Shloka 1
Vṛtrāsura Instructs Indra on Providence and Devotion; The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura
श्रीऋषिरुवाच एवं जिहासुर्नृप देहमाजौ मृत्युं वरं विजयान्मन्यमान: । शूलं प्रगृह्याभ्यपतत् सुरेन्द्रं यथा महापुरुषं कैटभोऽप्सु ॥ १ ॥
śrī-ṛṣir uvāca evaṁ jihāsur nṛpa deham ājau mṛtyuṁ varaṁ vijayān manyamānaḥ śūlaṁ pragṛhyābhyapatat surendraṁ yathā mahā-puruṣaṁ kaiṭabho ’psu
Der Weise sprach: O König, da Vṛtrāsura seinen Körper aufgeben wollte, hielt er den Tod in der Schlacht für besser als den Sieg. Er ergriff seinen Dreizack und stürzte mit großer Wucht auf Indra, den König der Devas, los, wie einst Kaiṭabha den Mahāpuruṣa angriff, als das Universum von den Fluten des Pralaya überdeckt war.
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.
FAQs
This verse presents the mood of complete detachment: the warrior seeks to abandon the body in duty-bound battle, viewing death as spiritually superior to worldly triumph when one is fixed in higher purpose.
The comparison highlights the intensity and fearlessness of the charge—an all-or-nothing assault—using a well-known Purāṇic image (Kaiṭabha vs. the Lord in the waters) to convey its force.
Do your duty without obsession for “winning,” and cultivate inner surrender—choosing integrity and spiritual aim over ego-driven success.