Shloka 15
Vṛtra’s Cosmic Threat, Viṣṇu’s Upāya, and the Conditional Vulnerability
Udyoga-parva 10
समीपमेत्य च यदा सर्व एव महौजस: । त॑ तेजसा प्रज्वलितं प्रतपन्तं दिशो दश
samīpam etya ca yadā sarva eva mahaujasaḥ | taṁ tejasā prajvalitaṁ pratapantaṁ diśo daśa ||
Śalya said: “When all those mighty ones drew near, they beheld Vṛtrāsura blazing with his own splendor, scorching the ten directions. Seen together by Indra and the assembled gods, he appeared as though he would swallow up the three worlds.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Immense power (tejas/ojas) inspires awe but also threatens dharma when it becomes world-consuming; the protection of cosmic order may require decisive action even against a formidable opponent.
Indra and the assembled gods approach Vṛtrāsura and see him blazing so fiercely that he seems to scorch all directions, appearing capable of devouring the three worlds.