Shloka 22
इन्द्रस्य दुःखप्राप्तिः—त्रिशिरोवधः, वृत्रोत्पत्तिः, जृम्भिकाजननम्
Indra’s Distress: Slaying of Triśiras, Birth of Vṛtra, and the Origin of Yawning
शास्त्रबुद्ध्या विनिश्ित्य कृत्वा बुद्धि वधे दृढाम्ू,शास्त्रयुक्त बुद्धिसे त्रिशिराके वधका दृढ़ निश्चय करके क्रोधमें भरे हुए इन्द्रने अग्निके समान तेजस्वी, घोर एवं भयंकर वज्रको त्रेशिराकी ओर चला दिया। उस वज्रकी गहरी चोट खाकर त्रिशिरा मरकर पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़े, मानो वज्जके आघातसे टूटा हुआ पर्वतका शिखर भूतलपर पड़ा हो
śāstrabuddhyā viniścitya kṛtvā buddhau vadhe dṛḍhām | śāstrayuktayā buddhyā triśirasaḥ vadhe dṛḍhaniścayaṃ kṛtvā krodhabharo 'bhavat | krodhāviṣṭa indro 'gnisamatejasvinaṃ ghoraṃ bhayaṅkaraṃ vajraṃ triśirasaṃ prati cikṣepa | tasya vajrasya gāḍhābhighātena triśirā mṛtvā pṛthivyāṃ papāta, vajrāhataṃ parvataśikharaṃ yathā bhūtale patitam ||
Having examined the matter with scriptural reasoning and forming an unshakable resolve to slay Triśiras, Indra—his mind inflamed with anger—hurled a dreadful, fearsome thunderbolt (vajra), blazing like fire, straight at Triśiras. Struck by the deep impact of that vajra, Triśiras died and fell upon the earth, like a mountain peak shattered by a thunderbolt and cast down onto the ground.
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes ‘scripture-based reasoning’ with the corrosive force of anger: even when one claims a righteous rationale, wrath can distort judgment and make violence ethically perilous. It warns that intention and mental state (krodha vs. calm discernment) critically shape the moral quality of an act.
Indra, having resolved to kill the three-headed being Triśiras, hurls his vajra (thunderbolt). The blow is fatal; Triśiras falls dead to the earth, compared to a mountain peak shattered and cast down by a thunderbolt.