Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 21
Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention
False Renunciation Exposed
अत्रिणा चोदितस्तस्मै सन्दधे विशिखं रुषा । सोऽश्वं रूपं च तद्धित्वा तस्थावन्तर्हित: स्वराट् ॥ २१ ॥
atriṇā coditas tasmai sandadhe viśikhaṁ ruṣā so ’śvaṁ rūpaṁ ca tad dhitvā tasthāv antarhitaḥ svarāṭ
Urged again by Atri, Pṛthu’s son, inflamed with anger, set an arrow upon his bow. Seeing this, Indra at once abandoned the false dress of a sannyāsī, gave up the horse, and made himself invisible.
FAQs
Because he was an independent celestial being acting through illusion; after abandoning the horse-disguise, he concealed himself (antarhitaḥ), avoiding direct confrontation.
Svarāṭ means “fully independent”; in this episode it indicates the powerful deva (Indra) who was interfering by taking the sacrificial horse through disguise and mystic power.
It highlights how ego-driven competition creates conflict and how deceptive appearances can vanish quickly—encouraging steadiness in dharma and humility rather than reactive anger.