Shloka 18

Vāsudeva’s Upadeśa: The Inner Enemy and the Indra–Vṛtra Precedent (आत्मशत्रु-बोधः; इन्द्र-वृत्रोपाख्यानम्)

Devanagari script

तस्य वृत्रगृहीतस्य मोह: समभवन्महान्‌

Transliteration

tasya vṛtragṛhītasya mohaḥ samabhavan mahān

Translation

When he was seized by Vṛtra, a great delusion overcame him—his clarity of mind was eclipsed under the force of that overpowering grasp.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• वृत्रगृहीतस्य: of (one) seized by Vṛtra
• वृत्रगृहीतस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्रगृहीत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• मोहः: delusion, bewilderment
• मोहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समभवत्: arose, came to be
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महान्: great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva (Vāyu)
• Vṛtra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how overpowering adversity or hostile forces can induce moha—loss of discernment—implying the ethical need to regain clarity and steadiness rather than act from confusion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva states that when the person in question was caught by Vṛtra, an intense bewilderment arose in him, marking a moment of psychological and moral disorientation under threat.