Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 126
Vāsudeva’s Upadeśa: The Inner Enemy and the Indra–Vṛtra Precedent (आत्मशत्रु-बोधः; इन्द्र-वृत्रोपाख्यानम्)
शतक्रतुरतिक्रुद्धस्तत्र वज़्मवासृजत् । वृत्रासुरके द्वारा तेजपर भी अधिकार कर लिया गया और उसके रूप नामक विषयका अपहरण हो गया
śatakratur atikruddhas tatra vajram avāsṛjat |
风神伐由说道：因陀罗（Śatakratu）被极盛之怒所吞没，便在彼处掷出金刚杵。得知弗栗陀罗阿修罗竟夺取了与他自身形相与名号相系的威光与权柄，连“色”（rūpa）这一境界之对象也被劫去，百祭之主的怒火遂无有边际。于是他又以金刚杵击向弗栗陀罗——此举出于受创的主权之痛，以及恢复宇宙秩序的凶猛冲动。
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how wounded authority and fear of losing rightful power can inflame anger, pushing even a ruler toward violent action. Ethically, it points to the tension between restoring order (dharma) and being driven by uncontrolled wrath—suggesting that power must be exercised with restraint, even when confronting a threat.
Vāyu narrates that Indra, furious upon realizing that Vṛtrāsura has usurped or appropriated his splendor/authority (linked to his identity and renown), responds by hurling the vajra at Vṛtra again, escalating the confrontation.