Shloka 1.24.2
गङ्गा–सरयू-सङ्गमः, मलद–करूश-देशकथा, ताटकावनप्रवेशोपदेशः (The Confluence of Gaṅgā and Sarayū; the Tale of Malada–Karūśa; Counsel on Tātakā’s Forest)
ते च सर्वे महात्मानो मुनयस्संश्रितव्रता:।उपस्थाप्य शुभां नावं विश्वामित्रमथाब्रुवन्।।1.24.2।।
tam indraṃ snāpayan devā ṛṣayaś ca tapodhanāḥ |
kalaśaiḥ snāpayāmāsur malaṃ cāsya pramocayan || 1.24.19 ||
The gods and the seers—whose wealth was austerity—bathed Indra with water-pitchers, and thereby freed him from his bodily taint.
All the high-minded ascetics and strict followers of vows secured an auspicious boat for them and addressed Viswamitra, saying:
Dharma is restorative: when disorder or defilement arises, the community of the righteous (devas and ṛṣis) acts to re-establish purity and right functioning through sanctioned means.
Indra is ritually bathed by devas and ascetic seers, and his impurity is removed, setting up the later naming and blessing of the region.
The ṛṣis’ tapas as ‘wealth’—self-discipline and spiritual merit used for the welfare of the world.