Shloka 25
Kāleya-Āśrama-Vināśaḥ — The Kāleyas’ nocturnal raids and the devas’ supplication to Nārāyaṇa
इसके बाद वे हर्षोल्लाससे भरकर विजयकी आशा लिये त्वष्टा प्रजापतिके पास आये और उनसे अपना प्रयोजन बताया। देवताओंकी बात सुनकर त्वष्टा प्रजापति बड़े प्रसन्न हुए। उन्होंने एकाग्रचित्त हो प्रयत्नपूर्वक अत्यन्त भयंकर वज्रका निर्माण किया। तत्पश्चात् वे हर्षमें भरकर इन्द्रसे बोले--'देव! इस उत्तम वज़से आप आज ही भयंकर देवद्रोही वृत्रासुरको भस्म कर डालिये ।। ततो हतारि: सगण: सुखं वै प्रशाधि कृत्स्नं त्रिदिवं दिविष्ठ: । त्वष्टा तथोक्तस्तु पुरंदरस्तद् वज् प्रद्ृष्ट: प्रयतो हागृह्नात्,“इस प्रकार शत्रुके मारे जानेपर आप देवगणोंके साथ स्वर्गमें रहकर सुखपूर्वक सम्पूर्ण स्वर्गका शासन एवं पालन कीजिये।” त्वष्टा प्रजापतिके ऐसा कहनेपर इन्द्रको बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई। उन्होंने शुद्धचित्त होकर उनके हाथसे वह वज्र ले लिया
tato hatāriḥ sagaṇaḥ sukhaṃ vai praśādhi kṛtsnaṃ tridivaṃ diviṣṭhaḥ | tvaṣṭā tathoktaḥ tu puraṃdaras tad vajraṃ pradṛṣṭaḥ prayato ha gṛhṇāt ||
Then, with the enemy slain, dwell in heaven together with the host of gods, and in peace govern and protect the whole of the threefold heaven, O you who abide among the gods. Thus addressed by Tvaṣṭṛ, Indra (the city-destroyer), seeing the thunderbolt presented, reverently and with a purified intent accepted that vajra from his hand—ready to use it against Vṛtra, the betrayer of the gods. The passage frames righteous kingship as protective stewardship after the removal of a destructive aggressor, and it emphasizes disciplined, consecrated power rather than mere triumphal violence.
लोगमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power is legitimized as dharmic stewardship: after removing a destructive threat, the ruler’s duty is to govern and protect the whole realm in peace. The acceptance of the vajra ‘prayataḥ’ underscores that force should be disciplined, ritually/purposively purified, and directed toward protection rather than domination.
Tvaṣṭṛ addresses Indra, urging him to destroy Vṛtra with the newly fashioned vajra and then rule heaven happily with the gods. Indra, pleased and reverent, accepts the thunderbolt from Tvaṣṭṛ’s hand, preparing for the decisive confrontation.