lord Indra
residing within the fibres of a lotus stalk. Beholding his spouse pale
and emaciated, Indra became exceedingly anxious. And the lord of heaven
said unto himself, 'Alas, great is the sorrow that has overtaken me. I
have fallen off from the position that is mine. This my spouse, afflicted
with grief on my account, finds out my lost self and comes to me here.'
Having reflected in this strain, Indra addressed his dear spouse and
said,--'In what condition art thou now?' She answered him,--'Nahusha
invites me to make me his wife. I have obtained a respite from him, having
fixed the time when I am to go to him.' Unto her Indra then said, 'Go and
say unto Nahusha that he should come to thee on a vehicle never used
before, viz., one unto which some Rishis should be harnessed, and arriving
at thine in that state he should wed thee. Indra has many kinds of vehicles
that are all beautiful and charming. All these have borne thee. Nahusha,
however, should come on such a vehicle that Indra himself had not
possessed.' Thus counselled by her lord, Sachi left that spot with a
joyous heart. Indra also once more entered the fibres of that
lotus-stalk. Beholding the Queen of Indra come back to heaven, Nahusha
addressed her saying, 'The time thou hadst fixed is over.' Unto him Sachi
said what Indra had directed her to say. Harnessing a number of great
Rishis unto the vehicle he rode, Nahusha set out from his place for
coming to where Sachi was living. The foremost of Rishis, viz., Agastya,
born within a jar, of the vital seed of Maitravaruna, beheld those
foremost of Rishis insulted by Nahusha in that way. Him Nahusha struck
with his foot. Unto him, Agastya said,--'Wretch, as thou hast betaken
thyself to a highly improper act, do thou fall down on the Earth. Be
transformed into a snake and do thou continue to live in that form as
long as the Earth and her hills continue.' As soon as these words were
uttered by the great Rishi, Nahusha fell down from that vehicle. The
three worlds once more became master-less. The deities and the Rishis
then united together and proceeded to where Vishnu was and appealed to
him for bringing about the restoration of Indra. Approaching him, they
said,--'O holy one, it behoveth thee to rescue Indra who is overwhelmed by
the sin of Brahmanicide.' The boon-giving Vishnu replied unto them,
saying,--'Let Sakra perform a Horse-sacrifice in honour of Vishnu. He will
then be restored to his former position.' T