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Shloka 21

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

खल्विदं महदाश्चर्यं यद् रज:प्रकृतेस्तव । वासुदेवे भगवति सत्त्वात्मनि दृढा मति: ॥ २१ ॥

khalv idaṁ mahad āścaryaṁ yad rajaḥ-prakṛtes tava vāsudeve bhagavati sattvātmani dṛḍhā matiḥ

โอ วฤตราสูร นี่เป็นความอัศจรรย์ยิ่งนัก เพราะแม้ท่านเป็นอสูรซึ่งโดยทั่วไปถูกขับเคลื่อนด้วยรชัส แต่จิตของท่านกลับมั่นคงในพระภควาน วาสุเทวะ ผู้สถิตในสัทวะอันบริสุทธิ์

खलुindeed
खलु:
Emphasis (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootखलु (अव्यय)
Formनिपात-अव्यय (emphatic particle)
इदम्this
इदम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
महत्great
महत्:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आश्चर्यं-विशेषण
आश्चर्यम्wonder, marvel
आश्चर्यम्:
Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootआश्चर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
यत्that (the fact that)
यत्:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसम्बन्ध-निपात (relative particle), ‘that/inasmuch as’
रजः-प्रकृतेःof (one) whose nature is rajas
रजः-प्रकृतेः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootरजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (प्रकृति), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रजसः प्रकृतिः)
तवof you
तव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
वासुदेवेin Vāsudeva
वासुदेवे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootवासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
भगवतिthe Blessed Lord
भगवति:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootभगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; वासुदेव-विशेषण
सत्त्व-आत्मनिwhose nature is pure goodness (sattva)
सत्त्व-आत्मनि:
Visheshana/Adhikarana (विशेषण/अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सत्त्वस्य आत्मा)
दृढाfirm
दृढा:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मति-विशेषण
मतिःmind, devotion/resolve
मतिः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

King Indra wondered how Vṛtrāsura could have been elevated to the position of an exalted devotee. As for Prahlāda Mahārāja, he was initiated by Nārada Muni, and therefore it was possible for him to become a great devotee, although he was born in a family of demons. For Vṛtrāsura, however, Indra could not detect such causes. Therefore he was struck with wonder that Vṛtrāsura was such an exalted devotee that he could fix his mind without deviation upon the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva.

V
Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
I
Indra

FAQs

This verse highlights that even if someone is influenced by rajas, firm bhakti can be fixed on Vāsudeva, who is pure sattva and the Soul of all—showing devotion can transcend material conditioning.

In the context of Vṛtrāsura’s extraordinary devotion, Indra expresses amazement that a person associated with passionate tendencies can still have unwavering conviction in Lord Vāsudeva.

Keep your decisions anchored in devotional priorities—regular hearing/chanting of Kṛṣṇa’s names and teachings—so that even amid passion, ambition, or stress, your core aim remains service to Vāsudeva.