Page:The Religion of the Veda.djvu/193

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IPy-Hd “mt-F‘Eh_ _._ _.

Transparent and Opaque Gods I 77

I. Let me now tell forth the heroic deeds of Indra, which he that wields the club performed of yore. He slew the dragon, broke the way for the waters ; he cleft the belly of the mountains.


 * 2. He slew the dragon who lsy upon the mountain.

(ind ’l‘vnshtur forged for him his heavenly oluh. Like roaring cattle, down came the Wﬂtﬂ‘l‘S, [lowing swiftly to the son.

3.. Lusty as a bull, Indra. demanded some. ; from three vats drank he of the pressed drink... His missile bolt he

took in hand, the generous god, and slew the ﬁrstuborn of the dragons.

4.. When thou didst smite, O Indra, the ﬁrst—born of the dragons, when thou didst make naught of the wiles of the Wily, then, bringing out both sun and heaven and dawn, thou verily didst not ﬁnd a foeman worthy of thy steel.

6. A drunken weakling, Vritra, did Challenge the great hero, the mighty, dashing ﬁghter. He did not withstand the impact of his weapons : with broken nose lay shat:- tered he whose fee was Indra.

7. Over him lying so, like a broken reed, the waters go ﬂowing at Will. Those (very waters) which Vritrs had encompassed with his might, at the feet of them the dragon prone lay stretched.

I3. Nor thunder, nor lightning did help him ; nor the hail—storm which he east about him. When Indra. and the dragon fought their battle, then even for future

times the liberal god won the battle.

These stanzas carry us int0°the very midst of a

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