The defeat of Vitra

How great was the love of virtue possessed by Vritra of incomparable energy, whose knowledge was incomparable and whose devotion to Vishnu was so great.

The position occupied by Vishnu of immeasurable energy is difficult, of being perceived. How, O foremost of kings, could Vritra comprehend it?

You have described Vritra's acts. I too have heard you in full faith. Because, on account of my seeing that one point is unintelligible that my curiosity has been roused for asking you again.

How, indeed, was Vritra, who was virtuous, devoted to Vishnu, gifted with knowledge of truth derivable from a just comprehension of the Upanishads and Vedanta, defeated by Indra, O foremost of men.

O king of the Bharatas, remove this my doubt! Indeed, tell me, O foremost of kings, how Vritra was defeated by Shakra.

O grandfather, O you of mighty arms, tell me fully how the battle took place. Great is my curiosity to hear it.

Bhishma said-In days of yore, Indra, accompanied by the celestial army, proceeded on his car, and saw the Asura Vritra stationed before him like a mountain.

He was full five hundred Yojanas in height, 0 chastiser of enemies and three hundred Yojanas in circumference.

Seeing that form of Vritra, which was incapable of being defeated by the three worlds united together, the celestials became stricken with fear and full of anxiety.

Indeed, suddenly beholding that huge form of his enemy, O king, Indra was paralysed in the lower extremities.

Then, on the eve of that great battle between the gods and the demons, there arose loud peals from both sides, and drums and other musical instruments were beaten and blown.

Seeing Indra stationed before him, you of Kuru's race, Vritra felt neither awe nor fear, nor was he disposed to collect all his energies for the battle.

Then the battle took place filling the three worlds with fear, between Indra the king of the gods and Vritra of great energy.

The entire sky was covered by the warriors of both sides with swords, axes, lances, darts, spears and heavy clubs and rocks of various sizes and bows of loud sound and various sorts of celestial weapons and fires and burning brands.

All the deities led by the Grand-father, and all the highly-blessed Rishis, came to see the battle, on their best of cars; and the Siddhas, also, O foremost of Bharata's family, and the Gandharvas, with the Apsaras, on their own beautiful and foremost of cars, came there.

Then Vritra, that foremost of virtuous persons, speedily overwhelmed the sky and the king of gods with a thick shower of rocks.

Thereat, filled with ire the celestials dispelled with their showers of arrows that thick down-pour of rocks showered by Vritra in battle.

Then Vritra, O foremost of Kurus, endued with mighty strength and large powers of illusion, stupefied the king of illusion. was

When the god of hundred sacrifices, thus afflicted by Vritra, possessed by stupefaction, the sage Vashishtha restores him to his senses by chanting Samans.

Vashishtha said You are the foremost of the gods, O chief of the gods, O destroyer of Daityas and Asuras! The strength of the three worlds lies in you! Why, then, O Shakra, do you languish so!

See, there are Brahma and Vishnu, and Shiva, that lord of the universe, the illustrious and divine Soma, and all the great Rishis.

Do not, O Indra, yield to weakness, like an ordinary mortal! Firmly determined on battle, kill your enemies, O king of the gods.

There, that lord of all the worlds, viz., the Three-eyed (Shiva), worshipped of all the worlds, is seeing you! Shake off this stupefaction, O king of the gods.

There, those twice-born Rishis, headed by Brihaspati, are lauding you for your victory, in celestial hymns.

Bhishma said-While the highly energetic Vasava was thus being restored to senses by the great Vashishtha, his strength became greatly increased.

The illustrious punisher of Paka then, depending upon his intelligence, had recourse to high Yoga and with its help removed these illusions of Vritra.

Then Brihaspati, the son of Angiras, and those greatest of Rishis endued with great prosperity, seeing the prowess of Vritra, went to Mahadeva, and moved by the desire of benefiting the three worlds, urged him to kill the great Asura.

The energy of that illustrious lord of the universe thereupon assumed the nature of a fierce fever and entered the body of Vritra the lord of Asuras.

The illustrious and divine Vishnu, worshipped of all the worlds, bent upon protecting the universe, entered the thunderbolt of Indra.

Then the highly intelligent Brihaspati and Vashishtha of great energy and all the other foremost of Rishis, going to the God of hundred sacrifices, viz., the boon-giving Vasava, the worshipped of all the worlds, said to him kill forthwith Vritra, O powerful one.

Maheshvara said There, O Shakra, stands the great Vritra, accompanied by a great army. He is the soul of the universe, capable of going everywhere, gifted with great powers of illusion, and highly illustrious.

This foremost of Asuras is, therefore incapable of being defeated by even the threeworlds in a body. Helped by Yoga, do you kill him, O king of the celestials. Do not neglect him.

O king of the celestials, Vritra had practised, for full sixty thousand years, the severest penances for acquiring strength. Brahma gave him the boons he had prayed for, viz., the greatness that belongs to Yogins, large powers of illusion, enough of might, and superabundant energy.

I give you my energy, O Vasava! The Danava has now lost his coolness. Do you, therefore, kill him now with your thunderbolt.

Shakra said Before your eyes, O foremost of gods, I shall, through your favour kill with my thunderbolt this invincible son Diti.

Bhishma said. When the great Asura or Daitya was possessed by that fever, the gods and the Rishis, filled with joy, sent up loud cheers.

At the same time drums, and conchs of loud blare, and kettle-drums and tabors in thousands began to beat and blow.

Suddenly all the Asuras lost in a body their memory. At that moment their powers of illusion, also, disappeared.

Knowing the enemy to be thus possessed, the Rishis and gods lauded both Shakra and Ishana, and began to urge the former.

The form that Indra assumed on the eve of the battle, while seated on his car and while his praises were being lauded by the Rishis, became such that none could look at it without dread.