Site menu
Chapter
11: The Transcendental
Qualities of Vritrâsura
(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'Afraid and disturbed as
they were intent on
fleeing, oh King, they [the commanders of
Vritrâsura] didn't take heed of the words of their master who
thus was stressing the dharma. (2-3) When
the best of the Asuras
saw that the asura army,
as if there was no one to protect them, was scattered and
chased by
the demigods now that the moment offered them the opportunity, the
enemy of Indra was in great pain. Not able to tolerate this, he angry with great force stepped in their way to
rebuke
them
with
the
following
words: (4) 'Of
what interest
are these shitty mummy's boys to you? There is certainly no glory to be
found
in attacking from behind and killing someone who flees in fear. Someone
who thus thinks to be a hero, will not attain a better world. (5)
If you believe in your battle, if you have patience
in your hearts and if you're free from desiring worldly happiness
oh insignificant souls, then just keep standing in front of me for a
moment.'
(6)
Thus with
his
extremely
powerful,
physical
presence
roaring full of anger
he threatened the demigods, his
enemies and scared everyone out of his wits. (7) Because
of that outburst of Vritra factually
all the God-conscious ones fell unconscious to the ground as if they
were struck by lightning. (8) The
entire sura army that in fear had closed its
eyes was
trampled asunder. Arrogantly, like a mad elephant running through a
forest of hollow
bamboos, he holding his trident high, that violently stepped around on
the
field that the earth shook beneath his feet. (9) Seeing
him in such a rage the carrier of the
thunderbolt [Indra] indignantly ran towards his enemy and threw the
mightiest of clubs at
him. But the demon caught the difficult to withstand weapon in its
flight very easily with his left hand. (10) That
incensed Vritrâsura even more.
Roaring loudly he then with his club struck Indra's elephant that was
so famous for its strength on the head. This feat commanded the respect
of all the
soldiers on the battlefield oh ruler of man. (11)
Airâvata, struck by the club in Vritra's hand shook like a
mountain hit by a thunderbolt and was, in great pain and spitting blood
with a broken jaw, together with Indra thrown back a fourteen yards.
(6)
Thus with
his
extremely
powerful,
physical
presence
roaring full of anger
he threatened the demigods, his
enemies and scared everyone out of his wits. (7) Because
of that outburst of Vritra factually
all the God-conscious ones fell unconscious to the ground as if they
were struck by lightning. (8) The
entire sura army that in fear had closed its
eyes was
trampled asunder. Arrogantly, like a mad elephant running through a
forest of hollow
bamboos, he holding his trident high, that violently stepped around on
the
field that the earth shook beneath his feet. (9) Seeing
him in such a rage the carrier of the
thunderbolt [Indra] indignantly ran towards his enemy and threw the
mightiest of clubs at
him. But the demon caught the difficult to withstand weapon in its
flight very easily with his left hand. (10) That
incensed Vritrâsura even more.
Roaring loudly he then with his club struck Indra's elephant that was
so famous for its strength on the head. This feat commanded the respect
of all the
soldiers on the battlefield oh ruler of man. (11)
Airâvata, struck by the club in Vritra's hand shook like a
mountain hit by a thunderbolt and was, in great pain and spitting blood
with a broken jaw, together with Indra thrown back a fourteen yards.(12) The great soul
[though] refrained from using the club again [when he saw how] Indra,
innerly shaken about what had happened to his carrier that didn't die,
by the touch of his nectarean hand relieved
the
animal from all pains
and injuries so that he stood up before him. (13)
When he thus saw Indra who armed with a thunderbolt wanted to fight his
enemy oh King Parîkchit, he again remembered that Indra in the
past had killed his brother. Mad in his grief about that great and
cruel sin, he
sarcastically laughing addressed him. (14) S'rî
Vritra said: 'What a fortune to encounter your lordship
as my enemy, you the slayer of a brahmin who was your guru and my
brother. How lucky I am today to be
soon relieved from my debt to my brother by piercing my trident straight through your heart of stone,
oh you total falsehood in
person! (15) You
desiring heaven, mercilessly severed with your sword the three heads
from the trunk of our innocent elder brother like he was an animal. He was a fully qualified and selfrealized
brahmin. He was your spiritual teacher entrusted
with the task of leading the sacrifices! (16) You
bereft
of all shame, mercy, beauty and glory are by your actions condemnable
even to creatures below the human level [like the Râkshasas]. You
will have to die in great pain after my trident has
pierced your body which as a corpse will not be burned but be eaten by
the vultures.
(17) You who proved yourself so cruel, I will together with all the others who thoughtlessly following you attacked me with raised swords, with their severed heads on my pointy trident sacrifice to [Bhairava] the leader of the evil ghosts and his hordes. (18) But in case you oh heroic lordship of mine, with your thunderbolt in this battle manage to cut off my head and destroy my army, I having falling prey to the scavengers, will on the other hand be relieved of all debts and achieve the dust of the feet of the great sages. (19) Oh master of the godly, why don't you hurl your thunderbolt at me, your enemy standing in front of you? Do not doubt its infallibility, the bolt may succeed unlike the club that is just as useless as a request for money with a miser. (20) This thunderbolt of yours oh Indra, that is empowered by the prowess of Vishnu and the penance of Dadhîci, for certain without fail will kill your enemy. Whatever that is established by Lord Vishnu will bring the Lord's victory and all His opulences and qualities. (21) By the force of your thunderbolt the rope of my material attachment will be cut. And when I give up this world then I, with my mind fixed on the lotus feet of Lord Sankarshana, will exactly as He has said [see 5.25: 8] reach the destination of the munis. (22) Persons advanced in spiritual life He recognizes as His own. He will not bestow upon them the opulences found in the divine, earthly and hellish spheres because they lead to envy, anxiety, agitation, pride, quarrel, distress and belligerence. (23) Oh Indra the endeavors of a person to attain the three goals of life [settled religion, economy and sense satisfaction] are obstructed by our Lord. This is to be recognized as the special mercy of the Fortunate One [leading to stability, happiness and consciousness] which is easy to reach for unalloyed devotees but so very difficult to attain by others [who always get entangled in the consequences of their actions]. (24) [And therefore I pray:] 'Oh my Lord, shall I be reborn as a servant of Your servant whose only shelter is to be at Your lotus feet? May my mind remember the transcendental qualities of You oh Lord of my life, may my words be of praise and my body be engaged in working for You! (25) I do not desire a place in heaven or the topmost position [of Brahmâ], not the rule over the world nor to dictate the lower worlds. I do not desire the perfections [the siddhis] of yoga nor to be freed from rebirth oh source of all opportunity, all I want is not to be separated from You! (26) Like small birds who unable to fly are looking for their mother, like a calf distressed with hunger looking for the udder, like a lover morose about the beloved who left, my mind the same way longs to see You oh lotus-eyed One. (27) May there for me who because of his karma wanders around in this world of birth and death, be the friendship with Your people [Your devotees], oh Lord praised in the scriptures and not so much with those people whose minds by Your external manifestation are attached to their bodies, children, wife and home.'
(17) You who proved yourself so cruel, I will together with all the others who thoughtlessly following you attacked me with raised swords, with their severed heads on my pointy trident sacrifice to [Bhairava] the leader of the evil ghosts and his hordes. (18) But in case you oh heroic lordship of mine, with your thunderbolt in this battle manage to cut off my head and destroy my army, I having falling prey to the scavengers, will on the other hand be relieved of all debts and achieve the dust of the feet of the great sages. (19) Oh master of the godly, why don't you hurl your thunderbolt at me, your enemy standing in front of you? Do not doubt its infallibility, the bolt may succeed unlike the club that is just as useless as a request for money with a miser. (20) This thunderbolt of yours oh Indra, that is empowered by the prowess of Vishnu and the penance of Dadhîci, for certain without fail will kill your enemy. Whatever that is established by Lord Vishnu will bring the Lord's victory and all His opulences and qualities. (21) By the force of your thunderbolt the rope of my material attachment will be cut. And when I give up this world then I, with my mind fixed on the lotus feet of Lord Sankarshana, will exactly as He has said [see 5.25: 8] reach the destination of the munis. (22) Persons advanced in spiritual life He recognizes as His own. He will not bestow upon them the opulences found in the divine, earthly and hellish spheres because they lead to envy, anxiety, agitation, pride, quarrel, distress and belligerence. (23) Oh Indra the endeavors of a person to attain the three goals of life [settled religion, economy and sense satisfaction] are obstructed by our Lord. This is to be recognized as the special mercy of the Fortunate One [leading to stability, happiness and consciousness] which is easy to reach for unalloyed devotees but so very difficult to attain by others [who always get entangled in the consequences of their actions]. (24) [And therefore I pray:] 'Oh my Lord, shall I be reborn as a servant of Your servant whose only shelter is to be at Your lotus feet? May my mind remember the transcendental qualities of You oh Lord of my life, may my words be of praise and my body be engaged in working for You! (25) I do not desire a place in heaven or the topmost position [of Brahmâ], not the rule over the world nor to dictate the lower worlds. I do not desire the perfections [the siddhis] of yoga nor to be freed from rebirth oh source of all opportunity, all I want is not to be separated from You! (26) Like small birds who unable to fly are looking for their mother, like a calf distressed with hunger looking for the udder, like a lover morose about the beloved who left, my mind the same way longs to see You oh lotus-eyed One. (27) May there for me who because of his karma wanders around in this world of birth and death, be the friendship with Your people [Your devotees], oh Lord praised in the scriptures and not so much with those people whose minds by Your external manifestation are attached to their bodies, children, wife and home.'
