> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 6
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> Canto 6

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> Chapter Thirteen: King Indra Afflicted by Sinful Reaction

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> TEXT 1

> srî-suka uvâca

> vrtre hate trayo lokâ

> vinâ sakrena bhûrida

> sapâlâ hy abhavan sadyo

> vijvarâ nirvrtendriyâh

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmi said; vrtre hate--when Vrtrâsura was killed; trayah lokah--the three planetary systems (upper, middle and lower); vinâ--except; sakrena--Indra, who is also called Sakra; bhûri-da--O Mahârâja Parîksit, giver of great charity; sapâlâh--with the rulers of the various planets; hi--indeed; abhavan--became; sadyah--immediately; vijvarâh--without fear of death; nirvrta--very much pleased; indriyâh--whose senses.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King Pariksit, who are so charitably disposed, when Vrtrasura was killed, all the presiding deities and everyone else in the three planetary systems was immediately pleased and free from trouble--everyone, that is, except Indra.

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> TEXT 2

> devarsi-pitr-bhûtâni

> daityâ devânugâh svayam

> pratijagmuh sva-dhisnyâni

> brahmesendrâdayas tatah

> deva--demigods; rsi--great saintly persons; pitr--the inhabitants of Pitrloka; bhûtâni--and the other living entities; daityâh--demons; deva-anugâh--the inhabitants of other planets following the principles of the demigods; svayam--independently (without asking permission from Indra); pratijagmuh--returned; sva-dhisnyâni--to their respective planets and homes; brahma--Lord Brahmâ; isa--Lord Siva; indra-âdayah--and the demigods headed by Indra; tatah--thereafter.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, the demigods, the great saintly persons, the inhabitants of Pitrloka and Bhutaloka, the demons, the followers of the demigods, and also Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and the demigods subordinate to Indra all returned to their respective homes. While departing, however, no one spoke to Indra.

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> TEXT 3

> srî-râjovâca

> indrasyânirvrter hetum

> srotum icchâmi bho mune

> yenâsan sukhino devâ

> harer duhkham kuto 'bhavat

> srî-râjâ uvâca--King Parîksit inquired; indrasya--of King Indra; anirvrteh--of the moroseness; hetum--the reason; srotum--to hear; icchâmi--I wish; bhoh--O my lord; mune--O great sage, Sukadeva Gosvâmî; yena--by which; âsan--were; sukhinah--very happy; devâh--all the demigods; hareh--of Indra; duhkham--moroseness; kutah--from where; abhavat--was.

> TRANSLATION

> Maharaja Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: O great sage, what was the reason for Indra's unhappiness? I wish to hear about this. When he killed Vrtrasura, all the demigods were extremely happy. Why, then, was Indra himself unhappy?

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> TEXT 4

> srî-suka uvâca

> vrtra-vikrama-samvignâh

> sarve devâh saharsibhih

> tad-vadhâyârthayann indram

> naicchad bhîto brhad-vadhât

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; vrtra--of Vrtrâsura; vikrama--by the powerful activities; samvignâh--being full of anxieties; sarve--all; devâh--the demigods; saha rsibhih--with the great sages; tat-vadhâya--for the killing of him; ârthayan--requested; indram--Indra: na aicchat--declined; bhîtah--being afraid; brhat-vadhât--due to killing a brâhmana.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami answered: When all the great sages and demigods were disturbed by the extraordinary power of Vrtrasura, they had assembled to ask Indra to kill him. Indra, however, being afraid of killing a brahmana, declined their request.

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> TEXT 5

> indra uvâca

> stri-bhû-druma jalair eno

> visvarûpa-vadhodbhavam

> vibhaktam anugrhnadbhir

> vrtra-hatyâm kva mârjmy aham

> indrah uvâca--King Indra replied; strî--by women; bhû--the earth; druma--the trees; jalaih--and water; enah--this (sin); visvarûpa--of Visvarûpa; vadha--from the killing; udbhavam--produced; vibhaktam--divided; anugrhnadbhih--showing their favor (to me); vrtra-hatyâm--the killing of Vrtra; kva--how; mârjmi--shall become free from; aham--I.

> TRANSLATION

> King Indra replied: When I killed Visvarupa, I received extensive sinful reactions, but I was favored by the women, land, trees and water, and therefore I was able to divide the sin among them. But now if I kill Vrtrasura, another brahmana, how shall I free myself from the sinful reactions?

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> TEXT 6

> srî-suka uvâca

> rsayas tad upâkarnya

> mahendram idam abruvan

> yâjayisyâma bhadram te

> hayamedhena mâ sma bhaih

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; rsayah--the great sages; tat--that; upâkarnya--hearing; mahâ-indram--unto King Indra; idam--this; abruvan--spoke; yâjayisyâmah--we shall perform a great sacrifice; bhadram--good fortune; te--unto you; hayamedhena--by the horse sacrifice; mâ sma bhaih--do not be afraid.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Hearing this, the great sages replied to King Indra, "O King of heaven, all good fortune unto you. Do not fear. We shall perform an asvamedha sacrifice to release you from any sin you may accrue by killing the brahmana."

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> TEXT 7

> hayamedhena purusam

> paramâtmânam îsvaram

> istvâ nârâyanam devam

> moksyase 'pi jagad-vadhât

> hayamedhena--by the sacrifice known as asvamedha; purusam--the Supreme Person; paramâtmânam--the Supersoul; îsvaram--the supreme controller; istvâ--worshiping; nârâyanam--Lord Nârâyana; devam--the Supreme Lord; moksyase--you will be liberated; api--even; jagat-vadhât--from the sin for killing the whole world.

> TRANSLATION

> The rsis continued: O King Indra, by performing an asvamedha sacrifice and thereby pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul, Lord Narayana, the supreme controller, one can be relieved even of the sinful reactions for killing the entire world, not to speak of killing a demon like Vrtrasura.

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> TEXT 8-9

> brahma-hâ pitr-hâ go-ghno

> mâtr-hâcârya-hâghavân

> svâdah pulkasako vâpi

> suddhyeran yasya kîrtanât

> tam asvamedhena mahâ-makhena

> sraddhânvito 'smâbhir anusthitena

> hatvâpi sabrahma-carâcaram tvam

> na lipyase kim khala-nigrahena

> brahma-hâ--a person who has killed a brâhmana; pitr-hâ--a person who has killed his father; go-ghnah--a person who has killed a cow; mâtr-hâ--a person who has killed his mother; âcârya-hâ--a person who has killed his spiritual master; agha-vân--such a sinful person; sva-adah--a dog-eater; pulkasakah--a candâla, one who is less than a sûdra; vâ--or; api--even; suddhyeran--may be purified; yasya--of whom (Lord Nârâyana); kîrtanât--from chanting the holy name;

> tam--Him; asvamedhena--by the asvamedha sacrifice; mahâ-makhena--the topmost of all sacrifices; sraddhâ-anvitah--endowed with faith; asmâbhih--by us; anusthitena--conducted or managed; hatvâ--killing; api--even; sa-brahma-cara-acaram--all the living entities, including the brâhmanas; tvam--you; na--not; lipyase--are contaminated; kim--what then; khala-nigrahena--by killing one disturbing demon.

> TRANSLATION

> One who has killed a brahmana, one who has killed a cow or one who has killed his father, mother or spiritual master can be immediately freed from all sinful reactions simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Narayana. Other sinful persons, such as dog-eaters and candalas, who are less than sudras, can also be freed in this way. But you are a devotee, and we shall help you by performing the great horse sacrifice. If you please Lord Narayana in that way, why should you be afraid? You will be freed even if you kill the entire universe, including the brahmanas, not to speak of killing a disturbing demon like Vrtrasura.

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> TEXT 10

> srî-suka uvâca

> evam sancodito viprair

> marutvân ahanad ripum

> brahma-hatyâ hate tasminn

> âsasâda vrsâkapim

> srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; evam--thus; sancoditah--being encouraged; vipraih--by the brâhmanas; marutvân--Indra; ahanat--killed; ripum--his enemy, Vrtrâsura; brahma-hatyâ--the sinful reaction for killing a brâhmana; hate--was killed; tasmin--when he (Vrtrâsura); âsasâda--approached; vrsâkapim--Indra, who is also named Vrsâkapi.

> 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.

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> TEXT 11

> tayendrah smâsahat tâpam

> nirvrtir nâmum âvisat

> hrîmantam vâcyatâm prâptam

> sukhayanty api no gunâh

> tayâ--by that action; indrah--King Indra; sma--indeed; asahat--suffered; tâpam--misery; nirvrtih--happiness; na--not; amum--him; âvisat--entered; hrîmantam--one who is shameful; vâcyatâm--ill fame; prâptam--obtaining; sukhayanti--give pleasure; api--although; no--not; gunâh--good qualifications like possessing opulence.

> TRANSLATION

> Following the advice of the demigods, Indra killed Vrtrasura, and he suffered because of this sinful killing. Although the other demigods were happy, he could not derive happiness from the killing of Vrtrasura. Indra's other good qualities, such as tolerance and opulence, could not help him in his grief.

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> TEXT 12-13

> tâm dadarsânudhâvantîm

> cândâlîm iva rûpinîm

> jarayâ vepamânângîm

> yaksma-grastâm asrk-patâm

> vikîrya palitân kesâms

> tistha tistheti bhâsinîm

> mîna-gandhy-asu-gandhena

> kurvatîm mârga-dûsanam

> tâm--the sinful reaction; dadarsa--he saw; anudhâvantîm--chasing; cândâlîm--a woman of the lowest class; iva--like; rûpinîm--taking a form; jarayâ--because of old age; vepamâna-angîm--whose bodily limbs were trembling; yaksma-grastâm--infected with tuberculosis; asrk-patâm--whose clothes were covered with blood;

> vikîrya--scattering; palitân--grayed; kesân--hair; tistha tistha--wait, wait; iti--thus; bhâsinîm--calling; mîna-gandhi--the smell of fish; asu--whose breath; gandhena--by the odor; kurvatîm--bringing about; mârga-dûsanam--the pollution of the whole street.

> TRANSLATION

> Indra saw personified sinful reaction chasing him, appearing like a candala woman, a woman of the lowest class. She seemed very old, and all the limbs of her body trembled. Because she was afflicted with tuberculosis, her body and garments were covered with blood. Breathing an unbearable fishy odor that polluted the entire street, she called to Indra, "Wait! Wait!"

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> TEXT 14

> nabho gato disah sarvâh

> sahasrâkso visâmpate

> prâg-udîcîm disam tûrnam

> pravisto nrpa mânasam

> nabhah--to the sky; gatah--going; disah--to the directions; sarvâh--all; sahasra-aksah--Indra, who is endowed with one thousand eyes; visâmpate--O King; prâk-udîcîm--to the northeast; disam--direction; tûrnam--very speedily; pravistah--entered; nrpa--O King; mânasam--the lake known as Mânasa-sarovara.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, Indra first fled to the sky, but there also he saw the woman of personified sin chasing him. This witch followed him wherever he went. At last he very quickly went to the northeast and entered the Mahasa-sarovara Lake.

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> TEXT 15

> sa âvasat puskara-nâla-tantûn

> alabdha-bhogo yad ihâgni-dûtah

> varsâni sâhasram alaksito 'ntah

> sancintayan brahma-vadhâd vimoksam

> sah--he (Indra); âvasat--lived; puskara-nâla-tantûn--in the network of the fibers of a lotus stem; alabdha-bhogah--not getting any material comfort (practically starving for all material needs); yat--which; iha--here; agni-dûtah--the fire-god messenger; varsâni--celestial years; sâhasram--one thousand; alaksitah--invisible; antah--within his heart; sancintayan--always thinking of; brahma-vadhât--from the killing of a brâhmana; vimoksam--liberation.

> TRANSLATION

> Always thinking of how he could be relieved from the sinful reaction for killing a brahmana, King Indra, invisible to everyone, lived in the lake for one thousand years in the subtle fibers of the stem of a lotus. The fire-god used to bring him his share of all yajnas, but because the fire-god was afraid to enter the water, Indra was practically starving.

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> TEXT 16

> tâvat trinâkam nahusah sasâsa

> vidyâ-tapo-yoga-bâlânubhâvah

> sa sampad-aisvarya-madândha-buddhir

> nîtas tirascâm gatim indra-patnyâ

> tâvat--for so long; trinâkam--the heavenly planet; nahusah--Nahusa; sasâsa--ruled; vidyâ--by education; tapah--austerities; yoga--mystic power; bala--and strength; anubhâvah--being equipped; sah--he (Nahusa); sampat--of so much wealth; aisvarya--and opulence; mada--by the madness; andha--blinded; buddhih--his intelligence; nîtah--was brought; tirascâm--of a snake; gatim--to the destination; indra-patnyâ--by Indra's wife Sacîdevî.

> TRANSLATION

> As long as King Indra lived in the water, wrapped in the stem of the lotus, Nahusa was equipped with the ability to rule the heavenly kingdom, due to his knowledge, austerity and mystic power. Nahusa, however, blinded and maddened by power and opulence, made undesirable proposals to Indra's wife with a desire to enjoy her. Thus Nahusa was cursed by a brahmana and later became a snake.

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> TEXT 17

> tato gato brahma-giropahûta

> rtambhara-dhyâna-nivâritâghah

> pâpas tu digdevatayâ hataujâs

> tam nâbhyabhûd avitam visnu-patnyâ

> tatah--thereafter; gatah--gone; brahma--of the brâhmanas; girâ--by the words; upahûtah--being invited; rtambhara--on the Supreme Lord, who maintains truth; dhyâna--by meditation; nivârita--impeded; aghah--whose sin; pâpah--the sinful activity; tu--then; dik-devatayâ--by the demigod Rudra; hata-ojâh--with all prowess diminished; tam--him (Indra); na abhyabhût--could not overcome; avitam--being protected; visnu-patnyâ--by Lord Visnu's wife, the goddess of fortune.

> TRANSLATION

> Indra's sins were diminished by the influence of Rudra, the demigod of all directions. Because Indra was protected by the goddess of fortune, Lord Visnu's wife, who resides in the lotus clusters of Manasa-sarovara Lake, Indra's sins could not affect him. Indra was ultimately relieved of all the reactions of his sinful deeds by strictly worshiping Lord Visnu. Then he was called back to the heavenly planets by the brahmanas and reinstated in his position.

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> TEXT 18

> tam ca brahmarsayo 'bhyetya

> hayamedhena bhârata

> yathâvad dîksayân cakruh

> purusârâdhanena ha

> tam--him (Lord Indra); ca--and; brahma-rsayah--the great saints and brâhmanas; abhyetya--approaching; hayamedhena--with an asvamedha sacrifice; bhârata--O King Parîksit; yathâvat--according to the rules and regulations; dîksayâm cakruh--initiated; purusa-ârâdhanena--which consists of worship of the Supreme Person, Hari; ha--indeed.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, when Lord Indra reached the heavenly planets, the saintly brahmanas approached him and properly initiated him into a horse sacrifice [asvamedha-yajna] meant to please the Supreme Lord.

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> TEXT 19-20

> athejyamâne puruse

> sarva-devamayâtmani

> asvamedhe mahendrena

> vitate brahma-vâdibhih

> sa vai tvâstra-vadho bhûyân

> api pâpa-cayo nrpa

> nîtas tenaiva sûnyâya

> nîhâra iva bhânunâ

> atha--therefore; ijyamane--when worshiped; puruse--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva--all; deva-maya-atmani--the Supersoul and maintainer of the demigods; asvamedhe--through the asvamedha-yajna; maha-indrena--by King Indra; vitate--being administered; brahma-vadibhih--by the saints and brahmanas expert in Vedic knowledge;

> sah--that; vai--indeed; tvastra-vadhah--the killing of Vrtrasura, the son of Tvasta; bhuyat--may be; api--although; papa-cayah--mass of sin; nrpa--O King; nitah--was brought; tena--by that (the horse sacrifice); eva--certainly; sunyaya--to nothing; niharah--fog; iva--like; bhanuna--by the brilliant sun.

> TRANSLATION

> The horse sacrifice performed by the saintly brahmanas relieved Indra of the reactions to all his sins because he worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead in that sacrifice. O King, although he had committed a gravely sinful act, it was nullified at once by that sacrifice, just as fog is vanquished by the brilliant sunrise.

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> TEXT 21

> sa vâjimedhena yathoditena

> vitâyamânena marîci-misraih

> istvâdhiyajnam purusam purânam

> indro mahân âsa vidhûta-pâpah

> sah--he (Indra); vâjimedhena--by the asvamedha sacrifice; yathâ--just as; uditena--described; vitâyamânena--being performed; marîci-misraih--by the priests, headed by Marîci; istvâ--worshiping; adhiyajncam--the Supreme Supersoul; purusam purânam--the original Personality of Godhead; indrah--King Indra; mahân--worshipable; âsa--became; vidhûta-pâpah--being cleansed of all sinful reactions.

> TRANSLATION

> King Indra was favored by Marici and the other great sages. They performed the sacrifice just according to the rules and regulations, worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul, the original person. Thus Indra regained his exalted position and was again honored by everyone.

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> TEXT 22-23

> idam mahâkhyânam asesa-pâpmanâm

> praksâlanam tîrthapadânukîrtanam

> bhakty-ucchrayam bhakta-janânuvarnanam

> mahendra-moksam vijayam marutvatah

> patheyur âkhyânam idam sadâ budhâh

> srnvanty atho parvani parvanîndriyam

> dhanyam yasasyam nikhilâgha-mocanam

> ripunjayam svasty-ayanam tathâyusam

> idam--this; mahâ-âkhyânam--great historical incident; asesa-pâpmanâm--of unlimited numbers of sinful acts; praksâlanam--cleansing; tîrthapada-anukîrtanam--glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Tirthapada; bhakti--of devotional service; ucchrayam--in which there is an increase; bhakta jana--the devotees; anuvarnanam--describing; mahâ-indra-moksam--the liberation of the King of heaven; vijayam--the victory; marutvatah--of King Indra;

> patheyuh--should read; âkhyânam--narration; idam--this; sadâ--always; budhâh--learned scholars; srnvanti--continue to hear; atho--as well; parvani parvani--on the occasion of great festivals; indriyam--which makes the senses sharp; dhanyam--brings wealth; yasasyam--brings fame; nikhila--all; agha-mocanam--releasing from sins; ripunjayam--makes one victorious over his enemies; svasti-ayanam--brings good fortune for all; tathâ--so also; âyusam--longevity.

> TRANSLATION

> In this very great narrative there is glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, there are statements about the exaltedness of devotional service, there are descriptions of devotees like Indra and Vrtrasura, and there are statements about King Indra's release from sinful life and about his victory in fighting the demons. By understanding this incident, one is relieved of all sinful reactions. Therefore the learned are always advised to read this narration. If one does so, one will become expert in the activities of the senses, his opulence will increase, and his reputation will become widespread. One will also be relieved of all sinful reactions, he will conquer all his enemies, and the duration of his life will increase. Because this narration is auspicious in all respects, learned scholars regularly hear and repeat it on every festival day.

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