (and through chance), began to ponder and arrived at this conclusion.

8.2.32

na māmime jñātaya āturaṃ gajāḥ kutaḥ kariṇyaḥ prabhavanti mocitum /
grāheṇa pāśena vidhāturāvṛto 'py ahaṃ ca taṃ yāmi paraṃ parāyaṇam //

“These elephants, my kinsmen, are unable to deliver me in my distress; how then could the females?
Caught by the crocodile as if by the noose of Destiny, I shall take refuge in that supreme ultimate refuge.

32. "These elephants, my relations cannot rescue me in this distress; much less the she-elephants; I am now bound with cords in the form of the alligator by the Omnipotent Maker; even in this condition I resort (for my shelter) to that perfect Being who is the last resort of all.

8.2.33

yaḥ kaścaneśo balino 'ntakoragāt pracaṇḍavegādabhidhāvato bhṛśam /
bhītaṃ prapannaṃ paripāti yadbhayān mṛtyuḥ pradhāvaty araṇaṃ tamīmahi //

Whoever is the Lord who protects one who is frightened and surrendered from the mighty serpent of Death running after him with terrible speed,
and through fear of whom Death himself flees away—we approach Him for protection.”

33. "We should go to Him as our asylum, who is the most powerful Lord, beyond the range of our preception and protects the affrighted fugitive pursued by the powerful serpent of death with irresistible force, — Him afraid of whom Death himself takes to flight."