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Seeing him the big elephant (Vajraghoșa] which was intoxicated because in musth, with fluid streaming from three (places in its body) was ready to trample him to death who undertook vows of self-discipline.
17. viksva vaksah-sthale saksan manksu śrīvatsa-lañchanam
sva-parva-bhava-sambandhain pratyaksi-krtya cetasä
Quickly noting (however) with its own eyes the śrīvaisa sign on his (the king's) chest, it (the elephant) realized in its mind the connection with its own previous life.
18. tasmin prükiana-sauhārdāt pratosi jošam āsta sah.
tirvarco 'pi suhrd-bhāvam pälayanty eva bandhusu
Because of his former affection towards him (Aravinda) it was gratefully pleased. Even animals maintain friendship with (their former/or: attachment to) relatives.?
19. dharma-tattvam muneh samyag jñātvā tasmät sa-hetukam
sa prosadhópavāsâdi śrāraka-vratam agrahit
Understanding very well the real essence of the monk's Dharma/Doctrine (and) motivated thereby, he took the vow of a layman, viz., fasting, abstinence from sensual gratification, etc.
20. tada prabhrli nägendro bhagna-sākhāh parair dvipaih
khādams trnāni suskāni patrani ca bhayād aghāt
From that time onward the mighty elephant, out of fear (of violating his vow), ate (only) branches broken off by other elephants and grazed (only) dry grass (and) leaves.24
(http://www.upali.ch/musth_en.html) which has pictures of the thick blackish fluid issuing from the temporal glands. The appearance of ichor is not related to the mating season which does not exist for elephants.
2
In his pre-birth the clephant was Marubhuti and Aravinda his father.
24 Cl., e.g., Hemac.. Trio IX 2, 100.
