repaired to
their respective places and began to sport in delight. The illustrious
Creator of the three worlds, endued with great ascetic merit, then
recollected the Waters which immediately came to him. Arrived at the
presence of Brahman of immeasurable energy, the Waters bowed unto him and
said these words, 'We have come before thee, O chastiser of foes, at thy
command. O puissant Master of all the worlds, tell us what we are to
accomplish.'

"'"Brahman said, 'This dreadful sin hath taken possession of Indra, in
consequence of his having slain Vritra. Take ye a fourth part of
Brahmanicide.'

"'"The Waters said, 'Let it be as thou commandest, O master of all the
worlds. It behoveth thee, however, O puissant Lord of ours, to think of
the means by which we may (in our turn) be rescued from (the consequence
of) this understanding. Thou art the Lord of all the deities, and the
supreme refuge of the universe. Who else is there to whom we may pay our
adorations so that he may relieve us from distress.'

"'"Brahman said, 'Unto that man who stupefied by his understanding and
regarding you lightly will cast into you phlegm and urine and excreta,
this one shall immediately go and thenceforth reside in him. It is in
this way, verily I say unto ye, that your rescue shall be accomplished.'"

"'Bhishma continued, "Then the sin of Brahmanicide, O Yudhishthira,
leaving the chief of the deities, proceeded to the abodes that were
ordained for her at the Grandsire's command. It was thus, O ruler of men,
that Indra had become afflicted by that dreadful sin (and it was thus
that he got rid of her). With the Grandsire's permission Indra then
resolved to perform a Horse-sacrifice. It is heard, O monarch, that Indra
having been thus possessed by the sin of Brahmanicide afterwards became
cleansed of her through that Sacrifice. Regaining his prosperity and
slaying thousands of foes, great was the joy that Vasava obtained, O lord
of Earth! From the blood of Vritra, O son of Pritha, were born
high-crested cocks. For this reason, those fowls are unclean (as food)
for the regenerate classes, and those ascetics that have undergone the
rite of initiation. Under all circumstances, O king, do thou accomplish
what is agreeable to the twice-born, for these, O monarch, are known as
gods on earth. It was in this way, O thou of Kuru's race, that the mighty
Asura Vritra was slain by Sakra of immeasurable energy by the aid of
subtle intelligence and throu