Vāsudeva’s Upadeśa: The Inner Enemy and the Indra–Vṛtra Precedent (आत्मशत्रु-बोधः; इन्द्र-वृत्रोपाख्यानम्)
शतक्रतुरतिक्रुद्धस्तत्र वज़्मवासृजत् । वृत्रासुरके द्वारा तेजपर भी अधिकार कर लिया गया और उसके रूप नामक विषयका अपहरण हो गया
śatakratur atikruddhas tatra vajram avāsṛjat |
ವೃತ್ರಾಸುರನು ತೇಜಸ್ಸಿನ ಮೇಲೆಯೂ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ಪಡೆದು, ರೂಪ-ನಾಮವೆಂಬ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನೂ ಅಪಹರಿಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದಾಗ, ಶತಕ್ರತು ಇಂದ್ರನ ಕ್ರೋಧಕ್ಕೆ ಮಿತಿ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಅವನು ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ವೃತ್ರನ ಮೇಲೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ವಜ್ರಪ್ರಹಾರ ಮಾಡಿದನು.
वायुदेव उवाच
The verse highlights how wounded authority and fear of losing rightful power can inflame anger, pushing even a ruler toward violent action. Ethically, it points to the tension between restoring order (dharma) and being driven by uncontrolled wrath—suggesting that power must be exercised with restraint, even when confronting a threat.
Vāyu narrates that Indra, furious upon realizing that Vṛtrāsura has usurped or appropriated his splendor/authority (linked to his identity and renown), responds by hurling the vajra at Vṛtra again, escalating the confrontation.