Chapter 11 - Vṛtra, Hari’s devotee, fights

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. Oh King, while he (Vṛtra) was explaining the course of righteousness to the demons, they were struck with terror, and were bent on fleeing, and hence paid no heed to the words of their leader.

2-3. The great Asura, found his army of demons being shattered and scattered like a leaderless mob by gods to whom time was favourable and got enraged. The enemy of Indra, being indignant, was deeply pained, and warding the gods off, he spoke to them scoldingly, Oh King.

4. “What, are you gaining by striking on the back of the fleeing soldiers who are no better than the excreta of their mothers? The slaughter of the cowards does not contribute to the glory or lead to heaven those who pride themselves as valiant.

5. Oh insignificant fellows, if at all you have faith in fighting or some courage at heart and have no longing for sensual vulgar pleasures, try to stand before me at least.”

6. The wrathful demon possessed of vast strength and formidable figure, threatened the army of the gods thus and gave out a loud roar which made people lose their consciousness.

7. By that terrible roar of Vṛtra all the hosts of gods verily fell unconscious on the ground as if struck down by a thunderbolt.

8. Just as a leader of a herd of elephants in the period of his youthful madness, tramples over a bed of lotuses, Vṛtra of irrepressible passion for fighting, shaking the earth by his might and with his trident raised, trampled under his feet the army of gods which was terrified and lying with closed eyes.

9. Indra, the wielder of Vajra, saw him and got extremely enraged. He hurled his heavy mace at his enemy who was rushing towards him. But Vṛtra sportively caught it in his left hand while it was coming with irresistible force.

10. The enemy of Indra, possessing terrible prowess, was extremely enraged and by that very mace, he struck the vehicle of the great Indra, viz., the elephant Airāvata on its forehead (its temples). All present in the battlefield warmly appreciated this feat (of Vṛtra).

11. Airāvata which was smitten down by Vṛtra’s mace, reeled down like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt. With blood coming out of its mouth, it retreated along with Indra for a distance of seven bows, as it was extremely afflicted with its mouth deeply wounded.

12. The great-souled Vṛtra did not hurl his mace against Indra who was deeply dejected in spirits as his vehicle, viz., the elephant was stunned. Indra whose wounded elephant recovered from its pain, by the touch of Indra’s hand dripping with nectar, again took his stand (against Vṛtra).

13. Oh King of kings, seeing Indra, his enemy the murderer of his brother, armed with the Vajra (thunderbolt) itching for a fight, he remembered Indra’s wicked sinful deed (the murder of his brother) and filled with grief and infatuation he laughed and spoke.

Vṛtra said:

14. How glad I am that you, my enemy, the murderer of a Brāhmana, the slayer of your own preceptor and my brother, have stood before me. Oh most wicked fellow, how lucky is it that I shall discharge my debt by piercing your stony heart with my trident within a short time.

15. Just as a sacrificer desirous of heaven mercilessly lops off the head of a sacrificial beast, you cut off the heads of our innocent elder brother who had realized his Self, was a Brāhmaṇa and your preceptor, and who, reposing full confidence in you about his safety, was engaged in a sacrifice.

16. Being destitute of shame, grace, mercy and glory, you are fit to be censured by man-eaters for your misdeed. With your body painfully torn up by my trident and uncremated the vultures will devour you.

17. I shall propitiate the lords of goblins (Bhairavas) along with their retinue, by piercing the necks with my sharpened trident, of those ignorant followers who obey a wicked fellow like you, and who attack me with their missiles raised.

18. Oh valiant Indra, if you will cut off by force my head with the Vajra, I shall have discharged the debt of all beings (by my body) and shall attain to the regions (lit. the dust of the feet) of the high-souled ones.

19. Oh Lord of gods, why do you not hurl your unfailing Vajra on your enemy who is stationed before you. Do not entertain any doubt that like your mace, the Vajra will be ineffectual like a request made to a miserly fellow.

20. Oh Śakra, this Vajra of yours is sharpened and strengthened with the power of Lord Viṣṇu and the austerities of Daḍhīci. Kill your enemy by that thunderbolt which is prompted by Viṣṇu’s power, because where there is Hari, victory, fortune and excellences are to that side.

21. Concentrating my mind on the lotus-like feet of Lord Saṅkaṛṣaṇa as directed by him, with the ties of attachment to sensual pleasures cut asunder by the force of your Vajra, I shall cast off my body and attain to the region of sages.

22. He does not confer on persons whose minds are absolutely devoted to him, the wealth and affluence of heaven, the earth, and the netherworlds as it engenders passions, fear, anxiety, arrogance, discord, misery and physical pain.

23. Oh Indra, our Master causes obstructions in the efforts for attaining the three objects of human life, (viz, Dharma, Artha and Kāma). The grace of the Lord is to be inferred from such obstructions, for it is the lot of those votaries who have given up everything for him (and have nothing of their own). This is extremely rare in the case of others.

24. (Contemplating over the Lord, Hari, Vṛtra addresses:) Oh Lord Hari, let me be again the servant of the servants of your devotees whose sole refuge is your feet. May my mind ponder over the excellences of the Lord of my life. May my speech extol them and may my body render service to you.

25. Oh treasury of Bliss and Grace! I do not aspire after the post of Dhruva which is above the heaven; nor the position of god Brahmā, nor absolute sovereignty over the whole world or the overlordship of a subterranean region, nor do I covet for supernatural yogic powers nor for Liberation (which terminates the cycle of births and deaths)—if it means separation from you.

26. Oh lotus-eyed God, my mind eagerly yearns to see you, just as the unfledged young ones of birds anxiously wait for their mother or young calves tormented with hunger wish for the milk from the udders (of the mother cow) or a beloved lady dejected due to the absence of her lord who has gone to a distant country (waits for her beloved).

27. Bless me with friendship with the devotee of the Lord of excellent renown, while I am wandering in the cycle of Saṃsāra (transmigration of the Soul) as an effect of my karma (deeds). I may not form friendship with people whose minds are attached to their bodies, children, wife and house (property) due to the force of your Māyā.