Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 2
Vṛtrāsura Rebukes Indra; Heroic Combat and the Asura’s Pure Devotional Prayers
विशीर्यमाणां पृतनामासुरीमसुरर्षभ: । कालानुकूलैस्त्रिदशै: काल्यमानामनाथवत् ॥ २ ॥ दृष्ट्वातप्यत सङ्कुद्ध इन्द्रशत्रुरमर्षित: । तान् निवार्यौजसा राजन् निर्भर्त्स्येदमुवाच ह ॥ ३ ॥
viśīryamāṇāṁ pṛtanām āsurīm asurarṣabhaḥ kālānukūlais tridaśaiḥ kālyamānām anāthavat
O King, seizing a favorable moment granted by time, the demigods attacked the asuras’ army from the rear and drove the soldiers away, scattering them as if the host had no leader. Seeing his troops in such a pitiable state, Vṛtrāsura—the best of the asuras, known as Indraśatru, Indra’s enemy—was stricken with grief and rage. Unable to bear the setback, he halted them by force, rebuked the demigods, and in anger spoke the following words.
FAQs
This verse states that the demigods’ attack became effective because time turned favorable to them, showing that kāla (the Lord’s arranging potency) strongly influences outcomes beyond mere strength.
Because the demon forces were being rapidly destroyed by the demigods; the imagery emphasizes their loss of support and the reversal brought about when time favors the opposing side.
Do your duty with effort, but remain humble about results—success and failure can shift with circumstances beyond control, so cultivate steadiness and devotion rather than pride.