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Shloka 3

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

ख आपतत्तद्विचलद्ग्रहोल्कव- न्निरीक्ष्य दुष्प्रेक्ष्यमजातविक्लव: । वज्रेण वज्री शतपर्वणाच्छिनद् भुजं च तस्योरगराजभोगम् ॥ ३ ॥

kha āpatat tad vicalad graholkavan nirīkṣya duṣprekṣyam ajāta-viklavaḥ vajreṇa vajrī śata-parvaṇācchinad bhujaṁ ca tasyoraga-rāja-bhogam

Di angkasa, trisula Vṛtrāsura meluncur laksana meteor yang gemilang. Walau senjata menyala itu sukar ditatap, Indra yang tidak gentar memecahkannya dengan vajra seratus ruas, dan serentak menetak salah satu lengan Vṛtrāsura yang setebal tubuh Vāsuki, raja para naga.

khamthe sky
kham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular neuter
āpatatfell/descended
āpatat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootā-√pat (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada
tatthat (it)
tat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun (that)
vicalatmoving, whirling
vicalat:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootvi-√cal (धातु)
Formवर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; present active participle
graha-ulkā-vatlike a meteor/comet
graha-ulkā-vat:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootgraha (प्रातिपदिक) + ulkā (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; -वत् (like) adjective; compound: ग्रह-उल्का (comet/meteor) + वत्
nirīkṣyahaving seen
nirīkṣya:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootnir-√īkṣ (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; having seen/after seeing
duṣprekṣyamhard to behold
duṣprekṣyam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootdus + prekṣya (√īkṣ/√prekṣ, कृदन्त)
Formतव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘hard to look at’
ajāta-viklavaḥunbewildered, undaunted
ajāta-viklavaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootajāta (प्रातिपदिक) + viklava (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; compound: अजाता (not arisen) + विक्लव (confusion/faintheartedness) = ‘not becoming bewildered’
vajreṇawith the thunderbolt
vajreṇa:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootvajra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular
vajrīIndra (the thunderbolt-wielder)
vajrī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvajrin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘thunderbolt-bearer’ (Indra)
śata-parvaṇāhundred-jointed
śata-parvaṇā:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootśata (प्रातिपदिक) + parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास ‘having a hundred joints/segments’; agrees with vajra (instr.)
acchinatcut off
acchinat:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootā-√chid (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada
bhujamarm
bhujam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
tasyaof him (of Vṛtra)
tasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; genitive singular
uraga-rāja-bhogamthe serpent-king-like coil (i.e., huge arm)
uraga-rāja-bhogam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rooturaga (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; compound: उरग-राज (king of serpents) + भोग (coil/hood)
I
Indra
V
Vṛtrāsura

FAQs

This verse describes Indra using the śata-parva Vajra to sever Vṛtrāsura’s serpent-like arm, emphasizing the Vajra as a decisive divine weapon in the cosmic battle.

In this chapter’s battle narrative, Indra confronts Vṛtrāsura as the leader of the opposing side; this verse highlights Indra’s steadiness and his counterstrike when a terrifying weapon is hurled at him.

Even when facing something “hard to look at” (overwhelming fear or crisis), steadiness and duty-driven action—without panic—can cut through obstacles decisively.