On one occasion, the King of heaven, Indra, being extremely proud because of his great opulence, transgressed the law of Vedic etiquette. Seated on his throne, he was surrounded by the Maruts, Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, Rbhus, Visvadevas, Sādhyas, Aśvini-kumāras, Siddhas, Caranas, Gandharvas, and great saintly persons. Also surrounding him were the Vidyadharas, Apsarās, Kinnaras, Patagas (birds), and Uragas, snakes. All of them were offering Indra their respects and services, and the Apsarās and Gandharvas were dancing and singing with very sweet musical instruments. Over Indra's head was a white umbrella as effulgent as the full moon. Fanned by yak-tail whisks and served with all the paraphernalia of a great king, Indra was sitting with his wife, Saci-devī, who occupied half the throne, when the great sage Bṛhaspati appeared in that assembly. Bṛhaspati, the best of the sages, was the spiritual master of Indra and the other demigods and was respected by the demigods and demons alike. Nevertheless, although Indra saw his spiritual master before him, he did not rise from his own seat or offer a seat to his spiritual master, nor did Indra offer him a respectful welcome. Indra did nothing to show him respect.
Bṛhaspati knew everything that would happen in the future. Seeing Indra's transgression of etiquette, he understood that Indra was puffed up by his material opulence. Although able to curse Indra, he did not do so. Instead, he left the assembly and in silence returned home.
Indra immediately understood his mistake. Realizing he had disrespected his spiritual master, he condemned himself in the presence of all the members of the assembly.
"Alas, what a regrettable deed I have committed because of my lack of intelligence and my pride in my material opulence! I failed to show respect to my spiritual master when he entered this assembly, and thus I have insulted him. Although 1 am the King of the demigods, who are situated in the mode of goodness, I was proud of a little opulence and polluted by false ego. Under the circumstances, who in this world would accept such riches at the risk of falling down? Alas! I condemn my opulence."
While Indra spoke in this way and repented in his assembly, Bṛhaspati understood his mind. Thus he became invisible to Indra and left home, for Bṛhaspati was spiritually more powerful than King Indra.