Shloka 39
Vṛtra’s Cosmic Threat, Viṣṇu’s Upāya, and the Conditional Vulnerability
Udyoga-parva 10
सवज्रमथ फेन त॑ क्षिप्रं वृत्रे निसृष्टवान् | प्रविश्य फेनं तं विष्णुरथ वृत्रं व्यनाशयत्
sa-vajram atha phenaṁ taṁ kṣipraṁ vṛtre nisṛṣṭavān | praviśya phenaṁ taṁ viṣṇur atha vṛtraṁ vyanāśayat |
Reflecting thus, Indra swiftly hurled the foam—together with the thunderbolt—at Vṛtrāsura. At that moment, Lord Viṣṇu entered into that foam, and Vṛtra was destroyed.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Righteous action succeeds when it accords with dharma and is supported by higher order: even an unconventional instrument (foam) becomes effective when guided by divine presence and a just aim.
Śalya recounts how Indra, after considering the situation, quickly strikes Vṛtra with foam along with the vajra; Viṣṇu enters that foam, enabling the destruction of Vṛtra.