वेदों की प्राचीनता एवं काल-निर्णय / ओरायन (लोकमान्य बाल गंगाधर तिलक - खगोलीय वैदिक शोध)

246 THE ARCTIC HOME IN THE VEDAS. conquering in the waters, while Vṛitra is described as encom- passing them (apaḥ pari-shayânam). Thirdly, it is a struggle to re- gain the cows (go-ishṭi); and there are several passages in the Ṛig-Veda where the cows are said to have been released by Indra after having overthrown Vṛitra. Fourthly, it is a fight to regain the day-light or heaven called (div-ishṭi), or the striving for day ; and in many places the sun and the dawn are said to be brought out by Indra after killing Vṛitra.* The following extracts from Macdonell's Vedic Mythology give the requisite authorities from the Ṛig-Veda for this four-fold character of the struggle between Indra and Vṛitra. Speaking of the terrible conflict, he thus sums up the principal incidents thereof as mentioned in the Ṛig-Veda :- "Heaven and earth tremble with fear when Indra strikes Vṛitra with his bolt (I, 80, 11 ; II, 11, 9-10; VI, 17, 9); even Tvaṣhṭṛi, who forged the bolt, trembles at Indra's anger (I, 80, 14). Indra shatters Vṛitra with his bolt (I, 32, 5); and strikes his face with his pointed weapon (I, 52, 15). He smote Vṛitra, who encompassed the waters (VI, 20, 2), or the dragon that lay around (pari-shayânam) the waters (IV, 19, 2); he overcame the dragon lying on the waters (V, 30, 6). He slew the dragon hidden in the water and obstructing the waters and the sky (II, 11, 5), and smote Vṛitra, who enclo- sed the waters, like a tree, with the bolt (II, 14, 2). Thus

• The exploits of Indra are very pithily summed up in the Nivids or short sûtras or sentences used in offering oblations to the gods. These will be found collected in a separate chapter amongst the Pari- shishṭas or supplements to the Ṛig-Veda Saṁhitâ text published in Bombay (Tatvavivechaka Press). According to Dr. Haug these Nivids are the originals of the Vedic Suktas or hymns. The Nivids, relating to Indra's exploits contain the following :—इंद्रो मरुत्वान् सोमस्य पिबतु ...। अन्वहन्नासृजदपः । महतामोजसा सह ।...। अप्तूर्ये वृत्रतूर्ये । शंबरहत्ये गविष्टौ ।..। परमस्यां परावति ।...। वज्रस्य भर्त्ता । पुरां भेत्ता ।...। अपां स्रष्टा अपां नेता । As regards the meaning of Div-ishṭi see Oldenberg's Vedic- Hymns (I, 45, 7), S. B. E. Series, Vol. XLVI. p. 44.