Prthu’s Horse Sacrifices

Chapters 19, 20

When Prthu initiated one hundred horse sacrifices to reaffirm his unrivalled sovereignty, Indra invariably felt threatened. Afflicted with envy, Indra disguised himself as a renunciate and deviously stole the final horse in the sacrifice. Atri Muni informed Prthu’s son, who chased Indra with a plan to kill him. When he saw Indra in the garb of a sannyasi, however, he refrained from attacking. Atri again ordered Prthu’s son to pursue Indra and kill him. Seeing Prthu’s son for the second time, the frightened Indra abandoned his dress as well as the horse. Prthu’s son, who duly received the name Vijitasva, thus brought the hundredth horse back.

Indra decided to steal the horse again, and Vijitasva chased him for the third time. Seeing Indra as a sannyasi, Vijitasva again hesitated to kill him. Spurred on by Atri Muni, Vijitasva did indeed pursue Indra, who eventually gave up his false garb and the hundredth horse. Having discredited the sannyasa dress, Prthu set out to kill Indra, while the priests suggested killing him in the sacrificial altar. Brahma reassured Prthu that his completion of the 100 horse sacrifices was unnecessary. Instead, he reminded Prthu of the purpose of his appearance and urged him to reinstate dharma.

Satisfied with Prthu’s sacrifice, Vishnu appeared on the scene and told the King to forgive Indra, saying that as a devotee, Prthu should not be affected by such worldly intrigues. Vishnu instructed Prthu in the ideal qualities of a king, and how he should rule the kingdom for the prosperity of all citizens. With deep gratitude, Prthu offered beautiful prayers to the Lord.