Upon that sacred mountain, the presence of celestial beings was palpable—Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Yakshas, Siddhas, Charanas, and Nagas all gathered there, their divine forms lending an otherworldly radiance to the slopes. Alongside them, the mountain teemed with life: wolves and wild beasts prowled the forests, and mighty elephants roamed with regal bearing, their forms shining amidst the wilderness. The landscape was adorned with a profusion of trees—mango, nipa, kadamba, sandalwood, aloe, and champaka—intertwined with countless other varieties, encircling the mountain on all sides in verdant beauty. This mountain was famed for its loveliness, marked by three broad and splendid ridges. Its valleys and slopes overflowed with living creatures, and the air resounded with the calls of chakoras and the vibrant display of peacocks. Everywhere, flowers bloomed in abundance, exuding a myriad of fragrances that mingled with the mountain air. The mountain’s peaks shimmered, pale as drifting clouds or as if they were masses of pure snow. Upon the third and most excellent summit lay the supreme abode of Brahma himself—a place exalted above all others. Yet, it was said that those in the world who had not performed severe austerities, or who had succumbed to sin, could never reach this hallowed height. In the marshes below, the waters were alive with kāraṇḍava ducks and graced by elegant royal swans. Golden lotuses and hundred-petaled lilies floated upon the surface, while clusters of bamboo and reeds lined the banks. Yet, within these waters lurked a fierce crocodile, the sworn enemy of elephants, ever vigilant and watchful for his next prey. One day, a great elephant, his body dark as collyrium and his eyes wild with the intoxication of rut, wandered through the lotus-filled marsh with his herd. The she-elephants watched anxiously, their cries echoing in distress, as suddenly the mighty elephant became ensnared by the snares of the water-dwellers, his movement rendered helpless. He struggled with all his strength, trumpeting loudly and fiercely, but the grip of the water was unyielding. In the extremity of his peril, when all hope seemed lost, the elephant turned his mind inward and contemplated Hari, the Supreme Lord. With his entire being, he sought refuge in that very Lord, remembering the devotion he had practiced over countless births to the bearer of Garuḍa’s banner. In that moment of desperate faith, he beheld a vision of the Lord—resplendent, bearing the conch, discus, and mace, shining like the foam of churned nectar. Longing for deliverance from his peril, the elephant began to recite a hymn, his heart overflowing with devotion: “Homage to You, O God, who takes no refuge, who is free from desire. Again and again, I bow to the One who dwells within all, the sole, the unmanifest. Again and again, I offer homage to the immeasurable, the unfathomable, the incomparable. Salutations to the eternal, the ancient, the primeval one. Salutations again and again to Govinda, the foundation of the universe. Salutations to the Lord of the universe, the divine one—Shiva and Hari. To Nārāyaṇa, who is the universe, the supreme self of the gods, I offer my salutations. Salutations to that supreme person, the bearer of the bow, discus, sword, and mace. Salutations to Acyuta, the best of gods, the granter of boons, praised by Brahmā, Indra, Rudra, sages, and celestial beings. Salutations to the ageless one, clad in yellow garments, destroyer of Madhu and Kaiṭabha, the universe, adorned with a beautiful crown. Salutations to the bestower of boons, the supreme lord, adorned with wondrous crowns and armlets. Salutations to the lord of yogis, pure, whose valor is ever ready to remove obstacles for the lord of gods. I bow to Nārāyaṇa, whose actions are for the benefit of the self, the great Boar. I take refuge in that god of gods, the ancient person, the one who remains at the end of the ages. I take refuge in Vāsudeva, the knower of the field, the source of the self, the most excellent.” Thus, in his hour of greatest need, the elephant surrendered himself wholly to the Supreme Lord, his heart filled with unwavering devotion and hope.