Editing Vritra (section)

=== Vedas ===
[[File: Indra kills Vrttirasura (story from Rik Veda, featured in Bhagavatha).jpg|left|thumb|Indra kills Vritrasura (story from the Rig Veda, featured in Bhagavata)]]
According to the [[Rig Veda]], Vritra kept the [[Ap (water)|waters]] of the world captive until he was killed by Indra, who destroyed all the 99 fortresses of Vritra (although the fortresses are sometimes attributed to [[Sambara]]){{By whom|date=July 2024}} before liberating the imprisoned rivers. The combat began soon after [[Indra]] was born, and he consumed a large volume of [[Soma (drink)|Soma]] at [[Tvashtri]]'s house to empower him before facing Vritra. [[Tvashtri]] fashioned the thunderbolt ([[Vajrayudha]]) for Indra, and Vishnu, when asked to do so by Indra, made space for the battle by taking the three great strides, for which Vishnu became famous, and was later adapted in his legend of [[Vamana]].<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rvsan/rv01154.htm Rig-Veda 1.154 (Sanskrit)]</ref>

Vritra broke Indra's two jaws during the battle, but was then thrown down by Indra and, in falling, crushed the fortresses that had already been shattered.<ref name="Rig-Veda 1.32 English">[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv01032.htm Rig-Veda 1.32 (English)]</ref><ref name="Rig-Veda 1.32Sanskrit">[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rvsan/rv01032.htm Rig-Veda 1.32(Sanskrit)]</ref> For this feat, Indra became known as "Vṛtrahan" (lit. "Slayer of Vritra" and also as "slayer of the first-born of dragons"). Vritra's mother, [[Danu (Asura)|Danu]], who was also the mother of the [[Danava (Hinduism)|danava]] race of [[asuras]], was then attacked and defeated by Indra with his thunderbolt.<ref name="Rig-Veda 1.32 English" /><ref name="Rig-Veda 1.32Sanskrit" /> In one of the versions of the story, three devas – [[Varuna]], [[Soma (deity)|Soma]], and [[Agni]] – were coaxed by Indra into aiding him in the fight against Vritra, whereas before they had been on the side of Vritra (whom they called "[[Father]]").<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv10124.htm Rig-Veda 1.124 (English)]</ref><ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rvsan/rv10124.htm Rig-Veda 1.124 (Sanskrit)]</ref>

Hymn 18 of Mandala IV provides the most elaborate account of the Vedic version. The verses describe the events and circumstances leading up to the battle between Indra and Vritra, the battle itself, and the outcome of the battle.<ref>[http://rigvedaanalysis.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/the-birth-of-indra-end-of-an-ice-age/ The birth of Indra and slaying of Vritra according to Vamadeva mandala - RV 4.018]</ref>