Shloka 7
Vāsudeva’s Upadeśa: The Inner Enemy and the Indra–Vṛtra Precedent (आत्मशत्रु-बोधः; इन्द्र-वृत्रोपाख्यानम्)
वृत्रेण पृथिवी व्याप्ता पुरा किल नराधिप । दृष्टवा स पृथिवीं व्याप्तां गन्धस्य विषये हते
vṛtreṇa pṛthivī vyāptā purā kila narādhipa | dṛṣṭvā sa pṛthivīṁ vyāptāṁ gandhasya viṣaye hate ||
वायुरुवाच—नराधिप, पुरा किल वृत्रेण समग्रापि पृथिवी व्याप्ता स्ववशं नीताऽभवत्। इन्द्रस्तु तां पृथिवीं व्याप्तां दृष्ट्वा गन्धस्यापि विषयः हृत इति ददर्श। तस्य पृथिव्यपहरणात् सर्वत्र दुर्गन्धः प्रससार; गन्धविषयापहरणाच्च शतक्रतुरिन्द्रो महता कोपेन समाविष्टोऽभवत्।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames usurpation of rightful domains (here, the earth and the natural order of fragrance) as a disruption of cosmic and social balance; the ethical implication is that rulers and protectors must respond to restore proper order when fundamental functions of the world are violated.
Vāyu recounts an ancient episode: Vṛtra overran the earth and even seized the ‘sphere of fragrance,’ causing foul odor to spread. Indra, seeing this comprehensive takeover and the impairment of a natural principle, became intensely angry, setting the stage for corrective action.