Vedic Mythology c5.s8.t1.10

c5.s8.t1.10

The exhibition of skill which is most frequently mentioned and appears to have been thought the greatest, as showing the Ṛbhus in the character of successful rivals of Tvaṣṭṛ, consists in their having made the one cup, the work of Tvaṣṭṛ, into four (1, 20⁶. 110³; 4, 35²· ³. 36⁴). This cup is the drinking vessel of the gods (1, 161⁵; 4, 35⁵) or of the Asura (1, 110³). The Ṛbhus were commissioned by the gods through their messenger Agni, to make the one cup, which was of wood, into four, promising as a reward that they should receive worship equally with the gods (1, 161¹· ²). Tvaṣṭṛ praised (*panayat*) the proposal of the Ṛbhus to make two, three, or four cups, and acquiesced (*avenat*) when he saw the four shining cups (4, 33⁵· ⁶). But in another passage it is said that Tvaṣṭṛ, on seeing the four cups, hid himself among the females and desired to kill the Ṛbhus for desecrating the drinking vessel of the gods (1, 161⁴· ⁵), though the Ṛbhus in a previous verse of the same hymn (v. ¹) disclaim any wish to desecrate it. They are described as measuring out like a field the one wide drinking vessel (*pātra*), desiring fame among the immortals (1, 110⁵). The same feat is less definitely referred to when they are said to have formed or fashioned cups (1, 161⁹; 3, 60² cp. 4, 35⁵).