His supplicant remained silent.
‘Tell me, Lord Indra... I have heard a story... Perhaps you can tell me if it’s true... Many centuries ago, Indra is supposed to have killed a brahmana called Trisiras, the son of Twashtri. The goodness of Trisiras was of such a degree that Indra became envious of the regard with which this brahmana was held — by both men and gods. He plotted to corrupt this man with all manner of temptations. But Trisiras resisted them all, and was held in greater favour even than before. In the end Indra could stand it no longer, and killed him with his thunderbolt. So the story goes... Is it true? Did Indra really kill a defenceless brahmana?’
‘Yes, it is true. Indra did commit brahmanacide. But the gods inflicted a great punishment on him for his sin.’
‘Will you not b
