Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 4

Vṛtrāsura Instructs Indra on Providence and Devotion; The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura

Devanagari script

छिन्नैकबाहु: परिघेण वृत्र: संरब्ध आसाद्य गृहीतवज्रम् । हनौ तताडेन्द्रमथामरेभं वज्रं च हस्तान्न्यपतन्मघोन: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

chinnaika-bāhuḥ parigheṇa vṛtraḥ saṁrabdha āsādya gṛhīta-vajram hanau tatāḍendram athāmarebhaṁ vajraṁ ca hastān nyapatan maghonaḥ

Translation

片腕を断たれてなお、憤怒のヴリトラースラは鉄の棍棒を携えて金剛杵を持つインドラに迫り、その顎を打ち、さらに乗騎の象アイラーヴァタをも打った。かくしてインドラの手から金剛杵は落ちた。

Synonyms

• chinna-eka-bāhuḥ: having one arm cut off
• chinna-eka-bāhuḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chinna (√chid, कृदन्त) + eka (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ‘whose one arm is cut’

• parigheṇa: with a club/iron bar
• parigheṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• vṛtraḥ: Vṛtra
• vṛtraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• saṁrabdhaḥ: enraged
• saṁrabdhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṁ-√rabdh (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘enraged/agitated’

• āsādya: having approached
• āsādya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; having approached/attacked

• gṛhīta-vajram: (Indra) holding the thunderbolt
• gṛhīta-vajram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛhīta (√grah, कृदन्त) + vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘holding the thunderbolt’ (object of āsādya)

• hanau: on the jaw
• hanau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular

• tatāḍa: struck
• tatāḍa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tāḍ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• indram: Indra
• indram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (particle: then/thereupon)

• amara-ibham: Airāvata (the divine elephant)
• amara-ibham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक) + ibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘immortal-elephant’ = Airāvata

• vajram: the thunderbolt
• vajram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• hastāt: from (his) hand
• hastāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; ablative singular

• nyapatan: fell down
• nyapatan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; parasmaipada

• maghonaḥ: of Maghavan (Indra)
• maghonaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maghavan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; genitive singular; epithet of Indra

Characters & Entities

• Vṛtrāsura (Vṛtra)
• Indra (Maghavā)
• Airāvata

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vṛtrāsura’s strength even after losing an arm?

This verse describes Vṛtra continuing the fight with intense resolve, charging with a club and striking Airāvata so powerfully that Indra’s thunderbolt slips and falls—showing his extraordinary prowess despite injury.

Why did Indra’s vajra fall from his hand in the battle with Vṛtrāsura?

According to this verse, the force of Vṛtrāsura’s blow on Airāvata’s jaw caused the shock and disruption by which the vajra dropped from Indra’s hand during the combat.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from Vṛtrāsura’s determination in adversity?

The verse highlights unwavering effort despite setbacks—encouraging steadiness and courage in one’s duty, while remembering that outcomes ultimately unfold under higher providence.