King Khadgabahu of Saurashtra was a valiant person. He was also god-fearing and true devotee of the Lord. Nature was, therefore, kind to him, and his country prospered well on account of timely rains and bright seasons. The happy and contented king ha an elephant named Arimardana (Ari-mardana= Subduer of opponents). He loved his elephant very much. It was a quiet and obedient animal, except when it was in musht. During the periods of musht, it used to get out of control, and never obeyed the king or the mahauts. Yet the king looked after it with all love and care.
One morning, the citizens woke up hearing a big noisy commotion. Some people were seen standing in groups, some were mad running about.
"What happened?" enquired the inquisitive people.
"Arimardana, the king's elephant, is in musht"
"When did it happen?"
"Last night!"
"Is there any trouble?"
"It is only trouble everywhere."
"Do you know? That fellow has smashed the walls around the palace. It has driven away the mahauts. It is now strolling on the main road leading to the palace, trumpeting fiercely."
"What are the mahauts doing?
"They are following his trail cautiously. He cares a hoot for their intimidations and commands."
"Look ! People are running away from the main road."
"Let us go and see what is happening."
And so, people hastened to the main road cautiously.
The king came out with a contingent of bodyguards to see for elf the happenings and to assess the situation. He was shocked to see the damages caused by the elephant.
It had smashed the windows and ransacked the shops.
It was destroying the houses on the roadside.
It was trumpeting and running madly with its tail held aloft.
The mahauts were trying their best to control the animal by beating and inflicting pain on it through various methods. But all in vain. They were following the elephant cautiously, looking for opportunity to trap it and tie it. The onlookers had taken up vantage positions from where they could run and escape in case of an emergency .
At that time, an old brahmin emerged from the crowd. He pushed aside the mahauts and approached the elephant.
"Oh no! Please don't go near it."
'Come back."
It is a murderous elephant."
Don't go near that mad animal."
The crowd cried out to him in so many ways. But the brahmin did not pay any heed.
"Stop there! No more mischief now," the old brahmin shouted at the elephant.
"What! Is the old fellow going to control a mad elephant?" the onlookers blurted.
"Don't move. Stand still," came the commanding voice of the brahmin.
"O Lord! Will the elephant kill the man now?" mourned the king.
Others also became sad.
"Didn't you hear me? Stop, and stand still." The brahmin had had by now reached the elephant.
Wonders!
The rampaging elephant stood still, with its trunk curled up on its tusks.
The brahmin stroked gently the elephant's forehead and wiped the discharge oozing from the must glands. He massaged the gland area with pressure and comforted the elephant and returned.
People stood watching him with wonderment.
What a surprise!
The king and the citizens crowded round him.
By that time, the elephant had again become restless and started its rampage.
"O brahmin! can you tie up the elephant?" asked the king.
"Is it necessary?" asked the brahmin.
"Yes! Yes!" came the reply from the crowd.
"O brahmin! Please tie up the elephant. I shall reward you for this work" said the king.
By that time, the elephant had again become uncontrollable and destructive. It had started destroying houses.
"Brahmin! Please go and tie up the elephant", the king ordered.
The brahmin took a heavy iron chain from the frightened mahauts and dragged it along and approached the elephant.
The onlookers watched with abated breath. "Stop! Don't move!" ordered the brahmin.
The elephant pricked up its ears and listened.
It trumpeted loudly.
It shook its head and trumpeted again. "Don't move. Let me put the chain."
The elephant stood quietly in its majestic gait.
The mahauts directed the brahmin from a safe distance as to how the chain should be put round the front and rear legs of the elephant. The brahmin chained the animal without difficulty. After the chaining was over, he caught the elephant by the tusk and walked up to the chief mahaut and handed over the animal to him.
"Please behave yourself. And don't be mischievous," said the brahmin to the elephant in a commanding tone.
The mahaut caught hold of the tusk with a trembling hand and led it to the royal stable and tied it up there.
The king summoned the brahmin.
"By what power did you tame the mad elephant? Magic? Sorcery? Witchcraft? I am eager to know it," said the king.
The brahmin smiled.
"O king! I am not a magician. I am a humble devotee of Lord Krishna," he said.
"Tell me the secret of your feat," the king said.
"O king. I have no secret to declare. I read regularly the sixteenth chapter of the Geeta. That enables me to relinquish all feelings of duality under all situations and circumstances: and that non-dual condition of mind imparts to me the courage to approach even the wildest of animals and tame them. It is all the glory of the sixteenth chapter," said the brahmin.
"O brahmin! Please accept me as your disciple and teach me the sixteenth chapter of Geeta", requested the king.
The brahmin accepted the king as his student and taught him the Geeta and especially the sixteenth chapter.
Years later, the king became so perfect in his practice of the sixteenth chapter, that he himself tied up the same elephant when in musht.
Such is the glory of the sixteenth chapter of the Geeta.
Thus the glory of the sixteenth chapter has been narrated by me. I shall now tell you the story of the glory of the seventeenth chapter, which is equally beautiful.
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