Gods and Saints of the Great Brahniaua. 37 



an oblation " cf. TS. 2. 5. 4. 3), 16. 6. 14, but should also avoid to 

 use a cup of Varana wood, as he might quench the god, 5. 3. 

 9—12. On the identity with Kudra, comi)are the account of gods 

 dividing up cattle and passing over Kudra, who is a slayer of cattle, 

 ghdtnka, 7. 9. 18. In case Kudra kills cattle, a cake is offered to 

 Agni Kudravat, 21. 14. 13 (TS. 2. 2. 2. 3). In 6. 9. 7-9, Mahadeva 

 kills cattle. Probably he is " that god," who in 14. 9. 12 is called 

 the Hunter, Jiiygayn, and is said to have obtained " overlordship 

 of both (kinds oi) cattle'' (PW. only as name of Brahman). The same 

 expression is used of Prthi Vainya,i 13. 5. 20. The " three lights ' 

 are Fire, Sun, and Moon, 12. 13. 32 (VS. 8. 36). Compare TS. 6. 

 2. 3. 1; 3. 9. 3; TB. 1. 1. 8. 4; 4. 3. 6. 



Lesser Gods and Demons. 



The relation between the Creator and the other gods is that of 

 a father, who helps them in all difticulties. More interesting is 

 the relation between the gods and demons. The chief difference 

 between these is that the demons represent darkness and the gods 

 light, the demons evil, the gods good. But there is some historical 

 feeling in the statement that the gods were " younger brothers of 

 the demons " (both being " children of the Creator," historically a 

 damaging addition !) and that the demons were stronger, did some- 

 times jirevail, and would often have prevailed, had it not been for 

 the help of the Father-god; e.g. 8, 3. 1, P. helps gods to drive out 

 the demons, as they struggle for the worlds, by the Kaleya (' dri- 

 ver.') It is to be noticed that the interpretation of the gods as 

 younger brothers of the demons, though a favorite opetiing of the 

 '^Q., is apparently new to the PB., as it is mentioned only in 18. 1. 2 : 

 " Gods and demons were both sons of the Father-god. The demons 

 were greater and stronger ; the gods were littler (yovmger) ; the 

 gods took refuge with the Father-god (who saved them by disco\- 

 ering the iipahavya rite and, lest the demons should spoil the 

 sacrilice, by performing it " unexplained.") It is nowhere said that 

 the demons (like the gods) were presented with immortality by the 

 Creator. The means employed by the gods to defeat the demons 

 is, of course, a metre or rite. " The gods could not overcome the 

 night into which the demons had gone, till they used the Anustubh 

 and Viraj ('• light ") and thus discovered them hiding in darkness," 



1 Vrt3Ui has the overlordship of ^-forest <'iittle." 23. 13. 2. 



