The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads v2.c38.9

v2.c38.9

The tendency to treat Indra as a doubtful personality is paralleled by the somewhat cynical tone which is certainly shown in speaking of him here and there. In one hymn² a number of human occupations and desires is mentioned and the refrain is ‘O Soma, flow for Indra’: the humorous tone of the poem seems obvious, and the refrain alone may have preserved it from oblivion. Another hymn³ in which Indra expresses his feelings of exhilaration, as the result of the Soma drink, may be considered to be the natural expression of the poet’s mind, in describing the splendid results of the glorious drink; it seems to be very doubtful whether the assumption of covert satire is not more natural and probable. The famous frog hymn⁴ also presents difficulties; it would be wrong to deny that it is intended as a rain spell,⁵ but there is improbability in the attempt to deny that there is some humour intended in the comparison of the frogs to priests: the idea that the hymn is a mere satire on the Brahmans will not do, for such a hymn would not have been preserved if composed, but a hymn may, like those to Indra, be preserved with incidental satire if it contains a religious or magic basis. The Vṛṣākapi hymn⁶ which shows Indra and Indrāṇī in dispute over a male ape may be adduced in this connexion, but in the absence of any surety as to its meaning it is difficult to rely upon it.