Shloka 21
The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura
Vṛtra’s Death, Indra’s Sin, and Brahmin Censure
अस्माद्वाक्यात्तु विश्वस्तो वृत्रो नाम महाबलः । हतो विश्वासभावेन एवं पापं त्वया कृतम्
asmādvākyāttu viśvasto vṛtro nāma mahābalaḥ | hato viśvāsabhāvena evaṃ pāpaṃ tvayā kṛtam
Karena mempercayai ucapan kami, Vṛtra yang mahaperkasa menjadi yakin; dalam keadaan percaya itulah ia terbunuh—maka dosa ini telah engkau perbuat.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 2.25)
Concept: Breach of trust (viśvāsa-bhāva) in speech can generate grave sin even when the outcome seems politically expedient.
Application: Avoid manipulating others through promises or assurances; if action must be taken, keep means aligned with truth and fairness to prevent moral residue.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tense celestial court after battle: Vṛtra’s fallen form lies like a dark mountain, while Indra stands rigid, his vajra lowered, as unseen voices weigh the sin born from broken trust. The air is heavy with remorse—victory feels hollow, and the gods’ radiance is muted by moral shadow.","primary_figures":["Indra","Vṛtra","Devas (silhouetted assembly)","Brāhmaṇas/sages (witnesses)"],"setting":"Celestial battlefield edge transitioning into an assembly hall of the devas, strewn with broken weapons and drifting cloud-mist.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance veiled by storm-gray remorse","color_palette":["storm gray","vajra silver","ashen violet","dull gold","bloodless white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Indra with lowered vajra and conflicted gaze, standing before the fallen Vṛtra; devas in a semicircle with subdued halos; heavy gold leaf borders but intentionally muted central glow, rich maroons and deep greens, gem-studded ornaments, traditional South Indian iconography emphasizing moral gravity over triumph.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical yet somber post-battle scene on cloud-banks; Indra slender and tense, Vṛtra sprawled like a dark ridge; delicate brushwork, cool grays and violets, refined faces showing regret, minimal blood, Himalayan-like mist and distant peaks to heighten introspection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, Indra front-facing with vajra lowered, Vṛtra as a coiled dark form; devas as a patterned frieze; natural pigments with red/yellow/green restrained by gray washes, temple-wall aesthetic conveying ethical admonition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—Indra centered with subdued aura, lotus motifs turning pale; border of stylized clouds and thunder patterns; deep indigo background with gold detailing, narrative cartouches hinting at ‘viśvāsa’ (trust) and ‘pāpa’ (sin) as calligraphic motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["distant thunder","conch shell (faint)","temple bells (slow)","wind over clouds","brief silence after key words"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अस्माद्वाक्यात्तु = अस्मात् + वाक्यात् + तु (त्-त् संयोग); वृत्रो नाम = वृत्रः + नाम; हतो = हतः; कृतम् unchanged.
FAQs
It condemns taking advantage of another’s trust: harming someone who relied on one’s word is treated as a morally blameworthy act (pāpa).
Vṛtra is a powerful figure known from Indic mythic narratives; here he is described as “mahābalaḥ” (mighty) and is said to have been killed while trusting the other party’s words.
Because the killing is presented as enabled by “viśvāsa” (trust) in the speaker’s words, implying betrayal or deceit—an adharma that incurs moral fault.