MR J. MUIR ON THE PRINCIPAL DEITIES OF THE RIGVEDA. 573 



beverage. The juice itself is called an immortal draught, and a medicine for the 

 sick. The god, too, is said to cover whatever is naked, to heal v^hatever is 

 diseased ; through him the blind sees, and the lame walks. The most magnificent 

 attributes and functions are assigned to him. He is the friend, the ally, and the 

 soul of Indra, whose vigour he stimulates, and whom he renders triumphant in 

 his conflicts with Vrittra. He rides in Tndra's chariot ; he is armed with sharp 

 and terrible weapons ; and he is, like Indra, the destroyer of hostile demons, and 

 the overthrower of their cities. And not only so, but he is also declared to be 

 the father of the gods, the creator of the sky and the earth, of Agni, of Surya, of 

 Indra, and of Vishnu. All creatures are in his hand ; he is the king of gods and 

 men, the upholder of the heavens, and the sustainer of the earth ; he destroys 

 darkness, and causes the sun to rise. He is thousand-eyed, beholds all worlds, 

 and strikes down the impious into the abyss. He is the possessor of all resources. 

 He bestows immortality on gods and men ; and it is worthy of remark that in a 

 passage (ix. 113, 7 flf.) where the joys of paradise are more distinctly anticipated 

 and described than in most other parts of the Rigveda, the deity from whom this 

 future felicity is asked is Soma. Two of the verses of this hymn are as follows : — 

 " Place me, purified god, in that everlasting and imperishable world, where 

 there is eternal light and glory. Indu (Soma), flow for Indra. Make me im- 

 mortal in that world where King Vaivasvata (Yama) lives, where is the innermost 

 sphere of the heaven, where those great waters flow. Indu, flow for Indra," &c. 



" 2. These draughts impel me with the force of tempests in their furious course. 

 I've quaffed the soma draught. 



" 3. They drive me like a car that speeds when whirled along by flying steeds. 

 I've quaffed, &c. 



" 4. Not fonder to her calf the cow than that fond hymn which seeks me now. 

 I've quaffed, &c. 



" 5. I turn it over while I muse, as carpenter the log he hews. 

 I've quaffed, &c. 



" 6. The tribes of men, the nations all, I count as something very small. 

 I've quaffed, &c. 



" 7. The sky and earth, though vast they be, don't equal even the half of me. 

 I've quaffed, &c. 



" 8. The heavens in greatness I surpass, and this broad earth, though huge her mass. 

 I've quaffed, &c. 



" 9. Come, let me as a plaything seize, and put her wheresoe'er I please. 

 I've quaffed, &c. 



"10. Come, let me smite with vigorous blow, and send her flying to and fro. 

 I've quaffed, &c. 



" 11. My half is in the heavenly sphere; I've dragged the other half down here. 

 I've quaffed, &c. 



" 12. How great my glory and my power ! Aloft into the skies I tower. 

 I've quaffed, &c. 



" 13. I'm ready now to mount in air, oblations for the gods to bear. 

 I've quaffed the soma draught." 



