Sūta said: The king Janamejaya harassed the son of Garga, the boy Akrūra, and hence attained the sin of brahmin slaughter. The king began to emit the odour of rusting iron. He ran about helterskelter. Since he was boycotted by the citizens and the people of the land he did not obtain happiness. Dejected, he did not even have perfect knowledge anywhere. In his anguish he went to sage Śaunaka and sought refuge in him. The liberal-minded sage who was known as Indreti performed sacrifice on his behalf. O excellent brahmins, for the sake of purification he made the king Janamejaya perform a horse sacrifice.