Gajendra was the king of elephants. He lived with his family on  a mountain.

On a hot summer day as temperature soared  he and his family descending the mountain to bathe in the cold waters of the lake below.

Gajendra became playful and began spraying the chilly water with his trunk. A crocodile lived in that lake. As the still waters moved, the crocodile got disturbed. Angry, he stealthily attacked Gajendra and sunk his teeth into his leg. Startled, Gajendra cried out in pain. As his leg bled, he tried to pull it out from the crocodile's jaws. Deeply bruised, his  strength failed him. Anxious Gajendra began praying to Vishnu.

In the while, the majestic figure of the Lord seated on Gajendra emerged. Though crying in pain, Gajendra welcomed Vishnu with a   Lotus. Vishnu jumped into the lake and swam out to the crocodile. Then tearing it jaws apart he killed the animal and saved Gajendra.