Shloka 20
Vṛtra’s Cosmic Threat, Viṣṇu’s Upāya, and the Conditional Vulnerability
Udyoga-parva 10
अवाप्स्यसि सुखं त्वं च शक्रलोकांश्व शाश्वतान् । ऋषिवाक्यं निशम्याथ वृत्र: स तु महाबल:,“इससे तुम्हें सुख मिलेगा और इन्द्रके सनातन लोकोंपर भी तुम्हारा अधिकार रहेगा।' ऋषियोंकी यह बात सुनकर महाबली वृत्रासुरने उन सबको मस्तक झुकाकर प्रणाम किया और इस प्रकार कहा--“महाभाग देवताओ! महर्षियो तथा गन्धर्वों! आप सब लोग जो कुछ कह रहे हैं, वह सब मैंने सुन लिया। निष्पाप देवगण! अब मेरी भी बात आपलोग सुनें। मुझमें और इन्द्रमें संधि कैसे होगी? दो तेजस्वी पुरुषोंमें मैत्रीका सम्बन्ध किस प्रकार स्थापित होगा?”
avāpsyasi sukhaṃ tvaṃ ca śakralokāṃś ca śāśvatān | ṛṣivākyaṃ niśamyātha vṛtraḥ sa tu mahābalaḥ ||
“You too shall attain happiness, and you will have a rightful share in the eternal worlds of Śakra (Indra).” Hearing the sages’ words, the mighty Vṛtra bowed his head in reverence and replied: “Blessed gods, great seers, and Gandharvas—I have heard all that you have said. O sinless divine ones, now hear my words as well: how can there be a pact between me and Indra? How can friendship be established between two men of blazing power?”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when wise counsel promises reward and peace, reconciliation requires moral and psychological possibility: entrenched rivalry and equal, blazing pride can make ‘friendship’ or ‘treaty’ feel impossible. The passage highlights the ethical tension between the ideal of concord and the realities of honor, power, and past enmity.
Sages assure Vṛtra that he will attain happiness and a share in Indra’s eternal realms. Vṛtra respectfully bows and responds that he has heard them, but questions how any pact or friendship could be formed between himself and Indra—two formidable, radiant opponents.