The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v1.c17.s1.68

v1.c17.s1.68

Nothing is more interesting in Indra's nature than the contrast between the strongly moral character of his rival Varuṇa and his own lack of moral quality. He is occasionally given moral attributes, and faith in him is enjoined, but the very fact that the existence of sceptics who denied his divinity is recorded shows that the nature of Indra was not in all quarters considered to be worthy of the conception of divinity, doubtless as compared with the figure of Varuṇa. A list of his sins includes the killing of Viçvarūpa, Vṛtra, the Arurmaghas, and the Yatis, and quarrelling with Bṛhaspati, to whom priestly partiality is shown.⁵