Shloka 18
इन्द्रवृत्रयुद्धवर्णनम्
Indra–Vṛtra Conflict and the Adversaries’ Tapas-Targeting Counsel
सर्वान् राज्ञ: सहागस्त्यान् निमेषादिव भारत । (इल्वलस्त्वनुगम्यैनमगस्त्यं हन्तुमैच्छत । भस्म चक्रे महातेजा हुंकारेण महासुरम् ।। मुनेराश्रममश्चौ तौ निन्यतुर्वातरंहसौ ।) अगस्त्येनाभ्यनुज्ञाता जग्मू राजर्षयस्तदा । कृतवांश्व मुनि: सर्व लोपामुद्राचिकीर्षितम्,उस रथमें विराव और सुराव नामक दो घोड़े जुते हुए थे। वे धनसहित राजाओं तथा अगस्त्य मुनिको शीघ्र ही मानो पलक मारते ही अगस्त्याश्रमकी ओर ले भागे। उस समय इल्वल असुरने अगस्त्य मुनिके पीछे जाकर उनको मारनेकी इच्छा की, परंतु महातेजस्वी अगस्त्यमुनिने उस महादैत्य इल्वलको हुंकारसे ही भस्म कर दिया। तदनन्तर उन वायुके समान वेगवाले घोड़ोंने उन सबको मुनिके आश्रमपर पहुँचा दिया। भरतनन्दन! फिर अगस्त्यजीकी आज्ञा ले वे राजर्षिगण अपनी-अपनी राजधानीको चले गये और महर्षिने लोपामुद्राकी सभी इच्छाएँ पूर्ण कीं
Lomaśa uvāca:
Sarvān rājñaḥ sahāgastyan nimeṣādiva bhārata |
Ilvalas tv anugamyainam agastyaṃ hantum aicchat |
Bhasma cakre mahātejā huṃkāreṇa mahāsuram ||
Muner āśramam aśvau tau ninyatur vātarāṃhasau |
Agastyenābhyanujñātā jagmū rājarṣayas tadā |
Kṛtavāṃś ca muniḥ sarvaṃ lopāmudrā-cikīrṣitam ||
Lomaśa said: “O Bhārata, in the blink of an eye they carried all the kings together with Agastya. Ilvala the asura followed after Agastya, desiring to kill him; but the great-splendoured sage reduced that mighty demon to ashes merely with a thunderous utterance. Then those two horses, swift as the wind, brought them to the hermit’s āśrama. Having received Agastya’s permission, the royal sages then departed to their own capitals; and the great seer fulfilled all that Lopāmudrā wished to have done.” Ethically, the passage underscores the protective power of tapas and spiritual authority: aggression driven by hostility is checked not by brute force but by the sage’s inner potency and restraint, after which social order is restored as the kings return to their rightful duties.
लोगमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The episode highlights that spiritual discipline (tapas) and righteous authority can neutralize violent intent without prolonged conflict. Adharma, represented by Ilvala’s murderous pursuit, is checked instantly by the sage’s inner power, and social order resumes as the kings return to their responsibilities.
Kings (rājarṣis) travel with Agastya to his hermitage, carried swiftly by two horses. Ilvala follows to kill Agastya, but Agastya reduces him to ashes with a huṃkāra. After reaching the āśrama, the kings take leave and depart, and Agastya fulfills Lopāmudrā’s wishes.