Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 21
Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention
False Renunciation Exposed
अत्रिणा चोदितस्तस्मै सन्दधे विशिखं रुषा । सोऽश्वं रूपं च तद्धित्वा तस्थावन्तर्हित: स्वराट् ॥ २१ ॥
atriṇā coditas tasmai sandadhe viśikhaṁ ruṣā so ’śvaṁ rūpaṁ ca tad dhitvā tasthāv antarhitaḥ svarāṭ
Apabila Atri sekali lagi memberi arahan, putera Pṛthu menjadi sangat marah lalu memasang anak panah pada busurnya. Melihat hal itu, Indra segera meninggalkan penyamaran sannyāsīnya, melepaskan kuda itu, dan raja kayangan pun menghilang daripada pandangan.
FAQs
Because he was an independent celestial being acting through illusion; after abandoning the horse-disguise, he concealed himself (antarhitaḥ), avoiding direct confrontation.
Svarāṭ means “fully independent”; in this episode it indicates the powerful deva (Indra) who was interfering by taking the sacrificial horse through disguise and mystic power.
It highlights how ego-driven competition creates conflict and how deceptive appearances can vanish quickly—encouraging steadiness in dharma and humility rather than reactive anger.