The Birth of Vṛtrāsura
Chapter Nine
The Birth of Vṛtrāsura
|| 6.9.1 ||
śrī-śuka uvāca
tasyāsan viśvarūpasya
śirāṁsi trīṇi bhārata
soma-pīthaṁ surā-pītham
annādam iti śuśruma
Śrī Śukadeva said: O King Parīkṣit! I have heard that Viśvarūpa had three heads, one for drinking soma-rasa, another for drinking wine and a third for eating food.
In the ninth chapter Indra kills Viśvarūpa, Tvaṣṭā produces Vṛtrāsura and the Lord, after being praised by the devatās, instructs the devatās how to obtain the thunderbolt.
Soma-pītham means “drinking soma.” Annadam means “eating food.” The śruti also describes Viśvarūpa’s position. [86] Viśvarūpo vai tvāṣtṛaḥ purohito devānām āsīt: Viśvarūpa, son of Tvastā was the priest of the devatās.
|| 6.9.2 ||
sa vai barhiṣi devebhyo
bhāgaṁ pratyakṣam uccakaiḥ
adadad yasya pitaro
devāḥ sapraśrayaṁ nṛpa
O King! Having the devatās as his father, he visibly offered the devatās their share in sacrifice with respect.
Now partiality to the demons is described in two verses. Visibly, with humility he offered a portion to the devatās saying “This is for Indra. This is for Agni.” The reason is that his fathers were devatās.[87]
|| 6.9.3 ||
sa eva hi dadau bhāgaṁ
parokṣam asurān prati
yajamāno 'vahad bhāgaṁ
mātṛ-sneha-vaśānugaḥ
Offering a share to the demons without the knowledge of the devatās, he had the demons obtain a share, out of affection for his mother.
Parokṣam means that he offered in a low voice some oblations to the demons so that the devatās did not notice. Offering that share, he had them attain it (avahat). His grandmother was a demon.
|| 6.9.4 ||
tad deva-helanaṁ tasya
dharmālīkaṁ sureśvaraḥ
ālakṣya tarasā bhītas
tac-chīrṣāṇy acchinad ruṣā
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.
|| 6.9.5 ||
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