Home | Biographies

A-J | K-M | N-S | T-Z | Others

Vritraasur is not a witness in Raamaayan or Mahaabhaarat, but his story comes in Aadi Parv, when Draupadee's marriage to five people is explained. His story appears in Vaalmeeki Raamaayan, 7/31 also but it is quite different than the Bhaagvat Puraan story.

Once Brihaspati Jee came to Indra's court, but Indra was so much involved in his enjoyment that he did not notice his Guru and did not respect him. This made Brihaspati Jee angry and he went away. Later when Indra realized his mistake, he went after him but could not find him. Since Devtaa had to have a Guru, Indra requested Vishwaroop, the son of Twashtaa (one of the 12 Aaditya and Purohit of Devtaa), to be their Guru. Vishwaroop agreed, and after becoming their guru, he got back Devtaa's wealth from Daitya.

But since Vishwaroop was the son of a Daitya mother (Twashtaa's wife was from Asur family - their younger sister Rochanaa), whenever he performed any Yagya, he offered Aahuti for Daitya, Indra noticed it and killed him. Since Vishwaroop was a Braahman Putra, Indra got attached to Brahm Hatyaa sin. He distributed his sin to women, earth, trees and water. (read this story at Indra and Vishwaroop). When Twashtaa heard of the killing of his son, he produced a Krityaa named Vritra from a Yagya to kill Indra. He was so mighty that when Devtaa attacked him he ate all their weapons.

Worried at this Indra and Devtaa went to Vishnu and He advised them to go to Maharshi Dadheechi and ask his bones from him to kill Vritraasur. Devtaa went to Maharshi Dadheechi and requested him to give his bones to them so that they could kill Vritraasur. Dadheechi left his mortal body through Yog. Indra collected his bones from his body. Vishwakarmaa built a Vajra out of those bones, and then only Indra was able to kill Vritraasur by his Vajra made of Dadheechi's bones.

Vritraasur Vadh in Mahaabhaarat
In MBH, G-7-Postwar/6, Krishn said to Yudhishthir - ".....I tell you the story of the war of Indra and Vritraasur, as I have heard it. In olden times Vritraasur used to rule over Prithvi, so the environment became polluted. Indra got very angry at this and threw his Vajra at him. Vritraasur entered the waters and destroyed its property (liquidity). As he seized the water, its liquid property was gone. Indra again hit him with his Vajra, this time he entered the Fire and took away its property Jyoti (luminous property) and its color and form were gone, at this Indra hit him third time and this time Vritraasur entered Vaayu (air) and absorbed its property. Indra again hit him and he entered Aakaash (space) and took away its property - sound. Indra again hit him with his Vajra, this time he entered Indra's body and took away his essential attributes. Now Indra was filled with illusions. We have heard that in such situation Vashishth Jee consoled Indra and Indra killed Vritraasur by an invisible Vajra. This mystery was told by Indra himself to sages and they told it to me."

Vritraasur's Previous Life
The story of Vritraasur's previous life has been given in Bhaaagvat Puraan, 6/6. He was King Chitraketu in his previous life and was born as Vritraasur by the curse of Paarvatee Jee.

Home | Biographies

A-J | K-M | N-S | T-Z | Others