Vedic Mythology c5.s1.t4.3

c5.s1.t4.3

Pūṣan is born on the far path of paths, on the far path of heaven and of earth; he goes to and returns from both the beloved abodes, knowing them (6, 17⁶). Owing to this familiarity he conducts the dead on the far path to the Fathers, as Agni and Savitṛ take them to where the righteous have gone and where they and the gods abide, and leads his worshippers thither in safety, showing them the way (10, 17 ³⁻⁵). The AV. also speaks of Pūṣan as conducting to the world of the righteous, the beautiful world of the gods (AV. 16, 9²; 18, 2⁵³). So Pūṣan’s goat conducts the sacrificial horse (1, 162 2. 3). Perhaps to Pūṣan’s familiarity with the (steep) paths is due the notion that his car is drawn by the sure-footed goat.