Vedic Mythology c5.s1.t3.8

c5.s1.t3.8

Sūrya measures the days (1, 50⁷) and prolongs the days of life (8, 48⁷). He drives away sickness, disease, and every evil dream (10, 37⁴). To live is to see the Sun rise (4, 25⁴; 6, 52⁵). All creatures depend on Sūrya (1, 164¹⁴). and the sky is upheld by him (10, 85¹). The epithet 'all-creating' (*viśva-karman*) is also applied to him (10, 170⁴; cp. § 39). By his greatness he is the divine priest (*asuryaḥ purohitaḥ*) of the gods (8, 90¹²). At his rising he is prayed to declare men sinless to Mitra-Varuṇa and other gods (7, 60¹. 62²). He is said, when rising, to go to the Vṛtra-slayer Indra and is even styled a Vṛtra-slayer himself when invoked with Indra (8, 82¹· ²· ⁴).