Disturbed and tormented by the terrible fear of Brahmanicide—the sin of slaying a Brahmin—Indra, the king of the gods, sought refuge in hiding. He concealed himself deep within the heart of a lotus, remaining there for many years, hoping to escape the relentless grasp of his wrongdoing. But the sin of Brahmanicide, personified as a powerful force, seized Indra and held him fast. Though Śakra, the lord of the gods, struggled with all his might to free himself, he was powerless against her grip. Immobilized and fixed in form, Indra could not dispel her presence. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Indra approached the Grandsire, Brahmā, bowing his head in deep reverence. Brahmā, perceiving that Indra was ensnared by the sin of slaying a foremost Brahmin, pondered how best to aid the king of the gods. As he considered, the personified sin herself approached Brahmā and spoke: “O Lord, I have come into your presence, O bestower of honor. Whatever I must do, O god, you should declare to me.” With a gentle and truthful voice, Brahmā addressed her regarding the sin of killing a Brahmin: “Let the king of the gods be released; do this for me, O beautiful one. Tell me, what shall I do for you today? What is your desire?” The sin replied, “At your word, O best of men, I will depart from Śakra. O Lord of gods, salutations to you; grant me a dwelling place.” Mahādeva and Brahmā both agreed, saying, “So be it.” Now, Brahmā sought a way for Indra to be freed from the sin of Brahmanicide. He summoned Fire, Agni, and spoke: “O Jātavedas, accept a fourth part of Śakra’s Brahmin-killing sin.” Agni, the fire god, asked, “O Lord, what will be my liberation from this portion of the sin? Please tell me truly, O honored one.” Brahmā replied, “Whoever approaches you while you are blazing shall never use you for seeds, herbs, sesame, fruits, roots, sacrificial sticks, or kuśa grass. At that moment, he will abandon you and remain there. O carrier of offerings, let the fever of your mind caused by Brahmin-killing depart.” Accepting this command, Agni, the eater of offerings, was satisfied, and Brahmā’s desire was fulfilled. Next, Brahmā summoned the trees, herbs, and grasses and addressed the noble lady, the personified sin. The trees, herbs, and grasses, afflicted like Agni, spoke to Brahmā: “O grandsire, the Brahmin-killing sin is already inherent in us by nature; therefore, you should not inflict it upon us again. We already endure fire, cold, rain driven by wind, and constant cutting and splitting.” Brahmā replied, “If any man, out of great delusion, cuts or splits you without cause, this sin will go to him.” Mahādeva affirmed this, and after honoring Brahmā, the trees, herbs, and grasses departed as they had come. Then Brahmā summoned the Apsarases, the celestial nymphs, and spoke to them in consoling words: “This Brahmin-killing sin, O beautiful ones, has come from Vṛtra; I assign a fourth part to you—accept it now.” The Apsarases replied, “We are resolved to accept it, O lord of gods, by your command. But please consider the time for our liberation from it, O grandsire.” Brahmā said, “Whoever engages in intercourse with women during their menstrual period, from him this sin will swiftly depart to you. Let the fever of your minds subside.” The group of Apsarases joyfully agreed, and, their hearts delighted, they returned to their own places and enjoyed themselves with the daughter of the mountain. Once again, Brahmā considered the waters, and all the rivers and waters assembled before him. Bowing to Pitāmaha, they addressed him: “O god, we have come at your command, O lord of gods; instruct us, O master.” Brahmā said, “This dreadful Brahma-hatya, which came from Vṛtra, has reached Indra. You must accept a fourth part of it.” The waters replied, “So be it, O lord of the world, as you command. But please consider the means for our liberation.” Brahmā said, “If a man, his mind deluded, discharges phlegm, urine, or feces into you, he will quickly go there and remain there. Then liberation will occur; I speak the truth.” Thus, freed from Brahma-hatya by the command of the gods, Indra became exceedingly joyful. In ancient times, Indra had been afflicted by this terrible sin, but after performing austerities at the holy place of Vārtraghnī, his soul was purified and he returned to heaven. Later, by performing the horse sacrifice, Indra became entirely free from sin—such is the glory of this sacred place, O daughter of the mountain. Thus concludes the one hundred and sixty-eighth chapter, “The Glory of Vārtraghnī,” in the Uttarakhaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa. Afterward, Maheśa said, the divine river Vārtraghnī, from the confluence, entered the abode of Varuṇa, the ocean, accompanied by Bhadrā. The ocean, desiring her affection, approached her, and with loving attachment, he united with her.