130 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [April, 1909. 
in an obscure rik in the Rigveda (I, 158. 5). He is a villain and 
a Das. So the matter stands thus :— : 
(1) In the Rigveda Gandharva is one of the most respected 
characters. According to the Avesta Ganderwa is a demon. 
(2) Yama’s character towards the end of his reign has been 
magnified in the Rigveda and cursed in the Avesta. 
(3) Trita’s character towards the end of his reign has been 
lowered in the Avesta but the Rigvedic Risis have deified him. 
(4) In the Rigveda Traitana is a villain. The Avesta as- 
name. This does not seem to be a correct view. For it pre- 
supposes the existence of a character called Trita or third. 
But how could such a name be given to a god or man or even to 
a thing from whichever basis 7'rita might have been originally 
conceived unless there were also a first and a second, 7.¢€., an 
Ekata and a Dvita? That the very original idea involved the 
existence of three beings or objects—for some reason or other 
called first, second and third—Zkata, Dvita and Trita—there 
cannot be any doubt. According to Professor Macdonell Tita 
was originally lightning, a form of Agni, the sun and the terres- 
trial fire being the other two forms. I have already given 
the middle or the second form. This exception is a late rik in 
the X Mandal, namely, X, 45-1. 5 : 
feaefe sud ag afmemfeda ufe saaer: | 
ealany samt wraaarst i Acs | pei By 1% 
Agni was first born out of heaven ; the All-knower, in the 
second place, came from us. 
irdly, the Friend of man was born in waters. The pious 
always kindles and praises him— X, 45-1. 
1s statement that it was in the third place that Agni 
was born in waters, that is, that lightning was the third form 
