Shloka 13
Indra’s Brahma-hatyā, Flight from Sin, and Purification by Aśvamedha
तां ददर्शानुधावन्तीं चाण्डालीमिव रूपिणीम् । जरया वेपमानाङ्गीं यक्ष्मग्रस्तामसृक्पटाम् ॥ १२ ॥ विकीर्य पलितान् केशांस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति भाषिणीम् । मीनगन्ध्यसुगन्धेन कुर्वतीं मार्गदूषणम् ॥ १३ ॥
tāṁ dadarśānudhāvantīṁ cāṇḍālīm iva rūpiṇīm jarayā vepamānāṅgīṁ yakṣma-grastām asṛk-paṭām
Indra vit la réaction pécheresse personnifiée le poursuivre, ressemblant à une femme chandala, tremblante de vieillesse et criant 'Attends ! Attends !'.
When a person is afflicted with tuberculosis, he often vomits blood, which makes his garments bloody.
FAQs
This verse depicts sin and karmic reaction as a terrifying, diseased, blood-stained pursuer—showing how wrongdoing can return in dreadful forms and create fear and suffering.
In the narrative, a destructive force (kṛtyā/personified sin) is sent against him; Śukadeva describes her ghastly appearance to show the danger of such hostile, sinful acts and their consequences.
Avoid actions rooted in envy and harm; karmic reactions often “chase” a person through anxiety, loss of peace, and suffering—so choose dharma and devotion as protection.