The Story of the Elephant King
Skandha VIII. Chap. 2-4
An elephant king resided on the summits of Trikûta. He roamed about with his female herd, intoxicated with the juice that exuded from his temples. Finding a lake, he plunged himself into its waters and quenched his thirst. He then took water in his trunk and passed it on to the young herd and the females. A powerful crocodile attacked him in rage. They fought for one thousand years, each trying to draw the other unto him. The elephants on the bank raised a piteous cry, but they could not be of any use to their companion. The Elephant King got tired at last, but the crocodile being in his own element did not feel any fatigue. The elephant devoutly and ardently prayed to the supreme Purusha. In response to that prayer, Hari appeared with the Devas, seated on the back of Garuda. He drew out the crocodile, cut off its head with the chakra and thus saved the Elephant King.
The Elephant was a Gandharva, named Hûhû. He was playing with his wives in a tank. Rishi Devala went there to bathe. The Gandharva drew the Rishi himself by his feet. The Rishi cursed him to become a crocodile. The elephant was king Indradyumna of Pandya. He was under a vow of silence while engaged in meditation. Rishi Agastya came with his disciples, but the king could not receive him with any word of welcome. “O thou of untrained intellect like an elephant, be an elephant thyself.” Such was the curse of the Rishi to him.
[The Elephant represents the characteristic Jiva of this Manvantara. The elephant becomes excited and mad when the juice exudes from his temples. In the story, madness represents the prevalence of Kâma. The elephant was passionately attached to his wives. The Jiva had given himself too much to Kâma, and he was carried away helplessly by the demon, he knew not where. His better sense could not prevail without some extraordinary help and that help was given by Hari, an incarnation of Vishnu. Possibly the story represents the development of animal instincts].