Listen to this tale, O gentle one, as it unfolds from the depths of remorse and redemption. There was a person who, blinded by the pursuit of pleasure, neglected to worship the god who grants the fruits of dharma, artha, kāma, and moksha. Neither did he honor the mighty goddess Durga, destroyer of misfortune, nor did he remember Vishnu, the remover of all sins. His heart was consumed by greed. He did not satisfy the Brahmins, nor did he act for the welfare of living beings. Not even the smallest merit found its way into his life, for heedlessness ruled his actions. Instead, sin was committed, and his mind became tormented. Lamenting in many ways, he sought refuge with a Brahmin. This Brahmin was devoted to Brahman, learned in the Vedas, and served as the priest to the king. The remorseful soul approached him, asking how he might atone for his wrongs. "O best of twice-born," he pleaded, "how can I attain a good path from this sin? I am afflicted by my own actions, wretched and distressed. Lift me out of the mire of sin with the hook of your teachings. Let the water of compassion fall upon me from your joyful eyes, O Brahmin." The Brahmin, hearing his words, showed him favor. "All virtuous people are good to the good, and the good are also good to the wicked," he said. Then, the Brahmin spoke: "I know all your forbidden deeds, O beautiful one. Quickly follow my advice and go to the field of Prajapati. Go there and bathe; by that, your sins will be destroyed. All your worries have been considered by me. I see no other means for the destruction of your sin. The supreme atonement, remembered by sages, is bathing at the holy place." Yet the Brahmin cautioned, "Even in the holy place, you must abandon any evil done in your mind. Purified by bathing at Prayāga, you will certainly go to heaven. By bathing at Prayāga alone, there is no doubt that people attain heaven. Sin committed elsewhere is destroyed instantly at Prayāga. At Prayāga, sin perishes, except for that committed at a holy place." He continued, "Listen, O fearful one. Long ago, Indra saw the wife of sage Gautama. Seeing her, he was overcome by desire and secretly approached her. From that severe sin, its fruit was produced immediately. The sage, standing before Indra and his wife, caused a form that was disgraceful and shameful, bringing embarrassment. By the power of her husband's curse, Indra was marked with a thousand female organs. With his face turned downward, the king of gods departed, overcome and ashamed. He condemned his own deed upon the summit of Meru, vast and filled with water for a hundred yojanas. There, having entered the golden lotus bud, he remained, constantly reproaching himself and Kāma." Indra lamented, "Fie upon this passion-driven nature in the world, which instantly brings sin, by which a man goes to hell, despised by all. It destroys life, fame, glory, virtue, and courage. Shame on Manmatha, of evil conduct, the assured source of calamities. The enemy within the body is hard to subdue, never satisfied, always overpowering." Thus he spoke in secret, within the lotus-mansion of Vāsava. Without Ākhaṇḍala, the realm of the gods did not shine. Therefore, the gods, along with Gandharvas, guardians of the worlds, and Kinnaras, gathered with Śacī and questioned Bṛhaspati: "O lord, we do not know where the mighty god has gone. Where does he dwell, where has he gone, or where should we seek him? Without him, heaven does not shine. Just as a noble family endowed with virtues is not complete without a worthy son, so let us quickly consider a means by which heaven may shine again. Let it be restored, endowed with its lord and prosperity; there should be no delay here." Hearing their words, the teacher Bṛhaspati spoke: "I know where, out of shame for his own fault, he abides. Maghavan now reaps the fruit of his hasty deed. From abandoning righteousness, men suffer terrible consequences. Alas, intoxicated by the pride of sovereignty, he acted without discernment. He has done what is blameworthy, bringing ruin seen and unseen. Such acts are done by the foolish, whose minds are confounded by fate. From wrongdoing, birth itself becomes fruitless here and hereafter. Now let us go to where Śakra abides." Thus, all of them, led by Bṛhaspati, departed. They saw in the vast lake a forest of golden lotuses. They praised the king of the gods, by whose awakening he would arise. Then, by the teacher's awakening, Indra emerged from the lotus bud. His face was dejected, his form altered, his eyes downcast with shame. Indra grasped the feet of his elder, the teacher. "Protect me, tell me the expiation for this sin, O Bṛhaspati!" he cried. Hearing the words of the king of the gods, the sage Bṛhaspati spoke: "Hear, O lord of the gods, I will tell you a means to destroy sin. By merely bathing at Prayāga, you are freed from sin at that very moment. You will be released from your demerit, O king of the gods, simply by that. Let us go there together with you." Then, accompanied by the priest, the subduer of Bala arrived at Prayāga. Indra bathed at the white and black fords, and was immediately freed from sins. The preceptor of the gods, being pleased, granted him a boon: "By merely bathing at Prayāga, your sin is destroyed, O sinless one. O Śakra, with your sins gone, by my grace, swiftly—a thousand yonis and a thousand eyes will be yours." By the word of the Brāhmaṇa, the lord of Śacī shone forth. With a thousand eyes, his mind was like a lake filled with lotuses. Then, honored by all the attendants and sages, Indra was restored to his glory. Such is the power of Prayāga, O gentle one, where sin is washed away and grace is bestowed.