Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 7
Indra’s Brahma-hatyā, Flight from Sin, and Purification by Aśvamedha
हयमेधेन पुरुषं परमात्मानमीश्वरम् । इष्ट्वा नारायणं देवं मोक्ष्यसेऽपि जगद्वधात् ॥ ७ ॥
hayamedhena puruṣaṁ paramātmānam īśvaram iṣṭvā nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ mokṣyase ’pi jagad-vadhāt
The ṛṣis continued: O King Indra, by performing an aśvamedha sacrifice and thereby pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul, Lord Nārāyaṇa, 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 Vṛtrāsura.
FAQs
This verse states that by worshiping Lord Nārāyaṇa—the Supreme Person and Paramātmā—through a prescribed sacrifice like Aśvamedha, one can be released even from extremely grave sinful reactions.
Indra was burdened by the reaction of killing Vṛtrāsura; Brahmā advised a Vedic atonement centered on worship of Nārāyaṇa so that Indra could be purified and freed from that sin.
Seek purification through sincere devotion to the Lord and responsible remedial action for wrongdoing—turning to Nārāyaṇa with repentance and steady spiritual practice rather than denying or hiding faults.