Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 18
Vṛtrāsura Rebukes Indra; Heroic Combat and the Asura’s Pure Devotional Prayers
अथो हरे मे कुलिशेन वीर हर्ता प्रमथ्यैव शिरो यदीह । तत्रानृणो भूतबलिं विधाय मनस्विनां पादरज: प्रपत्स्ये ॥ १८ ॥
atho hare me kuliśena vīra hartā pramathyaiva śiro yadīha tatrānṛṇo bhūta-baliṁ vidhāya manasvināṁ pāda-rajaḥ prapatsye
Pero si en esta batalla cortas mi cabeza con tu rayo, oh gran héroe Indra, quedaré libre de mi karma y tendré la fortuna de recibir el polvo de los pies de loto de grandes devotos como Nārada Muni.
Śrī Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings:
FAQs
Vṛtrāsura shows that a devotee can be fearless even before death, seeing it as an opportunity to offer one’s life and attain the dust of the devotees’ feet.
In the battle narrative, Vṛtrāsura rejects bodily survival and invites Indra to fulfill his duty, while Vṛtrāsura focuses on attaining the association (dust of feet) of exalted devotees.
Do your duty without obsession for personal gain, offer outcomes to God, and seek the guidance and “footsteps” (teachings) of saintly devotees through study, service, and humility.