Vedic Mythology c6.s8.4

c6.s8.4

B. Kāvya Uśanā². The ancient seer Uśanā is mentioned eleven times in the RV. He is twice called a sage (*kavi*) and five times receives the epithet Kāvya. He is characteristically wise; for Soma uttering wisdom is compared (9, 97⁷) and, owing to his wisdom, is identified with Uśanā (9, 87³). Kāvya Uśanā established Agni as the *hotṛ* of sacrifice (8, 23¹⁷). He is said to have driven hither the cows, in the same verse in which Atharvan, the institutor of sacrifice, is referred to as having prepared the path of the sun (1, 83⁵). He was a protégé of Indra (6, 20¹¹), who rejoiced with him (1, 51¹¹) and who is represented as identifying himself with Uśanā as well as Kutsa and others (4, 26¹). He was associated with Indra when the latter, along with Kutsa, vanquished Śuṣṇa (5, 29⁹). Uśanā also fashioned for Indra the bolt for slaying Vṛtra (1, 121¹²; 5, 34² cp. 1, 51¹⁰).