Text 11] Indra Afflicted by Sinful Reaction 257
$ri-Suka uvadca
evarh saficodito viprair
marutvan ahanad ripum
brahma-hatya hate tasminn
Gsasdda vrsakapim

§ri-Sukah uvica—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; evam—thus;
saricoditah—being encouraged; vipraih—by the braéhmanas; marut-
vin—Indra; ahanat—killed; ripum—his enemy, Vrtrasura; brahma-
hatya—the sinful reaction for killing a brahmana; hate—was killed;
tasmin—when he (Vrtrasura); dsasdda—approached; vrsékapim—In-
dra, who is also named Vrsakapi.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Encouraged by the words of the
sages, Indra killed Vrtrasura, and when he was killed the sinful
reaction for killing a brahmana [brahma-hatya] certainly took
shelter of Indra.

PURPORT

After killing Vrtrasura, Indra could not surpass the brahma-hatyad,
the sinful reactions for killing a brahmana. Formerly he had killed one
brahmana, Visvaripa, out of circumstantial anger, but this time, follow-
ing the advice of the sages, he killed another brahmana purposely.
Therefore the sinful reaction was greater than before. Indra could not be
relieved from the reaction simply by performing sacrifices for atone-
ment. He had to undergo a severe series of sinful reactions, and when he
was freed by such suffering, the brahmanas allowed him to perform the
horse sacrifice. The planned execution of sinful deeds on the strength of
chanting the holy name of the Lord or undergoing prdyascitta, atone-
ment, cannot give relief to anyone, even to Indra or Nahusa. Nahusa was
officiating for Indra while Indra, absent from heaven, was going here
and there to gain release from his sinful reactions.

TEXT 11
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