Kartik Mahatmya Adhyay 9: Indra's Pride and Shiva's Grace

This is chapter 9 of the Kartik Mahatmya. King Prithu asks why Tulsi is so glorious, and Narada starts the answer from a very old event: the day Indra's pride met Lord Shiva on the road to Kailash.

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संक्षेप में: जटाधारी तपस्वी पर वज्र उठाने वाले इन्द्र की भुजा जड़ हो गई। बृहस्पति की स्तुति से शिवजी प्रसन्न हुए। पढ़िए पूरी कथा। पूरा लेख हिंदी में पढ़ें →

The story

King Prithu asked Devarshi Narada why the glory of Tulsi is so great and how she came to appear. Narada replied that the story begins with something that happened long ago.

Once Devraj Indra and Devguru Brihaspati set out for Mount Kailash to have darshan of Lord Shiva. To test his devotees, Shiva took the form of an ascetic with matted hair and stood blocking their way. He was calm, tall, broad-chested and radiant.

Indra did not recognise him. He asked who he was, where he had come from, and whether Lord Shiva was at home. The ascetic said nothing. Indra asked again and again and got no answer, and his pride flared up. I am the lord of the three worlds, he said. Answer me, or I will kill you with this vajra.

The moment Indra raised the vajra, Shiva froze his arm where it was. Flames like fire began to pour from the ascetic's eyes. Brihaspati knew at once that this was Mahadev himself. He fell flat in pranam and prayed: O Lord of the helpless, O Mahadev, forgive Indra.

Shiva answered with a question. How could he hold back the anger that had already left his eyes? Brihaspati said that the Lord was tender to his devotees. Let him place this radiance somewhere else, and give Indra his life.

Shiva was pleased. He told Brihaspati that he had given Indra a new life. Then he took that radiance from his forehead in his hand, threw it into the Ocean of Milk and vanished.

Indra's pride was broken, and the two returned to their own realms. But the radiance that fell into the Ocean of Milk did not end there. It later became the cause of a great story.

The teaching of this chapter

Do not be proud of rank or power. Indra ruled three worlds, and that did not help him when he threatened a silent stranger.

The chapter's lesson is to respect every person, because no one knows in what form the Lord is standing before them. It adds that humility saves one from every trouble, and in this story it was Brihaspati's humble prayer that turned the danger away.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Narada tell this story when asked about Tulsi?
King Prithu asks why Tulsi is so glorious and how she appeared. Narada says that the answer begins with this very old event.

Why did Shiva appear as an ascetic?
The chapter says that he took the form of a matted-haired ascetic to test his devotees.

What happened when Indra raised his vajra?
Shiva froze his arm where it was, and flames like fire began to pour from the ascetic's eyes.

How was Indra saved?
Brihaspati recognised Mahadev, bowed and prayed for forgiveness, and asked him to place his radiance elsewhere and give Indra his life.

What did Shiva do with his radiance?
He took it from his forehead in his hand and threw it into the Ocean of Milk. The chapter says that it later became the cause of a great story.

Previous chapter: Adhyay 8: The Udyapan of the Kartik Vow