Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa
विष्वग्विवर्धमानं तमिषुमात्रं दिने दिने । दग्धशैलप्रतीकाशं सन्ध्याभ्रानीकवर्चसम् ॥ १३ ॥ तप्तताम्रशिखाश्मश्रुं मध्याह्नार्कोग्रलोचनम् ॥ १४ ॥ देदीप्यमाने त्रिशिखे शूल आरोप्य रोदसी । नृत्यन्तमुन्नदन्तं च चालयन्तं पदा महीम् ॥ १५ ॥ दरीगम्भीरवक्त्रेण पिबता च नभस्तलम् । लिहता जिह्वयर्क्षाणि ग्रसता भुवनत्रयम् ॥ १६ ॥ महता रौद्रदंष्ट्रेण जृम्भमाणं मुहुर्मुहु: । वित्रस्ता दुद्रुवुर्लोका वीक्ष्य सर्वे दिशो दश ॥ १७ ॥
viṣvag vivardhamānaṁ tam iṣu-mātraṁ dine dine dagdha-śaila-pratīkāśaṁ sandhyābhrānīka-varcasam
Il paraissait invincible, comme s’il portait les deux mondes sur les pointes d’un trident à trois lames flamboyantes. Dansant et rugissant à pleine voix, il faisait trembler la terre sous ses pas, tel un séisme.
Vṛtrāsura is the formidable adversary of Indra in the Sixth Canto; though appearing terrifying, he is portrayed within the Bhagavatam’s larger teaching about destiny, divine arrangement, and devotion.
Śukadeva intensifies the narrative by depicting Vṛtrāsura’s awe-inspiring form, emphasizing the scale of the cosmic battle and the fear experienced by the worlds when confronted with overwhelming power.
External appearance can be overwhelming, but wisdom lies in seeing beyond fear—remembering that outcomes unfold under higher order and that inner steadiness is essential in crisis.