Vedic Mythology c7.s2.8

c7.s2.8

D. Etaśa. The word *etaśa*, which occurs a few times as an adjective meaning ‘swift’, more frequently signifies ‘steed’ in the RV. In the plural it designates the horses of the sun (7, 62²; 10, 37³. 49⁷). It occurs about a dozen times as a proper name in the singular, always connected with the sun, often with reference to the wheel of the sun. Savitṛ is the steed (*etaśa*) who measured out the terrestrial regions (5, 81³). The swift god Etaśa draws the bright form of the sun (7, 66¹⁴). Yoked to the pole, Etaśa moves the wheel of the sun (7, 63²); he brought the wheel of the sun (1, 121¹³; 5, 31¹¹). Indra urged on the steed (*etaśa*) of the sun (8, 1¹¹ cp. 9, 63⁸). Indra helped Etaśa contending in a race with Sūrya (1, 61¹⁵). It may be gathered from stray references to this mythical contest, that Etaśa being at first behind takes up the lost wheel of the sun and fixes it to the car of Sūrya; he has now gained the lead, and in the end Sūrya seems to concede to him the place of honour before his own car¹³. It appears to be impossible to suggest any satisfactory interpretation of this myth. It can, however, hardly be doubted that Etaśa represents the steed of the sun.