Shloka 48
अग्नौ हुत्वा समुत्पाद्य घोर वृत्रमुवाच ह । इन्द्रशत्रो विवर्धस्व प्रभावात् तपसो मम,साथ ही वह पापात्मा और दुरात्मा देवेन्द्र भी मेरा महान् तपोबल देख ले। ऐसा कहकर क्रोधमें भरे हुए तपस्वी एवं महायशस्वी त्वष्टाने आचमन करके अग्निमें आहुति दे घोर रूपवाले वृत्रासुरको उत्पन्न करके उससे कहा--*इन्द्रशत्रो! तू मेरी तपस्याके प्रभावसे खूब बढ़ जा'
agnau hutvā samutpādya ghoraṃ vṛtram uvāca ha | indraśatro vivardhasva prabhāvāt tapaso mama ||
Śalya said: “Having offered oblations into the fire, he brought forth the dreadful Vṛtra and addressed him: ‘O slayer of Indra, grow mightily by the power of my austerity.’”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that spiritual power (tapas) is ethically neutral in itself: its moral value depends on intention. When austerity is fueled by wrath and directed toward harm, it becomes a force that amplifies conflict rather than upholding dharma.
A powerful ascetic performs a fire-offering and, through that ritual empowered by austerity, brings forth the fearsome Vṛtra. He then commands Vṛtra—addressed as ‘Indra’s slayer/enemy’—to grow strong by the potency of his tapas, setting the stage for hostility against Indra.