47 - Shattering of the Pride of Indra 

Narada said- О ocean of compassion, after the completion of the conjugal pleasures, what did Radhika ask from Sri Krishna and which was the story told by him to her. You kindly tell me. 

Narayana said- Getting free after enjoying of the conjugal pleasures, Hari and the pleasant Radha reached under the pleasant root of the banyan tree on the Malayacala and took them seats there. 

Radhika then smilingly put a question to the beautiful Krishna about the shattering of the pride of Indra which was quite secretive and was quite pleasant for the ears. 

Radhika said- О Hari, the teacher of the universe, I have come to know the story about the glory of Shiva, the holder of trident and the shattering of his pride besides that of Parvati, the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. Now you tell me how the pride of Indra and others was shattered. I would like to know in detail all the stories. 

Sri Krishna said- The story about the shattering of the pride of Krishna, the lord of the gods, is well-known in the universe, the story is quite charming and serves like nectar for the ears. You please listen to it. 

In the earlier times, Indra having a hundred eyes proudly performed a hundred yajnas and achieved the presidency of the gods.

As a result of the tapas, his fortunes went on increasing. Bruhaspati bestowed him the knowledge of Siddhamantra. Indra, recited the said mantra in the Pushkara region for a hundred years, by reciting the mantra Indra met with success and achieved his desired boon. 

Thereafter, Indra became arrogant with possession of the riches and did not care for Prakruti who happens to be the form of Brahman. Therefore, Prakruti pronounced a curse on Indra. Similarly, he also earned a curse from his teacher.

Indra having lost his wisdom with the curse of Prakruti. Once, with the curse of Prakruti Indra had lost his wisdom and when the teacher Bruhaspati arrived in his court he neither welcomed him nor did he offer his salutation, to him, what to speak of rising from his seat.

At this, Bruhaspati was annoyed and instead of sitting there, he went back to his home. There also he did not stay with Tara, but he left towards the forest for performing tapas. 

Feeling painful at heart he declared, Indra should be deprived of all his glory and riches. There-after when wisdom dawned over Indra, he said, "Where has my lord gone." Thus, speaking he got up at once from his lion-throne and reached Tara. With his mind filled with devotion and bowing in reverence to her with folded hands, he met Tara. He narrated the entire episode to her and then started crying aloud. Finding him so crying Tara also started crying. 

She said, "O son you return home, you will not be able to meet your teacher at this time. You will be abide to meet your teacher only after the bad-days are over only then you would be able to get back your riches. 

О foolish and wicked minded one, you have to suffer for your misdeeds. If you have got the curse of your teacher in bad time, you would surely receive his pleasure in good time. 

О Indra, the bad time and the good time are always the cause for the pain and pleasures. Thus, speaking the chaste Tara kept quiet. 

Thereafter Indra went to the river Mandakini for taking a bath and he found the beautiful wife of Gautama there, who was smiling serenely with side-glances at the sight of his developed breasts and the pelvic region, Indra was infested with passion and he fainted there. On regaining consciousness, instead of taking bath, he took to the form of her husband Gautama and reached her. The passionate Indra dragged Ahalaya who was wearing a wet Sari towards himself and then enjoyed her company. At that point of time the wife of the sage felt fatigued because of passion and was fainted. 

Both Indra and the wife of the preceptor were fainted after the union. In the meantime, the sage Gautama arrived there. 

О dear one, the sage found Indra and his wife in compromising position. The sage was enraged like the flames of fire. 

After knowing about the truth with the application of his divine knowledge, he was disturbed in anger. Regaining consciousness Indra found the sage in the form of the god of death and getting panicky, he fell at his lotus-like feet. Gautama whose face, eyes had grown red in anger looked at Indra who had fallen on his feet getting fearful and spoke to him the appropriate words.

Gautama said- О Indra, disgrace to you. You are the son of Kashyapa, the best of the gods, who was quite intelligent and you are the great grandson of Brahma the creator of the universe, then how could you. achieve such a nasty mind. Disgrace to you. The one whose maternal grandfather happens to be Daksha Prajapati and the mother is the chaste Aditi, how could their son be so degraded. This is quite astonishing you are the one who is well-versed in the Vedas and are quite intelligent but in your actions, you are passionate for the Yoni. Therefore, a hundred yon is would develop over your body and for full one year the smell of the yoni would emerge from your body. Thereafter with the adoration of Surya the yoni would be turned into the form of the eyes. О foolish one the reason for which you have desecrated the chastity of my beloved. Therefore, with my curse and the anger of your teacher you will be deprived of all your riches. О foolish one because of your being my pupil I have not taken life out of you. О foolish one, because of the consideration of my own. teacher I am not ending your life because he happens to be quite an illustrious one and is intimately related to me. In order to avoid any misunderstanding between us I am leaving you alive. Therefore, О son Devendra, get up and go back to your house. Whatever good or bad happens, it does happen because of one’s own deeds. At the advice of the great sage Indra went to the Pushkara region. 

Reaching there he started performing tapas with great devotion and repented immensely. At that point of time, the sage looked at Ahalaya who was rolling on his feet and said, "O beloved, Indra has made use of your body forcibly. You go to the forest and making a stone image of your own stay there. I am quite well-aware of the reality. Still because of the fact that you have been used by another, you become degraded and you are unfit for my used. О Ahalaya, whether the women are desirous or not, in case per chance the semen of another person enters her womb then I tell you, the method of her purification. You listen in case a woman is used by anyone against her desire she never gets polluted. On the other hand, she gets purified after repentance. 

In case she herself indulges in the company of others She could be disowned and she could be purified after facing the result of her deeds, she cannot participate in the yajna of gods, manes and adoration. 

She falls into the kalasutra hell and remains there for sixty thousand years. Thereafter she gets purified after suffering for her misdeeds. 

On hearing the words of Gautama, the terrified Ahalaya bowed in reverence to the sage and said, О lord, again and again. Thus speaking, she went to the forest.

For her misdeeds after, sixty thousand years, she was purified with the touch of the feet of Sri Rama.

She then attained a charming face which could attract the three, worlds and went back again to sage Gautama who owned her delightfully. 

О beautiful one, now I shall tell you the best of the story of Indra which relieves one of all the sins and makes him attain merit. 

Once with the anger of the teacher and moving against nature, Indra the holder of vajra, was deprived of intelligence and as such he earned the sin of Brahmahatya. After having been defeated by the demons, Indra went to Brahma, the teacher of the universe.

With the permission of Brahma, he made Vishvarupa as his priest and started a yajna because of evil times, having lost his wisdom, Indra believed in Vishvarupa completely.

Thereafter Vishvarupa who was the maternal grand-son of the Daityas became wicked and Indra came to realise his wickedness. Therefore, he cut off the head of Vishvarupa with an arrow. Hearing about the death of his son, Tvasta the father of Vishvarupa was enraged and he went to Indra. Reaching him he said to him, "O enemy of the Indra, you go on increasing your riches." Thus, speaking he completed the yajna. 

A demon named Vrutra emerged out of the fire alter established his superiority on the gods in no time. 

Thereafter Indra the destroyer of the demons, made vajra of the bone of the Dadhici and killed Vrutra who was like a thorn for the gods.

But Indra, who was not quite conscious attracted the sin of Brahmahatya. The Brahmahatya was clad in red garments and looked like an old woman. Her height equated with seven tala trees and her throat, lips and palate had dried up her teeth resembled plough-shafts. She terrified Indra very much. 

When Indra was so running away, he was followed by her. Brahmahatya was quite strong and Indra lost his senses. Her nature was quite cruel and holding a sword in her hand, she rushed towards Indra. Finding the terrific Brahmahatya following him, he remembered the feet of his teacher and through the lotus stalk, he took to a tiny form and reached Manasarovara. 

Brahmahatya because of the curse of Brahma could not reach there. Therefore, she was perched over a tree branch standing at the bank of lake Manasarovara. 

At that point of time king Nahusa was made the lord of the three worlds, Nahusa was quite powerful and the gods were quite weak. Therefore, after establishing himself over the thrown of Indra, Nahusa demanded that Indrani, the spouse of Indra should be made to serve him. 

On hearing this Sachi felt terrified and she went to take refuge with goddess Tara. Tara on her part, denounced her husband very badly and then protected Sachi. 

The teacher assured Sachi and went to Manasarovara and started calling Indra who was panic-stricken and quite dejected. 

Bruhaspati said- О son, get up. Why should you be afraid when I am there, you recognise me from my voice that I am your teacher don’t be afraid and come out. 

Recognising the voice of Bruhaspati, Indra the lord of all the siddhis, discarded his tiny form and to taking to his original form met his teacher who was illumining like the sun. He had been quite happy discarding all the anger. He bowed in reverence to him with devotion and falling on his feet, he started crying. Getting filled with love the teacher picked up Indra and lovingly embraced him and he himself started crying. Finding Bruhaspati having been fully satisfied and weeping, Indra was fully satisfied and overwhelmed. His head was bowed down in reverence and with folded hands he started praising him. 

Indra said- О ocean of mercy, you forgive me for my sins, be compassionate on me, the noble lords do not mind about the sins of their servants. 

Which one of the persons would be incompetent to punish his own sons, wife, pupil and servant even if he is quite weak having no strength? 

Of all the three crores of the gods, I am the only one who is extremely foolish, but О best of the gods, for your own pleasure, you have always sought for my glory, you will be competent enough to destroy all. Who am I like a small insect; you are yourself the grandson of Brahma are quite competent enough to create the universe? After having been so eulogised by Indra, Bruhaspati his teacher was fully satisfied and expressing his pleasure through his face and eyes, he spoke to Indra lovingly. 

Bruhaspati said- О virtuous one, be composed and receive the ever-lasting riches. О son, Indra you will receive four times more, the wealth, return to Amaravati and rule on the city. 

By my grace all your enemies would be destroyed. You go at once and meet the chaste Sachi. 

Thus speaking, as soon as the both the teacher and the pupil were about the leave that place. Brahmahatya in terrific form appeared before them. Indra felt terrified and took refuge with his teacher. At that point of time Bruhaspati feeling panicky recited the name of Madhusudana. In the meantime, there was a divine voice from the sky which carried deep meaning in few words. Bruhaspati heard it. 

It said, "You save your pupil by giving him the Radha-kavacha which destroys all the evils. 

Thereafter, the teacher to whom the pupil was immensely dear gave to Indra, your kavacha and destroyed the Brahmahatya with a humkara.

Thereafter accompanied with the pupil, Bruhaspati went to Amaravati and found that the city had been destroyed by the enemy.

On hearing about the arrival of her husband, Sachi was delighted. She bowed in reverence to the teacher and else her husband. 

Thereafter hearing about the arrival of Indra, all the gods, the sages and the ascetics felt delighted and were overwhelmed. They all reached before Indra. Indra was entrusted with the task of rebuilding of Amaravati to Vishvakarma the best of the architects. The architect spent a hundred year in rebuilding the city of Amaravati, it was inlaid with various types of gems, diamonds and precious stones and looked quite charming and beautiful but Indra. was not satisfied with it. On the other hand, Vishvakarma could not return to his abode, without his permission Therefore with a disturbed mind he went to take refuge with Brahma. 

Realising the cause of his arrival Brahma himself said to him, "Because of your own actions, you have been stopped here and with the destruction of those deeds you would be relieved of your assignment from this place tomorrow." On hearing the words of Brahma, Vishvakarma at once returned to Amaravati and Brahma went to Vaikuntha. There, he bowed in reverence to his parents and told them about the difficulty of Vishvakarma. 

Lord Vishnu assured Brahma and sent him back to his abode. He himself took to the form of a Brahmana boy and reached Amaravati. He was holding a Danda and Chatra. He was clad in white garments and his forehead was painted with tilakam he was dwarfish in outlook and white teeth. He wore a serene smile on his face which was quite charming He was in the form of a small boy but he possessed the divine intelligence. He himself was Brahma for Brahma and bestower of all the riches. 

Reaching at the gate of the palace of Indra, he told the gate-keeper, "You inform Indra that a Brahmana boy has arrived to meet him." On hearing the words of the boy, the gate-keeper informed Indra and Indra at once met the Brahmana boy. 

The boy and girls surrounded him joyfully from all sides but he was smiling quite nicely and he was quite illustrious in his form. Indra bowed in reverence to Hari who had arrived in the form of a boy with great devotion. The lord on his part blessed him variously. Indra adored him, offering him madhuparka and other eatables. Thereafter he questioned the boy, "What brings you here.". 

On hearing the words of Indra, the Brahmana boy who happened to be like teacher Bruhaspati spoke in a deep voice like the cloud. 

Brahmana said- О Hari, I have come to meet you after coming to know about the construction of this astonishing city and to ask you some important questions. 

What is the time schedule fixed for the construction of this city or otherwise for how long Vishvakarma would be engaged in the construction work? 

No Indra has so far resorted to this type of construction. No other Vishvakarma would be competent enough to carry out such a type of construction. 

On hearing the words of the boy, Indra getting arrogant because of the immense riches, laughed and enquired from the boy again.

"O boy how many of the Indras have you seen so far or heard about them and how many types of Vishvakarma have been heard or seen by you. You kindly let me know in detail. On hearing the words of Indra, the Brahmana boy smiled and spoke the words which were sweet like nectar and were pleasant to listen.

Brahmana said-I am well-aware of your father who happens to be Prajapati Kashyapa. I also know your father who was the great ascetic and was Known by the name of Marici. 

I am also well-acquainted with Brahma, the lord of the gods who emerged out of the lotus, that was born from the navel of Vishnu. I have also acquaintance with Mahavishnu who is the protector of Sattvaguna. 

I am also well-aware of the deluge of the ocean at the time of dissolution which looked quite terrible and was without any creatures. О Indra definitely the universe is of various types and the kalpas are also different while the Brahmandas are innumerable. In these Brahmandas several Brahmas, Vishnu’s, Maheshvara and Indras have emerged, who can count their numbers but I am aware of all of them. 

О best of the gods even if one is able to count the particles of dust on earth in spite of that the number of Indras cannot be counted. This is the opinion of the intellectuals. 

The life and sovereignty of Indra is limited to four yugas. After the fall of twenty-eight Indras, a day of Brahma is counted.

Thus, Brahma lives for hundred and eight years. The number of Brahmas also cannot be counted, what to speak of the numbers of Indras. 

When the number of Brahmandas cannot be counted then how would one count a number of Brahmas, Vishnu’s and Shiva. The hair-pits of Mahavishnu, the position of Brahmandas in the spotless water is the same, as a boat which floats on the waters of the river. Thus, as the number of hair-pits on the body of Mahavishnu are innumerable, similarly the Brahmandas are also believed to be innumerable. 

in each one of the Brahmandas, many of the gods like you reside. In the meantime, Hari looked at a large number of ants was spread over the length of a thousand bows looking at them the Brahmana boy laughed aloud but did not speak out anything, keeping quiet he looked serious. Realising about the joke of the Brahmana boy and listening to his words, Indra was immensely surprised. His throat, lips and palate dried up. Thereafter he questioned the Brahmana boy. 

Indra said- О Brahmana boy, why are laughing; you tell me the reason for it at once. Otherwise tell me influenced by the illusion and possessing all the virtues who are you in the form of a boy? 

On hearing the words of Indra, the Brahmana boy spoke out divine knowledge which was the form of seed for everything. 

Brahmana said- Are you looking at the group of the ants, the reason for the same is quite deep. You don't ask me about the reason for your foolishness and grief. 

This is the destroyer of the roots of the tree? of the universe, surrounded by several creatures. It is covered with the darkness of foolishness. The best of the light is available in the Vedas which is beyond the reached of the siddhas, yogis and destroys the arrogance of the people. 

Thus, speaking the boy who kept on smiling became mum. Then Indra whose throat, lips and palate had dried up again said to the boys. 

Indra said-"O Brahmana boy you enlighten me about the ancient light of the knowledge. You are the ocean of knowledge and are illustrious one. Who are you in the form of a boy, I am unable to know about you.”? On hearing the words of Indra, the boy who was else than Janardana himself, imparted the divine knowledge to Indra which was beyond the reached of even the great yogis. 

Brahmana said- О Indra, I have created the entire group of the ants, one by one, all these ants had been established, on a throne of Indra one by one. All of them after having been born in various yugas have currently been born as ants. 

The people achieved Vaikuntha by means of their actions and by means their karmas alone they achiever Brahmaloka and Shivaloka. 

By means of their own karmas they achieve the heaven and the nether-world which is also like heaven. By means of actions, they fall into the hell. 

With the same actions, the people are born from the womb of a pig and by the same actions they are born as degraded ones. By actions alone one achieves the womb of animals, the birds, the insects, besides the trees and becomes a lord or a slave. 

By actions alone one is born as a Brahmana and a god or the position of Brahma. 

By ones' own action, one is mounted in a palanquin and with the same process, one becomes a great king. By actions alone one achieves the ailment or the beauty. 

By actions alone one is born without limbs or deformed or with excess of limbs, with the actions alone Brahma provides reward for the actions. 

The actions are performed by nature and by practice. Thus, I have narrated to you everything divine which bestows pleasures, merit and is the form of tattva besides relieving one of the oceans of hell. О Devendra, the entire universe irrespective of the moveable and immovable creatures is perishable. 

In this universe with the combination of time, the death hovers around the head of everyone. Everything of the creatures irrespective of good and bad are like the water bubbles. О Indra, the intellectuals always roam about in this world but never get attracted towards anyone. Thus, speaking the Brahmana boy kept on sitting there. 

On hearing this Indra was immensely surprised; he stopped thinking so much of himself. In the meantime, a great sage arrived there and was quite old was a great yogi and was immensely filled with knowledge. He was clad in black deer skin, had the matted lock of hair on the head, had applied bright tilakam on the forehead. He had a chakra of hair on the chest and carried a mat on his head. All his hair of the body was intact accepted that a few of the hair had been pulled out. He came and stood in between the Brahmana boy and Indra like a log of wood. Finding the Brahmana there, Indra bowed in reverence to him and with his mind filled with devotion, offered him madhuparka, adoring him at the same time. Thereafter he meekly asked the Brahmana about his welfare and pleased him with his delightful welcome. Thereafter the Brahmana boy talked to him meekly to express him the feeling of his mind. 

The boy said- "O Brahmana, where from have you arrive? What is your name and the purpose of your arrival here? Where do you live? Why are you carrying a mat over your head? О sage what does the chakra of hair on your chest represent? It is quite vast but in the middle of it some hair has been pulled out? О Brahman, in base you will be graceful to me than you tell me in detail. I am getting anxious to know about this astonishing reality." 

On hearing the words of the boy, the great sage revealed before Indra delightfully, his story. 

The sage said- О Brahmana, my life is going to end shortly. Therefore, I have not built up any house anywhere. I am not married nor I have arranged for my living. Now a days, I live on charities of others. 

My name is Lomasha, I have arrived here to have an audience with the Brahmana. I have placed the mat on my head, in order to protect myself from the rain and the sun-shine. 

The circle of hair over my chest has a reason behind it, which would be fearful for the people of the universe but enlightens the intellectuals. 

This chakra of my chest is indicative of my age. О Brahmana with the fall of an Indra a hair from my chest is pulled out. 

Similarly, many of the hair from the chakra have been pulled out. In spite of that, many of them still remain, with the completion of the second half of Brahma's life, my death has been destined.

Innumerable Brahmas have met with their end and would also die in future, I am the least concerned, with the men and women or a house.

With the fall of Brahma Vishnu, winks but once. Therefore, I always devote my mind at his foots like feet. 

The slave hood of the feet of lord Hari is difficult to get which is greater than the devotion and the salvation. The entire fortunes are like a dream and obstruct in achieving the devotion of the lord. 

This is the best of the knowledge which was bestowed on me by Shiva who happens to be my teacher because of which without his devotion I am not interested in achieving Salokya and other types of salvation. 

Thus, speaking the sage went to the abode of Shiva and Shiva in the form of Vishnu also disappeared from the place. 

Indra looked at the whole scene like a dream and was immensely surprised now he had no desire left for the property. He immediately called for Vishvakarma and talking to him lovingly, presented to him innumerable gems beside honouring him and sent him back to his abode. 

He then thought of giving everything to his son and to take refuge with the lord his intelligence woke up and disowning Sachi and Rajalakshmi, he became desirous of the reduction of his fate. 

On the other hand, Indrani found that her husband was expressing his pain of the heart and had taken the shelter of intelligence, she was upset with grief and getting afraid went to the teacher to take refuge with him. 

She narrated the entire story and brought him to her abode. She somehow enlightened Indra on polity. 

The sage Bruhaspati taught them the scriptures on the love for the couples which was himself composed by him.

Bruhaspati communicated the gist of the scriptures quite carefully to Indra. О cowherdess of Vrundavana, thereafter Indra started ruling as before. 

О great goddess now I have narrated to you the about the shattering of the pride of Indra you have yourself witnessed the waves in which the pride of Indra was shattered in the yajna of Nanda.