Vedic Mythology c5.s6.4

Language: English

c5.s6.4.1

Indra-Varuṇa, the two universal monarchs (1, 17¹), hollowed out the channels of the waters and set the sun in motion in the sky (7, 82³). They are vanquishers of Vṛtra (6, 68²), aid in battle (4, 41¹¹), and grant victory (1, 17⁷). They cast their mighty bolt against the wicked (4, 41⁴). They bestow protection and prosperity (1, 17^{7. 8}), fame, wealth, and abundance of steeds (4, 41^{2. 10}; 6, 68⁸). They are drinkers of the pressed Soma, their car comes to the sacrifice, and they are invoked to exhilerate themselves seated on the sacrificial grass (6, 68^{10. 11}). In some passages the characteristics of each member of the pair are distinguished. Thus Varuṇa is besought to divert his wrath from his worshippers, and Indra to procure them wide space (7, 84²). Indra is contrasted as the warlike god who slays Vṛtra, with Varuṇa who supports men in peace and wisdom (6, 68³; 7, 82^{5. 6}. 85³). The association of the couple Indra-Agni⁹ is very intimate; for Indra is invoked conjointly with Agni in more hymns than with any other deity¹⁰, while Agni is otherwise addressed as a dual divinity only in one hymn and two detached verses with Soma and in one verse with Parjanya. Indra-Agni, the best of Soma-drinkers (1, 21¹), come on their car to drink Soma (1, 108¹), and are invited together to come and drink it (7, 93⁶; 8, 38^{4. 7-9}), to sit down on the sacrificial grass at the offering, and to exhilerate themselves with the pressed draught (1, 109⁵).

c5.s6.4.2

They are often called Vṛtra-slayers. They are armed with the bolt (6, 59³ &c.), and their lightning is sharp (5, 86³). They are fort-destroyers who aid in battle (1, 109⁷·⁸). They together demolished the 99 forts of the Dāsa (3, 12⁶) and are invincible in battle (5, 86²). They released the rivers from their imprisonment (8, 48⁸) and accomplished heroic deeds together (1, 108⁵). They are bountiful (5, 86³). All these are traits characteristic of Indra. Indra-Agni are also called the two priests of sacrifice (8, 38¹), and are wise (8, 40³). They are lords of the abode (*sadaspatī*) and drive away the goblins (1, 21⁵). These features are more appropriate to Agni. The two gods are twin brothers who have one father (6, 59²). They are once called Aśvins¹¹ (1, 109⁴), possibly in allusion to this close relationship. They bestow food, wealth, strength, cattle, steeds (4, 60¹³⁻¹⁴). They are greater than heaven and earth, rivers, and mountains (1, 109⁶). The two gods are once contrasted, though not when addressed as a pair; Indra being said to slay, but Agni to burn, the Dasyus (6, 28⁴). The two hymns (4, 49; 7, 97) addressed to Indra-Bṛhaspati consist chiefly of invitations to drink Soma and of prayers to bestow great wealth abounding in steeds and to promote devotion. Indra-Vāyu are constantly invited to come and drink Soma (1, 23¹⁻² &c.), little else being said about them.

c5.s6.4.3

They come to the offering with their teams (4, 47²⁻⁴) or in their golden-seated car (4, 46⁴) and seat themselves on the sacrificial litter (7, 91⁴). They are thousand-eyed, lords of devotion (*dhiyas patī*: 1, 23³), and lords of might (*śavasas patī*: 4, 47³). They help in battle (7, 92⁴) and bestow wealth in steeds, cattle, and gold (7, 90⁶). Indra-Soma perform the warlike exploits characteristic of Indra or the great cosmic actions so often ascribed to him. They ınade the waters flow for man, released the seven rivers, slew the dragon, depressed the wheel of the sun (4, 28¹·²; 6, 72³). The true work of the two bountiful gods was that they destroyed their foes and broke open what was enclosed in the rock (4, 28⁴·⁵). They performed the first great deeds in finding the sun and light, dispelling the darkness, causing the sun to shine, supporting heaven, and spreading out the earth (6, 72¹·²). They too placed ripe milk in the raw bodies of cows (ib.⁴). They grant victorious might to men (ib.⁵). Indra-Viṣṇu, who are receptacles of Soma, lords of intoxication (*madapatī*), are invited to come with their steeds, to drink Soma, and to fill their belly with it. The two gods strode out widely in the intoxication of Soma, made the air broader, and spread out the spaces for existence. Ever victorious, they grant wealth, and conduct safely across dangers. As generators of all prayers, they are besought to hear the invocations of their worshippers (6, 69)¹².

c5.s6.4.4

Indra-Pūṣan are invoked conjointly in only one short hymn (6, 57), and their names form a dual compound only twice. When Indra made the great waters flow, Pūṣan was his companion. With him as a friend, Indra slays Vṛtras (6, 56²). One of them drinks Soma and is drawn by two steeds with which he slays Vṛtras, while the other desires gruel (*karambha*) and is drawn by goats. Mention is once (1, 162²) made of the abode (*pāthas*) of Indra-Pūṣan, to which a goat conducts the sacrificial horse. The two gods are as usual also besought to confer welfare and booty.