Shloka 11
Indra’s Brahma-hatyā, Flight from Sin, and Purification by Aśvamedha
तयेन्द्र: स्मासहत्तापं निर्वृतिर्नामुमाविशत् । ह्रीमन्तं वाच्यतां प्राप्तं सुखयन्त्यपि नो गुणा: ॥ ११ ॥
tayendraḥ smāsahat tāpaṁ nirvṛtir nāmum āviśat hrīmantaṁ vācyatāṁ prāptaṁ sukhayanty api no guṇāḥ
Dem Rat der Halbgötter folgend, tötete Indra Vṛtrāsura, und er litt wegen dieser sündhaften Tötung. Obwohl die anderen Halbgötter glücklich waren, konnte er aus der Tötung von Vṛtrāsura kein Glück schöpfen. Indras andere gute Eigenschaften, wie Toleranz und Reichtum, konnten ihm in seinem Kummer nicht helfen.
One cannot be happy by committing sinful acts, even if one is endowed with material opulence. Indra found this to be true. People began to blaspheme him, saying, “This person has killed a brāhmaṇa for the sake of enjoying heavenly material happiness.” Therefore in spite of being King of heaven and enjoying material opulence, Indra was always unhappy because of the accusations of the populace.
FAQs
This verse indicates that relief (nirvṛti) may arise, yet when one is overwhelmed by shame and blameworthiness, even good qualities may not feel pleasing—showing the need for purification and right conduct, not merely external virtues.
Because his inner state is marked by hri (shame) and the sense of being reproachable; the Bhagavatam highlights that unresolved guilt can eclipse one’s virtues until one returns to dharma and seeks genuine rectification.
Cultivate accountability: when regret arises, correct the mistake, seek forgiveness, and realign with ethical living—otherwise, even achievements and “good traits” may not bring lasting peace.