Vedic Mythology c5.s6.2.2

c5.s6.2.2

They have made and sustain all creatures (1, 159². 160². 185¹). Though themselves footless, they support much offspring with feet (1, 185²). They are the parents of the gods also; for to them exclusively belongs the epithet *deváputre*, ‘having the gods as sons’. They are in particular said to be the parents of Bṛhaspati (7, 97⁸) and, with the Waters and Tvaṣṭṛ, to have begotten Agni (10, 2⁷). At the same time they are in different passages spoken of as themselves created by individual gods. Thus a poet observes that he who produced heaven and earth must have been the most skilful artisan of all the gods (1, 160⁴; 4, 56³). Indra is said to have generated or fashioned them (6, 30⁵; 8, 36⁴; 10, 29⁶. 54³). Viśvakarman produced them (10, 81² cp. AV. 12, 1⁶⁰)⁵. They received their forms from Tvaṣṭṛ (10, 110⁹). They sprang from the head and feet of Puruṣa (10, 90¹⁴). But one poet is puzzled as to how they were produced and which of the two first came into being (1, 185¹; cp. p. 13)⁶. Many of the epithets applied to Dyāvāpṛthivī are suggested by their physical characteristics. The one is a prolific bull, the other a variegated cow (1, 160³). They are both rich in seed (1, 159²; 6, 70¹·²). They yield milk, ghee, and honey abundantly (6, 70^{1-5}), and produce *amṛta* (1, 159². 185⁶). They never grow old (6, 70¹). They are great (1, 159¹) and wide-extended (1, 160²). They are broad and great abodes (1, 185⁶).