Shloka 53
ततः स देवराड देवैर््रषिभि: स्तूयमानस्त्रिविष्ट-पस्थो निष्कल्मषो बभूव ह ब्रह्मवध्यां चतुर्ष स्थानेषु वनिताग्निवनस्पतिगोषु व्यभजदेवमिन्द्रो ब्रह्मतेज:- प्रभावोपबूृंहित: शत्रुवर्ध॑ कृत्वा स्वं स्थान प्रापित:,तदनन्तर देवताओं और ऋषियोंसे अपनी स्तुति सुनते हुए देवराज इन्द्र निष्पाप हो स्वर्गलोकमें रहने लगे। अपनी ब्रह्महत्याको उन्होंने स्त्री, अग्नि, वृक्ष और गौ--इन चार स्थानोंमें विभक्त कर दिया। ब्रह्मतेजके प्रभावसे वृद्धिको प्राप्त हुए इन्द्रने शत्रुओंका वध करके पुन: अपना स्थान प्राप्त कर लिया
tataḥ sa devarāḍ devair ṛṣibhiḥ stūyamānas triviṣṭapatho niṣkalmaṣo babhūva ha | brahmavadhyāṃ caturṣu sthāneṣu vanitāgni-vanaspati-goṣu vyabhajad evaṃ indro brahma-tejaḥ-prabhāvopabṛṃhitaḥ śatrūn vadhitvā punaḥ svaṃ sthānaṃ prāpitaḥ |
Thereafter the divine king Indra, praised by the gods and the seers, became free from taint and dwelt in Triviṣṭapa (heaven). He apportioned the burden of brahma-hatyā (the sin of slaying a brāhmaṇa) into four receptacles—women, fire, trees, and cows. Strengthened by the radiance of brahmanical power, Indra then overcame his enemies and regained his rightful station. The passage frames a moral logic of purification and restitution: wrongdoing is not denied but ritually redistributed and resolved so that cosmic order and rightful kingship may be restored.
तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ
Educational Q&A
The passage teaches that grave wrongdoing disrupts moral order but can be addressed through recognized means of expiation and restoration. Indra’s purification and return to his station emphasize accountability, ritual-ethical resolution, and the re-establishment of rightful order rather than simple denial of guilt.
Indra, praised by gods and seers, becomes purified and resides in heaven. He divides the burden of brahma-hatyā into four loci—women, fire, trees, and cows—and, empowered by brahmanical radiance, defeats enemies and regains his position.