*SKANDHA VI. CHAP. 9-13.*
Tvastri became enraged at the death of his son. He gave offerings to
Agni for the destruction of Indra. A huge and fearful Asura rose out of
the sacrificial fire. The Devas threw their weapons at him, but he
swallowed them all. Wonderstruck they prayed to Vishnu for help. Vishnu
asked them to go to Dadhichi and pray for his body and assured them that
the weapon made of his bones by Visvakarma would cut off the head of
Vritra. The Devas went to Dadhichi and got his body. Visvakarma made the
thunderbolt instrument (Vajra) out of his bones. Indra went with this
instrument at the head of the Devas to fight with Vritra. _The fight
took place at the commencement of Treta Yuga in the first Yuga cycle of
Vaivasvata Manvantara,_ on the banks of the Narmada. After a severe
fight, the chances shewed themselves favourable to the Devas. The Daitya
and Danava chiefs began to shew their backs to the enemies. "What is
this my companions?" exclaimed Vritra, "Is not death inevitable? And
what death is more enviable than that with honor and glory? There are
two modes of death, rare though they be, that are given the palm in all
religious books -- one is by control of the Pranas by means of Yoga and
the other is by facing enemies foremost of all, in the battle field."
But the Asuras heeded him not. The Devas ran after them. "O ye cowards?"
exclaimed Vritra, "What glory do you gain by running after those that
fly away. Come and approach those that are in the field." So saying he
attacked Indra. Indra in anger threw a large club at him. Vritra easily
took it up with his left hand. He struck it with force on the head of
Airavata, the elephant of Indra. The elephant receded 28 cubits and
vomitted blood, The magnanimous Vritra seeing the distress of the animal
did not strike it again. Indra softly touched the injured animal, trying
to give it relief and he took respite for some time. Vritra remembered
the wicked deeds of Indra and addressed him thus "O thou assassinator of
a Brahmana! Thou didst kill thy own Guru, my brother Visvarupa. Thou
didst raise faith and trust in my brother's mind and still thou didst
kill that innocent, wise Brahmana, your own Guru, having been initiated
by him in Yajna. Your karma makes you worse than even Rakshasas. It is
meet that I shall kill thee with this Trident and make over thy body as
food for vultures. And if thou, O Indra, cuttest off my head, I shall be
free from the bond of Karma, by offering my body as Bali (sacrificial
food) to the animals. Here I stand before thee. Why dost thou not strike
with the Vajra. Thou hast been favoured by Vishnu and by Dadhichi.
Victory and all the virtues always follow Vishnu. I will do as advised
by my deity Sankarshana and attain after death the state of Yogins by
sacrificing this body. O Bhagavat, may I ever and ever remain in the
Service of thy votaries. This I deem a thousand times more desirable
than the attainment of the Supreme Abode, or of Siddhis or of Mukti."
Vritra then took the trident in hand and attacked Indra -- Indra then
had recourse to Vajra and he easily cut off both the trident and one
hand of Vritra. Vritra took a club in the other hand and struck both
Indra and the elephant. The Vajra slipped out of the hands of Indra and
he felt ashamed to pick it up in the presence of his enemy. "Pick it up,
O King of Devas, and kill your enemy. This is no time for shame or
sorrow. It is not you or I that are the real actors. Bhagavan is guiding
us all. He guides the whole Universe. Look at me. I have been worsted,
hand and weapon gone, still I am trying my best to kill you. This our
fight is but like the game of dice in which the life of one of us is the
stake."
Indra could not help wondering at the wisdom and magnanimity of Vritra.
He exclaimed "O king of Danavas! thou hast got over the Maya of Vishnu.
The Asura nature has altogether- left thee and thou art fixed in
devotion to Vishnu. Verily thou art a Mahatma now."
They again engaged in fight. This time Indra cut off both the club and
the other hand with the help of Vajra -- Vritra then opened his mouth
and swallowed Indra. There was loud wailing and lamentation all round.
But Indra broke through the interior of Vritra with the help of Vajra,
and he then forcibly applied the bolt to cut off the head of Vritra. The
bolt though actively employed could only sever the head of the Asura
King in 360 days. The flame of self from Vritra's body merged in
Shankarshana in the presence of the Devas.
The sin of killing a Brahmana a second time followed Indra in the form
of a hideous old outcaste woman. He fled away into the Manasa lake and
entered the filament of a lotus stalk. He remained there concealed for
one thousand years. King Nahusha reigned in Svarga during that time. But
as he became maddened in pride, Sachi the wife of Indra made him a
serpent. The Brahmanas then called back Indra to Svarga, and he reigned
there again.