Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/50

44 to stay the anger of the Sun, otherwise the world and all that lived in it would die before the day was over. Brahmadeva called Garuda to him and bade him seek his brother Aruna. Garuda sought Aruna and found him still rising through the air just as he had risen out of Queen Vinata's sight. At Brahmadeva's bidding Garuda took his brother with him to the western mountains, and he made Aruna sit in the front part of the chariot and drive the six horses of the Sun-god. Aruna did so and the rays of the Sun could no longer burn the earth, for their fierce heat was fended off by the great body of Aruna. When he found that he could no longer carry out his resolve, the Sun-god's anger abated. He welcomed Aruna and bade him always be his charioteer. And Aruna drives the six horses of the Sun-god to this day.

 

Once upon a time in the days when the Bharata princes ruled over India there lived a mighty rishi named Vrigu. And his wisdom and powers were such that men said that the god Brahmadeva had created him out of the fire, when Varuna the sea god made a great sacrifice. At this same time, there lived a most beautiful maiden named Puloma, the fame of whose loveliness spread throughout the whole empire of the Bharatas. When she grew to full womanhood her father offered her in marriage to Vrigu the rishi. Vrigu accepted her hand. And thus the wisest and the loveliest in all the land were united in wedlock.

They lived together happily and after several months