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Chapter Ten
The Battle Between the Demigods and Vrtrasura
As described in this chapter, after Indra obtained the body of Dadhici, a thunderbolt was prepared from Dadhici's bones, and a fight took place between Vrtrasura and the demigods.
Following the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demigods approached Dadhici Muni and begged for his body. Dadhici Muni, just to hear from the demigods about the principles of religion, jokingly refused to relinquish his body, but for higher purposes he thereafter agreed to give it up, for after death the body is usually eaten by low animals like dogs and jackals. Dadhici Muni first merged his gross body made of five elements into the original stock of five elements and then engaged his soul at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he gave up his gross body. With the help of Visvakarma, the demigods then prepared a thunderbolt from Dadhici's bones. Armed with the thunderbolt weapon, they prepared themselves to fight and got up on the backs of elephants.
At the end of Satya-yuga and the beginning of Treta-yuga. a great fight took place between the demigods and the asuras. Unable to tolerate the effulgence of the demigods, the asuras fled the battle. leaving Vrtrasura, their commander in chief, to fight for himself. Vrtrasura, however, seeing the demons fleeing, instructed them in the importance of fighting and dying in the battlefield. One who is victorious in battle gains material possessions, and one who dies in the battlefield attains a residence at once in the celestial heavens. In either way, the fighter benefits.
TEXT 1
TEXT
sri-badarayanir uvaca
indram evam samadisya
bhagavan visva-bhavanah
pasyatam animesanam
tatraivantardadhe harih
SYNONYMS
sri-badarayanih uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; indram--Indra, the heavenly King; evam--thus; samadisya--after instructing; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; visva-bhavanah--the original cause of all cosmic manifestations; pasyatam animesanam--while the demigods were looking on; tatra--then and there; eva--indeed; antardadhe--disappeared; harih--the Lord.
TRANSLATION
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: After instructing Indra in this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, the cause of the cosmic manifestation, then and there disappeared from the presence of the onlooking demigods.
TEXT 2
TEXT
tathabhiyacito devair
rsir atharvano mahan
modamana uvacedam
prahasann iva bharata
SYNONYMS
tatha--in that manner; abhiyacitah--being begged; devaih--by the demigods; rsih--the great saintly person; atharvanah--Dadhici, the son of Atharva; mahan--the great personality; modamanah--being merry; uvaca--said; idam--this; prahasan--smiling; iva--somewhat; bharata--O Maharaja Pariksit.
TRANSLATION
O King Pariksit, following the Lord's instructions, the demigods approached Dadhici, the son of Atharva. He was very liberal, and when they begged him to give them his body, he at once partially agreed. However, just to hear religious instructions from them, he smiled and jokingly spoke as follows.
TEXT 3
TEXT
api vrndaraka yuyam
na janitha saririnam
samsthayam yas tv abhidroho
duhsahas cetanapahah
SYNONYMS
api--although; vrndarakah--O demigods; yuyam--all of you; na janitha--do not know; saririnam--of those who have material bodies; samsthayam--at the time of death, or while quitting this body; yah--which; tu--then; abhidrohah--severe pain; duhsahah--unbearable; cetana--the consciousness; apahah--which takes away.
TRANSLATION
O elevated demigods, at the time of death, severe, unbearable pain takes away the consciousness of all living entities who have accepted material bodies. Don't you know about this pain?
TEXT 4
TEXT
jijivisunam jivanam
atma prestha ihepsitah
ka utsaheta tam datum
bhiksamanaya visnave
SYNONYMS
jijivisunam--aspiring to remain alive; jivanam--of all living entities; atma--the body; presthah--very dear; iha--here; ipsitah--desired; kah--who; utsaheta--can bear; tam--that body; datum--to deliver; bhiksamanaya--begging; visnave--even to Lord Visnu.
TRANSLATION
In this material world, every living entity is very much addicted to his material body. Struggling to keep his body forever, everyone tries to protect it by all means, even at the sacrifice of all his possessions. Therefore, who would be prepared to deliver his body to anyone, even if it were demanded by Lord Visnu?
PURPORT
It is said, atmanam sarvato rakset tato dharmam tato dhanam: one must protect his body by all means; then he may protect his religious principles and thereafter his possessions. This is the natural desire of all living entities. No one wants to give up his body unless it is forcibly given away. Even though the demigods said that they were demanding Dadhici's body for their benefit in accordance with the order of Lord Visnu, Dadhici superficially refused to give them his body.
TEXT 5
TEXT
sri-deva ucuh
kim nu tad dustyajam brahman
pumsam bhutanukampinam
bhavad-vidhanam mahatam
punya-slokedya-karmanam
SYNONYMS
sri-devah ucuh--the demigods said; kim--what; nu--indeed; tat--that; dustyajam--difficult to give up; brahman--O exalted brahmana; pumsam--of persons; bhuta-anukampinam--who are very sympathetic toward the suffering living entities; bhavat-vidhanam--like Your Lordship; mahatam--who are very great; punya-sloka-idya-karmanam--whose pious activities are praised by all great souls.
TRANSLATION
The demigods replied: O exalted brahmana, pious persons like you, whose activities are praiseworthy, are very kind and affectionate to people in general. What can't such pious souls give for the benefit of others? They can give everything, including their bodies.
TEXT 6
TEXT
nunam svartha-paro loko
na veda para-sankatam
yadi veda na yaceta
neti naha yad isvarah
SYNONYMS
nunam--certainly; sva-artha-parah--interested only in sense gratification in this life or the next; lokah--materialistic people in general; na--not; veda--know; para-sankatam--the pain of others; yadi--if; veda--know; na--not; yaceta--would ask; na--no; iti--thus; na aha--does not say; yat--since; isvarah--able to give charity.
TRANSLATION
Those who are too self-interested beg something from others, not knowing of others' pain. But if the beggar knew the difficulty of the giver, he would not ask for anything. Similarly, he who is able to give charity does not know the beggar's difficulty, for otherwise he would not refuse to give the beggar anything he might want as charity.
PURPORT
This verse describes two people--one who gives charity and one who begs for it. A beggar should not ask charity from a person who is in difficulty. Similarly, one who is able to give charity should not deny a beggar. These are the moral instructions of the sastra. Canakya Pandita says, san-nimitte varam tyago vinase niyate sati: everything within this material world will be destroyed, and therefore one should use everything for good purposes. If one is advanced in knowledge, he must always be prepared to sacrifice anything for a better cause. At the present moment the entire world is in a dangerous position under the spell of a godless civilization. The Krsna consciousness movement needs many exalted, learned persons who will sacrifice their lives to revive God consciousness throughout the world. We therefore invite all men and women advanced in knowledge to join the Krsna consciousness movement and sacrifice their lives for the great cause of reviving the God consciousness of human society.
TEXT 7
TEXT
sri-rsir uvaca
dharmam vah srotu-kamena
yuyam me pratyudahrtah
esa vah priyam atmanam
tyajantam santyajamy aham
SYNONYMS
sri-rsih uvaca--the great saint Dadhici said; dharmam--the principles of religion; vah--from you; srotu-kamena--by the desire to hear; yuyam--you; me--by me; pratyudahrtah--replied to the contrary; esah--this; vah--for you; priyam--dear; atmanam--body; tyajantam--leaving me anyway, today or tomorrow; santyajami--give up; aham--I.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Dadhici said: Just to hear from you about religious principles, I refused to offer my body at your request. Now, although my body is extremely dear to me, I must give it up for your better purposes since I know that it will leave me today or tomorrow.
TEXT 8
TEXT
yo 'dhruvenatmana natha
na dharmam na yasah puman
iheta bhuta-dayaya
sa socyah sthavarair api
SYNONYMS
yah--anyone who; adhruvena--impermanent; atmana--by the body; nathah--O lords; na--not; dharmam--religious principles; na--not; yasah--fame; puman--a person; iheta--endeavors for; bhuta-dayaya--by mercy for the living beings; sah--that person; socyah--pitiable; sthavaraih--by the immobile creatures; api--even.
TRANSLATION
O demigods, one who has no compassion for humanity in its suffering and does not sacrifice his impermanent body for the higher causes of religious principles or eternal glory is certainly pitied even by the immovable beings.
PURPORT
In this regard, a very exalted example was set by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana. Concerning Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu it is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.34):
tyaktva sudustyaja-surepsita-rajya-laksmim
dharmistha arya-vacasa yad agad aranyam
maya-mrgam dayitayepsitam anvadhavad
vande maha-purusa te caranaravindam
"We offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of the Lord. upon whom one should always meditate. He left His householder life, leaving aside His eternal consort, whom even the denizens of heaven adore. He went into the forest to deliver the fallen souls, who are put into illusion by material energy." To accept sannyasa means to commit civil suicide. but sannyasa is compulsory, at least for every brahmana, every first-class human being. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had a very young and beautiful wife and a very affectionate mother. Indeed, the affectionate dealings of His family members were so pleasing that even the demigods could not expect such happiness at home. Nevertheless, for the deliverance of all the fallen souls of the world, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa and left home when He was only twenty-four years old. He lived a very strict life as a sannyasi, refusing all bodily comforts. Similarly, His disciples the six Gosvamis were ministers who held exalted positions in society, but they also left everything to join the movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srinivasa Acarya says:
tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tucchavat
bhutva dina-ganesakau karunaya kaupina-kanthasritau
These Gosvamis left their very comfortable lives as ministers. Zamindars and learned scholars and joined Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement, just to show mercy to the fallen souls of the world (dina-ganesakau karunaya). Accepting very humble lives as mendicants, wearing no more than loincloths and torn quilts (kaupina-kantha). they lived in Vrndavana and followed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order to excavate Vrndavana's lost glories.
Similarly. everyone else with a materially comfortable condition in this world should join the Krsna consciousness movement to elevate the fallen souls. The words bhuta-dayaya, maya-mrgam dayitayepsitam and dina-ganesakau karunaya all convey the same sense. These are very significant words for those interested in elevating human society to a proper understanding of life. One should join the Krsna consciousness movement, following the examples of such great personalities as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the six Gosvamis and, before them, the great sage Dadhici. Instead of wasting one's life for temporary bodily comforts. one should always be prepared to give up one's life for better causes. After all, the body will be destroyed. Therefore one should sacrifice it for the glory of distributing religious principles throughout the world.
TEXT 9
TEXT
etavan avyayo dharmah
punya-slokair upasitah
yo bhuta-soka-harsabhyam
atma socati hrsyati
SYNONYMS
etavan--this much; avyayah--imperishable; dharmah--religious principle; punya-slokaih--by famous persons who are celebrated as pious; upasitah--recognized; yah--which; bhuta--of the living beings; soka--by the distress; harsabhyam--and by the happiness; atma--the mind; socati--laments; hrsyati--feels happiness.
TRANSLATION
If one is unhappy to see the distress of other living beings and happy to see their happiness, his religious principles are appreciated as imperishable by exalted persons who are considered pious and benevolent.
PURPORT
One generally follows different types of religious principles or performs various occupational duties according to the body given to him by the modes of material nature. In this verse, however, real religious principles are explained. Everyone should be unhappy to see others in distress and happy to see others happy. Atmavat sarva-bhutesu: one should feel the happiness and distress of others as his own. It is on this basis that the Buddhist religious principle of nonviolence--ahimsah parama-dharmah--is established. We feel pain when someone disturbs us, and therefore we should not inflict pain upon other living beings. Lord Buddha's mission was to stop unnecessary animal killing, and therefore he preached that the greatest religious principle is nonviolence.
One cannot continue killing animals and at the same time be a religious man. That is the greatest hypocrisy. Jesus Christ said, "Do not kill," but hypocrites nevertheless maintain thousands of slaughterhouses while posing as Christians. Such hypocrisy is condemned in this verse. One should be happy to see others happy, and one should be unhappy to see others unhappy. This is the principle to be followed. Unfortunately, at the present moment so-called philanthropists and humanitarians advocate the happiness of humanity at the cost of the lives of poor animals. That is not recommended herein. This verse clearly says that one should be compassionate to all living entities. Regardless of whether human. animal, tree or plant, all living entities are sons of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (14.4):
sarva-yonisu kaunteya
murtayah sambhavanti yah
tasam brahma mahad yonir
aham bija-pradah pita
"It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father." The different forms of these living entities are only their external dresses. Every living being is actually a spirit soul, a part and parcel of God. Therefore one should not favor only one kind of living being. A Vaisnava sees all living entities as part and parcel of God. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (5.18 and 18.54):
vidya-vinaya-sampanne
brahmane gavi hastini
suni caiva svapake ca
panditah sama-darsinah
"The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste]."
brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhutesu
mad-bhaktim labhate param
"One who is transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me." A Vaisnava, therefore, is truly a perfect person because he laments to see others unhappy and feels joy at seeing others happy. A Vaisnava is para-duhkha-duhkhi; he is always unhappy to see the conditioned souls in an unhappy state of materialism. Therefore a Vaisnava is always busy preaching Krsna consciousness throughout the world.
TEXT 10
TEXT
aho dainyam aho kastam
parakyaih ksana-bhanguraih
yan nopakuryad asvarthair
martyah sva-jnati-vigrahaih
SYNONYMS
aho--alas; dainyam--a miserable condition; aho--alas; kastam--simply tribulation; parakyaih--which after death are eatable by dogs and jackals; ksana-bhanguraih--perishable at any moment; yat--because; na--not; upakuryat--would help; a-sva-arthaih--not meant for self-interest; martyah--a living entity destined to die; sva--with his wealth; jnati--relatives and friends; vigrahaih--and his body.
TRANSLATION
This body, which is eatable by jackals and dogs after death, does not actually do any good for me, the spirit soul. It is usable only for a short time and may perish at any moment. The body and its possessions, its riches and relatives, must all be engaged for the benefit of others, or else they will be sources of tribulation and misery.
PURPORT
Similar advice is also given in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.22.35):
etavaj janma-saphalyam
dehinam iha dehisu
pranair arthair dhiya vaca
sreya-acaranam sada
"It is the duty of every living being to perform welfare activities for the benefit of others with his life, wealth, intelligence and words." This is the mission of life. One's own body and the bodies of his friends and relatives, as well as one's own riches and everything else one has, should be engaged for the benefit of others. This is the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. As stated in Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 9.41):
bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari' kara para-upakara
"One who has taken birth as a human being in the land of India [Bharata-varsa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.
The word upakuryat means para-upakara, helping others. Of course, in human society there are many institutions to help others, but because philanthropists do not know how to help others, their propensity for philanthropy is ineffectual. They do not know the ultimate goal of life (sreya acaranam), which is to please the Supreme Lord. If all philanthropic and humanitarian activities were directed toward achieving the ultimate goal of life--to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead--they would all be perfect. Humanitarian work without Krsna is nothing. Krsna must be brought to the center of all our activities; otherwise no activity will have value.
TEXT 11
TEXT
sri-badarayanir uvaca
evam krta-vyavasito
dadhyann atharvanas tanum
pare bhagavati brahmany
atmanam sannayan jahau
SYNONYMS
sri-badarayanih uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; evam--thus; krta-vyavasitah--making certain of what to do (in giving his body to the demigods); dadhyan--Dadhici Muni; atharvanah--the son of Atharva; tanum--his body; pare--to the Supreme; bhagavati--Personality of Godhead; brahmani--the Supreme Brahman; atmanam--himself. the spirit soul; sannayan--offering; jahau--gave up.
TRANSLATION
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Dadhici Muni, the son of Atharva, thus resolved to give his body to the service of the demigods. He placed himself, the spirit soul, at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and in this way gave up his gross material body made of five elements.
PURPORT
As indicated by the words pare bhagavati brahmany atmanam sannayan, Dadhici placed himself, as spirit soul, at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this regard, one may refer to the incident of Dhrtarastra's leaving his body, as described in the First Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.13.55). Dhrtarastra analytically divided his gross material body into the five different elements of which it was made--earth, water, fire, air and ether--and distributed them to the different reservoirs of these elements; in other words, he merged these five elements into the original mahat-tattva. By identifying his material conception of life, he gradually separated his spirit soul from material connections and placed himself at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The example given in this connection is that when an earthen pot is broken, the small portion of the sky within the pot is united with the large sky outside the pot. Mayavadi philosophers misunderstand this description of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Therefore Sri Ramanuja Svami, in his book Vedanta-tattva-sara, has described that this merging of the soul means that after separating himself from the material body made of eight elements--earth, water, fire, air, ether, false ego, mind and intelligence--the individual soul engages himself in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His eternal form (isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah. anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam). The material cause of the material elements absorbs the material body, and the spiritual soul assumes its original position. As described by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, jivera 'svarupa' haya--krsnera 'nitya-dasa': the constitutional position of the living entity is that he is the eternal servant of Krsna. When one overcomes the material body through cultivation of spiritual knowledge and devotional service, one can revive his own position and thus engage in the service of the Lord.
TEXT 12
TEXT
yataksasu-mano-buddhis
tattva-drg dhvasta-bandhanah
asthitah paramam yogam
na deham bubudhe gatam
SYNONYMS
yata--controlled; aksa--senses; asu--the life air; manah--the mind; buddhih--intelligence; tattva-drk--one who knows the tattvas, the material and spiritual energies; dhvasta-bandhanah--liberated from bondage; asthitah--being situated in; paramam--the supreme; yogam--absorption, trance; na--not; deham--the material body; bubudhe--perceived; gatam--left.
TRANSLATION
Dadhici Muni controlled his senses, life force, mind and intelligence and became absorbed in trance. Thus he cut all his material bonds. He could not perceive how his material body became separated from his self.
PURPORT
The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (8.5):
anta-kale ca mam eva
smaran muktva kalevaram
yah prayati sa mad-bhavam
yati nasty atra samsayah
"Whoever, at the time of death, quits his body remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt." Of course, one must practice before one is overcome by death, but the perfect yogi, namely the devotee, dies in trance, thinking of Krsna. He does not feel his material body being separated from his soul; the soul is immediately transferred to the spiritual world. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti: the soul does not enter the womb of a material mother again. but is transferred back home, back to Godhead. This yoga, bhakti-yoga, is the highest yoga system, as explained by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (6.47):
yoginam api sarvesam
mad-gatenantaratmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam
sa me yuktatamo matah
"Of all yogis, he who always abides in Me with great faith. worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all." The bhakti-yogi always thinks of Krsna, and therefore at the time of death he can very easily transfer himself to Krsnaloka, without even perceiving the pains of death.
TEXTS 13-14
TEXT
athendro vajram udyamya
nirmitam visvakarmana
muneh saktibhir utsikto
bhagavat-tejasanvitah
vrto deva-ganaih sarvair
gajendropary asobhata
stuyamano muni-ganais
trailokyam harsayann iva
SYNONYMS
atha--thereafter; indrah--the King of heaven; vajram--the thunderbolt; udyamya--firmly taking up; nirmitam--manufactured; visvakarmana--by Visvakarma; muneh--of the great sage, Dadhici; saktibhih--by the power; utsiktah--saturated; bhagavat--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tejasa--with spiritual power; anvitah--endowed; vrtah--encircled; deva-ganaih--by the other demigods; sarvaih--all; gajendra--of his elephant carrier; upari--upon the back; asobhata--shone; stuyamanah--being offered prayers; muni-ganaih--by the saintly persons; trai-lokyam--to the three worlds; harsayan--causing pleasure; iva--as it were.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, King Indra very firmly took up the thunderbolt manufactured by Visvakarma from the bones of Dadhici. Charged with the exalted power of Dadhici Muni and enlightened by the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Indra rode on the back of his carrier, Airavata, surrounded by all the demigods, while all the great sages offered him praise. Thus he shone very beautifully, pleasing the three worlds as he rode off to kill Vrtrasura.
TEXT 15
TEXT
vrtram abhyadravac chatrum
asuranika-yuthapaih
paryastam ojasa rajan
kruddho rudra ivantakam
SYNONYMS
vrtram--Vrtrasura; abhyadravat--attacked; satrum--the enemy; asura-anika-yuthapaih--by the commanders or captains of the soldiers of the asuras; paryastam--surrounded; ojasa--with great force; rajan--O King; kruddhah--being angry; rudrah--an incarnation of Lord Siva; iva--like; antakam--Antaka, or Yamaraja.
TRANSLATION
My dear King Pariksit, as Rudra, being very angry at Antaka [Yamaraja] had formerly run toward Antaka to kill him, Indra angrily and with great force attacked Vrtrasura, who was surrounded by the leaders of the demoniac armies.
TEXT 16
TEXT
tatah suranam asurai
ranah parama-darunah
treta-mukhe narmadayam
abhavat prathame yuge
SYNONYMS
tatah--thereafter; suranam--of the demigods; asuraih--with the demons; ranah--a great battle; parama-darunah--very fearful; treta-mukhe--in the beginning of Treta-yuga; narmadayam--on the bank of the River Narmada; abhavat--took place; prathame--in the first; yuge--millennium.
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, at the end of Satya-yuga and the beginning of Treta-yuga, a fierce battle took place between the demigods and the demons on the bank of the Narmada.
PURPORT
Herein the Narmada does not mean the Narmada River in India. The five sacred rivers in India--Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Kaveri and Krsna--are all celestial. Like the Ganges River, the Narmada River also flows in the higher planetary systems. The battle between the demigods and the demons took place in the higher planets.
The words prathame yuge mean "in the beginning of the first millennium," that is to say, in the beginning of the Vaivasvata manvantara. In one day of Brahma there are fourteen Manus, who each live for seventy-one millenniums. The four yugas--Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali--constitute one millennium. We are presently in the manvantara of Vaivasvata Manu, who is mentioned in Bhagavad-gita (imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam. vivasvan manave praha). We are now in the twenty-eighth millennium of Vaivasvata Manu, but this fight took place in the beginning of Vaivasvata Manu's first millennium. One can historically calculate how long ago the battle took place. Since each millennium consists of 4,300,000 years and we are now in the twenty-eighth millennium, some 120,400,000 years have passed since the battle took place on the bank of the River Narmada.
TEXTS 17-18
TEXT
rudrair vasubhir adityair
asvibhyam pitr-vahnibhih
marudbhir rbhubhih sadhyair
visvedevair marut-patim
drstva vajra-dharam sakram
rocamanam svaya sriya
namrsyann asura rajan
mrdhe vrtra-purahsarah
SYNONYMS
rudraih--by the Rudras; vasubhih--by the Vasus; adityaih--by the Adityas; asvibhyam--by the Asvini-kumaras; pitr--by the Pitas; vahnibhih--and the Vahnis; marudbhih--by the Maruts; rbhubhih--by the Rbhus; sadhyaih--by the Sadhyas; visve-devaih--by the Visvadevas; marut-patim--Indra, the heavenly King; drstva--seeing; vajra-dharam--bearing the thunderbolt; sakram--another name of Indra; rocamanam--shining; svaya--by his own; sriya--opulence; na--not; amrsyan--tolerated; asurah--all the demons; rajan--O King; mrdhe--in the fight; vrtra-purahsarah--headed by Vrtrasura.
TRANSLATION
O King, when all the asuras came onto the battlefield, headed by Vrtrasura, they saw King Indra carrying the thunderbolt and surrounded by the Rudras, Vasus, Adityas, Asvini-kumaras, Pitas, Vahnis, Maruts, Rbhus, Sadhyas and Visvadevas. Surrounded by his company, Indra shone so brightly that his effulgence was intolerable to the demons.
TEXTS 19-22
TEXT
namucih sambaro 'narva
dvimurdha rsabho 'surah
hayagrivah sankusira
vipracittir ayomukhah
puloma vrsaparva ca
prahetir hetir utkalah
daiteya danava yaksa
raksamsi ca sahasrasah
sumali-mali-pramukhah
kartasvara-paricchadah
pratisidhyendra-senagram
mrtyor api durasadam
abhyardayann asambhrantah
simha-nadena durmadah
gadabhih parighair banaih
prasa-mudgara-tomaraih
SYNONYMS
namucih--Namuci; sambarah--Sambara; anarva--Anarva; dvimurdha--Dvimurdha; rsabhah--Rsabha; asurah--Asura; hayagrivah--Hayagriva; sankusirah--Sankusira; vipracittih--Vipracitti; ayomukhah--Ayomukha; puloma--Puloma; vrsaparva--Vrsaparva; ca--also; prahetih--Praheti; hetih--Heti; utkalah--Utkala; daiteyah--the Daityas; danavah--the Danavas; yaksah--the Yaksas; raksamsi--the Raksasas; ca--and; sahasrasah--by the thousands; sumali-mali-pramukhah--others, headed by Sumali and Mali; kartasvara--of gold; paricchadah--dressed in ornaments; pratisidhya--keeping back; indra-sena-agram--the front of Indra's army; mrtyoh--for death; api--even; durasadam--difficult to approach; abhyardayan--harassed; asambhrantah--without fear; simha-nadena--with a sound like a lion; durmadah--furious; gadabhih--with clubs; parighaih--with iron-studded bludgeons; banaih--with arrows; prasa-mudgara-tomaraih--with barbed missiles, mallets and lances.
TRANSLATION
Many hundreds and thousands of demons, demi-demons, Yaksas, Raksasas [man-eaters] and others, headed by Sumali and Mali, resisted the armies of King Indra, which even death personified cannot easily overcome. Among the demons were Namuci, Sambara, Anarva, Dvimurdha, Rsabha, Asura, Hayagriva, Sankusira, Vipracitti, Ayomukha, Puloma, Vrsaparva, Praheti, Heti and Utkala. Roaring tumultuously and fearlessly like lions, these invincible demons, all dressed in golden ornaments, gave pain to the demigods with weapons like clubs, bludgeons, arrows, barbed darts, mallets and lances.
TEXT 23
TEXT
sulaih parasvadhaih khadgaih
sataghnibhir bhusundibhih
sarvato 'vakiran sastrair
astrais ca vibudharsabhan
SYNONYMS
sulaih--by spears; parasvadhaih--by axes; khadgaih--by swords; sataghnibhih--by sataghnis; bhusundibhih--by bhusundis; sarvatah--all around; avakiran--scattered; sastraih--with weapons; astraih--with arrows; ca--and; vibudha-rsabhan--the chiefs of the demigods.
TRANSLATION
Armed with lances, tridents, axes, swords and other weapons like sataghnis and bhusundis, the demons attacked from different directions and scattered all the chiefs of the demigod armies.
TEXT 24
TEXT
na te 'drsyanta sanchannah
sara-jalaih samantatah
punkhanupunkha-patitair
jyotimsiva nabho-ghanaih
SYNONYMS
na--not; te--they (the demigods); adrsyanta--were seen; sanchannah--being completely covered; sara-jalaih--by networks of arrows; samantatah--all around; punkha-anupunkha--one arrow after another; patitaih--falling; jyotimsi iva--like the stars in the sky; nabhah-ghanaih--by the dense clouds.
TRANSLATION
As the stars in the sky cannot be seen when covered by dense clouds, the demigods, being completely covered by networks of arrows falling upon them one after another, could not be seen.
TEXT 25
TEXT
na te sastrastra-varsaugha
hy aseduh sura-sainikan
chinnah siddha-pathe devair
laghu-hastaih sahasradha
SYNONYMS
na--not; te--those; sastra-astra-varsa-oghah--showers of arrows and other weapons; hi--indeed; aseduh--reached; sura-sainikan--the armies of the demigods; chinnah--cut; siddha-pathe--in the sky; devaih--by the demigods; laghu-hastaih--quick-handed; sahasradha--into thousands of pieces.
TRANSLATION
The showers of various weapons and arrows released to kill the soldiers of the demigods did not reach them because the demigods, acting quickly, cut the weapons into thousands of pieces in the sky.
TEXT 26
TEXT
atha ksinastra-sastraugha
giri-srnga-drumopalaih
abhyavarsan sura-balam
cicchidus tams ca purvavat
SYNONYMS
atha--thereupon; ksina--being reduced; astra--of the arrows released by mantras; sastra--and weapons; oghah--the multitudes; giri--of mountains; srnga--with the peaks; druma--with trees; upalaih--and with stones; abhyavarsan--showered; sura-balam--the soldiers of the demigods; cicchiduh--broke to pieces; tan--them; ca--and; purva-vat--as before.
TRANSLATION
As their weapons and mantras decreased, the demons began showering mountain peaks, trees and stones upon the demigod soldiers, but the demigods were so powerful and expert that they nullified all these weapons by breaking them to pieces in the sky as before.
TEXT 27
TEXT
tan aksatan svastimato nisamya
sastrastra-pugair atha vrtra-nathah
drumair drsadbhir vividhadri-srngair
aviksatams tatrasur indra-sainikan
SYNONYMS
tan--them (the soldiers of the demigods); aksatan--not injured; svasti-matah--being very healthy; nisamya--seeing; sastra-astra-pugaih--by the bunches of weapons and mantras; atha--thereupon; vrtra-nathah--the soldiers led by Vrtrasura; drumaih--by the trees; drsadbhih--by the stones; vividha--various; adri--of mountain s; srngaih--by the peaks; aviksatan--not injured; tatrasuh--became afraid; indra-sainikan--the soldiers of King Indra.
TRANSLATION
When the soldiers of the demons, commanded by Vrtrasura, saw that the soldiers of King Indra were quite well, having not been injured at all by their volleys of weapons, not even by the trees, stones and mountain peaks, the demons were very much afraid.
TEXT 28
TEXT
sarve prayasa abhavan vimoghah
krtah krta deva-ganesu daityaih
krsnanukulesu yatha mahatsu
ksudraih prayukta usati ruksa-vacah
SYNONYMS
sarve--all; prayasah--endeavors; abhavan--were; vimoghah--futile; krtah--performed; krtah--again performed; deva-ganesu--unto the demigods; daityaih--by the demons; krsna-anukulesu--who were always protected by Krsna; yatha--just as; mahatsu--unto the Vaisnavas; ksudraih--by insignificant persons; prayuktah--used; usatih--unfavorable; ruksa--rough; vacah--words.
TRANSLATION
When insignificant persons use rough words to cast false, angry accusations against saintly persons, their fruitless words do not disturb the great personalities. Similarly, all the efforts of the demons against the demigods, who were favorably situated under the protection of Krsna, were futile.
PURPORT
There is a Bengali saying that if a vulture curses a cow to die, the curse will not be effective. Similarly, accusations made by demoniac persons against devotees of Krsna cannot have any effect. The demigods are devotees of Lord Krsna, and therefore the curses of the demons were futile.
TEXT 29
TEXT
te sva-prayasam vitatham niriksya
harav abhakta hata-yuddha-darpah
palayanayaji-mukhe visrjya
patim manas te dadhur atta-sarah
SYNONYMS
te--they (the demons); sva-prayasam--their own endeavors; vitatham--fruitless; niriksya--seeing; harau abhaktah--the asuras, those who are not devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hata--defeated; yuddha-darpah--their pride in fighting; palayanaya--for leaving the battlefield; aji-mukhe--in the very beginning of the battle; visrjya--leaving aside; patim--their commander, Vrtrasura; manah--their minds; te--all of them; dadhuh--gave; atta-sarah--whose prowess was taken away.
TRANSLATION
The asuras, who are never devotees of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, lost their pride in fighting when they found all their endeavors futile. Leaving aside their leader even in the very beginning of the fight, they decided to flee because all their prowess had been taken away by the enemy.
TEXT 30
TEXT
vrtro 'surams tan anugan manasvi
pradhavatah preksya babhasa etat
palayitam preksya balam ca bhagnam
bhayena tivrena vihasya virah
SYNONYMS
vrtrah--Vrtrasura, the commander of the demons; asuran--all the demons; tan--them; anugan--his followers; manasvi--the great-minded; pradhavatah--fleeing; preksya--observing; babhasa--spoke; etat--this; palayitam--fleeing; preksya--seeing; balam--army; ca--and; bhagnam--broken; bhayena--out of fear; tivrena--intense; vihasya--smiling; virah--the great hero.
TRANSLATION
Seeing his army broken and all the asuras, even those known as great heroes, fleeing the battlefield out of intense fear, Vrtrasura, who was truly a great-minded hero, smiled and spoke the following words.
TEXT 31
TEXT
kalopapannam ruciram manasvinam
jagada vacam purusa-pravirah
he vipracitte namuce puloman
mayanarvan chambara me srnudhvam
SYNONYMS
kala-upapannam--suitable to the time and circumstances; ruciram--very beautiful; manasvinam--to the great, deep-minded personalities; jagada--spoke; vacam--words; purusa-pravirah--the hero among heroes, Vrtrasura; he--O; vipracitte--Vipracitti; namuce--O Namuci; puloman--O Puloma; maya--O Maya; anarvan--O Anarva; sambara--O Sambara; me--from me; srnudhvam--please hear.
TRANSLATION
According to his position and the time and circumstances, Vrtrasura, the hero among heroes, spoke words that were much to be appreciated by thoughtful men. He called to the heroes of the demons, "O Vipracitti! O Namuci! O Puloma! O Maya, Anarva and Sambara! Please hear me and do not flee."
TEXT 32
TEXT
jatasya mrtyur dhruva eva sarvatah
pratikriya yasya na ceha klpta
loko yasas catha tato yadi hy amum
ko nama mrtyum na vrnita yuktam
SYNONYMS
jatasya--of one who has taken birth (all living beings); mrtyuh--death; dhruvah--inevitable; eva--indeed; sarvatah--everywhere in the universe; pratikriya--counteraction; yasya--of which; na--not; ca--also; iha--in this material world; klpta--devised; lokah--promotion to higher planets; yasah--reputation and glory; ca--and; atha--then; tatah--from that; yadi--if; hi--indeed; amum--that; kah--who; nama--indeed; mrtyum--death; na--not; vrnita--would accept; yuktam--suitable.
TRANSLATION
Vrtrasura said: All living entities who have taken birth in this material world must die. Surely, no one in this world has found any means to be saved from death. Even providence has not provided a means to escape it. Under the circumstances, death being inevitable, if one can gain promotion to the higher planetary systems and be always celebrated here by dying a suitable death, what man will not accept such a glorious death?
PURPORT
If by dying one can be elevated to the higher planetary systems and be ever-famous after his death, who is so foolish that he will refuse such a glorious death? Similar advice was also given by Krsna to Arjuna. "My dear Arjuna," the Lord said, "do not desist from fighting. If you gain victory in the fight, you will enjoy a kingdom, and even if you die you will be elevated to the heavenly planets." Everyone should be ready to die while performing glorious deeds. A glorious person is not meant to meet death like cats and dogs.
TEXT 33
TEXT
dvau sammatav iha mrtyu durapau
yad brahma-sandharanaya jitasuh
kalevaram yoga-rato vijahyad
yad agranir vira-saye 'nivrttah
SYNONYMS
dvau--two; sammatau--approved (by sastra and great personalities); iha--in this world; mrtyu--deaths; durapau--extremely rare; yat--which; brahma-sandharanaya--with concentration on Brahman, Paramatma or Parabrahma, Krsna; jita-asuh--controlling the mind and senses; kalevaram--the body; yoga-ratah--being engaged in the performance of yoga; vijahyat--one may leave; yat--which; agranih--taking the lead; vira-saye--on the battlefield; anivrttah--not turning back.
TRANSLATION
There are two ways to meet a glorious death, and both are very rare. One is to die after performing mystic yoga, especially bhakti-yoga, by which one can control the mind and living force and die absorbed in thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The second is to die on the battlefield, leading the army and never showing one's back. These two kinds of death are recommended in the sastra as glorious.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Sixth Canto, Tenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "The Battle Between the Demigods and Vrtrasura."