CHAPTER SEVEN

Indra Offends
His Spiritual Master, Brhaspati

As related in this chapter, Indra, the King of heaven, committed an
offense at the feet of his spiritual master, Brhaspati. Brhaspati therefore
left the demigods, who then had no priest. However, at the request of the
demigods, Visvariipa, the son of the brahmana Tvasta, became their
priest.

Once upon a time, Indra, the King of the demigods, was sitting with
his wife Sacidevi and being praised by various demigods like the Siddhas,
Caranas and Gandharvas when Brhaspati, the spiritual master of the
demigods, entered the assembly. Indra, being too absorbed in material
opulence, forgot himself and did not respect Brhaspati, who thus became
aware of Indra’s pride in his material opulence and immediately disap-
peared from the assembly to teach him a lesson. Indra became most
repentant, understanding that because of his opulence he had forgotten
to respect his spiritual master. He left the palace to beg pardon from his
spiritual master, but could not find Brhaspati anywhere.

Because of his disrespectful behavior toward his spiritual master, In-
dra lost all his opulence and was conquered by the demons. who defeated
the demigods in a great fight and occupied Indra’s throne. King Indra,
along with the other demigods, later took shelter of Lord Brahma.
Understanding the situation, Lord Brahma chastised the demigods for
their offense to their spiritual master. Following Lord Brahma’s orders.
the demigods accepted Visvariipa, who was a brdhmana and the son of
Tvasta, as their priest. Then they performed yajfas under the priesthood
of Visvaripa and were able to conquer the demons.

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