Brihaspati then told Indra about it all. "Samvarta is going to conduct a great yajna. It is this that has made me wan and thin. I cannot help it," said he. Indra was surprised.

"Learned brahmana, there is no object of desire that is not already yours. You are wise and learned, and the gods them selves have accepted you as their priest and wise counselor.

What harm can Samvarta do to you? There is nothing you can lose on account of him. Why do you needlessly take upon yourself this suffering by mere envy?"

It was amusing that Indra should so far and so humanly forget his own history as to give counsel of good conduct, but Brihas- pati refreshed his memory on the point and asked: "Would you yourselfdelightedly watch your enemy's power growing?

Judge me by how you would have felt bad you bean in my position. I beg of you to save me against this Samvarta. You must find a way to put this man down."

Indra sent for Agni and said to him: "Go and stop the yajna of Marutta somehow."