Vṛtra’s Cosmic Threat, Viṣṇu’s Upāya, and the Conditional Vulnerability
Udyoga-parva 10
तेजस्वी च महात्मा च युद्धे चामितविक्रम: । ग्रसेत् त्रिभुवनं सर्व सदेवासुरमानुषम्,वह तेजस्वी और महाकाय है। युद्धमें उसके बल-पराक्रमकी कोई सीमा नहीं है। वह चाहे तो देवता, असुर और मनुष्योंसहित सम्पूर्ण त्रिलोकीको अपना ग्रास बना सकता है
tejasvī ca mahātmā ca yuddhe cāmitavikramaḥ | graset tribhuvanaṁ sarvaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam ||
他光辉炽盛,心志宏大;在战场上,其威力不可度量。若他愿意,便能吞没整个三界——连同诸天、阿修罗与人类。
इन्द्र उवाच
The verse underscores how overwhelming power can be—so vast that it could threaten the entire cosmic order. Ethically, it implies that such strength must be restrained and guided by dharma; mere capability does not justify destructive action.
Indra is describing a formidable figure’s qualities—radiance, greatness of spirit, and limitless battlefield prowess—using cosmic hyperbole (“swallowing the three worlds”) to convey the scale of that person’s potential impact.