Pārvatī, with gentle curiosity, asked her Lord: “In pursuit of what deed did Purandara—Indra, the king of the gods—descend here from his heavenly realm? And by what name is the river Vārtraghnī known? In Purandara’s resounding city, where the praises of Brahma echo, what is the union of those who honor this river? Please tell me of this, O Lord.” Mahādeva, the great god, replied with warmth: “O goddess, long ago, this very question arose on earth. The illustrious and righteous king Yudhiṣṭhira once sought the wisdom of Bhīṣma, who was renowned for his virtue and knowledge. What Bhīṣma then revealed, I shall now recount to you. For ten thousand and one thousand years, a fearsome and unending battle raged between Vṛtra, the mighty asura, and Vāsava—Indra himself. At last, defeated and exhausted, Śakra made peace with Vṛtra, ending the conflict without deceit. Seeking refuge, Indra came to me. At the sacred confluence with the river Vārtraghnyā, Indra performed worship and pleased Śaṃkara. There, O goddess, I manifested in the sky and granted him my vision. From my own body, ashes fell upon the banks of the Kāśyapī river, and there arose a holy liṅga known as Bhasmagātra. Brahmā himself installed this liṅga, Bhūteśvara, and merely beholding it brings release even from the terrible sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa. Those who perform śrāddha there at the dawn of the ages are freed from all sins. Pleased with Indra’s devotion, I addressed him: ‘Whatever you desire, O god, I grant to you. Through your union with the thunderbolt, you shall swiftly destroy Vṛtra.’ Indra replied with gratitude: ‘By your grace, O Lord, I shall slay the formidable son of Diti with my thunderbolt, as you witness, O greatest of gods.’ Having spoken thus, Indra advanced toward the demon. At that moment, celestial kettledrums thundered, especially among the ranks of the gods. Mṛdaṅgas, ḍiṃḍimas, bherīs, and many other instruments resounded, and among the asuras, a great hunger for victory arose. Mighty Maghavān—another name for Indra—was instantly reborn in strength. The sages and serpents, observing him, recognized the divine power that now filled him. They offered hymns and cries of victory, praising Śakra as he strode forth, his form radiant and difficult to behold, surrounded by the sages’ adulation. At the height of this cosmic battle with Vṛtra, O goddess, various liṅgas manifested across my body. A fierce, blazing mouth appeared; my form turned pale; my limbs trembled violently, and my breath grew hot. Horripilation seized me, and a great exhalation burst forth; terrifying meteors fell, striking the earth. Vultures, bats, hawks, and herons uttered dreadful cries, circling above Vṛtra like a wheel of doom. Indra then arrived, mounted on his mighty elephant, his hand raised high, clutching the thunderbolt. The Lord of the gods released an inhuman roar, and as Vṛtrāsura struggled, Śakra hurled his thunderbolt. That weapon, brilliant as the fire of destruction, struck Vṛtra on the ocean’s shore. A tremendous sound arose on all sides as the gods beheld Vṛtra’s fall—a sound so mighty it terrified even the immortals. Showers of heavenly flowers rained upon Indra’s head. Having slain Vṛtra, the dread lord of the Dānavas, Indra, praised by the gods, entered his divine city. Yet from Vṛtra’s body emerged a terrible force: the supreme energy of Brahmanicide. This fearsome entity, the sin of killing a Brahmin, took a monstrous form—dark, tawny, emaciated, blood-stained, and adorned with a garland of skulls, exuding a dreadful, fishy stench. This great goddess, so terrible in appearance, began to pursue Indra, the chief of the gods. Seeing Śakra, she rushed at him and seized him by the throat, holding him fast. Overwhelmed by fear of Brahmanicide, Indra hid himself within a lotus, remaining there for many years. Gripped by her, he became motionless, striving in vain to free himself. Yet, O great goddess, Indra could not escape her grasp. Fixed in form, he remained bound by the sin. In his distress, he approached the Grandsire, Brahmā, and bowed low, seeking deliverance. Brahmā perceived the plight of the king of the gods and pondered deeply. As he considered, the goddess of Brahmanicide approached him and spoke: ‘O Lord, I have come into your presence. Tell me, what should I do? Declare my duty, O bestower of honor.’ Brahmā addressed her gently and truthfully: ‘Release the king of the gods for my sake, O beautiful one. Tell me, what do you desire? What shall I do for you today?’ The sin of Brahmanicide replied: ‘At your command, O Lord, I will depart from Śakra. Salutations to you, Lord of gods; grant me a dwelling place.’ Mahādeva then spoke: ‘So be it,’ and Brahmā agreed as well. Thus, they sought a means for Indra to be freed from the sin of Brahmanicide.