Canto
6
Chapter 12: Vritrâsura's Glorious Death
(1) The honorable rishi said: 'Thus eager to give up the body, o ruler of man, considering death in battle better than a victory in thought, took he [Vritrâsura] up his trident and attacked he Indra the King of the Enlightened just as the Supreme Person was attacked by Kaitabha at the time of the inundation. (2) Like the fire at the end of the yuga hurled the King of the Demons with great force the sharp pointed trident twirling at the great Indra roaring as the hero loudly at him in great anger: 'Dead you are thou sinner!'
(3) The rotating trident flying towards him like a star falling from the sky did, although the sight was difficult to bear, not scare Indra who with his thunderbolt cut it, as well as the arm of Vritra that resembled the body of the serpent king, in a hundred pieces. (4) With one arm missing he angrily aimed with a mace of iron taking it up against the thunderbolt and stroke he Indra as well as his elephant on the jaw so that the thunderbolt slipped from the hand of the generous one. (5) That very great accomplishment of Vritra was lauded by Sura and Asura and glorified by the heavenly singers and the association of the perfect, but seeing the danger Indra was in, they sincerely lamented 'Alas, alas' over it. (6) Unto Indra his enemy who in front of him was ashamed of the thunderbolt that had slipped from his hands said Vritrâsura: 'O lord take up your thunderbolt and kill your enemy, this is no time for regrets. (7) Except for the One of creation, annihilation and maintenance, the Controller who knows everything, the Original and Eternal Person, are the belligerent, who are themselves subordinate souls, being armed with weapons not always assured of a victory on the spot. (8) The worlds with all their rulers, of whom all those who live in dependence are under control, are, just like birds caught in a net, bound to the timefactor [the Lord] that is the cause in this. (9) Without knowing Him, the strength of our senses, mind, body, life force, immortality and surely also our mortality, considers a man his indifferent body the cause. (1o) O sir, please understand that all things thus, o generous one, just like a wooden doll or a stuffed animal, depend on the Strong One [Îs'a, the Controller, the Lord of Time]. (11) The person of generation [the purusha], the material energy, the principles of creation, the ego, the elements, the senses [of knowledge and perception] and what belongs to them [the mind, intelligence and consciousness] are without the mercy of Him not capable of anything in the creation of this universe. (12) An ignoramus thus considers himself, although he is fully dependent, to be the one in control, but it is He who creates beings by other living beings and it is He who devours them Himself through others. (13) Longevity, opulence, fame, power and the benedictions of a living being are sure to arise when the time is ripe indeed, just as do the reverse conditions without having an inclination for them. (14) Therefore should one in fame or infamy, victory or defeat be equal and even with the distress and happiness of dying or living as well. (15) Goodness, passion and slowness are found by the material of nature, they are not the qualities of the spiritual soul that is the observer to the reality of them; anyone who knows it as such is a person free from bondage [compare B.G. 18: 54]. (16) Look at me, with my weapon and arm cut off I'm already defeated, o enemy, and still I'm trying the best I can to give you battle with the desire to take your life. (17) Life is the stake at this battle, the arrows are the dice, our carriers are the game board and in this game it is not known whose is the victory and whose is the defeat.'
(18) S'rî S'uka said: 'King Indra hearing the straightforward, reverent words of Vritra, took up the thunderbolt and addressed him with a smile without further wondering about them. (19) Indra said: 'How astonishing o Dânava, now you are as perfect as this in your consciousness, now you are such a devotee who is all soul in relating to the Supersoul who is the greatest friend and the Ruler of the Universe [see B.G. 6: 20-23]. (20) Your good self indeed has surmounted the illusory energy of Lord Vishnu which deludes the common man; in your giving up the asura mentality, have you obtained the position of the exalted devotee [see 2.4: 18]. (21) This is truly a great miracle: of you, whose nature it is to be driven by passion, is there now, with your being in Vâsudeva, the Lord Supreme of pure goodness, a strong consciousness! [see Vritra's prayer 6.11: 25] (22) What is the use of water in small ditches to someone who's swimming in an ocean of nectar in his being devoted to the Supreme Lord Hari who is the Controller of the perfection of life?'
(23) S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus having talked over the ins and outs of dharma, o King, resumed the greatcommanders Indra and Vritra who were equal in power, the battle. (24) Whirling dangerously threw Vritra, able to defeat him, with his left hand the club of iron at Indra, o best of kings. (25) But with the S'ataparvanâ [hundredfold hooked] thunderbolt cut he, the demigod, simultaneously the club and the hand as strong as an elephant's trunk to pieces. (26) Struck by the carrier of the bolt fell he, profusely bleeding with the wings of his arms cut from the root, like a mountain from the sky. (27-29) Of his great life-force and uncommon prowess and being alike the biggest snake and elephant, put the demon his lower jaw on the ground and his upper jaw in the sky so that his mouth became huge. With a tongue and teeth like that of a fearful snake did he, as if he were time itself, devour the three worlds with his preposterous body. As if they were the Himalayas moved he his feet pounding and shaking the earth and swallowed he upon reaching him, Thunderbolt Indra, together with his elephant. (30) Him seeing swallowed by Vritra lamented all the demigods with the founding fathers and the great sages: 'Alas, what a tribulation', thus being very morose.
(31) Though he was swallowed by the king of the demons did he not die in his belly, because getting there he was protected by the Supreme Personality as well as by his own power of yoga over the illusion [see S.B. 6.8]. (32) With his thunderbolt pierced the slayer of Bala, the powerful one, the abdomen and got he out to cut with great force off the head of the enemy that was like a mountain peak. (33) But, although it, very speedily cutting his neck, revolved all around to make it fall, took it as many days as it takes the luminaries to move over both sides of the equator to put an end to his time of living. (34) At that very time could in the sky the sound of the kettledrums of the indwellers of heaven and the perfected be noticed who with the gathering of the saintly celebrated the prowess of the victor, in glee praising him with various mantras and a shower of flowers. (35) From Vritrâsura's body came forth the light of his soul, o subduer of the enemies, and with all the gods watching did it achieve the supreme abode.
Second edition, loaded May 6, 2007.
Source texts:
Vritrâsura's Gloriuos Death
The honorable rishi said: 'Thus eager to give up the body, o ruler of man, considering death in battle better than a victory in thought, took he [Vritrâsura] up his trident and attacked he Indra the King of the Enlightened just as the Supreme Person was attacked by Kaitabha at the time of the inundation.S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Desiring to give up his body, Vritrâsura considered death in the battle preferable to victory. O King Parîkshit, he vigorously took up his trident and with great force attacked Lord Indra, the King of heaven, just as Kaitabha had forcefully attacked the Supreme Personality of Godhead when the universe was inundated. (Vedabase)
Like the fire at the end of the yuga hurled the King of the Demons with great force the sharp pointed trident twirling at the great Indra roaring as the hero loudly at him in great anger: 'Dead you are thou sinner!'
Then Vritrâsura, the great hero of the demons, whirled his trident, which had points like the flames of the blazing fire at the end of the millennium. With great force and anger he threw it at Indra, roaring and exclaiming loudly, "O sinful one, thus shall I kill you!". (Vedabase)
The rotating trident flying towards him like a star falling from the sky did, although the sight was difficult to bear, not scare Indra who with his thunderbolt cut it, as well as the arm of Vritra that resembled the body of the serpent king, in a hundred pieces.
Flying in the sky, Vritrâsura's trident resembled a brilliant meteor. Although the blazing weapon was difficult to look upon, King Indra, unafraid, cut it to pieces with his thunderbolt. Simultaneously, he cut off one of Vritrâsura's arms, which was as thick as the body of Vâsuki, the King of the serpents. (Vedabase)
With one arm missing he angrily aimed with a mace of iron taking it up against the thunderbolt and stroke he Indra as well as his elephant on the jaw so that the thunderbolt slipped from the hand of the generous one.
Although one of his arms was severed from his body, Vritrâsura angrily approached King Indra and struck him on the jaw with an iron mace. He also struck the elephant that carried Indra. Thus Indra dropped the thunderbolt from his hand. (Vedabase)
That very great accomplishment of Vritra was lauded by Sura and Asura and glorified by the heavenly singers and the association of the perfect, but seeing the danger Indra was in, they sincerely lamented 'Alas, alas' over it.
The denizens of various planets, like the demigods, demons, Câranas and Siddhas, praised Vritrâsura's deed, but when they observed that Indra was in great danger, they lamented, "Alas! Alas!". (Vedabase)
Unto Indra his enemy who in front of him was ashamed of the thunderbolt that had slipped from his hands said Vritrâsura: 'O lord take up your thunderbolt and kill your enemy, this is no time for regrets.
Having dropped the thunderbolt from his hand in the presence of his enemy, Indra was practically defeated and was very much ashamed. He dared not pick up his weapon again. Vritrâsura, however, encouraged him, saying, "Take up your thunderbolt and kill your enemy. This is not the time to lament your fate." (Vedabase)
Except for the One of creation, annihilation and maintenance, the Controller who knows everything, the Original and Eternal Person, are the belligerent, who are themselves subordinate souls, being armed with weapons not always assured of a victory on the spot.
Vritrâsura continued: O Indra, no one is guaranteed of being always victorious but the original enjoyer, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavân. He is the cause of creation, maintenance and annihilation, and He knows everything. Being dependent and being obliged to accept material bodies, belligerent subordinates are sometimes victorious and sometimes defeated. (Vedabase)
The worlds with all their rulers, of whom all those who live in dependence are under control, are, just like birds caught in a net, bound to the timefactor [the Lord] that is the cause in this.
All living beings in all the planets of this universe, including the presiding deities of all the planets, are fully under the control of the Lord. They work like birds caught in a net, who cannot move independently. (Vedabase)
Without knowing Him, the strength of our senses, mind, body, life force, immortality and surely also our mortality, considers a man his indifferent body the cause.
Our sensory prowess, mental power, bodily strength, living force, immortality and mortality are all subject to the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not knowing this, foolish people think the dull material body to be the cause of their activities. (Vedabase)
O sir, please understand that all things thus, o generous one, just like a wooden doll or a stuffed animal, depend on the Strong One [Îs'a, the Controller, the Lord of Time].
O King Indra, as a wooden doll that looks like a woman or as an animal made of grass and leaves cannot move or dance independently, but depends fully on the person who handles it, all of us dance according to the desire of the supreme controller, the Personality of Godhead. No one is independent. (Vedabase)
The person of generation [the purusha], the material energy, the principles of creation, the ego, the elements, the senses [of knowledge and perception] and what belongs to them [the mind, intelligence and consciousness] are without the mercy of Him not capable of anything in the creation of this universe.
The three purushas--Kâranodakas'âyî Vishn, Garbhodakas'âyî Vishnu and Ksîrodakas'âyî-Vishnu--the material nature, the total material energy, the false ego, the five material elements, the material senses, the mind, the intelligence and consciousness cannot create the material manifestation without the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
An ignoramus thus considers himself, although he is fully dependent, to be the one in control, but it is He who creates beings by other living beings and it is He who devours them Himself through others.
A foolish, senseless person cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although always dependent, he falsely thinks himself the Supreme. If one thinks, "According to one's previous fruitive actions, one's material body is created by the father and mother, and the same body is annihilated by another agent, as another animal is devoured by a tiger," this is not proper understanding. The Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself creates and devours the living beings through other living beings. (Vedabase)
Longevity, opulence, fame, power and the benedictions of a living being are sure to arise when the time is ripe indeed, just as do the reverse conditions without having an inclination for them.
Just as a person not inclined to die must nonetheless give up his longevity, opulence, fame and everything else at the time of death, so, at the appointed time of victory, one can gain all these when the Supreme Lord awards them by His mercy. (Vedabase)
Therefore should one in fame or infamy, victory or defeat be equal and even with the distress and happiness of dying or living as well.
Since everything is dependent on the supreme will of the Personality of Godhead, one should be equipoised in fame and defamation, victory and defeat, life and death. In their effects, represented as happiness and distress, one should maintain oneself in equilibrium, without anxiety. (Vedabase)Text 15
Goodness, passion and slowness are found by the material of nature, they are not the qualities of the spiritual soul that is the observer to the reality of them; anyone who knows it as such is a person free from bondage [compare B.G. 18: 54].
One who knows that the three qualities--goodness, passion and ignorance--are not qualities of the soul but qualities of material nature, and who knows that the pure soul is simply an observer of the actions and reactions of these qualities, should be understood to be a liberated person. He is not bound by these qualities. (Vedabase)
Look at me, with my weapon and arm cut off I'm already defeated, o enemy, and still I'm trying the best I can to give you battle with the desire to take your life.
O my enemy, just look at me. I have already been defeated, for my weapon and arm have been cut to pieces. You have already overwhelmed me, but nonetheless, with a desire to kill you, I am trying my best to fight. I am not at all morose, even under such adverse conditions. Therefore you should give up your moroseness and continue fighting. (Vedabase)
Life is the stake at this battle, the arrows are the dice, our carriers are the game board and in this game it is not known whose is the victory and whose is the defeat.'
O my enemy, consider this battle a gambling match in which our lives are the stakes, the arrows are the dice, and the animals acting as carriers are the game board. No one can understand who will be defeated and who will be victorious. It all depends on providence. (Vedabase)
S'rî S'uka said: 'King Indra hearing the straightforward, reverent words of Vritra, took up the thunderbolt and addressed him with a smile without further wondering about them.
S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Hearing the straightforward, instructive words of Vritrâsura, King Indra praised him and again took the thunderbolt in his hand. Without bewilderment or duplicity, he then smiled and spoke to Vritrâsura as follows. (Vedabase)
Indra said: 'How astonishing o Dânava, now you are as perfect as this in your consciousness, now you are such a devotee who is all soul in relating to the Supersoul who is the greatest friend and the Ruler of the Universe [see B.G. 6: 20-23].
Indra said: O great demon, I see by your discrimination and endurance in devotional service, despite your dangerous position, that you are a perfect devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul and friend of everyone. (Vedabase)
Your good self indeed has surmounted the illusory energy of Lord Vishnu which deludes the common man; in your giving up the asura mentality, have you obtained the position of the exalted devotee [see 2.4: 18].
You have surmounted the illusory energy of Lord Vishnu, and because of this liberation, you have given up the demoniac mentality and have attained the position of an exalted devotee. (Vedabase)
This is truly a great miracle: of you, whose nature it is to be driven by passion, is there now, with your being in Vâsudeva, the Lord Supreme of pure goodness, a strong consciousness! [see Vritra's prayer 6.11: 25]
O Vritrâsura, demons are generally conducted by the mode of passion. Therefore, what a great wonder it is that although you are a demon, you have adopted the mentality of a devotee and have fixed your mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vâsudeva, who is always situated in pure goodness. (Vedabase)
What is the use of water in small ditches to someone who's swimming in an ocean of nectar in his being devoted to the Supreme Lord Hari who is the Controller of the perfection of life?'
A person fixed in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord, Hari, the Lord of the highest auspiciousness, swims in the ocean of nectar. For him what is the use of the water in small ditches? (Vedabase)
S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus having talked over the ins and outs of dharma, o King, resumed the great commanders Indra and Vritra who were equal in power, their battle.
S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Vritrâsura and King Indra spoke about devotional service even on the battlefield, and then as a matter of duty they again began fighting. My dear King, both of them were great fighters and were equally powerful. (Vedabase)
Whirling dangerously threw Vritra, able to defeat him, with his left hand the club of iron at Indra, o best of kings.
O Mâhâraja Parîkshit, Vritrâsura, who was completely able to subdue his enemy, took his iron club, whirled it around, aimed it at Indra and then threw it at him with his left hand. (Vedabase)
But with the S'ataparvanâ [hundredfold hooked] thunderbolt cut he, the demigod, simultaneously the club and the hand as strong as an elephants trunk to pieces.
With his thunderbolt named S'ataparvan, Indra simultaneously cut to pieces Vritrâsura's club and his remaining hand. (Vedabase)
Struck by the carrier of the bolt fell he, profusely bleeding with the wings of his arms cut from the root, like a mountain from the sky.
Vritrâsura, bleeding profusely, his two arms cut off at their roots, looked very beautiful, like a flying mountain whose wings have been cut to pieces by Indra. (Vedabase)
Of his great life-force and uncommon prowess and being alike the biggest snake and elephant, put the demon his lower jaw on the ground and his upper jaw in the sky so that his mouth became huge. With a tongue and teeth like that of a fearful snake did he, as if he were time itself, devour the three worlds with his preposterous body. As if they were the Himalayas moved he his feet pounding and shaking the earth and swallowed he upon reaching him, Thunderbolt Indra, together with his elephant.
Vritrâsura was very powerful in physical strength and influence. He placed his lower jaw on the ground and his upper jaw in the sky. His mouth became very deep, like the sky itself, and his tongue resembled a large serpent. With his fearful, deathlike teeth, he seemed to be trying to devour the entire universe. Thus assuming a gigantic body, the great demon Vritrâsura shook even the mountains and began crushing the surface of the earth with his legs, as if he were the Himalayas walking about. He came before Indra and swallowed him and Airâvata, his carrier, just as a big python might swallow an elephant. (Vedabase)
Him seeing swallowed by Vritra lamented all the demigods with the founding fathers and the great sages: 'Alas, what a tribulation', thus being very morose.
When the demigods, along with Brahmâ, other prajâpatis and other great saintly persons, saw that Indra had been swallowed by the demon, they became very morose. "Alas," they lamented. "What a calamity ! What a calamity !". (Vedabase)
Though he was swallowed by the king of the demons did he not die in his belly, because getting there he was protected by the Supreme Personality as well as by his own power of yoga over the illusion [see S.B. 6.8].
The protective armor of Nârâyana, which Indra possessed, was identical with Nârâyana Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Protected by that armor and by his own mystic power, King Indra, although swallowed by Vritrâsura, did not die within the demon's belly. (Vedabase)
With his thunderbolt pierced the slayer of Bala, the powerful one, the abdomen and got he out to cut with great force off the head of the enemy that was like a mountain peak.
With his thunderbolt, King Indra, who was also extremely powerful, pierced through Vritrâsura's abdomen and came out. Indra, the killer of the demon Bala, then immediately cut off Vritrâsura's head, which was as high as the peak of a mountain. (Vedabase)
But, although it, very speedily cutting his neck, revolved all around to make it fall, took it as many days as it takes the luminaries to move over both sides of the equator to put an end to his time of living.
Although the thunderbolt revolved around Vritrâsura's neck with great speed, separating his head from his body took one complete year--360 days, the time in which the sun, moon and other luminaries complete a northern and southern journey. Then, at the suitable time for Vritrâsura to be killed, his head fell to the ground. (Vedabase)
At that very time could in the sky the sound of the kettledrums of the indwellers of heaven and the perfected be noticed who with the gathering of the saintly celebrated the prowess of the victor, in glee praising him with various mantras and a shower of flowers.
When Vritrâsura was killed, the Gandharvas and Siddhas in the heavenly planets beat kettledrums in jubilation. With Vedic hymns they celebrated the prowess of Indra, the killer of Vritrâsura, praising Indra and showering flowers upon him with great pleasure. (Vedabase)
From Vritrâsura's body came forth the light of his soul, o subduer of the enemies, and as all the gods were watching, reached it the supreme abode.
O King Parîkshit, subduer of enemies, the living spark then came forth from Vritrâsura's body and returned home, back to Godhead. While all the demigods looked on, he entered the transcendental world to become an associate of Lord Sankarshana. (Vedabase)
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