Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 18
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—Indra bearing the thunderbolt—surrounded by the Rudras, Vasus, Ādityas, the Aśvinī-kumāras, the Pitṛs, the Vahnis (Agni), the Maruts, Ṛbhus, Sādhyas, and the Viśvadevas. Shining with his own śrī, Indra’s effulgence was unbearable to the demons.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva describes Indra arriving with many classes of demigods (Rudras, Vasus, Ādityas, Aśvins, etc.), showing that the devas unite under divine order to confront Vṛtra’s forces.
The verse states they “could not tolerate” Indra’s radiance and glory; their envy and hostility intensified when they saw the thunderbolt-bearing Indra, so they rushed forward led by Vṛtra.
It highlights how envy makes one unable to tolerate another’s success or divine favor; cultivating humility and devotion helps replace rivalry with inner steadiness and dharmic action.