Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s11.463

v1.c3.s11.463

Kutsa is the name of a hero frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, which, however, gives practically no information about him, for he was no doubt already a figure of the mythic past. He is several times¹ called Ārjuneya, ‘descendant of Arjuna,’ and is usually² associated with Indra in the exploit of defeating the demon Śuṣṇa and winning the sun. He is said³ to have defeated Smadibha, Tugra, and the Vetasus, but, on the other hand, he is several times⁴ mentioned with Atithigva and Āyu as being vanquished by Indra, his defeat in one passage⁵ being attributed to Tūrvayāṇa. Elsewhere⁶ he appears with Atithigva as a friend of Indra’s. In the later literature he is seldom⁷ mentioned except in connexion with the myth of his binding Indra, which is found in the Brāhmaṇas,⁸ and which is based on an obscure verse in the Rigveda.⁹