Text 40
na śuṣkeṇa na cārdreṇa
jahāra namuceḥ śiraḥ
taṁ tuṣṭuvur muni-gaṇā
mālyaiś cāvākiran vibhum
na — neither; śuṣkeṇa — by dry means; na — nor; ca — also; ārdreṇa — by a moist weapon; jahāra — he separated; namuceḥ — of Namuci; śiraḥ — the head; tam — him (Indra); tuṣṭuvuḥ — satisfied; muni-gaṇāḥ — all the sages; mālyaiḥ — with flower garlands; ca — also; avākiran — covered; vibhum — that great personality.
Thus Indra, King of heaven, severed Namuci’s head with a weapon of foam, which was neither dry nor moist. Then all the sages satisfied Indra, the exalted personality, by showering flowers and garlands upon him, almost covering him.
In this regard, the śruti-mantras say, apāṁ phenena namuceḥ śira indro ’dārayat: Indra killed Namuci with watery foam, which is neither moist nor dry.