Vedic Mythology c5.s2.28

c5.s2.28

Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, who destroys the aerial demons in battle, is constantly invoked by warriors (4, 24³ &c.). As the great god of battle he is more frequently called upon than any other deity as the helper of the Aryans in their conflicts with earthly enemies. He protects the Aryan colour and subjects the black skin (3, 34⁹; 1, 130⁸). He dispersed 50 000 of the black race and rent their citadels (4, 16¹³). He subjected the Dasyus to the Aryan (6, 18³) and gave land to the Aryan (4, 26²). He turns away from the Ārya the weapon of the Dasyu in the land of the seven rivers (8, 24²⁷). Other deities are only occasionally referred to as protectors of the Āryas, as the Aśvins (1, 117²¹), Agni (8, 92¹), or the gods in general (6, 21¹¹).