The Story of Vivsvarûpa
Skandha VI. Chap. 7-8
Indra surrounded by the Devas, was seated on the throne of Trilokî. He felt the pride of his position. Brihaspati, the preceptor and guide of all Devas came, but Indra did not rise up to receive him. Thus insulted, Brihaspati left the place at once and abandoned the Devas. The Asuras took this opportunity to put down the Devas and carried on a severe struggle under the lead of Sukra. The Devas were worsted in the fight and they went to Brahmâ for redress. Brahmâ advised them to accept the guidance of Visvarûpa, son of Tvastri. They gladly went to Visvarûpa and he consented to be their preceptor. Visvarûpa initiated Indra into the mysteries of Nârâyana Kabacha (an invocation to Vishnu which preserves one against all danger. The invocation must be read in the original, so no attempt has been made to render it into English). With the help of that Kabacha, Indra easily conquered the Asuras and firmly established once more the Kingdom of Trilokî.
Visvarûpa had three mouths. With one he used to drink Sōma, with another he used to drink wine and with the third he used to take his food. While performing Yajna, he openly gave oblations to the Devas, but secretly reserved some for his mother’s relations the Asuras. Indra once found out this treachery. He became angry and cut off the three heads of Visvarûpa. The Sōma drinking head became Châtaka (the Swallow, supposed to live only on rain drops). The liquor imbibing head became Chataka (the Sparrow). The food eating head became Tittiri (the francoline partridge). The sin of killing a Brâhmana attached to Indra. He divided it into equal parts and distributed them between earth, water, trees and woman. Earth accepted her part on receiving the boon that her cavities would be filled up by nature. But the sin manifests itself in the barren lands. The trees took their part in return for the boon that the wounds on their cuticle should naturally heal up of themselves. But the sin shows itself in the exudation. Water was persuaded by the boon that it could mix with any other substance. But the sin shows itself in bubbles and foam.