Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c21.64

v2.c21.64

P. 356, l. 15 from end. “Indra had slain Vṛitra, and thereby burdened himself with the guilt of Brahman-murder. He therefore crept away at the edge of the world into the water” (according to xii, 342.42 ff. into the lake Mānasa). This is in agreement with v, 13.12-13, but should perhaps rather be as follows: “Indra had maliciously slain Vṛitra, and moreover through slaying the pious demon Triçiras—in the MBh. a Veda-learned brandy-hero—had burdened himself with the guilt of ‘Brahman-murder.’” The reminder may here be made that Apollo, too, appears as a murderer, and like Indra has to flee and make atonement, because he has killed the python. Schroeder, *Mysterium und Mimus*, p. 213, after Aug. Mommsen, *Delphika* (Lpzg., 1876), p. 296 f. Odin also has to flee from his kingdom into banishment; another comes to his throne, and takes his rule for himself, until the god captures his place once more. W. Golther, *Mythologie der Germanen*, p. 304; E. H. Meyer, *Mythologie der Germanen*, p. 377. His wife is not faithful to him (Golther, 433). The name itself of Triçiras (“the three-headed one”) seems to point to an original snake spirit. Vṛitra is a dragon.