Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 19
Indra’s Brahma-hatyā, Flight from Sin, and Purification by Aśvamedha
अथेज्यमाने पुरुषे सर्वदेवमयात्मनि । अश्वमेधे महेन्द्रेण वितते ब्रह्मवादिभि: ॥ १९ ॥ स वै त्वाष्ट्रवधो भूयानपि पापचयो नृप । नीतस्तेनैव शून्याय नीहार इव भानुना ॥ २० ॥
athejyamāne puruṣe sarva-devamayātmani aśvamedhe mahendreṇa vitate brahma-vādibhiḥ
Thereafter, when the brahmavādīs conducted Mahendra’s aśvamedha and he worshiped the Supreme Purusha—whose Self contains all the gods—the reactions to all his sins were pacified. O King, even the grave sin of killing Tvaṣṭā’s son was at once made void, as fog is dispelled by the rising sun.
FAQs
This verse describes Indra performing the Aśvamedha as worship of the Supreme Person, conducted properly by authoritative brāhmaṇas.
In the narrative, Indra seeks religious atonement and purification after the heavy reactions connected with killing Vṛtrāsura.
Offer one’s actions in devotion to the Supreme Lord—making work, charity, and worship God-centered and guided by genuine spiritual knowledge.