Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 4
Indra’s Brahma-hatyā, Flight from Sin, and Purification by Aśvamedha
श्रीशुक उवाच वृत्रविक्रमसंविग्ना: सर्वे देवा: सहर्षिभि: । तद्वधायार्थयन्निन्द्रं नैच्छद् भीतो बृहद्वधात् ॥ ४ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca vṛtra-vikrama-saṁvignāḥ sarve devāḥ saharṣibhiḥ tad-vadhāyārthayann indraṁ naicchad bhīto bṛhad-vadhāt
Respondió Śukadeva: Perturbados por el extraordinario poder de Vṛtrāsura, los devas y los ṛṣis se reunieron y rogaron a Indra que lo matara. Pero Indra, temiendo el pecado de matar a un brāhmaṇa, se negó.
FAQs
Because Indra feared the severe karmic reaction of bṛhad-vadha—killing a great person—and therefore hesitated despite the devas’ request.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is speaking, narrating the history to King Parīkṣit as part of the Sixth Canto’s account of the devas and Vṛtrāsura.
It highlights how moral fear and awareness of karmic consequences can create hesitation; one must seek dharmic clarity and higher guidance before acting in grave situations.