Bhagavad Gita 10.27
उच्चैःश्रवसमश्वानां विद्धि माममृतोद्भवम् | ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणां नराणां च नराधिपम् ||
uccaiḥśravasam aśvānāṁ viddhi mām amṛtodbhavam | airāvataṁ gajendrāṇāṁ narāṇāṁ ca narādhipam ||
Translation
Know me as Uccaiḥśravas, the horse born of the nectar-churning. Among elephants, Airāvata. Among men, the king.
Reflection
What prototype calls you most strongly, and what is it asking?
Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Ten
Three more. Uccaihshravas, the horse who came forth at the churning of the nectar, among horses; Airavata, the elephant of Indra, among elephants; the king among men. Each is the prototype of its kind. Uccaihshravas is not a horse one will encounter in the field; he is the horse who appeared at the original churning, and every excellent horse since participates in his form. Airavata stands at the head of all elephants in the same way. The king among men closes the verse and locates the same principle in human society. The catalogue keeps placing its examples high enough to be recognisable across traditions. The student does not have to be a horse breeder or an elephant keeper or a courtier to see what Krishna is doing. The chief of any kind that the listener can imagine is Krishna's vibhuti.