Vedic Mythology c5.s2.22

c5.s2.22

Besides Vṛtra, Indra engages in conflict with many minor demons also (§ 69). One of these, Uraṇa, mentioned only once (2, 14⁴) is described as having 99 arms, while another, Viśvarūpa, is three-headed and six-eyed (10, 99⁶). He does not always slay them with his bolt. Thus one of them, Arbuda, he crushes with his foot or pierces with ice (1, 51⁶; 8, 32²⁶). Sometimes Indra is described as destroying demons in general. Thus he is said to sweep away the Asuras with his wheel (8, 85⁹), to consume the Rakṣases with his bolt as fire a dry forest (6, 18¹⁰) and to overcome the *druhaḥ* or malignant spirits (4, 23⁷. 28²).