Vedic Mythology c5.s6.4.1

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).