tathā - then; āturam - that grave condition; yūtha-patim - the leader of the elephants; kareṇavaḥ - his wives; vikṛṣyamāṇam - being attacked; tarasā - by the strength; balīyasā - by the strength (of the crocodile); vicukruśuḥ - began to cry; dīna-dhiyaḥ - who were less intelligent; apare - the other; gajāḥ - elephants; pārṣṇi-grahāḥ - grasping him from behind; tārayitum - to free; na - not; ca - also; aśakan - were able.

Thereafter, seeing Gajendra in that grave condition, his wives felt very, very sorry and began to cry. The other elephants wanted to help Gajendra, but because of the crocodile’s great strength, they could not rescue him by grasping him from behind.