The Procession of Indras

The sages told the Pandavas of how Indra, the king of the gods, was cured of his pride by a boy, a column of ants, and a glimpse of the true vastness of time - one of the deepest of all the old teachings on humility.

After Indra had slain the great demon Vritra and freed the waters and reclaimed his throne, he grew proud of his victory and his power. He resolved to build himself a palace worthy of the king of the gods, a dwelling of unequalled magnificence, and he summoned Vishvakarma, the divine architect, the craftsman of the gods, and commanded him to raise such a palace as the worlds had never seen.

Vishvakarma set to work and built a palace of marvelous beauty. But when it was done, Indra was not satisfied. He demanded it be made grander - larger halls, higher towers, more gardens and pools and wonders. Vishvakarma extended it, and still Indra wanted more. Again and again the architect enlarged and beautified the palace to the king's command, and again and again Indra found it not grand enough, and demanded yet more, his ambition swelling without limit, never content, always craving a greater glory for his own dwelling.