Shloka 13
गदायुद्धप्रतिज्ञा — The Vow and Terms of the Mace Duel
वातापिरिल्वलश्नैव त्रिशिराश्न तथा विभो,प्रभो! वातापि, इल्वल, त्रिशिरा तथा सुन्द-उपसुन्द नामक असुर भी कार्यकौशलसे ही मारे गये हैं। क्रियात्मक उपायोंसे ही इन्द्र स्वर्गका राज्य भोगते हैं
Vātāpir Ilvalaś caiva Triśirāś ca tathā vibho, prabho! Vātāpi, Ilvala, Triśirā tathā Sunda-Upasunda-nāmaka asurā api kārya-kauśalenaiva mārāḥ. Kriyātmaka-upāyaiḥ eva Indraḥ svargasya rājyaṃ bhuṅkte.
Vāyu berkata: “Wahai tuan yang perkasa! Vātāpi dan Ilvala, Triśiras juga, bahkan para asura bernama Sunda dan Upasunda, semuanya dijatuhkan hanya melalui cara-cara yang cekap dan praktikal. Sesungguhnya, dengan tindakan yang berkesan serta strategi yang dipilih dengan tepat, Indra terus menikmati kedaulatan di syurga.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that success against powerful adversaries and the maintenance of rightful sovereignty depend on upāya—skillful, practical, action-oriented methods—rather than mere force or wishful thinking. Ethical governance and protection require competence and timely strategy.
Vāyu cites well-known examples of formidable asuras—Vātāpi, Ilvala, Triśiras, and the brothers Sunda and Upasunda—who were defeated through effective stratagems. He then generalizes the point: Indra’s continued rule in Svarga is sustained by such practical measures.