saḥ - this elephant (Gajendra); vai - indeed; pūrvam - formerly; abhūt - was; rājā - a king; pāṇḍyaḥ - of the country known as Pāṇḍya; draviḍa-sat-tamaḥ - the best of those born in Draviḍa-deśa, South India; indradyumnaḥ - by the name Mahārāja Indradyumna; iti - thus; khyātaḥ - celebrated; viṣṇu-vrata-parāyaṇaḥ - who was a first-class Vaiṣṇava, always engaged in the service of the Lord.

This Gajendra had formerly been a Vaiṣṇava and the king of the country known as Pāṇḍya, which is in the province of Draviḍa [South India]. In his previous life, he was known as Indradyumna Mahārāja.