Vedic Mythology c8.s1.15

c8.s1.15

Viśvarūpa⁸, the son of Tvaṣṭṛ, is a three-headed demon slain by both Trita and Indra, who seize his cows (10, 8⁸. 9). He is mentioned simply by his patronymic Tvāṣṭra in two or three other passages, in which he is described as rich in horses and cattle (10, 76³) and is said to have been delivered over by Indra to Trita (2, 11¹⁹; cp. pp. 61. 67). In the TS. (2, 5, 1¹) Viśvarūpa, though related to the Asuras, is spoken of as Purohita of the gods⁹. In the Mahābhārata (5, 22 f.) the three-heated son of Tvaṣṭṛ and Vṛtra are identical.