Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.986

c7.986

There are also several stories in the Vedas about the birth of this hero. At the time of Indra’s birth, somehow, his mother felt that he was incapable of being killed. So she decided to abandon him. Fearing trouble for herself, she asked the child to leave her and go to some other place. Indra refused to do so and followed her to the house of Tvaṣṭā. There he drank the juice of the soma plant and gained strength to kill his enemies. But unaware of this, his mother, tried to keep him concealed. Indra, however, came out of the place in his dazzling attire and encountered the enemies. Vṛtra who met Indra got ready for a fight. In the fight Vyaṃsa struck down Indra. The devas fled in fear. Indra who was left alone called upon Viṣṇu and sought his aid.