One of Indra’s many surname is Vritrahan, which is “ Slayer of Vritra.” This demon, whose name means the Enveloper, or the Enemy, had one day turned himself into an enormous serpent whose ninety-nine coils were blocking up many rivers, thus grievously troubling the realm of the waters .So great was the terror he inspired that none of the Immortals dared to go and dislodge him. Indra alone, having fortified his courage with soma, went against the monster and slew him.
But at the sight of the horrible corpse of the Enemy, lo,Indra recoils in affright. Leaping over the nine-and-ninety rivers whose course he had restored, he takes to flight; then, then ,like a startled eagle, he finally launches himself through the air.
It was after this famous combat that the gods, full of Indra, heaped attentions on him, aided and seconded him on all occasions. Henceforth, whatever the important or triviality of his doings, Agni,Soma, Vishnu, and the Maruts will never leave him, and the goddesses sing his praises, whether he speeds through space in this car drawn by tawny steed, or without girders builds up the vault of the sky, or stops the sun upon the slopes of firmament, or betakes himself, mounted on his white elephant, to his domain, the svarga, or third heaven.