CHAPTER THIRTEEN

King Indra
Afflicted by Sinful Reaction

This chapter describes Indra’s fear at having killed a brahmana
(Vrtrasura), and it also describes how he fled and was saved by the grace
of Lord Visnu.

When all the demigods requested Indra to kill Vrtrasura, he refused
because Vrtrasura was a brahmana. The demigods, however, encouraged
Indra not to fear killing him because Indra was protected by the
Narayana-kavaca, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, Lord
Narayana. Even by a glimpse of the chanting of Naradyana’s name, one
becomes free from all the sinful reactions of killing a woman, a cow or a
brahmana. The demigods advised Indra to perform an asvamedha
sacrifice, by which Narayana would be pleased, for the performer of such
a sacrifice is not implicated in sinful reactions even if he kills the entire
universe.

Following this instruction from the demigods, King Indra fought
Vrtrasura, but when Vrtrasura was killed, everyone was satisfied but
King Indra, who knew Vrtrasura’s position. This is the nature of a great
personality. Even if a great personality acquires some opulence, he is al-
ways ashamed and regretful if he acquires it illegally. Indra could under-
stand that he was certainly entangled by sinful reactions for killing a
brahmana. Indeed, he could see sinful reaction personified following
him, and thus he fled here and there in fear, thinking of how to rid
himself of his sins. He went to Manasa-sarovara, and there, under the
protection of the goddess of fortune, he meditated for one thousand
years. During this time, Nahusa reigned over the heavenly planets as
the representative of Indra. Unfortunately, however, he was attracted by
the beauty of Indra’s wife, Sacidevi, and because of his sinful desire he
had to accept the body of a serpent in his next life. Indra later performed
a great sacrifice with the help of exalted brahmanas and saints. In this
way he was released from the reactions of his sinful killing of a
brahmana.

247
