Shloka 19

The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura

Vṛtra’s Death, Indra’s Sin, and Brahmin Censure

Devanagari script

अतीवमुग्धं सुरया ज्ञानभ्रष्टो यदाभवत् । तदंतरे सुरेंद्रेण वज्रेण निहतस्तदा

Transliteration

atīvamugdhaṃ surayā jñānabhraṣṭo yadābhavat | tadaṃtare sureṃdreṇa vajreṇa nihatastadā

Translation

Ketika ia sangat terpesona oleh minuman memabukkan hingga kebijaksanaannya lenyap, pada saat itu juga Dewa Indra, raja para dewa, menumbangkannya dengan Vajra (petir suci).

Word by Word

• अतीव: excessively
• अतीव: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रता-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मुग्धम्: bewildered, stupefied
• मुग्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘(तम्) मुग्धम्’ इति कर्मपद-विशेषणम्

• सुरया: by liquor
• सुरया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ज्ञानभ्रष्टः: deprived of knowledge, deluded
• ज्ञानभ्रष्टः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान + भ्रष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √भ्रंश्/भ्रश् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘ज्ञानात् भ्रष्टः’ (knowledge-lost)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (Time/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative temporal adverb: when)

• अभवत्: became, was
• अभवत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तदन्तरे: in the meantime
• तदन्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘तस्य अन्तरे’ = in the meantime

• सुरेन्द्रेण: by Indra (lord of gods)
• सुरेन्द्रेण: Kartr (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘सुराणाम् इन्द्रः’

• वज्रेण: with the thunderbolt
• वज्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• निहतः: slain
• निहतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + √हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृसमानाधिकरणम् (he was slain)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (Time/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: अतीवमुग्धं = अतीव + मुग्धम्; यदाभवत् = यदा + अभवत्; तदंतरे = तद् + अन्तरे; सुरेंद्रेण = सुरेन्द्रेण; निहतस्तदा = निहतः + तदा.

Characters & Entities

• Indra

FAQs

What is the central teaching of this verse?

It warns that intoxication can destroy discernment (jñāna), leading swiftly to ruin and severe consequences.

Who is “surendra” and what is “vajra” here?

“Surendra” refers to Indra, king of the devas; “vajra” is his thunderbolt weapon, symbolizing decisive divine retribution.

What ethical lesson is emphasized in this narrative line?

Loss of self-control and clarity of mind invites downfall; the verse frames this as both a moral and cosmic (daiva) consequence.