Shloka 33
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 ||
Indra, unruhig und wachsam, stets auf der Suche nach einer Schwachstelle, lebte in dauernder Erregung und war fortwährend damit beschäftigt, wie Vṛtra zu töten sei. Einst, am Rand des Ozeans, erblickte der König der Götter einen mächtigen Asura.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.