Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 2
Vṛtrāsura Rebukes Indra; Heroic Combat and the Asura’s Pure Devotional Prayers
विशीर्यमाणां पृतनामासुरीमसुरर्षभ: । कालानुकूलैस्त्रिदशै: काल्यमानामनाथवत् ॥ २ ॥ दृष्ट्वातप्यत सङ्कुद्ध इन्द्रशत्रुरमर्षित: । तान् निवार्यौजसा राजन् निर्भर्त्स्येदमुवाच ह ॥ ३ ॥
viśīryamāṇāṁ pṛtanām āsurīm asurarṣabhaḥ kālānukūlais tridaśaiḥ kālyamānām anāthavat
Oh rey, aprovechando una ocasión favorable concedida por el tiempo, los semidioses atacaron por la retaguardia y comenzaron a expulsar al ejército de los asuras, dispersándolo como si no tuviera jefe. Al ver la condición lamentable de sus soldados, Vṛtrāsura, el mejor de los asuras, llamado Indraśatru, enemigo de Indra, se afligió profundamente y se enfureció. Incapaz de tolerar tal revés, se detuvo, los contuvo con fuerza y reprendió a los semidioses, diciendo con ira lo siguiente.
FAQs
This verse states that the demigods’ attack became effective because time turned favorable to them, showing that kāla (the Lord’s arranging potency) strongly influences outcomes beyond mere strength.
Because the demon forces were being rapidly destroyed by the demigods; the imagery emphasizes their loss of support and the reversal brought about when time favors the opposing side.
Do your duty with effort, but remain humble about results—success and failure can shift with circumstances beyond control, so cultivate steadiness and devotion rather than pride.