Shloka 1.24.21
गङ्गा–सरयू-सङ्गमः, मलद–करूश-देशकथा, ताटकावनप्रवेशोपदेशः (The Confluence of Gaṅgā and Sarayū; the Tale of Malada–Karūśa; Counsel on Tātakā’s Forest)
निर्मलो निष्करूशश्च शुचिरिंन्द्रो यदाभवत्।ददौ देशस्य सुप्रीतो वरं प्रभुरनुत्तमम्।।1.24.21।।
nirmalo niṣkarūśaś ca śucir indro yadābhavat |
dadau deśasya suprīto varaṃ prabhur anuttamam || 1.24.21 ||
When Indra became pure—free from taint and free from hunger—the mighty lord, greatly pleased, granted that region an unsurpassed boon.
Cleansed of his impurities and his hunger gone, Indra once again became pure. All-powerful Indra highly pleased gave an excellent boon to that region.
Dharma includes gratitude and beneficence: once restored, Indra responds by blessing the very land connected with his cleansing, showing duty to reciprocate goodness with welfare.
After purification, Indra becomes pleased and grants a special boon to the region where the event occurred.
Generosity grounded in gratitude—power is exercised to uplift a community/land, not merely to assert dominance.