Rigveda I.32 gives a detailed account of famous Indra and Vritra battle. After killing Vritra and his mother Danu, however, Indra flees the battle scene.
I.32
- Whom did you see, Indra, as the avenger of the serpent when fear came into your heart after you smashed him, and when you crossed over the ninety-nine flowing rivers, like a frightened falcon through the airy realms?
Now, IV.18 might give one hint why did he flee because after he killed his father someone was about to dishonor his mother
IV.18
- And his mother followed the track of the buffalo, (thinking,) “Yonder gods are abandoning you, my son.” Then Indra said as he was about to smash Vritra: “Viṣṇu, my companion, stride out widely.”
- Who made your mother a widow? Who tried to smash you as you lay, as you wandered? What god was merciful toward you when you destroyed your father, having grasped him by the foot?
- [Indra:] Out of need I cooked for myself the entrails of a dog. I found none who was merciful among the gods. I saw his wife being dishonored. Then the falcon carried the honey here to me.
I suppose, Indra became weak and started to lose his strength that's why he cooked dog meat. He gained strength after drinking the Soma stolen by the falcon from the heaven which I asked here
Now here is what I want to ask if we have puranic accounts of:
- Do we know in details what made Indra fleed the battle scene since he was a winner
- Out of need, why did he cook dog meat. Is there any significance here.