Shloka 4

Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

तद्देवहेलनं तस्य धर्मालीकं सुरेश्वर: । आलक्ष्य तरसा भीतस्तच्छीर्षाण्यच्छिनद् रुषा ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tad deva-helanaṁ tasya dharmālīkaṁ sureśvaraḥ ālakṣya tarasā bhītas tac-chīrṣāṇy acchinad ruṣā

Translation

ਜਦੋਂ ਸੁਰੇਸ਼ਵਰ ਇੰਦਰ ਨੇ ਵੇਖਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਦੇਵਤਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਅਵਹੇਲਨਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਧਰਮ ਦਾ ਛਲ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਅਸੁਰਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਆਹੁਤੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਅਸੁਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਹਾਰ ਦੇ ਡਰ ਨਾਲ ਉਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਭੈਭੀਤ ਹੋਇਆ; ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਵਿਸ਼੍ਵਰੂਪ ਦੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਸਿਰ ਮੋਢਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਕੱਟ ਦਿੱਤੇ।

Synonyms

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• देव-हेलनम्: insulting the gods
• देव-हेलनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; of आलक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + हेलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देवानां हेलनम् = ‘insult of the gods’

• तस्य: of him/of that one
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• धर्म-अलीकम्: a false pretense of dharma
• धर्म-अलीकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; appositional to देव-हेलनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अलीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: धर्मः एव अलीकः = ‘false as dharma/false righteousness’

• सुर-ईश्वरः: the lord of the gods (Indra)
• सुर-ईश्वरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सुराणाम् ईश्वरः

• आलक्ष्य: having noticed
• आलक्ष्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action; gerund)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); उपसर्ग: आ-; ‘having noticed/observed’

• तरसा: swiftly/with force
• तरसा: करण (Karana/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (adverbial use)

• भीतः: afraid
• भीतः: विशेषण (Qualifier of सुरेश्वरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (प्रातिपदिक; from √भी)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्-शीर्षाणि: his heads
• तत्-शीर्षाणि: कर्म (Karma/Object; of अच्छिनत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक) + शीर्षन्/शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: तस्य शीर्षाणि = ‘his heads’

• अच्छिनत्: cut off
• अच्छिनत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: आ- (आच्छिनत् → sandhi gives अच्छिनत्)

• रुषा: in anger/with wrath
• रुषा: करण (Karana/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुष्/रुषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भावे (as manner)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Vṛtrāsura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about fear and anger in battle?

This verse shows Indra becoming afraid and then acting in anger, illustrating how fear can quickly transform into aggressive action even among devas.

Why did Indra cut off Vṛtrāsura’s heads?

Indra perceived Vṛtrāsura as insulting the devas and violating dharma, and in that fearful, enraged state he struck swiftly to sever his heads.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Before reacting, notice whether fear is driving anger; pausing to regain clarity helps one act from dharma rather than impulse.