Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 12

Vṛtrāsura Rebukes Indra; Heroic Combat and the Asura’s Pure Devotional Prayers

Devanagari script

न सन्नवाहाय विषण्णचेतसे प्रायुङ्क्त भूय: स गदां महात्मा । इन्द्रोऽमृतस्यन्दिकराभिमर्श वीतव्यथक्षतवाहोऽवतस्थे ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

na sanna-vāhāya viṣaṇṇa-cetase prāyuṅkta bhūyaḥ sa gadāṁ mahātmā indro ’mṛta-syandi-karābhimarśa- vīta-vyatha-kṣata-vāho ’vatasthe

Translation

ଯେତେବେଳେ ମହାତ୍ମା ବୃତ୍ରାସୁର ଦେଖିଲେ ଯେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ବାହନ କ୍ଳାନ୍ତ ଓ ଆହତ ହୋଇଛି ଏବଂ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର ବିଷର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଅଛନ୍ତି, ସେତେବେଳେ ସେ ଧର୍ମ ପାଳନ କରି ପୁନର୍ବାର ଗଦା ପ୍ରହାର କଲେ ନାହିଁ। ଏହି ସୁଯୋଗ ନେଇ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର ନିଜ ଅମୃତବର୍ଷୀ ହାତରେ ହାତୀକୁ ସ୍ପର୍ଶ କଲେ, ଯାହାଫଳରେ ତାହାର ଯନ୍ତ୍ରଣା ଓ କ୍ଷତ ଭଲ ହୋଇଗଲା। ତା’ପରେ ସେମାନେ ଉଭୟ ସେଠାରେ ଠିଆ ହେଲେ।

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• सन्न-वाहाय: to the one whose mount had collapsed (Indra)
• सन्न-वाहाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative target)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्न (कृदन्त; सम्+√सद् (धातु) + क्त) + वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (sanna-vāha = one whose mount is disabled/laid low)

• विषण्ण-चेतसे: to the despondent-hearted
• विषण्ण-चेतसे: Sampradana-anvaya (सम्प्रदानविशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण (कृदन्त; √सद्/√षद्? here vi+√sad (to sink) + क्त) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (despondent-minded)

• प्रायुङ्क्त: he hurled/applied
• प्रायुङ्क्त: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √युज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भूयः: again
• भूयः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again/further)

• सः: he (Vṛtra)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महात्मा: the great soul
• महात्मा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (great-souled)

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अमृत-स्यन्दि-कर-अभिमर्श: (by) the touch of a nectar-dripping hand
• अमृत-स्यन्दि-कर-अभिमर्श: Hetu/Upaya (हेतु/Means-cause, contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + स्यन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (by the touch of the hand dripping nectar)

• वीत-व्यथा-क्षत-वाहः: with pain and wounds removed
• वीत-व्यथा-क्षत-वाहः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीत (कृदन्त; √वी (to go away) + क्त) + व्यथा (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षत (कृदन्त; √क्षद्/√क्षत्? here 'wound' as noun) + वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (one whose pain and wounds had gone/been removed)

• अवतस्थे: stood firm/remained
• अवतस्थे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Characters & Entities

• Vṛtrāsura
• Indra
• Airāvata

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the qualities of a great soul (mahātmā) even in battle?

This verse shows Vṛtrāsura’s nobility: he refrains from striking Indra again when Indra is mentally dejected and unwilling to fight, highlighting compassion and honor even amid conflict.

Why did Vṛtrāsura not throw his mace again at Indra?

Because Indra appeared viṣaṇṇa-cetā—downcast and not ready for combat—Vṛtrāsura, described as mahātmā, chose not to exploit that weakness.

Practical application: how can this teaching be used in modern life?

Do not take advantage of others when they are vulnerable; act with restraint and integrity, even when you have the upper hand.