The oldest stories of Indra already evidence a shift from the violent victory over the serpent Vṛtra (see SN 2.3:3.4) to his liberating the Vala cave, which he did by the power of truth in his role as bṛhaspati, the “lord of hymns”. Curiously, just as this discourse follows one featuring Sambara, later legend connects Indra’s power in this life to advice he received from Sambara in the past; namely, to always honor and respect brahmins (Mahābhārata 13.36).

The seven vows and following verses also appear in the next two discourses.

Here jantu shows its original meaning of “one who is born”, namely a human child.