sah-this elephant (Gajendra); vai-indeed; purvam-formerly; abhut-was; raja-a king; pandyah-of the country known as Pandya; dravida-sat-tamah-the best of those born in Dravida-desa, South India; indradyumnah-by the name Maharaja Indradyumna; iti-thus; khyatah-celebrated; visnu-vrata-parayanah-who was a first-class Vaisnava, always engaged in the service of the Lord.