Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.987

c7.987

Although Indra needed help in his fight with Vṛtra, he was the chief support to the Āryas in their fight against the Dasyus. It was Indra’s Vajra which broke up the fortresses of many Dasyu kings. That was why he got the name “Purandara”. Once Indra dried up the whole river to enable his army to cross it for the sake of Sudās. When Suśravas became helpless, Indra destroyed twenty kings and 60099 soldiers with his chariot wheel. Thus we see Indra in the Ṛgveda as the destroyer of the Dasyus and the protector of Āryans.”