Chapter 13 - The Triumph of Indra

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Śrī Śuka said:

1. When Vṛtra was killed, all the three worlds along with their guardian deities, with the exception of Indra, became immediately free from feverish anxiety and felt felicitous at heart.

2. Without bidding good-bye to Indra, gods, sages, manes, Bhūtas, demons and the followers of gods returned to their respective regions. Then dispersed Brahmā, Rudra, Indra and others.^[1]

The King said:

3. Oh Sage, I wish to hear the cause of Indra’s unhappiness whereby gods became happy, while Indra suffered agony.

Śrī Śuka said:

4. Allgods along with sages who were agitated over the prowess of Vṛtra, begged Indra to slay him, but Indra being afraid of Brahma-hatyā did not wish to do so.

Indra said:

5. The sin of killing Viśvarūpa, a Brāhmaṇa, was graciously shared by women, the earth, the water and trees. Where can I wipe off the sin of killing Vṛtra, another Brāhmaṇa?

Śrī Śuka said:

6. Having listened to him, the sages assured him, “May good betide you! We shall help you in performing a horse- sacrifice. Please do not get afraid (of Brahma-hatyā).

7. Worshipping Lord Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Man, the universal Soul and the Controller of the Universe, by performance of the Horse-sacrifice, you will be absolved of the sin of massacring the world. What of one Brāhmaṇa like Vṛtra.

8. By singing the Lord’s name, a person who slays a Brāhmaṇa or his own father, or a cow, or his own mother, or a preceptor, a sinner who eats a dog, or is of the lowest caste, becomes purified.

9. If with faith and reverence, the great sacrifice called Aśvamedha (Horse-sacrifice) be performed with our co-operation, you will not be affected by sin, even if you kill all the mobile and immobile creation along with Brahmā. Then what of killing a wicked demon like Vṛtra?

Śrī Śuka said:

10. Thus strongly impelled by Brāhmaṇas, Indra killed his enemy Vṛtra. As soon as Vṛtra was killed, the sin of slaying a Brāhmaṇa attacked Indra.

11. Indra suffered agonies by that and did not get any peace of mind, for to selfrespecting persons, excellences like sovereignty do not give any pleasure if they bring censure.

12-13. He saw the Brahmahatyā chasing after him. She was like a Cāṇḍāla woman in form. Her body was trembling with age and she was a victim of consumption. She put on blood-stained garments. With her grey hair scattered, she was asking Indra to stop and stand. She was polluting the atmosphere on the road with her breath stinking like rotten fish.

14. The thousand-eyed god ran in all directions in the sky, Oh Lord of the earth. He speedily rushed to the northeast and entered the Mānasa lake, Oh king.

15. He stayed within the fibres of a lotus therein without getting any subsistence, for he had the fire-god as his purveyor of food.^[2] He remained unperceived in the water for one thousand years, pondering over his absolution from the sin of Brahma-hatyā.

16. During that period (of Indra’s absence), Nahuṣa who possessed the capacity of a ruler due to his knowledge, austerities and strength of yoga, governed the third heaven. But as his intelligence became blind by the arrogance of affluence, and power was reduced to the state of sub-human being (boa constrictor) by Indra’s wife, Śacī.^[3]

17. Then Indra whose sin was warded off by meditation over the protector of Truth, namely, Lord Viṣṇu, returned as he was invited by Brāhmaṇas. His sin of Brahma-hatyā was deprived of its power by Rudra, the god of that direction, and it did not assail him as he was protected by Lakṣmī, spouse of Viṣṇu.

18. The Brāhmaṇa sages approached him and consecrated him according to religious formalities for the performance of the Horse-Sacrifice by which Hari is propitiated.

19-20. When the Supreme Person who embodies within himself all the divinities, was thus worshipped by the great Indra, in the Horse-Sacrifice which was performed duly through the Brāhmaṇas who were expositors of the Veda, the huge mass of sin of slaying Vṛtra the son of Tvaṣṭṛ was reduced to naught by that very worship of the Lord just as the frost is evaporated by the Sun.

21. By performance of the Horse-sacrifice according to scriptural injunctions through sages like Marīci who conducted it on proper lines, Indra worshipped the ancient Supreme Person, the presiding deity of sacrifices and thus being completely free from sin (of Brahmahatyā), became as great as before.

22. This great narrative which celebrates the glory of Lord Viṣṇu of hallowed feet, absolves one of all sins. It extols the virtues of devotion and the greatness of the devotees of the Lord, and describes the purification of the great Indra from Biahma-hatyā and his final victory.

23. Wise persons should always read this narrative. They should listen to it on the days of Parvans e.g. the new- moon-day and the full-moon-day. It contributes to the prosperity and glory, removes sins, bestows victories over enemies, is conducive to auspiciousness and confers long life.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

According to Anvitārthaprakāśikā, Indra did not return to Svarga. The very moment he killed Vṛtra, the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa (Brahma-hatyā) assailed him and Indra had to fly away hurriedly and hide himself in the Mānasa lake. Indra’s restoration took place after his performance of a horse sacrifice.

[2]:

Bhāvāratha Dīpikā points out the impossibility of fire-god’s entry into water. VC. & Anvitārthaprakāśikā. attribute his non-entry to the guards of Rudra, for Agni purveys oblations of Varuṇa.

[3]:

Nahuṣa thought that as be was Indra, former Indra’s wife would be ipso facto his own. When Śacī received an invitation from Nahuṣa, she, as per advice of Bṛhaspati. requested him to come to her in a palanquine borne by sages like Agastya. Nahuṣa while being borne thus, in his eagerness, touched Agastya with his leg and asked him to hasten (Sarpa, Sarpa). Agastya being thus insulted cursed him to be a serpent.