Letter # 27: "The Elephant & The Crocodile - 1"

Once upon a time, in another age, in a different universe where time moves differently, there was a beautiful mountain, which was surrounded by a gorgeous valley, which was full of luscious plants. There was a lovely deep lake where beautiful animals came to its edge to drink the nectarean water. Gajendra, the elephant, who was the King of animals was taking his family to the lake. His enemies, which included the lions, scattered as he walked with his elephant wives and children. Other smaller animals were not afraid of him, When the elephants arrived at the lake they first quenched their thirst and then had fun. Gajendra frolicked around spraying his wives and children with water. Suddenly, as providence would have it, a crocodile came from the deep and locked its rows of sharp teeth into Gajindra's leg. Gajendra wrestled to get free but couldn't. He struggled for a thousand years unsuccessfully. He got weaker for he was not in his element, the land. The crocodile got stronger for he was in his element the water. Gajendra became afraid. All of the family began to wail. All of the elephants together couldn't match the crocodile's strength. They couldn't rescue Gajendra. Gajendra thought for a long time. he finally reached a decision.

Are you like Gajendra, struggling to survive in this world? Often things might seem perfect, idyllic even, and then something pounces out of nowhere and bites, even the most powerful of us - things like illness, a relationship problem, or a natural disaster. Often wives, husbands, children, relatives, friends, well wishers, and health-care providers look on helplessly, When one is unable to help oneself, and onlookers have done all they can, what can one do?

This is Gajendra's solution: "Na - not; mam - me; ime - all these ..." The verse, rendered fully, means: "The other elephants, who are my friends and relatives, could not rescue me from this danger. What then to speak of my wives? They cannot do anything. It is by the will of providence that I have been attacked by this crocodile, and therefore I shall seek shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always the shelter of everyone, even great personalities." Srimad Bhagavatum: C8:2:32.

The Koran states: "Then, after the anguish, God sent tranquility upon you ..." 3:154

Job asks: "Can you pull in the leviathan (crocodile) with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope? 41:1

Gajendra goes on to make more elaborate prayers and supplications for his ultimate rescue from the suffering.

If and when you wrestle with a "crocodile", you can't afford a thousand years to think about it. So remember how Gajendra handled it.

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
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“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
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References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.