Vṛtra’s Cosmic Threat, Viṣṇu’s Upāya, and the Conditional Vulnerability
Udyoga-parva 10
इन्द्र भी हर्षमें भरकर सदा उससे मिलने लगे, परंतु वे वृत्रके वधसम्बन्धी उपायोंको ही सोचते रहते थे ।। छिद्रान्वेषी समुद्विग्न: सदा वसति देवराट् । स कदाचित् समुद्रान्ते समपश्यन्महासुरम्
chidrānveṣī samudvignaḥ sadā vasati devarāṭ | sa kadācit samudrānte samapaśyan mahāsuram ||
ছিদ্র অন্বেষণে রত, সদা উদ্বিগ্ন দেবরাজ ইন্দ্র সর্বদা অস্থির হয়ে বাস করতেন। একদা সমুদ্রতটে তিনি সেই মহাসুরকে দেখলেন।
शल्य उवाच
Even a powerful ruler must remain ethically alert: victory over a grave enemy requires not only strength but also careful discernment of a legitimate means (upāya). Indra’s agitation and ‘search for a flaw’ reflect the moral and strategic burden of acting rightly while confronting danger.
Indra, the king of the gods, is portrayed as constantly uneasy and watchful, seeking a decisive opening. In this state he goes to the ocean’s edge and there sees a mighty asura, setting up the next development in the account.