Vedic Mythology c5.s1.t2.4

c5.s1.t2.4

The spies (*spaśaḥ*) of Varuṇa are sometimes mentioned. They sit down around him (1, 24¹³). They behold the two worlds; acquainted with sacrifice they stimulate prayer (7, 87³). Mitra's and Varuṇa's spies whom they send separately into houses (7, 61³), are undeceived and wise (6, 67⁵). In the AV. (4, 16⁴) it is said that Varuṇa's messengers descending from heaven, traverse the world; thousand-eyed they look across the whole world. The natural basis of these spies is usually assumed to be the stars; but the RV. yields no evidence in support of this view. The stars are there never said to watch, nor are the spies connected with night. The conception may very well have been suggested by the spies with whom a strict ruler on earth is surrounded². Nor are spies peculiar to Varuṇa and Mitra, for they are also attributed to Agni (4, 4³), to Soma (9, 73⁴⁻⁷. here perhaps suggested by the previous mention of Varuṇa), to demons combated by Indra (1, 33⁸), and to the gods in general (10, 10⁸). In one passage the Ādityas are said to look down like spies from a height (8, 47¹¹). That these spies were primarily connected with Mitra and Varuṇa is to be inferred from the fact that the Iranian Mithra also has spies, who are, moreover, called by the same name (*spaś*) as in the Veda³. The golden-winged messenger (*dūta*) of Varuṇa once mentioned in the RV. (10, 123⁶), is doubtless the sun.