Gajendra the Elephant King

Told in English, Telugu.

Long, long ago, on a tall green mountain called Trikuta, there lived a great elephant king named Gajendra. He was taller than all the other elephants. His tusks shone white like the moon, and when he walked, the ground went thum, thum, thum. His big family, his herd, followed him everywhere, the mothers, the aunties, and the little baby elephants with their tiny wobbly trunks.

One hot afternoon, the sun was burning like a fire in the sky. The baby elephants were tired and thirsty.

"Appa, I am so hot," said the smallest one, swinging her trunk sadly.

Gajendra lifted his great head and sniffed the air. "I smell cool water," he said. "Come, all of you. Follow me."

Through the trees they went, until they found a beautiful lake. Pink and white lotus flowers floated on the water, and bees hummed over them. The elephants ran in with happy trumpets. They drank and drank. They sprayed water over each other's backs. The babies splashed and squealed.

Gajendra walked deep into the water. "Look at me," he thought. "I am the strongest of all. Nothing in this whole forest can ever trouble me."

Just then, something moved under the water. Something long and dark and quiet.

Snap! A huge crocodile caught Gajendra's leg in its strong jaws.

Gajendra roared and pulled. The crocodile pulled back. Gajendra pulled harder. The crocodile pulled harder still. The water churned and splashed, and the lotus flowers rocked this way and that.

"We will help you!" cried the elephants. They wrapped their trunks around Gajendra and tugged with all their might. But the crocodile would not let go.

Now, children, in the water a crocodile is very, very strong, and an elephant gets tired quickly. They pulled and they pulled, for days and days and days. Slowly, the herd grew weak. They could not stand in the water any longer. With heavy hearts, they waited on the bank, calling to him, but they could not help.

Gajendra was all alone. His great legs were shaking. His breath came slow and soft. And for the first time in his life, the mighty elephant king understood something.

"I thought I was the strongest," he whispered. "But my strength is gone. My family cannot save me. I cannot save myself. Who can help me now?"

Then, deep in his heart, he remembered. There is One who made the mountains and the lakes, the sun and the stars, the elephants and even the crocodiles. One who is always there, at the beginning and at the end. Lord Vishnu.

Gajendra reached out with his trunk and gently picked one pink lotus from the water. He lifted it high up to the sky, like a gift. And he prayed with his whole heart.

Our great Telugu poet Pothana wrote down Gajendra's prayer in a beautiful poem. It goes like this:

Laavokkintayu ledu, dhairyamu vilolambayye praanambulun, thaavul dappenu, moorchha vachche, thanuvun dassen, sramambayyedin. Neeve thappa nithahparam berugaa, mannimpandagun deenunin. Raave Eeswara, kaavave Varada, samrakshimpu Bhadraatmakaa!

Do you know what it means? Gajendra was saying, "I have no strength left, not even a little. My courage is shaking. I feel faint, my body is so tired. I know no one but You. Please be kind to me, I am so helpless. Come, O Lord! Save me, O Giver of blessings! Protect me, O Kind One!"

Now, far, far away, in shining Vaikuntha, Lord Vishnu was sitting happily with Lakshmi Devi, laughing and talking. But the moment Gajendra's cry reached His ears, He jumped up.

He did not stop to tell Lakshmi Devi where He was going. He did not pick up His conch or His chakra. He did not call His helpers. He did not even wait to climb onto Garuda, His great eagle. He just ran!

Lakshmi Devi was so surprised. "Swami, where are You going?" she called, and hurried after Him. Behind her came Garuda, flapping his golden wings. Behind Garuda came the conch and the shining chakra, flying to catch up with their Lord. What a sight that must have been, all of Vaikuntha rushing across the sky, all because one tired elephant had called with a true heart!

At the lake, Gajendra's eyes were closing. Then, suddenly, the whole sky lit up with golden light. There was Lord Vishnu, blue like a rain cloud, coming straight towards him.

The Lord sent His chakra spinning through the air. Whoosh! It flashed down into the water, and the crocodile's jaws opened at last. Gajendra's leg was free.

And then something wonderful happened. Out of the water rose a shining gandharva, a heavenly singer. Long ago he had been cursed to live as a crocodile. Now, touched by the Lord's chakra, his curse was over. He folded his hands, bowed to Lord Vishnu, and floated happily up into the sky.

Lord Vishnu stepped close to Gajendra and gently stroked his tired head with His own hand. "You called Me, and I came," He said softly. "Whenever anyone calls Me with a true heart, I will always come."

Gajendra's eyes filled with happy tears. He laid the pink lotus at the Lord's feet. All his pain melted away, and he felt light and peaceful, as if he were floating on a soft white cloud. Lord Vishnu blessed him and took him to live with Him forever in Vaikuntha.

So, my dear one, when you feel small, or scared, or too tired to try any more, remember Gajendra and his little lotus flower. Close your eyes, fold your hands, and say, "Raave Eeswara, kaavave Varada." Can you say it with me? Raave Eeswara, kaavave Varada.

Good. Now sleep softly, knowing that you are never, ever alone.