The Battle Between the Demigods and Vritrasura

Verse 1 (bhagavata.6.10.1)

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच इन्द्रमेवं समादिश्य भगवान् विश्वभावनः । पश्यतामनिमेषाणां तत्रैवान्तर्दधे हरिः ॥ 10.1 ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca indram evaṁ samādiśya bhagavān viśva-bhāvanaḥ paśyatām animeṣāṇāṁ tatraivāntardadhe hariḥ

Sri Badarayani said: Having thus instructed Indra, the illustrious Hari, the creator of the universe, vanished from that very place, even as the unblinking demigods looked on.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.6.10.2)

तथाभियाचितो देवैर्ऋषिराथर्वणो महान् । मोदमान उवाचेदं प्रहसन्निव भारत ॥ 10.2 ॥

tathābhiyācito devair ṛṣir ātharvaṇo mahān modamāna uvācedaṁ prahasann iva bhārata

O descendant of Bharata, thus entreated by the demigods, the great sage, son of Atharvan, spoke these words joyfully, as though smiling.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.6.10.3)

अपि वृन्दारका यूयं न जानीथ शरीरिणाम् । संस्थायां यस्त्वभिद्रोहो दुःसहश्चेतनापहः ॥ 10.3 ॥

api vṛndārakā yūyaṁ na jānītha śarīriṇām saṁsthāyāṁ yas tv abhidroho duḥsahaś cetanāpahaḥ

"Do you exalted demigods perhaps not know of that violence done to embodied beings at the moment of death — unbearable, and stealing away consciousness itself?

Verse 4 (bhagavata.6.10.4)

जिजीविषूणां जीवानामात्मा प्रेष्ठ इहेप्सितः । क उत्सहेत तं दातुं भिक्षमाणाय विष्णवे ॥ 10.4 ॥

jijīviṣūṇāṁ jīvānām ātmā preṣṭha ihepsitaḥ ka utsaheta taṁ dātuṁ bhikṣamāṇāya viṣṇave

For living beings desiring to live, the self is the dearest thing sought in this world — who then would have the courage to give it away, even to Vishnu Himself asking for it as alms?

Verse 5 (bhagavata.6.10.5)

श्रीदेवा ऊचुः किं नु तद् दुस्त्यजं ब्रह्मन् पुंसां भूतानुकम्पिनाम् । भवद्विधानां महतां पुण्यश्लोकेड्यकर्मणाम् ॥ 10.5 ॥

śrī-devā ūcuḥ kiṁ nu tad dustyajaṁ brahman puṁsāṁ bhūtānukampinām bhavad-vidhānāṁ mahatāṁ puṇya-ślokeḍya-karmaṇām

The demigods said: O brahmana, what indeed is there that cannot be renounced by great souls like yourself, compassionate to all beings, whose deeds are praised by the virtuous?

Verse 6 (bhagavata.6.10.6)

नूनं स्वार्थपरो लोको न वेद परसङ्कटम् । यदि वेद न याचेत नेति नाह यदीश्वरः ॥ 10.6 ॥

nūnaṁ svārtha-paro loko na veda para-saṅkaṭam yadi veda na yāceta neti nāha yad īśvaraḥ

Surely, people intent on their own interest do not understand another's difficulty; had the beggar understood, he would not have asked, and had the one able to give understood, he would not have refused.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.6.10.7)

श्रीऋषिरुवाच धर्मं वः श्रोतुकामेन यूयं मे प्रत्युदाहृताः । एष वः प्रियमात्मानं त्यजन्तं सन्त्यजाम्यहम् ॥ 10.7 ॥

śrī-ṛṣir uvāca dharmaṁ vaḥ śrotu-kāmena yūyaṁ me pratyudāhṛtāḥ eṣa vaḥ priyam ātmānaṁ tyajantaṁ santyajāmy aham

The sage said: Only because I wished to hear your understanding of dharma did I test you with these words. Now, though this body is dear to me, since it is bound to leave me in any case, I gladly give it up for you.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.6.10.8)

योऽध्रुवेणात्मना नाथा न धर्मं न यशः पुमान् । ईहेत भूतदयया स शोच्यः स्थावरैरपि ॥ 10.8 ॥

yo ’dhruveṇātmanā nāthā na dharmaṁ na yaśaḥ pumān īheta bhūta-dayayā sa śocyaḥ sthāvarair api

O lords, that man who, out of compassion for living beings, does not strive with this impermanent body to attain either dharma or lasting fame — he is pitied even by the unmoving trees.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.6.10.9)

एतावानव्ययो धर्मः पुण्यश्लोकैरुपासितः । यो भूतशोकहर्षाभ्यामात्मा शोचति हृष्यति ॥ 10.9 ॥

etāvān avyayo dharmaḥ puṇya-ślokair upāsitaḥ yo bhūta-śoka-harṣābhyām ātmā śocati hṛṣyati

This alone is the imperishable dharma honored by the virtuous — that one's own self should grieve at another's sorrow and rejoice at another's joy.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.6.10.10)

अहो दैन्यमहो कष्टं पारक्यैः क्षणभङ्गुरैः । यन्नोपकुर्यादस्वार्थैर्मर्त्यः स्वज्ञातिविग्रहैः ॥ 10.10 ॥

aho dainyam aho kaṣṭaṁ pārakyaiḥ kṣaṇa-bhaṅguraiḥ yan nopakuryād asvārthair martyaḥ sva-jñāti-vigrahaiḥ

Alas, what wretchedness, what misfortune it is, if a mortal fails to help others with this body — belonging ultimately to others, breakable in an instant, of no true benefit even to its own kin!

Verse 11 (bhagavata.6.10.11)

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच एवं कृतव्यवसितो दध्यङ्ङाथर्वणस्तनुम् । परे भगवति ब्रह्मण्यात्मानं सन्नयञ्जहौ ॥ 10.11 ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca evaṁ kṛta-vyavasito dadhyaṅṅ ātharvaṇas tanum pare bhagavati brahmaṇy ātmānaṁ sannayañ jahau

Sri Badarayani said: Having thus firmly resolved, Dadhyanch, son of Atharvan, fixed himself upon the Supreme Lord, the transcendent Brahman, and gave up his body.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.6.10.12)

यताक्षासुमनोबुद्धिस्तत्त्वदृग् ध्वस्तबन्धनः । आस्थितः परमं योगं न देहं बुबुधे गतम् ॥ 10.12 ॥

yatākṣāsu-mano-buddhis tattva-dṛg dhvasta-bandhanaḥ āsthitaḥ paramaṁ yogaṁ na dehaṁ bubudhe gatam

With senses, life-breath, mind, and intellect fully controlled, seer of the truth, all his bonds destroyed, established in the highest yoga, he did not even perceive the departure of his own body.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.6.10.13)

अथेन्द्रो वज्रमुद्यम्य निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा । मुनेः शक्तिभिरुत्सिक्तो भगवत्तेजसान्वितः ॥ 10.13 ॥

athendro vajram udyamya nirmitaṁ viśvakarmaṇā muneḥ śaktibhir utsikto bhagavat-tejasānvitaḥ

Then Indra took up the thunderbolt fashioned by Vishvakarma, filled with the power of the sage's own bones and imbued besides with the splendor of the Lord Himself.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.6.10.14)

वृतो देवगणैः सर्वैर्गजेन्द्रोपर्यशोभत । स्तूयमानो मुनिगणैस्त्रैलोक्यं हर्षयन्निव ॥ 10.14 ॥

vṛto deva-gaṇaiḥ sarvair gajendropary aśobhata stūyamāno muni-gaṇais trailokyaṁ harṣayann iva

Surrounded by the entire host of demigods, he shone magnificently seated upon his great elephant, praised by hosts of sages, as if bringing joy to all three worlds.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.6.10.15)

वृत्रमभ्यद्रवच्छत्रुमसुरानीकयूथपैः । पर्यस्तमोजसा राजन् क्रुद्धो रुद्र इवान्तकम् ॥ 10.15 ॥

vṛtram abhyadravac chatrum asurānīka-yūthapaiḥ paryastam ojasā rājan kruddho rudra ivāntakam

O King, with great force he charged upon his enemy Vritra, who was surrounded by the leading commanders of the demon armies, in anger, as Rudra once charged upon Death himself.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.6.10.16)

ततः सुराणामसुरै रणः परमदारुणः । त्रेतामुखे नर्मदायामभवत्प्रथमे युगे ॥ 10.16 ॥

tataḥ surāṇām asurai raṇaḥ parama-dāruṇaḥ tretā-mukhe narmadāyām abhavat prathame yuge

Then, at the dawn of the Treta Yuga, on the banks of the river Narmada, there took place a most terrible battle between the demigods and the demons.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.6.10.17)

रुद्रैर्वसुभिरादित्यैरश्विभ्यां पितृवह्निभिः । मरुद्भिर्ऋभुभिः साध्यैर्विश्वेदेवैर्मरुत्पतिम् ॥ 10.17 ॥

rudrair vasubhir ādityair aśvibhyāṁ pitṛ-vahnibhiḥ marudbhir ṛbhubhiḥ sādhyair viśvedevair marut-patim

Surrounded by the Rudras, the Vasus, the Adityas, the two Ashvins, the Pitris, Agni, the Maruts, the Ribhus, the Sadhyas, and the Vishvedevas — that is, the lord of the Maruts (Indra) —

Verse 18 (bhagavata.6.10.18)

दृष्ट्वा वज्रधरं शक्रं रोचमानं स्वया श्रिया । नामृष्यन्नसुरा राजन्मृधे वृत्रपुरःसराः ॥ 10.18 ॥

dṛṣṭvā vajra-dharaṁ śakraṁ rocamānaṁ svayā śriyā nāmṛṣyann asurā rājan mṛdhe vṛtra-puraḥsarāḥ

— that Indra bearing the thunderbolt, resplendent with his own glory, when the demons in battle, led by Vritra, beheld him, O King, they could not bear the sight.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.6.10.19)

नमुचिः शम्बरोऽनर्वा द्विमूर्धा ऋषभोऽसुरः । हयग्रीवः शङ्कुशिरा विप्रचित्तिरयोमुखः ॥ 10.19 ॥

namuciḥ śambaro ’narvā dvimūrdhā ṛṣabho ’suraḥ hayagrīvaḥ śaṅkuśirā vipracittir ayomukhaḥ

Namuchi, Shambara, Anarva, Dvimurdha, the demon Rishabha, Hayagriva, Shankushira, Vipracitti, and Ayomukha,

Verse 20 (bhagavata.6.10.20)

पुलोमा वृषपर्वा च प्रहेतिर्हेतिरुत्कलः । दैतेया दानवा यक्षा रक्षांसि च सहस्रशः ॥ 10.20 ॥

pulomā vṛṣaparvā ca prahetir hetir utkalaḥ daiteyā dānavā yakṣā rakṣāṁsi ca sahasraśaḥ

Puloma, and Vrishaparva, Praheti, Heti, and Utkala — these Daityas, Danavas, Yakshas, and Rakshasas, in their thousands,

Verse 21 (bhagavata.6.10.21)

सुमालिमालिप्रमुखाः कार्तस्वरपरिच्छदाः । प्रतिषिध्येन्द्रसेनाग्रं मृत्योरपि दुरासदम् ॥ 10.21 ॥

sumāli-māli-pramukhāḥ kārtasvara-paricchadāḥ pratiṣidhyendra-senāgraṁ mṛtyor api durāsadam

with Sumali and Mali at their head, adorned with golden ornaments, held back the vanguard of Indra's army — an army difficult to approach even for Death himself.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.6.10.22)

अभ्यर्दयन्नसम्भ्रान्ताः सिंहनादेन दुर्मदाः । गदाभिः परिघैर्बाणैः प्रासमुद्गरतोमरैः ॥ 10.22 ॥

abhyardayann asambhrāntāḥ siṁha-nādena durmadāḥ gadābhiḥ parighair bāṇaiḥ prāsa-mudgara-tomaraiḥ

Unshaken and wildly arrogant, roaring like lions, they assailed the demigods with maces, iron clubs, arrows, javelins, hammers, and lances.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.6.10.23)

शूलैः परश्वधैः खड्गैः शतघ्नीभिर्भुशुण्डिभिः । सर्वतोऽवाकिरन् शस्त्रैरस्त्रैश्च विबुधर्षभान् ॥ 10.23 ॥

śūlaiḥ paraśvadhaiḥ khaḍgaiḥ śataghnībhir bhuśuṇḍibhiḥ sarvato ’vākiran śastrair astraiś ca vibudharṣabhān

With tridents, axes, swords, shataghnis and bhushundis, they rained down weapons and missiles from every side upon the foremost of the demigods.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.6.10.24)

न तेऽदृश्यन्त सञ्छन्नाः शरजालैः समन्ततः । पुङ्खानुपुङ्खपतितैर्ज्योतींषीव नभोघनैः ॥ 10.24 ॥

na te ’dṛśyanta sañchannāḥ śara-jālaiḥ samantataḥ puṅkhānupuṅkha-patitair jyotīṁṣīva nabho-ghanaiḥ

Covered on every side by that dense network of arrows falling one after another, the demigods could no longer be seen — just as the stars vanish, hidden by dense clouds in the sky.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.6.10.25)

न ते शस्त्रास्त्रवर्षौघा ह्यासेदुः सुरसैनिकान् । छिन्नाः सिद्धपथे देवैर्लघुहस्तैः सहस्रधा ॥ 10.25 ॥

na te śastrāstra-varṣaughā hy āseduḥ sura-sainikān chinnāḥ siddha-pathe devair laghu-hastaiḥ sahasradhā

Yet those torrents of weapons and missiles never actually reached the demigods' soldiers, for the demigods, swift of hand, cut them into a thousand pieces in the sky above.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.6.10.26)

अथ क्षीणास्त्रशस्त्रौघा गिरिशृङ्गद्रुमोपलैः । अभ्यवर्षन् सुरबलं चिच्छिदुस्तांश्च पूर्ववत् ॥ 10.26 ॥

atha kṣīṇāstra-śastraughā giri-śṛṅga-drumopalaiḥ abhyavarṣan sura-balaṁ cicchidus tāṁś ca pūrvavat

Their store of weapons and missiles exhausted, the demons then rained down mountain peaks, trees, and boulders upon the demigods' army; but as before, the demigods cut these to pieces as well.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.6.10.27)

तानक्षतान् स्वस्तिमतो निशाम्य शस्त्रास्त्रपूगैरथ वृत्रनाथाः । द्रुमैर्दृषद्भिर्विविधाद्रिशृङ्गै रविक्षतांस्तत्रसुरिन्द्रसैनिकान् ॥ 10.27 ॥

tān akṣatān svastimato niśāmya śastrāstra-pūgair atha vṛtra-nāthāḥ drumair dṛṣadbhir vividhādri-śṛṅgair avikṣatāṁs tatrasur indra-sainikān

Seeing that Indra's soldiers remained entirely unharmed and safe, unwounded despite the multitude of weapons and missiles, trees, boulders, and various mountain peaks hurled at them, Vritra's followers grew afraid.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.6.10.28)

सर्वे प्रयासा अभवन् विमोघाः कृताः कृता देवगणेषु दैत्यैः । कृष्णानुकूलेषु यथा महत्सु क्षुद्रैः प्रयुक्ता ऊषती रूक्षवाचः ॥ 10.28 ॥

sarve prayāsā abhavan vimoghāḥ kṛtāḥ kṛtā deva-gaṇeṣu daityaiḥ kṛṣṇānukūleṣu yathā mahatsu kṣudraiḥ prayuktā ūṣatī rūkṣa-vācaḥ

All the repeated efforts of the demons against the demigods proved fruitless — just as the harsh, biting words hurled again and again by petty men against great souls favored by Krishna leave those souls untouched.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.6.10.29)

ते स्वप्रयासं वितथं निरीक्ष्य हरावभक्ता हतयुद्धदर्पाः । पलायनायाजिमुखे विसृज्य पतिं मनस्ते दधुरात्तसाराः ॥ 10.29 ॥

te sva-prayāsaṁ vitathaṁ nirīkṣya harāv abhaktā hata-yuddha-darpāḥ palāyanāyāji-mukhe visṛjya patiṁ manas te dadhur ātta-sārāḥ

Seeing their own efforts come to nothing, those demons, devoid of devotion to Hari, their pride in battle broken, their very strength drained away, resolved even at the very outset of the fight to abandon their own leader and flee.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.6.10.30)

वृत्रोऽसुरांस्ताननुगान् मनस्वी प्रधावतः प्रेक्ष्य बभाष एतत् । पलायितं प्रेक्ष्य बलं च भग्नं भयेन तीव्रेण विहस्य वीरः ॥ 10.30 ॥

vṛtro ’surāṁs tān anugān manasvī pradhāvataḥ prekṣya babhāṣa etat palāyitaṁ prekṣya balaṁ ca bhagnaṁ bhayena tīvreṇa vihasya vīraḥ

Seeing his own following of demons fleeing and his army broken by intense fear, that noble-hearted hero Vritra, seeing them run away, smiled and spoke these words.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.6.10.31)

कालोपपन्नां रुचिरां मनस्विनां जगाद वाचं पुरुषप्रवीरः । हे विप्रचित्ते नमुचे पुलोमन् मयानर्वञ्छम्बर मे शृणुध्वम् ॥ 10.31 ॥

kālopapannāṁ rucirāṁ manasvināṁ jagāda vācaṁ puruṣa-pravīraḥ he vipracitte namuce puloman mayānarvañ chambara me śṛṇudhvam

That foremost of heroes spoke words fitting the occasion, pleasing to thoughtful men: "O Vipracitti! O Namuchi! O Puloma! O Maya, Anarva, Shambara — hear me!

Verse 32 (bhagavata.6.10.32)

जातस्य मृत्युर्ध्रुव एव सर्वतः प्रतिक्रिया यस्य न चेह क्लृप्ता । लोको यशश्चाथ ततो यदि ह्यमुं को नाम मृत्युं न वृणीत युक्तम् ॥ 10.32 ॥

jātasya mṛtyur dhruva eva sarvataḥ pratikriyā yasya na ceha kḷptā loko yaśaś cātha tato yadi hy amuṁ ko nāma mṛtyuṁ na vṛṇīta yuktam

For one who is born, death is entirely certain everywhere, and no remedy against it exists in this world. If, then, that death can bring one heaven and fame, what person would not choose so fitting a death?

Verse 33 (bhagavata.6.10.33)

द्वौ सम्मताविह मृत्यू दुरापौ यद् ब्रह्मसन्धारणया जितासुः । कलेवरं योगरतो विजह्याद् यदग्रणीर्वीरशयेऽनिवृत्तः ॥ 10.33 ॥

dvau sammatāv iha mṛtyū durāpau yad brahma-sandhāraṇayā jitāsuḥ kalevaraṁ yoga-rato vijahyād yad agraṇīr vīra-śaye ’nivṛttaḥ

Two kinds of death are honored in this world, and both are hard to attain: one, where a soul who has mastered his life-breath gives up the body while absorbed in yoga, fixed upon the Supreme; the other, where a hero, leading the charge, never turning back, falls upon the bed of heroes."