Shloka 8

Adhyaya 5 — Tvashta’s Wrath, the Birth of Vritra, and the Divine Descent as the Pandavas

Sanskrit

वधाय चात्मनो दृष्ट्वा वृत्रं शक्रो महासुरम् ।

प्रेषयामास सप्तर्षोन्सन्धिमिच्छन् भयातुरः ॥

Transliteration

vadhāya cātmano dṛṣṭvā vṛtraṃ śakro mahāsuram / preṣayāmāsa saptarṣon sandhim icchan bhayāturaḥ

Translation

جب شکر (اندرا) نے عظیم اسور ورترا کو اپنے ہی ہلاکت پر تُلا ہوا دیکھا تو خوف سے مضطرب ہو کر صلح کی خواہش میں اس نے سَپت رِشیوں کو بلوایا۔

Word by Word

• वधाय: for killing
• वधाय: प्रयोजन (purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of slaying)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आत्मनः: of himself
• आत्मनः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; स्वार्थे (of himself)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having seen’

• वृत्रम्: Vṛtra
• वृत्रम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• महा-असुरम्: the great asura
• महा-असुरम्: कर्म (apposition to vṛtram)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् असुरः)

• प्रेषयामास: sent
• प्रेषयामास: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-इष्/प्रेष् (धातु) (causative stem प्रेषय-)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) ‘sent’

• सप्त-ऋषीन्: the seven sages
• सप्त-ऋषीन्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (seven sages)

• सन्धिम्: peace, treaty
• सन्धिम्: कर्म (object of ‘desiring’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• इच्छन्: desiring
• इच्छन्: विशेषण (of śakraḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष् (धातु) → इच्छत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle)

• भय-आतुरः: distressed with fear
• भय-आतुरः: विशेषण (of śakraḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भयेन आतुरः = distressed by fear)

Speakers

• Narratorial voice (not the Devi Mahatmyam frame; not the Dharmapakṣi dialogue)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "bhayānaka", "secondaryRasa": "śānta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Indra (Śakra)

Key Themes

• Deva–Asura conflict
• Diplomacy and counsel
• Fear and prudence in rulership
• Role of Ṛṣis as mediators

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even a sovereign like Indra, when confronted by overwhelming danger, turns to the counsel of sages and seeks conciliation (sandhi). The verse underscores a dharmic model of governance: strength is not merely martial, but includes prudence, consultation with the wise, and choosing peace when it prevents ruin.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse aligns most closely with Manvantara/Anucarita (accounts within cosmic eras) as part of the narrative of divine and demonic conflicts that occur within the unfolding of time under Manus. It is not directly Sarga/Pratisarga, nor a Vamsha genealogy in this specific line.

What is the esoteric significance?

Vṛtra can be read symbolically as an obstructive force (āvaraṇa) that threatens the ‘lordship’ of the senses/mind (Indra). The turning toward the Saptarṣis signifies seeking higher discernment (ṛṣi-jñāna) and harmonizing forces through ‘sandhi’—integration rather than reactive violence—when fear destabilizes inner sovereignty.