Vedic Mythology c5.s2.18.2

c5.s2.18.2

For many dawns and autumns Indra has let loose the streams after slaying Vṛtra (4, 19⁸) or he is invoked to do so in the future (8, 78⁴). He cleaves the mountain, making the streams flow or taking the cows (1, 57⁶; 10, 89⁷), even with the sound of his bolt (6, 27⁴). When he laid open the great mountain, he let loose the torrents and slew the Dānava, he set free the pent up springs, the udder of the mountain (5, 32¹· ²). He slew the Dānava, shattered the great mountain, broke open the well, set free the pent up waters (1, 57⁶; 5, 33¹). He releases the streams which are like imprisoned cows (1, 61¹⁰) or which, like lowing cows, flow to the ocean (1, 32²). He won the cows and Soma and made the seven rivers to flow (1, 32¹²; 2, 12¹²). He releases the imprisoned waters (1, 57⁶. 103²), released the streams pent up by the dragon (2, 11²), dug out channels for the streams with his bolt (2, 15³), let the flood of waters flow in the sea (2, 19³), caused the waters pent up by Vṛtra to flow (3, 26⁶; 4, 17¹). Having slain Vṛtra, he opened the orifice of the waters which had been closed (1, 32¹¹). His bolts are dispersed over ninety rivers (1, 80⁸). References to this conflict with Vṛtra and the release of the waters are extremely frequent in the RV. The changes on the myth are rung throughout the whole of one hymn (1, 80). Another deals with the details of the Vṛtra fight (1, 32).