Shloka 15
उशनसः (शुक्रस्य) चरितम् — The Account of Uśanā (Śukra): Yoga, Grievance, and Pacification
भ्रष्टैश्वर्य पुरा वृत्रमुशना वाक्यमब्रवीत् | काचित् पराजितस्याद्य न व्यथा ते5स्ति दानव
bhraṣṭaiśvaryaḥ purā vṛtram uśanā vākyam abravīt | kācit parājitasya adya na vyathā te 'sti dānava ||
Bhīṣma dit : Jadis, lorsque Vṛtra fut déchu de son ancienne souveraineté, Uśanas (Śukrācārya) lui adressa ces paroles : « Ô Danava ! Bien que tu aies été vaincu, aujourd’hui il n’y a en toi aucune détresse. Quelle en est la raison ? »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical inquiry: true steadiness is measured not by external success but by the mind’s freedom from agitation. By highlighting Vritra’s lack of distress even after losing sovereignty, the text points toward inner composure and detachment as a higher strength than mere power.
Bhishma recalls an old episode: after Vritra has been defeated and stripped of his former dominion, his teacher Ushanas (Shukracharya) notices Vritra’s unusual calm and asks why he feels no pain or anxiety despite the defeat.