Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 5
Indra’s Brahma-hatyā, Flight from Sin, and Purification by Aśvamedha
इन्द्र उवाच स्त्रीभूद्रुमजलैरेनो विश्वरूपवधोद्भवम् । विभक्तमनुगृह्णद्भिर्वृत्रहत्यां क्व मार्ज्म्यहम् ॥ ५ ॥
indra uvāca strī-bhū-druma-jalair eno viśvarūpa-vadhodbhavam vibhaktam anugṛhṇadbhir vṛtra-hatyāṁ kva mārjmy aham
Indra said: When I killed Viśvarūpa, vast sinful reactions came upon me, yet by the favor of women, the earth, trees, and water, that sin was divided among them. Now, if I kill Vṛtrāsura—another brāhmaṇa—how shall I cleanse myself of the reactions?
FAQs
This verse shows Indra seeking purification even after partial relief—highlighting that grave karmic reactions require sincere atonement and higher divine arrangement for cleansing.
Although the sin from killing Viśvarūpa was mercifully distributed among women, earth, trees, and water, Indra still feared the remaining reaction from killing Vṛtra and thus asked about further purification.
Like Indra, one should not minimize wrongdoing; instead, seek genuine rectification—accept responsibility, pursue purification through sincere spiritual practice, and avoid repeating the offense.