FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.12.1

श्रीऋषिरुवाच एवं जिहासुर्नृप देहमाजौ मृत्युं वरं विजयान्मन्यमान: । शूलं प्रगृह्याभ्यपतत् सुरेन्द्रं यथा महापुरुषं कैटभोऽप्सु ॥ १ ॥
śrī-ṛṣir uvāca
[shree-rishir uvaacha]
evaṁ jihāsur nṛpa deham ājau
[evam jihaasur nripa deham aajau]
mṛtyuṁ varaṁ vijayān manyamānaḥ
[mrityum varam vijayaan manyamaanah]
śūlaṁ pragṛhyābhyapatat surendraṁ
[shoolam pragrihyaabhyapatat surendram]
yathā mahā-puruṣaṁ kaiṭabho ’psu
[yathaa mahaa-purusham kaitabho ’psu]
Word-for-word
śrī-ṛṣiḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said evam — thus jihāsuḥ — very eager to give up nṛpa — O King Parīkṣit deham — the body ājau — in battle mṛtyum — death varam — better vijayāt — than victory manyamānaḥ — thinking śūlam — trident pragṛhya — taking up abhyapatat — attacked sura-indram — the King of heaven, Indra yathā — just as mahā-puruṣam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead kaiṭabhaḥ — the demon Kaiṭabha apsu — when the whole universe was inundated.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-ṛṣir uvāca
śrī-ṛṣiḥ uvāca
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
evaṁ jihāsur nṛpa deham ājau
evam
thus
jihāsuḥ
very eager to give up
nṛpa
O King Parīkṣit
deham
the body
ājau
in battle
mṛtyuṁ varaṁ vijayān manyamānaḥ
mṛtyum
death
varam
better
vijayāt
than victory
manyamānaḥ
thinking
śūlaṁ pragṛhyābhyapatat surendraṁ
śūlam
trident
pragṛhya
taking up
abhyapatat
attacked
sura-indram
the King of heaven, Indra
yathā mahā-puruṣaṁ kaiṭabho ’psu
yathā
just as
mahā-puruṣam
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
kaiṭabhaḥ
the demon Kaiṭabha
apsu
when the whole universe was inundated.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Desiring to give up his body, Vṛtrāsura considered death in the battle preferable to victory. O King Parīkṣit, he vigorously took up his trident and with great force attacked Lord Indra, the King of heaven, just as Kaiṭabha had forcefully attacked the Supreme Personality of Godhead when the universe was inundated.
Purport

Although Vṛtrāsura repeatedly encouraged Indra to kill him with the thunderbolt, King Indra was morose at having to kill such a great devotee and was hesitant to throw it. Vṛtrāsura, disappointed that King Indra was reluctant despite his encouragement, took the initiative very forcefully by throwing his trident at Indra. Vṛtrāsura was not at all interested in victory; he was interested in being killed so that he could immediately return home, back to Godhead. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9) , tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti: after giving up his body, a devotee immediately returns to Lord Kṛṣṇa and never returns to accept another body. This was Vṛtrāsura’s interest.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King! Desiring to give up his body, considering death in the battle preferable to victory, Vṛtrāsura took up his trident and attacked Lord Indra, just as Kaiṭabha had attacked the Lord when the universe was inundated. The Twelfth Chapter describes how Indra, discouraged by Vṛtrāsura’s prowess, becomes enlightened by him and after praising him, kills him. Vṛtrāsura prepared for battle again, thinking, “Bewildered about what to do, he will not kill me. Therefore, showing him my prowess, he will become determined and angry. He will then quickly kill me.” Apsu refers to the water of devastation.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Wanting to give up his body, Vṛtra considered death in battle preferable to victory and attacked Indra with his trident. The hero seeks not to win but to depart well.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I think victory is the goal when graceful departure may be the assignment?
  • What would change in my fighting if I aimed to leave well rather than to win?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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