CHAPTER ELEVEN

The Transcendental Qualities of Vrtrasura

This chapter describes Vrtrasura’s great qualities. When the prominent
commanders of the demons fled, not hearing Vrtrasura’s advice,
Vrtrasura condemned them all as cowards. Speaking very bravely, he
stood alone to face the demigods. When the demigods saw Vrtrasura’s at-
titude, they were so afraid that they practically fainted, and Vrtrasura
began trampling them down. Unable to tolerate this, Indra, the King of
the demigods, threw his club at Vrtrasura, but Vrtrasura was such a
great hero that he easily caught the club with his left hand and used it to
beat Indra’s elephant. Struck by the blow of Vrtrasura, the elephant was
pushed back fourteen yards and fell, with Indra on its back.

King Indra had first accepted Visvariipa as his priest and thereafter
killed him. Reminding Indra of his heinous activities, Vrtrasura said, “If
one is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, and
depends on Lord Visnu in every respect, then victory, opulence and
peace of mind are all inevitably available. Such a person has nothing for
which to aspire in the three worlds. The Supreme Lord is so kind that He
especially favors such a devotee by not giving him opulence that will
hamper his devotional service. Therefore I wish to give up everything
for the service of the Lord. I wish always to chant the glories of the Lord
and engage in His service. Let me become unattached to my worldly
family and make friendships with the devotees of the Lord. I do not
desire to be promoted to the higher planetary systems, even to
Dhruvaloka or Brahmaloka, nor do I desire an unconquerable position
within this material world. I have no need for such things.”

TEXT 1
aT TAI
q od gad wt aa: gaa: |

VATE AMM: RAT Fl 2 Il

187
