There was a Gajraj (the king of elephants) in a forest. It was the biggest and strongest among all elephants. There were uncounted male, female and children elephants in the group. All had good health but Gajraj was special. It was most handsome. It had immense strength to defeat any creature. It was able to uproot any big tree. When it walked, the surrounding earth shook. Its play in the water with other elephants attracted the passers-by. Its large ears, forehead, trunk, tusks were sound and very attractive. It looked like ‘Airaawat (The king of gods, Indra’s elephant). All ferocious animals (lions, tigers, leopards etc.) were afraid of the Gajraj and left killing the innocent animals. Simple, harmless animals were moving fearlessly. Gajraj moved freely, shaking his body left and right with natural ego as if he were the king of the forest.
There was a beautiful lake full of pure water. Lotus’s scented leaves made the water too much sweet-smelling. Gajraj entered into the water with full family. They enjoyed the water-play for hours and forgot that the king of water was someone else. There was a big crocodile which could not tolerate their activities to disturb him anymore and caught a leg of Gajraj. Both fought for a long time. No other of the family helped the elephant. One should not have the doubt to be helped by anybody at the time of being punished due to one’s fault. You have to face yourself the result of your deeds. Always do your job thinking all these matters. The great dacoit Ratnakaar becomes famous sage Walmiki when no family member agreed to share his sin. The crocodile being a water creature became stronger after long exercise but gajraj became weaker and lastly got defeated. He was dragged to deeper water, only the last portion of the trunk remained out of water. He took a lotus flower and started to pray Lord Vishnu in a miserable voice. Lord, at once appeared. As long as you have ego to perform a job yourself and with the help of the friends, God is away. When you become helpless and have hope of only Almighty, He is bound to come to your help. Draupadee was helped when she totally surrendered leaving all hope of herself and of her brave husbands. Lord brought the both from water, tore the mouth of crocodile with his .‘Sudarsan Chakra’ and saved the life of Gajraj. The crocodile found the body of a gandharb (specie of gods who dances and sings) and went to the heaven. The Gajraj also got the form similar to Lord Vishnu and went to heaven with the Lord himself.
What does this story tell us? The ego must get end. When Almighty is on your back, you are the strongest. The creature himself cannot lift even a small piece of grass. Arjun defeated all the great warriors of his time, till Lord Krishna was with him. When he became alone, simple Kol-Bhils (tribes of the forest) defeated him. “Mook hohi baachaal, pangu chadhahi girivar gahan..”. The dumb can become big orators, the deaf can hear whispering voice, the lame can climb the tough mountains and the blind can see the whole world, with Almighty’s grace. God doesn’t kill rather changes the old, rotten body to a better new one. We have got the body according to our past life deeds. In the past life, the crocodile was a gandharb (gods who perform dance and singing like filmy actors on the earth) named ‘Hoohoo’. By the curse of sage ‘Deval’ it became a crocodile. God freed him from the curse. He found his original form and went to his own abode. Now, one can think whether the crocodile was punished or rewarded.
Similar is the case with the elephant. In its previous life it was king ‘Indradyumna’ of the country ‘Dravid’ belonging to ‘Pandya’ dynasty. He had left his kingly duty to serve the people and was doing penance on the mountain ‘Malay’ in the form of a sage having long beard, whiskers and long hairs. This is a big crime if you don’t do your duty. Although he was doing penance, he became guilty. The great sage Agastya passed through the forest and saw the king in the penance, leaving his duty of serving the subjects and honoring the Brahmins and sages. He cursed the king to become dull-brainy creature like elephant. God gave him liberation and made him His courtier.
“Swadharme nidhanah shreyah, par dharmo bhayaabahah.” Everyone should do his allotted duty and it is the very penance. Lord Ram had also punished a person doing penance which was not his duty. Due to his sin, the son of a Brahmin had died. The complaint was lodged and the person doing penance was killed. -----Namo Bhagvate Shree Ramanaay.
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