Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.9.4
तद्देवहेलनं तस्य धर्मालीकं सुरेश्वर: ।
आलक्ष्य तरसा भीतस्तच्छीर्षाण्यच्छिनद् रुषा ॥ ४ ॥
tad deva-helanaṁ tasya
[tad deva-helanam tasya]
dharmālīkaṁ sureśvaraḥ
[dharmaaleekam sureshvarah]
ālakṣya tarasā bhītas
[aalakshya tarasaa bheetas]
tac-chīrṣāṇy acchinad ruṣā
[tach-cheershaany achchinad rushaa]
Word-for-word
tat
—
that
deva-helanam
—
offense to the demigods
tasya
—
of him (Viśvarūpa)
dharma-alīkam
—
cheating in religious principles (pretending to be the priest of the demigods, but secretly acting as the priest of the demons also)
sura-īśvaraḥ
—
the king of the demigods
ālakṣya
—
observing
tarasā
—
quickly
bhītaḥ
—
being afraid (that the demons would gain strength by being blessed by Viśvarūpa)
tat
—
his (Viśvarūpa’s)
śīrṣāṇi
—
heads
acchinat
—
cut off
ruṣā
—
with great anger.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tad deva-helanaṁ tasya
tat
that
deva-helanam
offense to the demigods
tasya
of him (Viśvarūpa)
dharmālīkaṁ sureśvaraḥ
dharma-alīkam
cheating in religious principles (pretending to be the priest of the demigods, but secretly acting as the priest of the demons also)
sura-īśvaraḥ
the king of the demigods
ālakṣya tarasā bhītas
ālakṣya
observing
tarasā
quickly
bhītaḥ
being afraid (that the demons would gain strength by being blessed by Viśvarūpa)
tac-chīrṣāṇy acchinad ruṣā
tat
his (Viśvarūpa’s)
śīrṣāṇi
heads
acchinat
cut off
ruṣā
with great anger.
Once upon a time, however, the King of heaven, Indra, understood that Viśvarūpa was secretly cheating the demigods by offering oblations on behalf of the demons. He became extremely afraid of being defeated by the demons, and in great anger at Viśvarūpa he cut Viśvarūpa’s three heads from his shoulders.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Indra, understanding that Viśvarūpa was cheating the devatās by offering oblations to the demons, angrily cut off Viśvarūpa's three heads out of fear.
Indra was afraid that the demons would gain power by the oblations.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Indra discovered the secret cheating and, in great anger, cut off Viśvarūpa's three heads. Discovered duplicity destroys not just the act but the actor — and sometimes the response is itself excessive.
Reflection Questions
- What duplicity in me would not survive being discovered?
- Have I ever responded to a betrayal with disproportionate force I later regretted?
My note
Source: vedabase.io