Shloka 56
इन्द्रस्य दुःखप्राप्तिः—त्रिशिरोवधः, वृत्रोत्पत्तिः, जृम्भिकाजननम्
Indra’s Distress: Slaying of Triśiras, Birth of Vṛtra, and the Origin of Yawning
संरब्धयोस्तदा घोर सुचिरं भरतर्षभ । यदा व्यवर्धत रणे वृत्रो बलसमन्वित:
saṃrabdhayostadā ghoraṃ suciraṃ bharatarṣabha | yadā vyavardhata raṇe vṛtro balasamanvitaḥ ||
Dijo Śalya: «Oh toro entre los Bharata, el terrible combate entre aquellos dos guerreros, encendidos de ira, se prolongó por largo tiempo. Cuando Vṛtra, dotado de poder, empezó a crecer en fuerza en la batalla, Indra se apartó del combate. Al ver retirarse a Indra, todos los dioses quedaron abatidos por el dolor.»
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger-fueled conflict can become prolonged and terrifying, and how a leader’s withdrawal at a critical moment can shake collective morale; it implicitly values steadiness and responsibility in the face of rising opposition.
Śalya narrates an episode where the fierce battle between Indra and Vṛtra drags on; as Vṛtra’s strength increases, Indra turns away from the fight, and the other gods become distressed at Indra’s retreat.