Vedic Mythology c5.s2.3

c5.s2.3

Many of Indra’s physical features are mentioned. He has a body, a head, arms, and hands (2, 16²; 8, 85³). His belly is often spoken of in connexion with his powers of drinking Soma (2, 16² &c.). It is compared when full of Soma to a lake (3, 36⁸). His lips (the probable meaning of *śiprā*) are often referred to, the frequent attributes *suśipra* or *śiprin*, 'fair-lipped', being almost peculiar to him. He agitates his jaws after drinking Soma (8, 65¹⁰). His beard is violently agitated when he is exhilerated or puts himself in motion (2, 11¹⁷; 10, 23¹). He is tawny-haired (10, 965. 8) and tawny-bearded (10, 23⁴). His whole appearance is tawny, the changes being rung on that word (*hari*) in every verse of an entire hymn (10, 96) with reference to Indra. He is a few times described as golden (1, 7²; 8, 55³), an attribute distinctive of Savitṛ (p. 32), as golden-armed (7, 34⁴), and as iron-like (1, 56³; 10, 964. 8). His arms as wielding the thunderbolt are mentioned particularly often. They are long, far-extended, great (6, 19³; 8. 32¹⁰. 70¹), strong and well-shaped (SV. 2, 1219). Indra assumes the most beautiful forms and the ruddy brightness of the sun (10, 112³) and takes many different forms at will (3, 48⁴. 53⁸; 6, 47¹⁸).