The Arctic Home in the Vedas c12.20

c12.20

“Vritra has a hidden (ninya) abode, whence the waters, when released by Indra, escape, overflowing the demon (I, 32, 10). Vritra lies on the waters (I, 121, 11 ; II 11, 19), or enveloped by the waters, at the bottom (budhna) of the rajas or aerial space (I, 52, 6). He is also described as lying on a summit (sânu), when Indra made the waters to flow (I, 80, 5). Vritra has fortresses, which Indra shatters when he slays him (X, 89, 7), and which are ninety-nine in number (VIII, 93, 2; VII, 19, 5). He is called nadî-vrit, or encompasser of rivers (I, 52, 2), and in one passage parvata or cloud is described as being within his belly (I, 57, 6).”