Shloka 6
Vāsudeva’s Upadeśa: The Inner Enemy and the Indra–Vṛtra Precedent (आत्मशत्रु-बोधः; इन्द्र-वृत्रोपाख्यानम्)
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि यथाधर्म यथाश्रुतम् इन्द्रस्य सह वृत्रेण यथा युद्धमवर्तत
atra te vartayiṣyāmi yathā-dharmaṁ yathā-śrutam | indrasya saha vṛtreṇa yathā yuddham avartata ||
“Dito ay isasalaysay ko sa iyo—ayon sa dharma at gaya ng aking narinig—ang salaysay kung paanong naganap noon ang digmaan nina Indra at Vṛtra. Isasalaysay ko ang sinaunang pangyayaring iyon sa paraang ipinasa ng salinlahi.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The speaker frames the narration as yathā-dharma and yathā-śrutam—an ethically responsible telling that aligns with dharma and with faithfully transmitted tradition. The verse emphasizes that how one speaks and transmits history matters: truthfulness, propriety, and moral orientation are part of righteous discourse.
Vāyudeva announces that he will recount an ancient episode: the battle between Indra and Vṛtra. This verse functions as a preface, signaling a forthcoming traditional account and setting a dharmic tone for the story.