CHAPTER TWELVE
Vṛtrāsura’s Glorious Death
This chapter describes how Indra, the King of heaven, killed Vṛtrāsura despite great reluctance.
After Vṛtrāsura finished speaking, he released his trident against King Indra with great anger, but Indra, using his thunderbolt, which was many times more powerful than the trident, broke the trident to pieces and cut off one of Vṛtrāsura’s arms. Nevertheless, Vṛtrāsura used his remaining arm to strike Indra with an iron mace, making the thunderbolt fall from Indra’s hand. Indra, being very ashamed of this, did not pick up the thunderbolt from the ground, but Vṛtrāsura encouraged King Indra to pick it up and fight. Vṛtrāsura then spoke to King Indra as follows, instructing him very well.
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead,” he said, “is the cause of victory and defeat. Not knowing that the Supreme Lord is the cause of all causes, fools and rascals try to take credit for victory or defeat themselves, but everything is actually under the control of the Lord. No one but Him has any independence. The puruṣa (the enjoyer) and prakṛti (the enjoyed) are under the control of the Lord, for it is by His supervision that everything works systematically. Not seeing the hand of the Supreme in every action, a fool considers himself the ruler and controller of everything. When one understands, however, that the real controller is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is freed from the relativities of the world, such as distress, happiness, fear and impurity.” Thus Indra and Vṛtrāsura not only fought, but also engaged in philosophical discourses. Then they began to fight again.
This time Indra was more powerful, and he severed Vṛtrāsura’s remaining arm. Vṛtrāsura then assumed a gigantic form and swallowed King Indra, but Indra, being protected by the talisman known as Nārāyaṇa-kavaca, was able to protect himself even within Vṛtrāsura’s body. Thus he emerged from Vṛtrāsura’s abdomen and severed the demon’s head from his body with his powerful thunderbolt. Severing the demon’s head took one complete year to accomplish.
Devanagari
एवं जिहासुर्नृप देहमाजौ
मृत्युं वरं विजयान्मन्यमान: ।
शूलं प्रगृह्याभ्यपतत् सुरेन्द्रं
यथा महापुरुषं कैटभोऽप्सु ॥ १ ॥
Text
evaṁ jihāsur nṛpa deham ājau
mṛtyuṁ varaṁ vijayān manyamānaḥ
śūlaṁ pragṛhyābhyapatat surendraṁ
yathā mahā-puruṣaṁ kaiṭabho ’psu
Synonyms
śrī-ṛṣiḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; jihāsuḥ — very eager to give up; nṛpa — O King Parīkṣit; deham — the body; ājau — in battle; mṛtyum — death; varam — better; vijayāt — than victory; manyamānaḥ — thinking; śūlam — trident; pragṛhya — taking up; abhyapatat — attacked; sura-indram — the King of heaven, Indra; yathā — just as; mahā-puruṣam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kaiṭabhaḥ — the demon Kaiṭabha; apsu — when the whole universe was inundated.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Desiring to give up his body, Vṛtrāsura considered death in the battle preferable to victory. O King Parīkṣit, he vigorously took up his trident and with great force attacked Lord Indra, the King of heaven, just as Kaiṭabha had forcefully attacked the Supreme Personality of Godhead when the universe was inundated.
Purport
Although Vṛtrāsura repeatedly encouraged Indra to kill him with the thunderbolt, King Indra was morose at having to kill such a great devotee and was hesitant to throw it. Vṛtrāsura, disappointed that King Indra was reluctant despite his encouragement, took the initiative very forcefully by throwing his trident at Indra. Vṛtrāsura was not at all interested in victory; he was interested in being killed so that he could immediately return home, back to Godhead. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti: after giving up his body, a devotee immediately returns to Lord Kṛṣṇa and never returns to accept another body. This was Vṛtrāsura’s interest.
Devanagari
माविध्य शूलं तरसासुरेन्द्र: ।
क्षिप्त्वा महेन्द्राय विनद्य वीरो
हतोऽसि पापेति रुषा जगाद ॥ २ ॥
Text
āvidhya śūlaṁ tarasāsurendraḥ
kṣiptvā mahendrāya vinadya vīro
hato ’si pāpeti ruṣā jagāda
Synonyms
tataḥ — thereafter; yuga-anta-agni — like the fire at the end of every millennium; kaṭhora — sharp; jihvam — possessing points; āvidhya — twirling; śūlam — the trident; tarasā — with great force; asura-indraḥ — the great hero of the demons, Vṛtrāsura; kṣiptvā — throwing; mahā-indrāya — unto King Indra; vinadya — roaring; vīraḥ — the great hero (Vṛtrāsura); hataḥ — killed; asi — you are; pāpa — O sinful one; iti — thus; ruṣā — with great anger; jagāda — be cried out.
Translation
Then Vṛtrāsura, 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!”
Devanagari
न्निरीक्ष्य दुष्प्रेक्ष्यमजातविक्लव: ।
वज्रेण वज्री शतपर्वणाच्छिनद्
भुजं च तस्योरगराजभोगम् ॥ ३ ॥
Text
nirīkṣya duṣprekṣyam ajāta-viklavaḥ
vajreṇa vajrī śata-parvaṇācchinad
bhujaṁ ca tasyoraga-rāja-bhogam
Synonyms
khe — in the sky; āpatat — flying toward him; tat — that trident; vicalat — rotating; graha-ulka-vat — like a falling star; nirīkṣya — observing; duṣprekṣyam — unbearable to see; ajāta-viklavaḥ — not afraid; vajreṇa — with the thunderbolt; vajrī — Indra, the holder of the thunderbolt; śata-parvaṇā — possessing one hundred joints; ācchinat — cut; bhujam — the arm; ca — and; tasya — of him (Vṛtrāsura); uraga-rāja — of the great serpent Vāsuki; bhogam — like the body.
Translation
Flying in the sky, Vṛtrāsura’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 Vṛtrāsura’s arms, which was as thick as the body of Vāsuki, the King of the serpents.
Devanagari
संरब्ध आसाद्य गृहीतवज्रम् ।
हनौ तताडेन्द्रमथामरेभं
वज्रं च हस्तान्न्यपतन्मघोन: ॥ ४ ॥
Text
saṁrabdha āsādya gṛhīta-vajram
hanau tatāḍendram athāmarebhaṁ
vajraṁ ca hastān nyapatan maghonaḥ
Synonyms
chinna — cut off; eka — one; bāhuḥ — whose arm; parigheṇa — with a mace of iron; vṛtraḥ — Vṛtrāsura; saṁrabdhaḥ — being very angry; āsādya — reaching; gṛhīta — taking up; vajram — the thunderbolt; hanau — on the jaw; tatāḍa — struck; indram — Lord Indra; atha — also; amara-ibham — his elephant; vajram — the thunderbolt; ca — and; hastāt — from the hand; nyapatat — fell; maghonaḥ — of King Indra.
Translation
Although one of his arms was severed from his body, Vṛtrāsura 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.
Devanagari
सुरासुराश्चारणसिद्धसङ्घा: ।
अपूजयंस्तत् पुरुहूतसङ्कटं
निरीक्ष्य हा हेति विचुक्रुशुर्भृशम् ॥ ५ ॥
Text
surāsurāś cāraṇa-siddha-saṅghāḥ
apūjayaṁs tat puruhūta-saṅkaṭaṁ
nirīkṣya hā heti vicukruśur bhṛśam
Synonyms
vṛtrasya — of Vṛtrāsura; karma — the accomplishment; ati — very; mahā — greatly; adbhutam — wonderful; tat — that; sura — the demigods; asurāḥ — and the demons; cāraṇa — the Cāraṇas; siddha-saṅghāḥ — and the society of Siddhas; apūjayan — glorified; tat — that; puruhūta-saṅkaṭam — the dangerous position of Indra; nirīkṣya — seeing; hā hā — alas, alas; iti — thus; vicukruśuḥ — lamented; bhṛśam — very much.
Translation
The denizens of various planets, like the demigods, demons, Cāraṇas and Siddhas, praised Vṛtrāsura’s deed, but when they observed that Indra was in great danger, they lamented, “Alas! Alas!”
Devanagari
श्च्युतं स्वहस्तादरिसन्निधौ पुन: ।
तमाह वृत्रो हर आत्तवज्रो
जहि स्वशत्रुं न विषादकाल: ॥ ६ ॥
Text
cyutaṁ sva-hastād ari-sannidhau punaḥ
tam āha vṛtro hara ātta-vajro
jahi sva-śatruṁ na viṣāda-kālaḥ
Synonyms
indraḥ — King Indra; na — not; vajram — the thunderbolt; jagṛhe — took up; vilajjitaḥ — being ashamed; cyutam — fallen; sva-hastāt — from his own hand; ari-sannidhau — in front of his enemy; punaḥ — again; tam — unto him; āha — said; vṛtraḥ — Vṛtrāsura; hare — O Indra; ātta-vajraḥ — taking up your thunderbolt; jahi — kill; sva-śatrum — your enemy; na — not; viṣāda-kālaḥ — the time for lamentation.
Translation
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. Vṛtrāsura, however, encouraged him, saying, “Take up your thunderbolt and kill your enemy. This is not the time to lament your fate.”
Devanagari
जय: सदैकत्र न वै परात्मनाम् ।
विनैकमुत्पत्तिलयस्थितीश्वरं
सर्वज्ञमाद्यं पुरुषं सनातनम् ॥ ७ ॥
Text
jayaḥ sadaikatra na vai parātmanām
vinaikam utpatti-laya-sthitīśvaraṁ
sarvajñam ādyaṁ puruṣaṁ sanātanam
Synonyms
yuyutsatām — of those who are belligerent; kutracit — sometimes; ātatāyinām — armed with weapons; jayaḥ — victory; sadā — always; ekatra — in one place; na — not; vai — indeed; para-ātmanām — of the subordinate living entities, who work only under the direction of the Supersoul; vinā — except; ekam — one; utpatti — of the creation; laya — annihilation; sthiti — and maintenance; īśvaram — the controller; sarva-jñam — who knows everything (past, present and future); ādyam — the original; puruṣam — enjoyer; sanātanam — eternal.
Translation
Vṛtrāsura continued: O Indra, no one is guaranteed of being always victorious but the original enjoyer, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān. 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.
Purport
The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15):
mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca
“I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” When two parties fight, the fighting actually goes on under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is Paramātmā, the Supersoul. Elsewhere in the Gītā (3.27) the Lord says:
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
kartāham iti manyate
“The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by nature.” The living entities work only under the direction of the Supreme Lord. The Lord gives orders to material nature, and she arranges facilities for the living entities. The living entities are not independent, although they foolishly think themselves the doers (kartā).
Victory is always with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As for the subordinate living entities, they fight under the arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Victory or defeat is not actually theirs; it is an arrangement by the Lord through the agency of material nature. Pride in victory, or moroseness in defeat, is useless. One should fully depend on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is responsible for the victory and defeat of all living entities. The Lord advises, niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hy akarmaṇaḥ: “Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction.” The living entity is ordered to act according to his position. Victory or defeat depends on the Supreme Lord. Karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana: “You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of actions.” One must act sincerely, according to his position. Victory or defeat depends on the Lord.
Vṛtrāsura encouraged Indra, saying, “Don’t be morose because of my victory. There is no need to stop fighting. Instead, you should go on with your duty. When Kṛṣṇa desires, you will certainly be victorious.” This verse is very instructive for sincere workers in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. We should not be jubilant in victory or morose in defeat. We should make a sincere effort to implement the will of Kṛṣṇa, or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and we should not be concerned with victory and defeat. Our only duty is to work sincerely, so that our activities may be recognized by Kṛṣṇa.
Devanagari
द्विजा इव शिचा बद्धा: स काल इह कारणम् ॥ ८ ॥
Text
śvasanti vivaśā vaśe
dvijā iva śicā baddhāḥ
sa kāla iha kāraṇam
Synonyms
lokāḥ — the worlds; sa-pālāḥ — with their chief deities or controllers; yasya — of whom; ime — all these; śvasanti — live; vivaśāḥ — fully dependent; vaśe — under the control; dvijāḥ — birds; iva — like; śicā — by a net; baddhāḥ — bound; saḥ — that; kālaḥ — time factor; iha — in this; kāraṇam — the cause.
Translation
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.
Purport
The difference between the suras and the asuras is that the suras know that nothing can happen without the desire of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas the asuras cannot understand the supreme will of the Lord. In this fight, Vṛtrāsura is actually the sura, whereas Indra is the asura. No one can act independently; rather, everyone acts under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore victory and defeat come according to the results of one’s karma, and the judgment is given by the Supreme Lord (karmaṇā-daiva-netreṇa). Since we act under the control of the Supreme according to our karma, no one is independent, from Brahmā down to the insignificant ant. Whether we are defeated or victorious, the Supreme Lord is always victorious because everyone acts under His directions.
Devanagari
तमज्ञाय जनो हेतुमात्मानं मन्यते जडम् ॥ ९ ॥
Text
amṛtaṁ mṛtyum eva ca
tam ajñāya jano hetum
ātmānaṁ manyate jaḍam
Synonyms
ojaḥ — the strength of the senses; sahaḥ — the strength of the mind; balam — the strength of the body; prāṇam — the living condition; amṛtam — immortality; mṛtyum — death; eva — indeed; ca — also; tam — Him (the Supreme Lord); ajñāya — without knowing; janaḥ — a foolish person; hetum — the cause; ātmānam — the body; manyate — considers; jaḍam — although as good as stone.
Translation
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.
Devanagari
एवं भूतानि मघवन्नीशतन्त्राणि विद्धि भो: ॥ १० ॥
Text
yathā patramayo mṛgaḥ
evaṁ bhūtāni maghavann
īśa-tantrāṇi viddhi bhoḥ
Synonyms
Translation
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.
Purport
This is confirmed in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 5.142):
yāre yaiche nācāya, se taiche kare nṛtya
“Lord Kṛṣṇa alone is the supreme controller, and all others are His servants. They dance as He makes them do so.” We are all servants of Kṛṣṇa; we have no independence. We are dancing according to the desire of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but out of ignorance and illusion we think we are independent of the supreme will. Therefore it is said:
sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ
anādir ādir govindaḥ
sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam
“Kṛṣṇa, who is known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, for He is the prime cause of all causes.” (Brahma-saṁhitā 5.1)
Devanagari
शक्नुवन्त्यस्य सर्गादौ न विना यदनुग्रहात् ॥ ११ ॥
Text
ātmā bhūtendriyāśayāḥ
śaknuvanty asya sargādau
na vinā yad-anugrahāt
Synonyms
puruṣaḥ — the generator of the total material energy; prakṛtiḥ — the material energy or material nature; vyaktam — the principles of manifestation (mahat-tattva); ātmā — the false ego; bhūta — the five material elements; indriya — the ten senses; āśayāḥ — the mind, intelligence and consciousness; śaknuvanti — are able; asya — of this universe; sarga-ādau — in the creation, etc.; na — not; vinā — without; yat — of whom; anugrahāt — the mercy.
Translation
The three puruṣas — Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and Kṣīrodakaśāyī-Viṣṇu — 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.
Purport
As confirmed in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa, parasya brahmaṇaḥ śaktis tathedam akhilaṁ jagat: whatever manifestations we experience are nothing but various energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These energies cannot create anything independently. This is also confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10): mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ sūyate sa-carācaram. “This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, and it is producing all moving and unmoving living beings.” Only under the direction of the Lord, the Supreme Person, can prakṛti, which is manifested in twenty-four elements, create different situations for the living entity. In the Vedas the Lord says:
parabrahmeti śabditam
vetsyasy anugṛhītaṁ me
sampraśnair vivṛtaṁ hṛdi
“Since everything is a manifestation of My energy, I am known as Parabrahman. Therefore everyone should hear from Me about My glorious activities.” The Lord also says in Bhagavad-gītā (10.2), aham ādir hi devānām: “I am the origin of all the demigods.” Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the origin of everything, and no one is independent of Him. Śrīla Madhvācārya also says, anīśa jīva-rūpeṇa: the living entity is anīśa, never the controller, but is always controlled. Therefore when a living entity becomes proud of being an independent īśvara, or god, that is his foolishness. Such foolishness is described in the following verse.
Devanagari
भूतै: सृजति भूतानि ग्रसते तानि तै: स्वयम् ॥ १२ ॥
Text
manyate ’nīśam īśvaram
bhūtaiḥ sṛjati bhūtāni
grasate tāni taiḥ svayam
Synonyms
avidvān — one who is foolish, without knowledge; evam — thus; ātmānam — himself; manyate — considers; anīśam — although totally dependent on others; īśvaram — as the supreme controller, independent; bhūtaiḥ — by the living entities; sṛjati — He (the Lord) creates; bhūtāni — other living entities; grasate — He devours; tāni — them; taiḥ — by other living beings; svayam — Himself.
Translation
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.
Purport
According to the conclusion of the philosophy known as karma-mīmāṁsā, one’s karma, or previous fruitive activity, is the cause of everything, and therefore there is no need to work. Those who arrive at this conclusion are foolish. When a father creates a child, he does not do so independently; he is induced to do so by the Supreme Lord. As the Lord Himself says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca: “I am in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.” Unless one receives dictation from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who sits within everyone’s heart, one cannot be induced to create anything. Therefore the father and mother are not the creators of the living entity. According to the living entity’s karma, fruitive activities, he is put into the semen of the father, who injects the living entity into the womb of the mother. Then according to the body of the mother and father (yathā-yoni yathā-bījam), the living entity accepts a body and takes birth to suffer or enjoy. Therefore the Supreme Lord is the original cause of one’s birth. Similarly, the Supreme Lord is the cause of one’s being killed. No one is independent; everyone is dependent. The true conclusion is that the only independent person is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Devanagari
भवन्त्येव हि तत्काले यथानिच्छोर्विपर्यया: ॥ १३ ॥
Text
āśiṣaḥ puruṣasya yāḥ
bhavanty eva hi tat-kāle
yathānicchor viparyayāḥ
Synonyms
āyuḥ — longevity; śrīḥ — opulence; kīrtiḥ — fame; aiśvaryam — power; āśiṣaḥ — benedictions; puruṣasya — of the living entity; yāḥ — which; bhavanti — arise; eva — indeed; hi — certainly; tat-kāle — at that proper time; yathā — just as; anicchoḥ — of one not desiring; viparyayāḥ — reverse conditions.
Translation
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.
Purport
It is not good to be falsely puffed up, saying that by one’s own effort one has become opulent, learned, beautiful and so on. All such good fortune is achieved through the mercy of the Lord. From another point of view, no one wants to die, and no one wants to be poor or ugly. Therefore, why does the living entity, against his will, receive such unwanted troubles? It is due to the mercy or chastisement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead that one gains or loses everything material. No one is independent; everyone is dependent on the mercy or chastisement of the Supreme Lord. There is a common saying in Bengal that the Lord has ten hands. This means that He has control everywhere — in the eight directions and up and down. If He wants to take everything away from us with His ten hands, we cannot protect anything with our two hands. Similarly, if He wants to bestow benedictions upon us with His ten hands, we cannot factually receive them all with our two hands; in other words, the benedictions exceed our ambitions. The conclusion is that even though we do not wish to be separated from our possessions, sometimes the Lord forcibly takes them from us; and sometimes He showers such benedictions upon us that we are unable to receive them all. Therefore either in opulence or in distress we are not independent; everything is dependent on the sweet will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Devanagari
सम: स्यात्सुखदु:खाभ्यां मृत्युजीवितयोस्तथा ॥ १४ ॥
Text
jayāpajayayor api
samaḥ syāt sukha-duḥkhābhyāṁ
mṛtyu-jīvitayos tathā
Synonyms
tasmāt — therefore (because of being fully dependent on the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead); akīrti — of defamation; yaśasoḥ — and fame; jaya — of victory; apajayayoḥ — and defeat; api — even; samaḥ — equal; syāt — one should be; sukha-duḥkhābhyām — with the distress and happiness; mṛtyu — of death; jīvitayoḥ — or of living; tathā — as well as.
Translation
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.
Devanagari
तत्र साक्षिणमात्मानं यो वेद स न बध्यते ॥ १५ ॥
Text
prakṛter nātmano guṇāḥ
tatra sākṣiṇam ātmānaṁ
yo veda sa na badhyate
Synonyms
sattvam — the mode of goodness; rajaḥ — the mode of passion; tamaḥ — the mode of ignorance; iti — thus; prakṛteḥ — of the material nature; na — not; ātmanaḥ — of the spirit soul; guṇāḥ — the qualities; tatra — in such a position; sākṣiṇam — an observer; ātmānam — the self; yaḥ — anyone who; veda — knows; saḥ — he; na — not; badhyate — is bound.
Translation
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.
Purport
As the Lord explains in Bhagavad-gītā (18.54):
na śocati na kāṅkṣati
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām
“One who is transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.” When one attains self-realization, the brahma-bhūta stage, one knows that whatever happens during his life is due to the contamination of the modes of material nature. The living being, the pure soul, has nothing to do with these modes. In the midst of the hurricane of the material world, everything changes very quickly, but if one remains silent and simply observes the actions and reactions of the hurricane, he is understood to be liberated. The real qualification of the liberated soul is that he remains Kṛṣṇa conscious, undisturbed by the actions and reactions of the material energy. Such a liberated person is always jubilant. He never laments or aspires for anything. Since everything is supplied by the Supreme Lord, the living entity, being fully dependent on Him, should not protest or accept anything in terms of his personal sense gratification; rather, he should receive everything as the mercy of the Lord and remain steady in all circumstances.
Devanagari
घटमानं यथाशक्ति तव प्राणजिहीर्षया ॥ १६ ॥
Text
vṛkṇāyudha-bhujaṁ mṛdhe
ghaṭamānaṁ yathā-śakti
tava prāṇa-jihīrṣayā
Synonyms
Translation
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.
Purport
Vṛtrāsura was so great and powerful that in effect he was acting as the spiritual master of Indra. Although Vṛtrāsura was on the verge of defeat, he was not at all affected. He knew that he was going to be defeated by Indra, and he voluntarily accepted that, but since he was supposed to be Indra’s enemy, he tried his best to kill Indra. Thus he performed his duty. One should perform his duty under all circumstances, even though one may know what the result will be.
Devanagari
अत्र न ज्ञायतेऽमुष्य जयोऽमुष्य पराजय: ॥ १७ ॥
Text
iṣv-akṣo vāhanāsanaḥ
atra na jñāyate ’muṣya
jayo ’muṣya parājayaḥ
Synonyms
prāṇa-glahaḥ — life is the stake; ayam — this; samaraḥ — battle; iṣu-akṣaḥ — the arrows are the dice; vāhana-āsanaḥ — the carriers such as the horses and elephants are the game board; atra — here (in this gambling match); na — not; jñāyate — is known; amuṣya — of that one; jayaḥ — victory; amuṣya — of that one; parājayaḥ — defeat.
Translation
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.
Devanagari
इन्द्रो वृत्रवच: श्रुत्वा गतालीकमपूजयत् ।
गृहीतवज्र: प्रहसंस्तमाह गतविस्मय: ॥ १८ ॥
Text
indro vṛtra-vacaḥ śrutvā
gatālīkam apūjayat
gṛhīta-vajraḥ prahasaṁs
tam āha gata-vismayaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; indraḥ — King Indra; vṛtra-vacaḥ — the words of Vṛtrāsura; śrutvā — hearing; gata-alīkam — without duplicity; apūjayat — worshiped; gṛhīta-vajraḥ — taking up the thunderbolt; prahasan — smiling; tam — unto Vṛtrāsura; āha — said; gata-vismayaḥ — giving up his wonder.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Hearing the straightforward, instructive words of Vṛtrāsura, King Indra praised him and again took the thunderbolt in his hand. Without bewilderment or duplicity, he then smiled and spoke to Vṛtrāsura as follows.
Purport
King Indra, the greatest of the demigods, was astonished to hear the instructions of Vṛtrāsura, who was supposed to be a demon. He was struck with wonder that a demon could speak so intelligently. Then he remembered great devotees like Prahlāda Mahārāja and Bali Mahārāja, who had been born in the families of demons, and thus he came to his senses. Even so-called demons sometimes have exalted devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Indra smiled reassuringly at Vṛtrāsura.
Devanagari
अहो दानव सिद्धोऽसि यस्य ते मतिरीदृशी ।
भक्त: सर्वात्मनात्मानं सुहृदं जगदीश्वरम् ॥ १९ ॥
Text
aho dānava siddho ’si
yasya te matir īdṛśī
bhaktaḥ sarvātmanātmānaṁ
suhṛdaṁ jagad-īśvaram
Synonyms
indraḥ uvāca — Indra said; aho — hello; dānava — O demon; siddhaḥ asi — you are now perfect; yasya — whose; te — your; matiḥ — consciousness; īdṛśī — such as this; bhaktaḥ — a great devotee; sarva-ātmanā — without diversion; ātmānam — to the Supersoul; suhṛdam — the greatest friend; jagat-īśvaram — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Translation
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.
Purport
As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (6.22):
manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ
yasmin sthito na duḥkhena
guruṇāpi vicālyate
“Established in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of the greatest difficulty.” An unalloyed devotee is never disturbed by any kind of trying circumstance. Indra was surprised to see that Vṛtrāsura, undisturbed, was fixed in devotional service to the Lord, for such a mentality is impossible for a demon. However, by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, anyone can become an exalted devotee (striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim). An unalloyed devotee is sure to return home, back to Godhead.
Devanagari
यद् विहायासुरं भावं महापुरुषतां गत: ॥ २० ॥
Text
vaiṣṇavīṁ jana-mohinīm
yad vihāyāsuraṁ bhāvaṁ
mahā-puruṣatāṁ gataḥ
Synonyms
bhavān — your good self; atārṣīt — has surmounted; māyām — the illusory energy; vai — indeed; vaiṣṇavīm — of Lord Viṣṇu; jana-mohinīm — which deludes the mass of people; yat — since; vihāya — giving up; āsuram — of the demons; bhāvam — the mentality; mahā-puruṣatām — the position of an exalted devotee; gataḥ — obtained.
Translation
You have surmounted the illusory energy of Lord Viṣṇu, and because of this liberation, you have given up the demoniac mentality and have attained the position of an exalted devotee.
Purport
Lord Viṣṇu is the mahā-puruṣa. Therefore one who becomes a Vaiṣṇava attains the position of a mahā-pauruṣya. This position was attained by Mahārāja Parīkṣit. It is said in the Padma Purāṇa that the distinction between a demigod and a demon is that a demigod is a devotee of Lord Viṣṇu whereas a demon is just the opposite: viṣṇu-bhaktaḥ smṛto daiva āsuras tad-viparyayaḥ. Vṛtrāsura was considered a demon, but actually he was more than qualified as a devotee, or mahā-pauruṣya. If one somehow becomes a devotee of the Supreme Lord, whatever his position, he can be brought to the position of a perfect person. This is possible if an unalloyed devotee tries to serve the Lord by delivering him in this way. Therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī says in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18):
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ
ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ
“Kirātas, Hūṇas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pulkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, for He is the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.” Anyone can be purified if he takes shelter of a pure devotee and molds his character according to the pure devotee’s direction. Then, even if one is a Kirāta, Āndhra, Pulinda or whatever, he can be purified and elevated to the position of a mahā-pauruṣya.
Devanagari
वासुदेवे भगवति सत्त्वात्मनि दृढा मति: ॥ २१ ॥
Text
yad rajaḥ-prakṛtes tava
vāsudeve bhagavati
sattvātmani dṛḍhā matiḥ
Synonyms
khalu — indeed; idam — this; mahat āścaryam — great wonder; yat — which; rajaḥ — influenced by the mode of passion; prakṛteḥ — whose nature; tava — of you; vāsudeve — in Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhagavati — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sattva-ātmani — who is situated in pure goodness; dṛḍhā — firm; matiḥ — consciousness.
Translation
O Vṛtrāsura, 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, Vāsudeva, who is always situated in pure goodness.
Purport
King Indra wondered how Vṛtrāsura could have been elevated to the position of an exalted devotee. As for Prahlāda Mahārāja, he was initiated by Nārada Muni, and therefore it was possible for him to become a great devotee, although he was born in a family of demons. For Vṛtrāsura, however, Indra could not detect such causes. Therefore he was struck with wonder that Vṛtrāsura was such an exalted devotee that he could fix his mind without deviation upon the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva.
Devanagari
विक्रीडतोऽमृताम्भोधौ किं क्षुद्रै: खातकोदकै: ॥ २२ ॥
Text
harau niḥśreyaseśvare
vikrīḍato ’mṛtāmbhodhau
kiṁ kṣudraiḥ khātakodakaiḥ
Synonyms
yasya — of whom; bhaktiḥ — devotional service; bhagavati — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; harau — Lord Hari; niḥśreyasa-īśvare — the controller of the supreme perfection of life, or supreme liberation; vikrīḍataḥ — swimming or playing; amṛta-ambhodhau — in the ocean of nectar; kim — what is the use; kṣudraiḥ — with small; khātaka-udakaiḥ — ditches of water.
Translation
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?
Purport
Vṛtrāsura has formerly prayed (Bhāg. 6.11.25), na nāka-pṛṣṭhaṁ na ca pārameṣṭhyaṁ na sārva-bhaumaṁ na rasādhipatyam. “I do not want the facilities for happiness on Brahmaloka, Svargaloka or even Dhruvaloka, not to speak of this earth or the lower planets. I simply want to return home, back to Godhead.” This is the determination of a pure devotee. A pure devotee is never attracted to any exalted position within this material world. He simply wants to associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead like the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana — Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the gopīs, Kṛṣṇa’s father and mother (Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā), Kṛṣṇa’s friends and Kṛṣṇa’s servants. He wants to associate with Kṛṣṇa’s atmosphere of Vṛndāvana’s beauty. These are the highest ambitions of a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Devotees of Lord Viṣṇu may aspire for a position in Vaikuṇṭhaloka, but a devotee of Kṛṣṇa never aspires even for the facilities of Vaikuṇṭha; he wants to return to Goloka Vṛndāvana and associate with Lord Kṛṣṇa in His eternal pastimes. Any material happiness is like water in a ditch, whereas the spiritual happiness eternally enjoyed in the spiritual world is like an ocean of nectar in which a devotee wants to swim.
Devanagari
इति ब्रुवाणावन्योन्यं धर्मजिज्ञासया नृप ।
युयुधाते महावीर्याविन्द्रवृत्रौ युधाम्पती ॥ २३ ॥
Text
iti bruvāṇāv anyonyaṁ
dharma-jijñāsayā nṛpa
yuyudhāte mahā-vīryāv
indra-vṛtrau yudhām patī
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; bruvāṇau — speaking; anyonyam — to one another; dharma-jijñāsayā — with a desire to know the supreme, ultimate religious principle (devotional service); nṛpa — O King; yuyudhāte — fought; mahā-vīryau — both very powerful; indra — King Indra; vṛtrau — and Vṛtrāsura; yudhām patī — both great military commanders.
Translation
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Vṛtrāsura 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.
Devanagari
इन्द्राय प्राहिणोद् घोरं वामहस्तेन मारिष ॥ २४ ॥
Text
kārṣṇāyasam arindamaḥ
indrāya prāhiṇod ghoraṁ
vāma-hastena māriṣa
Synonyms
Translation
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Vṛtrāsura, 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.
Devanagari
चिच्छेद युगपद्देवो वज्रेण शतपर्वणा ॥ २५ ॥
Text
karaṁ ca karabhopamam
ciccheda yugapad devo
vajreṇa śata-parvaṇā
Synonyms
saḥ — he (King Indra); tu — however; vṛtrasya — of Vṛtrāsura; parigham — the iron club; karam — his hand; ca — and; karabha-upamam — as strong as the trunk of an elephant; ciccheda — cut to pieces; yugapat — simultaneously; devaḥ — Lord Indra; vajreṇa — with the thunderbolt; śata-parvaṇā — having one hundred joints.
Translation
With his thunderbolt named Śataparvan, Indra simultaneously cut to pieces Vṛtrāsura’s club and his remaining hand.
Devanagari
छिन्नपक्षो यथा गोत्र: खाद्भ्रष्टो वज्रिणा हत: ॥ २६ ॥
Text
babhau rakta-sravo ’suraḥ
chinna-pakṣo yathā gotraḥ
khād bhraṣṭo vajriṇā hataḥ
Synonyms
dorbhyām — from the two arms; utkṛtta-mūlābhyām — cut from the very root; babhau — was; rakta-sravaḥ — profusely discharging blood; asuraḥ — Vṛtrāsura; chinna-pakṣaḥ — whose wings are cut; yathā — just as; gotraḥ — a mountain; khāt — from the sky; bhraṣṭaḥ — falling; vajriṇā — by Indra, the carrier of the thunderbolt; hataḥ — struck.
Translation
Vṛtrāsura, 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.
Purport
It appears from the statement of this verse that sometimes there are flying mountains and that their wings are cut by the thunderbolt of Indra. Vṛtrāsura’s huge body resembled such a mountain.
Devanagari
कृत्वाधरां हनुं भूमौ दैत्यो दिव्युत्तरां हनुम् ।
नभोगम्भीरवक्त्रेण लेलिहोल्बणजिह्वया ॥ २७ ॥
दंष्ट्राभि: कालकल्पाभिर्ग्रसन्निव जगत्त्रयम् ।
अतिमात्रमहाकाय आक्षिपंस्तरसा गिरीन् ॥ २८ ॥
गिरिराट् पादचारीव पद्भ्यां निर्जरयन् महीम् ।
जग्रास स समासाद्य वज्रिणं सहवाहनम् ॥ २९ ॥
Text
mahā-sarpa iva dvipam
kṛtvādharāṁ hanuṁ bhūmau
daityo divy uttarāṁ hanum
leliholbaṇa-jihvayā
daṁṣṭrābhiḥ kāla-kalpābhir
grasann iva jagat-trayam
ākṣipaṁs tarasā girīn
giri-rāṭ pāda-cārīva
padbhyāṁ nirjarayan mahīm
jagrāsa sa samāsādya
vajriṇaṁ saha-vāhanam
Synonyms
mahā-prāṇaḥ — very great in bodily strength; mahā-vīryaḥ — showing uncommon prowess; mahā-sarpaḥ — the biggest snake; iva — like; dvipam — an elephant; kṛtvā — placing; adharām — the lower; hanum — jaw; bhūmau — on the ground; daityaḥ — the demon; divi — in the sky; uttarām hanum — the upper jaw; nabhaḥ — like the sky; gambhīra — deep; vaktreṇa — with his mouth; leliha — like a snake; ulbaṇa — fearful; jihvayā — with a tongue; daṁṣṭrābhiḥ — with teeth; kāla-kalpābhiḥ — exactly like the time factor, or death; grasan — devouring; iva — as if; jagat-trayam — the three worlds; ati-mātra — very high; mahā-kāyaḥ — whose great body; ākṣipan — shaking; tarasā — with great force; girīn — the mountains; giri-rāṭ — the Himālaya Mountains; pāda-cārī — moving on foot; iva — as if; padbhyām — by his feet; nirjarayan — crushing; mahīm — the surface of the world; jagrāsa — swallowed; saḥ — he; samāsādya — reaching; vajriṇam — Indra, who carries the thunderbolt; saha-vāhanam — with his carrier, the elephant.
Translation
Vṛtrāsura 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 Vṛtrāsura shook even the mountains and began crushing the surface of the earth with his legs, as if he were the Himālayas walking about. He came before Indra and swallowed him and Airāvata, his carrier, just as a big python might swallow an elephant.
Devanagari
हा कष्टमिति निर्विण्णाश्चुक्रुशु: समहर्षय: ॥ ३० ॥
Text
saprajāpatayaḥ surāḥ
hā kaṣṭam iti nirviṇṇāś
cukruśuḥ samaharṣayaḥ
Synonyms
vṛtra-grastam — swallowed by Vṛtrāsura; tam — him (Indra); ālokya — seeing; sa-prajāpatayaḥ — with Lord Brahmā and other prajāpatis; surāḥ — all the demigods; hā — alas; kaṣṭam — what a tribulation; iti — thus; nirviṇṇāḥ — being very morose; cukruśuḥ — lamented; sa-mahā-ṛṣayaḥ — with the great sages.
Translation
When the demigods, along with Brahmā, other prajāpatis 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!”
Devanagari
महापुरुषसन्नद्धो योगमायाबलेन च ॥ ३१ ॥
Text
na mamārodaraṁ gataḥ
mahāpuruṣa-sannaddho
yoga-māyā-balena ca
Synonyms
nigīrṇaḥ — swallowed; api — although; asura-indreṇa — by the best of the demons, Vṛtrāsura; na — not; mamāra — died; udaram — the abdomen; gataḥ — reaching; mahā-puruṣa — by the armor of the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa; sannaddhaḥ — being protected; yoga-māyā-balena — by the mystic power that Indra himself possessed; ca — also.
Translation
The protective armor of Nārāyaṇa, which Indra possessed, was identical with Nārāyaṇa Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Protected by that armor and by his own mystic power, King Indra, although swallowed by Vṛtrāsura, did not die within the demon’s belly.
Devanagari
उच्चकर्त शिर: शत्रोर्गिरिशृङ्गमिवौजसा ॥ ३२ ॥
Text
niṣkramya bala-bhid vibhuḥ
uccakarta śiraḥ śatror
giri-śṛṅgam ivaujasā
Synonyms
bhittvā — piercing; vajreṇa — by the thunderbolt; tat-kukṣim — the abdomen of Vṛtrāsura; niṣkramya — getting out; bala-bhit — the slayer of the demon Bala; vibhuḥ — the powerful Lord Indra; uccakarta — cut off; śiraḥ — the head; śatroḥ — of the enemy; giri-śṛṅgam — the peak of a mountain; iva — like; ojasā — with great force.
Translation
With his thunderbolt, King Indra, who was also extremely powerful, pierced through Vṛtrāsura’s abdomen and came out. Indra, the killer of the demon Bala, then immediately cut off Vṛtrāsura’s head, which was as high as the peak of a mountain.
Devanagari
कृन्तन् समन्तात् परिवर्तमान: ।
न्यपातयत् तावदहर्गणेन
यो ज्योतिषामयने वार्त्रहत्ये ॥ ३३ ॥
Text
kṛntan samantāt parivartamānaḥ
nyapātayat tāvad ahar-gaṇena
yo jyotiṣām ayane vārtra-hatye
Synonyms
vajraḥ — the thunderbolt; tu — but; tat-kandharam — his neck; āśu-vegaḥ — although very fast; kṛntan — cutting; samantāt — all around; parivartamānaḥ — revolving; nyapātayat — caused to fall; tāvat — so many; ahaḥ-gaṇena — by days; yaḥ — which; jyotiṣām — of the luminaries like the sun and moon; ayane — in moving to both sides of the equator; vārtra-hatye — at the time suitable for killing Vṛtrāsura.
Translation
Although the thunderbolt revolved around Vṛtrāsura’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 Vṛtrāsura to be killed, his head fell to the ground.
Devanagari
र्गन्धर्वसिद्धा: समहर्षिसङ्घा: ।
वार्त्रघ्नलिङ्गैस्तमभिष्टुवाना
मन्त्रैर्मुदा कुसुमैरभ्यवर्षन् ॥ ३४ ॥
Text
gandharva-siddhāḥ samaharṣi-saṅghāḥ
vārtra-ghna-liṅgais tam abhiṣṭuvānā
mantrair mudā kusumair abhyavarṣan
Synonyms
tadā — at that time; ca — also; khe — in the higher planetary systems in the sky; dundubhayaḥ — the kettledrums; vineduḥ — sounded; gandharva — the Gandharvas; siddhāḥ — and the Siddhas; sa-maharṣi-saṅghāḥ — with the assembly of saintly persons; vārtra-ghna-liṅgaiḥ — celebrating the prowess of the killer of Vṛtrāsura; tam — him (Indra); abhiṣṭuvānāḥ — praising; mantraiḥ — by various mantras; mudā — with great pleasure; kusumaiḥ — with flowers; abhyavarṣan — showered.
Translation
When Vṛtrāsura 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 Vṛtrāsura, praising Indra and showering flowers upon him with great pleasure.
Devanagari
पश्यतां सर्वदेवानामलोकं समपद्यत ॥ ३५ ॥
Text
ātma-jyotir arindama
paśyatāṁ sarva-devānām
alokaṁ samapadyata
Synonyms
vṛtrasya — of Vṛtrāsura; dehāt — from the body; niṣkrāntam — coming out; ātma-jyotiḥ — the spirit soul, which was as brilliant as the effulgence of Brahman; arim-dama — O King Parīkṣit, subduer of enemies; paśyatām — were watching; sarva-devānām — while all the demigods; alokam — the supreme abode, filled with the Brahman effulgence; samapadyata — achieved.
Translation
O King Parīkṣit, subduer of enemies, the living spark then came forth from Vṛtrāsura’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 Saṅkarṣaṇa.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that Indra, not Vṛtrāsura, was actually killed. He says that when Vṛtrāsura swallowed King Indra and his carrier, the elephant, he thought, “Now I have killed Indra, and therefore there is no more need of fighting. Now let me return home, back to Godhead.” Thus he stopped all his bodily activities and became situated in trance. Taking advantage of the silence of Vṛtrāsura’s body, Indra pierced the demon’s abdomen, and because of Vṛtrāsura’s trance, Indra was able to come out. Now, Vṛtrāsura was in yoga-samadhi, and therefore although King Indra wanted to cut his throat, the demon’s neck was so stiff that Indra’s thunderbolt took 360 days to cut it to pieces. Actually it was the body left by Vṛtrāsura that was cut to pieces by Indra; Vṛtrāsura himself was not killed. In his original consciousness, Vṛtrāsura returned home, back to Godhead, to become an associate of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa. Here the word alokam means the transcendental world, Vaikuṇṭhaloka, where Saṅkarṣaṇa eternally resides.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Sixth Canto, Twelfth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Vṛtrāsura’s Glorious Death.”