Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 8
Vṛtrāsura Rebukes Indra; Heroic Combat and the Asura’s Pure Devotional Prayers
ममर्द पद्भ्यां सुरसैन्यमातुरं निमीलिताक्षं रणरङ्गदुर्मद: । गां कम्पयन्नुद्यतशूल ओजसा नालं वनं यूथपतिर्यथोन्मद: ॥ ८ ॥
mamarda padbhyāṁ sura-sainyam āturaṁ nimīlitākṣaṁ raṇa-raṅga-durmadaḥ gāṁ kampayann udyata-śūla ojasā nālaṁ vanaṁ yūtha-patir yathonmadaḥ
On the battlefield, as the demigods shut their eyes in fear, Vṛtrāsura—mad with martial pride—trampled their distressed army beneath his feet. Raising his trident and making the earth tremble by his might, he was like a frenzied lordly elephant crushing hollow bamboos in the forest.
FAQs
It portrays Vṛtrāsura as overwhelmingly powerful in battle—trampling the demigod army, raising his trident, and shaking the earth like a maddened elephant leader shaking a forest.
The comparison highlights unstoppable force and battlefield frenzy: just as a powerful elephant leader can shake a forest, Vṛtrāsura’s might makes the earth tremble and the opposing army scatter.
External power and intensity can be immense, but Bhagavatam repeatedly guides the reader to look beyond violence to the deeper lesson of dharma and the ultimate supremacy of bhakti over mere strength.