Vedic Mythology c5.s4.16

c5.s4.16

A myth is told in the MS. (4, 2¹²) of Prajāpati being enamoured of his daughter Uṣas. She transformed herself into a gazelle; whereupon he transformed himself into the corresponding male. Rudra incensed at this aimed his arrow at him, when Prajāpati promised to make him lord of beasts if he did not shoot (cp. RV. 10, 61⁷). The story is several times referred to in the Brāhmaṇas (AB. 3, 33; ŚB. 1, 7, 4¹; PB. 8, 2¹⁰)⁵. The basis of this myth seem to be two passages of the RV. (1, 71⁵; 10, 61 ⁵⁻⁷) in which the incest of a father (who seems to be Dyaus) with his daughter (here apparently the Earth) is referred to and an archer is mentioned⁶.