Pratardana, the son of Divodāsa, came to the beloved abode of Indra through valor in battle and heroic deeds. Indra said to him: "Pratardana, I grant you a boon. Choose one." Pratardana replied: "You yourself choose for me that boon which you consider most beneficial for a human being." Indra said: "One does not choose a boon for another. You yourself should choose." But Pratardana answered: "Then the boon is not truly a boon if you refuse to choose what is best." Thereupon Indra, bound by truth, could not withdraw his offer. For Indra is indeed truthful. Therefore he said: "Know me alone. This is what I consider most beneficial for a human being: that he should know me." I slew the three-headed son of Tvaṣṭṛ. I delivered the Aruṇmukhas to the wolves. Breaking agreements, I struck down the descendants of Prahlāda in heaven. I destroyed the Paulomas in the mid-region. I destroyed the Kālakhañjas upon the earth. Yet not a single hair of mine was harmed thereby. Therefore, whoever truly knows me— no world of his is destroyed by any action. Not by the killing of his mother, not by the killing of his father, not by theft, not even by the killing of an embryo. Whatever sin he may commit, it does not stain his face or diminish his spiritual radiance."