Shloka 7
वृत्रेण पृथिवी व्याप्ता पुरा किल नराधिप । दृष्टवा स पृथिवीं व्याप्तां गन्धस्य विषये हते,नरेश्वर! कहते हैं, प्राचीन कालमें वृत्रासुरने समूची पृथ्वीपर अधिकार जमा लिया था। इन्द्रने देखा, वृत्रासुरने पृथ्वीपर अधिकार कर लिया और गन्धके विषयका भी अपहरण कर लिया और इस प्रकार पृथ्वीका अपहरण करनेसे सब ओर दुर्गनन््धका प्रसार हो गया है। तब गन्धके विषयका अपहरण होनेसे शतक्रतु इन्द्रको बड़ा क्रोध हुआ
vṛtreṇa pṛthivī vyāptā purā kila narādhipa | dṛṣṭvā sa pṛthivīṁ vyāptāṁ gandhasya viṣaye hate ||
Vāyu said: “O king, it is said that in ancient times Vṛtra spread himself over the whole earth and seized control of it. When Indra saw the earth thus overrun, he also found that the domain of fragrance had been struck down—its proper function and possession had been taken away. Because the earth was thus usurped, foul odor spread everywhere; and when the sphere of fragrance was stolen, Śatakratu Indra was filled with great anger.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames usurpation of rightful domains (here, the earth and the natural order of fragrance) as a disruption of cosmic and social balance; the ethical implication is that rulers and protectors must respond to restore proper order when fundamental functions of the world are violated.
Vāyu recounts an ancient episode: Vṛtra overran the earth and even seized the ‘sphere of fragrance,’ causing foul odor to spread. Indra, seeing this comprehensive takeover and the impairment of a natural principle, became intensely angry, setting the stage for corrective action.