Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 6 · Chapter 11
श्रीशुक उवाच त एवं शंसतो धर्मं वच: पत्युरचेतस: । नैवागृह्णन्त सम्भ्रान्ता: पलायनपरा नृप ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca ta evam samsato dharmam vacah patyur acetasah naivagrhnanta sambhrantah palayana-para nrpa
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, Vrtrasura, the commander in chief of the demons, advised his lieutenants in the principles of religion, but the cowardly demoniac commanders, intent upon fleeing the battlefield, were so disturbed by fear that they could not accept his words.
विशीर्यमाणां पृतनामासुरीमसुरर्षभ: । कालानुकूलैस्त्रिदशै: काल्यमानामनाथवत् ॥ २ ॥ दृष्ट्वातप्यत सङ्कुद्ध इन्द्रशत्रुरमर्षित: । तान् निवार्यौजसा राजन् निर्भर्त्स्येदमुवाच ह ॥ ३ ॥
visiryamanam prtanam asurim asurarsabhah kalanukulais tridasaih kalyamanam anathavat drstvatapyata sankruddha indra-satrur amarsitah tan nivaryaujasa rajan nirbhartsyedam uvaca ha
O King Pariksit, the demigods, taking advantage of a favorable opportunity presented by time, attacked the army of the demons from the rear and began driving away the demoniac soldiers, scattering them here and there as if their army had no leader. Seeing the pitiable condition of his soldiers, Vrtrasura, the best of the asuras, who was called Indrasatru, the enemy of Indra, was very much aggrieved. Unable to tolerate such reverses, he stopped and forcefully rebuked the demigods, speaking the following words in an angry mood.
किं व उच्चरितैर्मातुर्धावद्भि: पृष्ठतो हतै: । न हि भीतवध: श्लाघ्यो न स्वर्ग्य: शूरमानिनाम् ॥ ४ ॥
kim va uccaritair matur dhavadbhih prsthato hataih na hi bhita-vadhah slaghyo na svargyah sura-maninam
O demigods, these demoniac soldiers have taken birth uselessly. Indeed, they have come from the bodies of their mothers exactly like stool. What is the benefit of killing such enemies from behind while they are running in fear? One who considers himself a hero should not kill an enemy who is afraid of losing his life. Such killing is never glorious, nor can it promote one to the heavenly planes.
यदि व: प्रधने श्रद्धा सारं वा क्षुल्लका हृदि । अग्रे तिष्ठत मात्रं मे न चेद ग्राम्यसुखे स्पृहा ॥ ५ ॥
yadi vah pradhane sraddha saram va ksullaka hrdi agre tisthata matram me na ced gramya-sukhe sprha
O insignificant demigods, if you truly have faith in your heroism, if you have patience in the cores of your hearts and if you are not ambitious for sense gratification, please stand before me for a moment.
एवं सुरगणान् क्रुद्धो भीषयन् वपुषा रिपून् । व्यनदत् सुमहाप्राणो येन लोका विचेतस: ॥ ६ ॥
evam sura-ganan kruddho bhisayan vapusa ripun vyanadat sumaha-prano yena loka vicetasah
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Vrtrasura, the angry and most powerful hero, terrified the demigods with his stout and strongly built body. When he roared with a resounding voice, nearly all living entities fainted.
तेन देवगणा: सर्वे वृत्रविस्फोटनेन वै । निपेतुर्मूर्च्छिता भूमौ यथैवाशनिना हता: ॥ ७ ॥
tena deva-ganah sarve vrtra-visphotanena vai nipetur murcchita bhumau yathaivasanina hatah
When all the demigods heard Vrtrasura’s tumultuous roar, which resembled that of a lion, they fainted and fell to the ground as if struck by thunderbolts.
ममर्द पद्भ्यां सुरसैन्यमातुरं निमीलिताक्षं रणरङ्गदुर्मद: । गां कम्पयन्नुद्यतशूल ओजसा नालं वनं यूथपतिर्यथोन्मद: ॥ ८ ॥
mamarda padbhyam sura-sainyam aturam nimilitaksam rana-ranga-durmadah gam kampayann udyata-sula ojasa nalam vanam yutha-patir yathonmadah
As the demigods closed their eyes in fear, Vrtrasura, taking up his trident and making the earth tremble with his great strength, trampled the demigods beneath his feet on the battlefield the way a mad elephant tramples hollow bamboos in the forest.
विलोक्य तं वज्रधरोऽत्यमर्षित: स्वशत्रवेऽभिद्रवते महागदाम् । चिक्षेप तामापततीं सुदु:सहां जग्राह वामेन करेण लीलया ॥ ९ ॥
vilokya tam vajra-dharo ’tyamarsitah sva-satrave ’bhidravate maha-gadam ciksepa tam apatatim suduhsaham jagraha vamena karena lilaya
Seeing Vrtrasura’s disposition, Indra, the King of heaven, became intolerant and threw at him one of his great clubs, which are extremely difficult to counteract. However, as the club flew toward him, Vrtrasura easily caught it with his left hand.
स इन्द्रशत्रु: कुपितो भृशं तया महेन्द्रवाहं गदयोरुविक्रम: । जघान कुम्भस्थल उन्नदन्मृधे तत्कर्म सर्वे समपूजयन्नृप ॥ १० ॥
sa indra-satruh kupito bhrsam taya mahendra-vaham gadayoru-vikramah jaghana kumbha-sthala unnadan mrdhe tat karma sarve samapujayan nrpa
O King Pariksit, the powerful Vrtrasura, the enemy of King Indra, angrily struck the head of Indra’s elephant with that club, making a tumultuous sound on the battlefield. For this heroic deed, the soldiers on both sides glorified him.
ऐरावतो वृत्रगदाभिमृष्टो विघूर्णितोऽद्रि: कुलिशाहतो यथा । अपासरद् भिन्नमुख: सहेन्द्रो मुञ्चन्नसृक् सप्तधनुर्भृशार्त: ॥ ११ ॥
airavato vrtra-gadabhimrsto vighurnito ’drih kulisahato yatha apasarad bhinna-mukhah sahendro muncann asrk sapta-dhanur bhrsartah
Struck with the club by Vrtrasura like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt, the elephant Airavata, feeling great pain and spitting blood from its broken mouth, was pushed back fourteen yards. In great distress, the elephant fell, with Indra on its back.
न सन्नवाहाय विषण्णचेतसे प्रायुङ्क्त भूय: स गदां महात्मा । इन्द्रोऽमृतस्यन्दिकराभिमर्श वीतव्यथक्षतवाहोऽवतस्थे ॥ १२ ॥
na sanna-vahaya visanna-cetase prayunkta bhuyah sa gadam mahatma indro ’mrta-syandi-karabhimarsa- vita-vyatha-ksata-vaho ’vatasthe
When he saw Indra’s carrier elephant thus fatigued and injured and when he saw Indra morose because his carrier had been harmed in that way, the great soul Vrtrasura, following religious principles, refrained from again striking Indra with the club. Taking this opportunity, Indra touched the elephant with his nectar-producing hand, thus relieving the animal’s pain and curing its injuries. Then the elephant and Indra both stood silently.
स तं नृपेन्द्राहवकाम्यया रिपुं वज्रायुधं भ्रातृहणं विलोक्य । स्मरंश्च तत्कर्म नृशंसमंह: शोकेन मोहेन हसञ्जगाद ॥ १३ ॥
sa tam nrpendrahava-kamyaya ripum vajrayudham bhratr-hanam vilokya smarams ca tat-karma nr-samsam amhah sokena mohena hasan jagada
O King, when the great hero Vrtrasura saw Indra, his enemy, the killer of his brother, standing before him with a thunderbolt in his hand, desiring to fight, Vrtrasura remembered how Indra had cruelly killed his brother. Thinking of Indra’s sinful activities, he became mad with lamentation and forgetfulness. Laughing sarcastically, he spoke as follows.
श्रीवृत्र उवाच दिष्ट्या भवान् मे समवस्थितो रिपु- र्यो ब्रह्महा गुरुहा भ्रातृहा च । दिष्ट्यानृणोऽद्याहमसत्तम त्वया मच्छूलनिर्भिन्नदृषद्धृदाचिरात् ॥ १४ ॥
sri-vrtra uvaca distya bhavan me samavasthito ripur yo brahma-ha guru-ha bhratr-ha ca distyanrno ’dyaham asattama tvaya mac-chula-nirbhinna-drsad-dhrdacirat
Sri Vrtrasura said: He who has killed a brahmana, he who has killed his spiritual master—indeed, he who has killed my brother—is now, by good fortune, standing before me face to face as my enemy. O most abominable one, when I pierce your stonelike heart with my trident, I shall be freed from my debt to my brother.
यो नोऽग्रजस्यात्मविदो द्विजाते- र्गुरोरपापस्य च दीक्षितस्य । विश्रभ्य खड्गेन शिरांस्यवृश्चत् पशोरिवाकरुण: स्वर्गकाम: ॥ १५ ॥
yo no ’grajasyatma-vido dvijater guror apapasya ca diksitasya visrabhya khadgena siramsy avrscat pasor ivakarunah svarga-kamah
Only for the sake of living in the heavenly planes, you killed my elder brother—a self-realized, sinless, qualified brahmana who had been appointed your chief priest. He was your spiritual master, but although you entrusted him with the performance of your sacrifice, you later mercilessly severed his heads from his body the way one butchers an animal.
श्रीह्रीदयाकीर्तिभिरुज्झितं त्वां स्वकर्मणा पुरुषादैश्च गर्ह्यम् । कृच्छ्रेण मच्छूलविभिन्नदेह- मस्पृष्टवह्निं समदन्ति गृध्रा: ॥ १६ ॥
sri-hri-daya-kirtibhir ujjhitam tvam sva-karmana purusadais ca garhyam krcchrena mac-chula-vibhinna-deham asprsta-vahnim samadanti grdhrah
Indra, you are bereft of all shame, mercy, glory and good fortune. Deprived of these good qualities by the reactions of your fruitive activities, you are to be condemned even by the man-eaters (Raksasas). Now I shall pierce your body with my trident, and after you die with great pain, even fire will not touch you; only the vultures will eat your body.
अन्येऽनु ये त्वेह नृशंसमज्ञा यदुद्यतास्त्रा: प्रहरन्ति मह्यम् । तैर्भूतनाथान् सगणान् निशात त्रिशूलनिर्भिन्नगलैर्यजामि ॥ १७ ॥
anye ’nu ye tveha nr-samsam ajna yad udyatastrah praharanti mahyam tair bhuta-nathan saganan nisata- trisula-nirbhinna-galair yajami
You are naturally cruel. If the other demigods, unaware of my prowess, follow you by attacking me with raised weapons, I shall sever their heads with this sharp trident. With those heads I shall perform a sacrifice to Bhairava and the other leaders of the ghosts, along with their hordes.
अथो हरे मे कुलिशेन वीर हर्ता प्रमथ्यैव शिरो यदीह । तत्रानृणो भूतबलिं विधाय मनस्विनां पादरज: प्रपत्स्ये ॥ १८ ॥
atho hare me kulisena vira harta pramathyaiva siro yadiha tatranrno bhuta-balim vidhaya manasvinam pada-rajah prapatsye
But if in this battle you cut off my head with your thunderbolt and kill my soldiers, O Indra, O great hero, I shall take great pleasure in offering my body to other living entities (such as jackals and vultures). I shall thus be relieved of my obligations to the reactions of my karma, and my fortune will be to receive the dust from the lotus feet of great devotees like Narada Muni.
सुरेश कस्मान्न हिनोषि वज्रं पुर: स्थिते वैरिणि मय्यमोघम् । मा संशयिष्ठा न गदेव वज्र: स्यान्निष्फल: कृपणार्थेव याच्ञा ॥ १९ ॥
suresa kasman na hinosi vajram purah sthite vairini mayy amogham ma samsayistha na gadeva vajrah syan nisphalah krpanartheva yacna
O King of the demigods, since I, your enemy, am standing before you, why don’t you hurl your thunderbolt at me? Although your attack upon me with your club was certainly useless, like a request of money from a miser, the thunderbolt you carry will not be useless. You need have no doubts about this.
नन्वेष वज्रस्तव शक्र तेजसा हरेर्दधीचेस्तपसा च तेजित: । तेनैव शत्रुं जहि विष्णुयन्त्रितो यतो हरिर्विजय: श्रीर्गुणास्तत: ॥ २० ॥
nanv esa vajras tava sakra tejasa harer dadhices tapasa ca tejitah tenaiva satrum jahi visnu-yantrito yato harir vijayah srir gunas tatah
O Indra, King of heaven, the thunderbolt you carry to kill me has been empowered by the prowess of Lord Visnu and the strength of Dadhici’s austerities. Since you have come here to kill me in accordance with Lord Visnu’s order, there is no doubt that I shall be killed by the release of your thunderbolt. Lord Visnu has sided with you. Therefore your victory, opulence and all good qualities are assured.
अहं समाधाय मनो यथाह न: सङ्कर्षणस्तच्चरणारविन्दे । त्वद्वज्ररंहोलुलितग्राम्यपाशो गतिं मुनेर्याम्यपविद्धलोक: ॥ २१ ॥
aham samadhaya mano yathaha nah sankarsanas tac-caranaravinde tvad-vajra-ramho-lulita-gramya-paso gatim muner yamy apaviddha-lokah
By the force of your thunderbolt, I shall be freed of material bondage and shall give up this body and this world of material desires. Fixing my mind upon the lotus feet of Lord Sankarsana, I shall attain the destination of such great sages as Narada Muni, just as Lord Sankarsana has said.
पुंसां किलैकान्तधियां स्वकानां या: सम्पदो दिवि भूमौ रसायाम् । न राति यद्द्वेष उद्वेग आधि- र्मद: कलिर्व्यसनं सम्प्रयास: ॥ २२ ॥
pumsam kilaikanta-dhiyam svakanam yah sampado divi bhumau rasayam na rati yad dvesa udvega adhir madah kalir vyasanam samprayasah
Persons who fully surrender at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and always think of His lotus feet are accepted and recognized by the Lord as His own personal assistants or servants. The Lord never bestows upon such servants the brilliant opulences of the upper, lower and middle planeary systems of this material world. When one possesses material opulence in any of these three divisions of the universe, his possessions naturally increase his enmity, anxiety, mental agitation, pride and belligerence. Thus one goes through much endeavor to increase and maintain his possessions, and he suffers great unhappiness when he loses them.
त्रैवर्गिकायासविघातमस्मत्- पतिर्विधत्ते पुरुषस्य शक्र । ततोऽनुमेयो भगवत्प्रसादो यो दुर्लभोऽकिञ्चनगोचरोऽन्यै: ॥ २३ ॥
trai-vargikayasa-vighatam asmat- patir vidhatte purusasya sakra tato ’numeyo bhagavat-prasado yo durlabho ’kincana-gocaro ’nyaih
Our Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, forbids His devotees to endeavor uselessly for religion, economic development and sense gratification. O Indra, one can thus infer how kind the Lord is. Such mercy is obtainable only by unalloyed devotees, not by persons who aspire for material gains.
अहं हरे तव पादैकमूल- दासानुदासो भवितास्मि भूय: । मन: स्मरेतासुपतेर्गुणांस्ते गृणीत वाक् कर्म करोतु काय: ॥ २४ ॥
aham hare tava padaika-mula- dasanudaso bhavitasmi bhuyah manah smaretasu-pater gunams te grnita vak karma karotu kayah
O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, will I again be; able to be a servant of Your eternal servants who find shelter only at Your lotus feet? O Lord of my life, may I again become their servant so that my mind may always think of Your transcendental attributes, my words always glorify those attributes, and my body always engage in the loving service of Your Lordship?
न नाकपृष्ठं न च पारमेष्ठ्यं न सार्वभौमं न रसाधिपत्यम् । न योगसिद्धीरपुनर्भवं वा समञ्जस त्वा विरहय्य काङ्क्षे ॥ २५ ॥
na naka-prstham na ca paramesthyam na sarva-bhaumam na rasadhipatyam na yoga-siddhir apunar-bhavam va samanjasa tva virahayya kankse
O my Lord, source of all opportunities, I do not desire to enjoy in Dhruvaloka, the heavenly planes or the planet where Lord Brahma resides, nor do I want to be the supreme ruler of all the earthly planes or the lower planeary systems. I do not desire to be master of the powers of mystic yoga, nor do I want liberation if I have to give up Your lotus feet.
अजातपक्षा इव मातरं खगा: स्तन्यं यथा वत्सतरा: क्षुधार्ता: । प्रियं प्रियेव व्युषितं विषण्णा मनोऽरविन्दाक्ष दिदृक्षते त्वाम् ॥ २६ ॥
ajata-paksa iva mataram khagah stanyam yatha vatsatarah ksudh-artah priyam priyeva vyusitam visanna mano ’ravindaksa didrksate tvam
O lotus-eyed Lord, as baby birds that have not yet developed their wings always look for their mother to return and feed them, as small calves tied with ropes await anxiously the time of milking, when they will be allowed to drink the milk of their mothers, or as a morose wife whose husband is away from home always longs for him to return and satisfy her in all respects, I always yearn for the opportunity to render direct service unto You.
ममोत्तमश्लोकजनेषु सख्यं संसारचक्रे भ्रमत: स्वकर्मभि: । त्वन्माययात्मात्मजदारगेहे- ष्वासक्तचित्तस्य न नाथ भूयात् ॥ २७ ॥
mamottamasloka-janesu sakhyam samsara-cakre bhramatah sva-karmabhih tvan-mayayatmatmaja-dara-gehesv asakta-cittasya na natha bhuyat
O my Lord, my master, I am wandering throughout this material world as a result of my fruitive activities. Therefore I simply seek friendship in the association of Your pious and enlightened devotees. My attachment to my body, wife, children and home is continuing by the spell of Your external energy, but I wish to be attached to them no longer. Let my mind, my consciousness and everything I have be attached only to You.
