Vedic Mythology c8.s1.6

c8.s1.6

It has been shown above that Indra's epithet *vṛtrahan* was understood by the Vedic poets to mean not only 'slayer of Vṛtra' but also as 'slayer of Vṛtras'. This plural, which is of frequent occurrence in the RV. and is always neuter, sometimes appears in passages mentioning the names of various individual fiends (7, 19⁴; 10, 49⁶). The result of Indra's conflict with the Vṛtras is the release of the waters (7, 34³) or of the rivers (8, 85¹⁸) which are 'encompassed', *vṛtān* (4, 42⁷). It is the Vṛtras which, as well as the fiends, he is to smite as soon as born (6, 29⁶) and to destroy which he has been produced by the gods (3, 49¹). With the bones of Dadhyañc he slew 99 Vṛtras (1, 84¹³) just as he shatters the ninety-nine forts of Vṛtra (7, 19⁵).