The Arctic Home in the Vedas c13.s2.1.3

c13.s2.1.3

This is good evidence to hold that the yearly course of the sun must be taken as the basis of the exploits of Viṣṇu. The Ṛig-Veda further tells us that Viṣṇu was the intimate friend of Indra (yujyaḥ sakhâ, I, 22, 19), and that he assisted Indra in his fight with Vṛitra. Thus in IV, 18, 11, we are told that "Indra about to kill Vṛitra said 'O friend Viṣṇu! stride vastly,' (also cf. VIII, 12, 27)"; and in I, 156, 4, Viṣṇu is said to have opened the cows' stable with the assistance of his friend, while both Indra and Viṣṇu are described as having together vanquished Shambara, conquered the host of Varchins and produced the sun, dawn and the fire in VII, 99, 4 and 5. It is evident from these passages that Viṣṇu was the associate of Indra in his fight with Vṛitra (cf. VIII, 63, 9); and if so, one of the three steps must be placed in regions where this fight was fought, that is, in the nether world. We can now understand why, in I, 155, 5, it is said that two of the three steps of Viṣṇu are visible to man, but the third is beyond the reach of birds or mortals (also cf. VII, 99, 1). When the third step of Viṣṇu is located in the nether world, it can well be said to be invisible, or beyond the reach of mortals. We have seen that the abode of Vṛitra is said to be hidden and filled with darkness and waters. If Viṣṇu helped Indra in his fight with Vṛitra, his third step must be taken to correspond with the home of Vṛitra;