Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 17
Dadhīci’s Supreme Charity and the Opening of Indra’s War with Vṛtrāsura
रुद्रैर्वसुभिरादित्यैरश्विभ्यां पितृवह्निभि: । मरुद्भिर्ऋभुभि: साध्यैर्विश्वेदेवैर्मरुत्पतिम् ॥ १७ ॥ दृष्ट्वा वज्रधरं शक्रं रोचमानं स्वया श्रिया । नामृष्यन्नसुरा राजन्मृधे वृत्रपुर:सरा: ॥ १८ ॥
rudrair vasubhir ādityair aśvibhyāṁ pitṛ-vahnibhiḥ marudbhir ṛbhubhiḥ sādhyair viśvedevair marut-patim
O King, when the asuras—led by Vṛtrāsura—entered the battlefield, they beheld Śakra bearing the thunderbolt, surrounded by the Rudras, Vasus, Ādityas, Aśvinī-kumāras, Pitṛs, Vahnis, Maruts, Ṛbhus, Sādhyas, and Viśvadevas. Indra blazed with his own splendor, a radiance the demons could not endure.
FAQs
This verse highlights the collective presence of the major devas, showing that the fight is not merely personal but a cosmic struggle to protect dharma under divine order.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this scene to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
It suggests that righteous goals are strengthened by good association—seeking support from virtuous people and disciplined communities when facing conflict.