Shloka 48
इन्द्रस्य दुःखप्राप्तिः—त्रिशिरोवधः, वृत्रोत्पत्तिः, जृम्भिकाजननम्
Indra’s Distress: Slaying of Triśiras, Birth of Vṛtra, and the Origin of Yawning
अग्नौ हुत्वा समुत्पाद्य घोर वृत्रमुवाच ह । इन्द्रशत्रो विवर्धस्व प्रभावात् तपसो मम
agnau hutvā samutpādya ghoraṃ vṛtram uvāca ha | indraśatro vivardhasva prabhāvāt tapaso mama ||
シャリヤは語った。「火に供物を注いでのち、彼は恐るべきヴリトラを生み出し、こう告げた。『インドラを討つ者よ、我が苦行の力によって、力強く増大せよ。』」
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that spiritual power (tapas) is ethically neutral in itself: its moral value depends on intention. When austerity is fueled by wrath and directed toward harm, it becomes a force that amplifies conflict rather than upholding dharma.
A powerful ascetic performs a fire-offering and, through that ritual empowered by austerity, brings forth the fearsome Vṛtra. He then commands Vṛtra—addressed as ‘Indra’s slayer/enemy’—to grow strong by the potency of his tapas, setting the stage for hostility against Indra.