Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 11
Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention
False Renunciation Exposed
चरमेणाश्वमेधेन यजमाने यजुष्पतिम् । वैन्ये यज्ञपशुं स्पर्धन्नपोवाह तिरोहित: ॥ ११ ॥
carameṇāśvamedhena yajamāne yajuṣ-patim vainye yajña-paśuṁ spardhann apovāha tirohitaḥ
चरमेण अश्वमेधेन यजमाने वैन्ये यजुष्पतिम्, तिरोहितः इन्द्रः स्पर्धन् यज्ञपशुम् अपोवाह।
King Indra is known as śata-kratu, which indicates that he has performed one hundred horse sacrifices ( aśvamedha-yajña ). We should know, however, that the animals sacrificed in the yajña were not killed. If the Vedic mantras were properly pronounced during the sacrifice, the animal sacrificed would come out again with a new life. That is the test for a successful yajña. When King Pṛthu was performing one hundred yajñas, Indra became very envious because he did not want anyone to excel him. Being an ordinary living entity, he became envious of King Pṛthu, and, making himself invisible, he stole the horse and thus impeded the yajña performance.
FAQs
In this verse, Indra—acting secretly—takes the Aśvamedha horse out of rivalry, showing how even exalted beings can be influenced by jealousy when their prestige feels threatened.
‘Vainya’ refers to King Pṛthu, the son of King Vena, who is conducting the sacrifice as the authorized performer and leader of the ritual.
Even spiritual or professional achievements can attract rivalry; the devotee learns to remain steady in dharma and not be diverted by envy—either one’s own or others’.