The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c7.s2.71

c7.s2.71

But as usual, the role of the Vedic *druhs* is equivocal, whereas that of the Avestan *drugs* is solely bad.³ A Vedic *druh* can be of service if one can make use of it against the evildoer or can send the evildoer to break himself against it: “The person, O Maruts, who having a bad desire in his thoughts, O Vasus, wishes to strike against us, let him loosen himself against the toils of the druh! Beat him with the most burning beetle!”¹ Elsewhere the druhs which pursue the departures from the ṛta belong to Mitra and Varuṇa: “All these, O male ones (Mitra and Varuṇa), are infallible, they are yours, in them one has seen neither marvel nor prodigy, the druhs pursue the monstrosities of human beings...”² In other words, the druhs pursue, without miracle, naturally, the shortcomings in the natural order and they punish these as a revenge, acting in the capacity of the guardians of ṛta, Mitra and Varuṇa.