अथेज्यमाने पुरुषे सर्वदेवमयात्मनि ।
अश्वमेधे महेन्द्रेण वितते ब्रह्मवादिभिः ।
स वै त्वाष्ट्रवधो भूयान् अपि पापचयो नृप ।
नीतस्तेनैव शून्याय नीहार इव भानुना ॥ २० ॥
sa vai tvastra-vadho bhuyan
atha-therefore; ijyamane-when worshiped; puruse-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva-all; deva-maya-atmani-the Supersoul and maintainer of the demigods; asvamedhe-through the asvamedha-yajna; maha-indrena-by King Indra; vitate-being administered; brahma-vadibhih-by the saints and brahmanas expert in Vedic knowledge; sah-that; vai-indeed; tvastra-vadhah-the killing of Vrtrasura, the son of Tvasta; bhuyat-may be; api-although; papacayah-mass of sin; nrpa-O King; nitah-was brought; tena-by that (the horse sacrifice); eva-certainly; sunyaya-to nothing; niharah-fog; iva-like; bhanuna-by the brilliant sun.
The horse sacrifice performed by the saintly brahmanas relieved Indra of the reactions to all his sins because he worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead in that sacrifice. O King, although he had committed a gravely sinful act, it was nullified at once by that sacrifice, just as fog is vanquished by the brilliant sunrise.