Shloka 8
समुद्रपानम् (Samudra-pānam) — Maitrāvaruṇi Drains the Ocean; Devas Seek a Means to Refill It
ते वृत्र निहतं दृष्टवा सहस्राक्षेण धीमता । जीवितं परिरक्षन्त: प्रविष्टा वरुणालयम्,(॥॥/ 7 0, है का ॥॥ परम बुद्धिमान् इन्द्रके द्वारा वृत्रासुरको मारा गया देख वे अपने प्राण बचानेके लिये समुद्रमें जाकर छिप गये हैं
te vṛtra-nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā sahasrākṣeṇa dhīmatā | jīvitaṃ parirakṣantaḥ praviṣṭā varuṇālayam ||
Seeing Vṛtra slain by the wise Sahasrākṣa (Indra), they—anxious to preserve their own lives—fled and hid themselves in Varuṇa’s abode, the ocean. The verse underscores how fear and self-preservation can drive even powerful beings to seek refuge when confronted with the consequences of divine justice and the collapse of their cause.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
When unrighteous power collapses under rightful divine action, fear exposes inner insecurity; seeking refuge becomes inevitable. The verse hints that dharma ultimately prevails, and those aligned with a failing cause resort to concealment rather than confrontation.
After Indra (Sahasrākṣa), described as wise, kills Vṛtra, the others associated with Vṛtra—frightened for their lives—enter Varuṇa’s realm, i.e., the ocean, to hide and protect themselves.