nityartubhir alaṁ drumaiḥ

nityartubhir alaṁ drumaiḥ

The mountain was covered with bilva, kapitha, jambīra and bhallātaka trees. There was a large lake with shining golden mud, resplendent with lotuses, water lilies, śatapatras and resounding with the buzzing of bees and cries of birds. The lake was filled with swans and ducks, and resounds with the cries of cakravākas, cranes, water hens, lap wings, and gallinules.

The water was colored with pollen falling from lotuses shaken by the movements of turtles and fish. The lake was surrounded by canes, reeds, kadambas, nīpas, and vañjulakas.  Kundas, kurubakas, aśokas, śirīṣas, kūṭajas, iṅgudas, kubjakas, svarṇa-yūthīs, nāgas, punnāgas, jātīs, mallikās, śatapatras, jālakās, mādhavī-latās, and other trees with flowers growing in all seasons grew on the lake’s bank.

The word vṛtaḥ should actually be vṛtam, as a modifier of udyanam in verse 9. This is done to distinguish the two entities: the mountain was described and on that mountain there was a lake, where Gajendra would bath. This is described in five and a half verses. Śakuntaiḥ means “with birds.” The lake’s waters were covered with pollen dropping from lotus moved about by the turtles and fish. The trees had all seasons manifested to give fruits and flowers at all times.

|| 8.2.20 ||

tatraikadā tad-giri-kānanāśrayaḥ

kareṇubhir vāraṇa-yūtha-paś caran

sakaṇṭakaṁ kīcaka-veṇu-vetravad

viśāla-gulmaṁ prarujan vanaspatīn

The leader of the elephants who lived in the forest of Trikūṭa Mountain once wandered about with his female elephants, breaking huge trees, bamboos, and reeds having thorns.

The sentence continues for five verses. Moving about, eating and having his wives eat, he broke many trees.

|| 8.2.21 ||

yad-gandha-mātrād dharayo gajendrā