Shloka 14
ततो महेन्द्र: परमाभितप्त: श्रुत्वा रव॑ घोररूपं महान्तम् । भये निमग्नस्त्वरितो मुमोच वज्ज॑ महत् तस्य वधाय राजन,राजन्! उस समय उस अत्यन्त भयानक गर्जनाको सुनकर देवराज इन्द्र बहुत संतप्त हो उठे और भयभीत होकर उन्होंने बड़ी उतावलीके साथ वृत्रासुरके वधके लिये अपने महान् वज्रका प्रहार किया
tato mahendraḥ paramābhitaptaḥ śrutvā ravaṃ ghorarūpaṃ mahāntam | bhaye nimagnas tvarito mumoca vajraṃ mahat tasya vadhāya rājan ||
Then Mahendra (Indra), deeply distressed on hearing that immense, terrifying roar, sank into fear. In haste, O King, he hurled his mighty thunderbolt to slay him. The verse frames a crisis of leadership: the ruler of the gods, shaken by dread, chooses decisive violence as a means to end a perceived existential threat.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear can drive even a powerful leader toward precipitous action. Ethically, it invites reflection on whether violence chosen in haste—under the pressure of terror and distress—aligns with dharma, or whether steadiness and discernment are required before decisive force is used.
Indra hears an immense and terrifying roar, becomes deeply agitated and fearful, and quickly hurls his great thunderbolt (vajra) with the intent to kill the opponent.