न शुष्केण न चार्द्रेण जहार नमुचेः शिरः ।
तं तुष्टुवुर्मुनिगणा माल्यैश्चावाकिरन्विभुम् ॥ ४० ॥
na-neither; suskena-by dry means; na-nor; ca-also; ardrena-by a moist weapon; jahara-he separated; namuceh-of Namuci; sirah-the head; tam-him (Indra); tustuvuh-satisfied; muni-ganah-all the sages; malyaih-with flower garlands; ca-also; avakiran-covered; vibhum-that great personality.
Thus
Indra, King of heaven, severed
Namuci's head with a weapon of foam, which was neither dry nor moist. Then all the sages satisfied Indra, the exalted personality, by showering flowers and garlands upon him, almost covering him.
In this regard, the
-mantras say,
apam phenena namuceh sira indro 'darayat: Indra killed
Namuci with watery foam, which is neither moist nor dry.