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Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O dear, how righteous was Vṛtra of immeasurable brilliance! His knowledge was incomparable, and his devotion to Viṣṇu was of the highest kind.
O dear one, this is difficult to comprehend regarding Viṣṇu of immeasurable splendor. O tiger among kings, how did he come to know that state?
O Acyuta, what you have spoken, I do indeed believe. Yet, my understanding has again arisen from perceiving the unmanifest.
O best of the Bharatas, how was Vṛtra, who was righteous, a devotee of Viṣṇu, and a knower of truth, slain by Śakra? Please explain in detail.
O bull among the Bharatas, tell me this doubt as I ask you. O tiger among kings, how was Vṛtra conquered by Śakra (Indra)?
O grandsire, please tell me in detail how the battle happened, for I, O mighty-armed one, have great curiosity about it.
Bhīṣma said.
Once, Indra departed in his chariot together with the hosts of gods. Then, in front of him, he saw Vṛtra stationed, resembling a mountain.
O subduer of enemies, it is five hundred yojanas high; and in breadth, it exceeds by three hundred yojanas.
When the gods saw Vṛtra's form, so formidable that even the three worlds could not overcome it, they were seized with terror and found no peace.
But then, O king, Indra's thigh appeared suddenly out of fear of Vṛtra, upon seeing that supreme form.
Then, as the battle commenced, the sound of musical instruments and the resounding cries of all the gods and asuras arose.
Then, O Kauravya, when Indra arrived before Vṛtra, there was neither confusion, nor any fear, nor any regard that arose.
Then a dreadful battle broke out across the three worlds between Śakra, the lord of the gods, and the great-souled Vṛtra.
They fought with swords, spears, pikes, lances, javelins, maces, stones, various other weapons, and bows, all producing great sounds.
The entire field was thrown into confusion by various divine missiles, fire-meteors, and the armies of gods and asuras.
All the gods, headed by the grandsire, and the greatly fortunate sages, came together to witness that battle.
O great king, the Siddhas and Gandharvas, O bull among the Bharatas, came together in excellent aerial cars along with the Apsarases.
Then Vṛtra, the foremost among the upholders of dharma, covered the sky and, from the mountain, showered stones upon Indra, lord of the gods.
Then, enraged, the hosts of gods from all sides repelled the stone shower unleashed by Vṛtra in the battle.
O tiger among the Kurus, Vṛtra, possessing great illusion and great strength, bewildered Indra, the lord of the gods, by illusory warfare on all sides.
Then, Śatakratu (Indra), afflicted by Vṛtra, fell into delusion. There, Vasiṣṭha awakened him by means of the Rathantara Sāman.
Vasiṣṭha said.
O Indra, you are the foremost among the gods, the destroyer of the enemies of the gods, and endowed with the strength of the three worlds; why then, O Śakra, do you despair?
This is Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva, the lord of the world; Soma, the venerable god, and all the supreme seers.
O Śakra, do not fall into dejection like any other; make a noble resolve in battle and conquer the enemy, O lord of the gods.
This teacher of the world, the three-eyed one, revered by all worlds, is watching you, O blessed one; give up delusion, O lord of the gods.
These Brahmarṣis, led by Bṛhaspati, praise you, O Śakra, with a divine hymn for victory.
Bhīṣma said.
Thus, when Vasiṣṭha, the great-souled sage, addressed him, the strength of Vāsava (Indra), endowed with supreme brilliance, became exceedingly great.
Then the venerable Indra, having approached with intellect and being engaged in great yoga, dispelled that illusion.
Then, the prosperous son of Aṅgiras and the supreme sages, having witnessed Vṛtra's valor, approached the great lord and spoke, seeking the destruction of Vṛtra for the welfare of all worlds.
Then, the divine energy of the Lord, having assumed the form of fever, entered into the dreadful Vṛtra, the chief among the Daityas, at that moment.
Viṣṇu, the revered god honored by all worlds, entered into Indra's thunderbolt, intent on protecting the worlds.
Then Bṛhaspati, the wise, approached Indra; Vasiṣṭha, of great splendor, and all the supreme sages also came.
They approached Indra, the bestower of boons, honored by the worlds, and with focused minds said, "O lord, slay Vṛtra."
The great lord Maheshvara said.
O Śakra, this Vṛtra is enveloped by great strength. He is the soul of all, all-pervading, possessed of many illusions, and renowned.
O lord of the gods, do not despise him who is the best among Asuras and difficult to conquer even by the three worlds; slay him, resorting to yoga.
O lord of the immortals, by this, austerity was indeed performed for the sake of strength. For sixty thousand years, Brahmā granted him a boon.
O lord of the gods, greatness, supreme illusion, immense strength, splendor, and excellence are attributes of yogins.
O Vāsava, my energy now enters you. Slay this demon Vṛtra with your thunderbolt in this way.
Indra said.
O Lord, by your grace, I shall slay the son of Diti, who is very difficult to approach, with the thunderbolt, while you watch, O best of the gods.
Bhīṣma said.
But as the fever entered the Daitya, the great Asura, a great sound of joy arose from the gods and sages.
Then thousands of kettle-drums, conch-shells, drums, and tabors of great sound were sounded together.
But for all the asuras, there was a great loss of memory, and a powerful loss of wisdom overtook them instantly.
Then, having known him to be possessed, the sages and gods, praising Indra the lord, also urged him.
At the time of battle, the form of the great-souled Śakra, standing on the chariot and being praised by the sages, was very difficult to behold.
