2 26 The Honey-Makers 



The two AsVins/ children of the sun and moon, spirits of 

 the dawn, giving birth to the new day, demigods who con- 

 cerned themselves with the welfare of man and gave him 

 good gifts, bore honey in their three-wheeled chariot. 



In the old Hindu belief honey gave strength, wealth, 

 good-fortune, knowledge, and offspring to man. 



In the "Rig-Veda," the fine invocations to the As'wins 

 contain frequent references to the honey they bear, as is 

 shown by the following : — 



" Aswins, men who desire to glorify you with their hymns, 

 cause, as it were, their praises to be heard, propitiating you 

 with oblations ; for, from you who are possessed of all 

 opulence, they obtain every kind of wealth and abundant 

 food. Dasras,^ the feUies of the wheels of your honey-laden 

 car drop honey, carried in your golden car." 



"When, As'wins, you harness your bounty-shedding 

 chariot, refresh our strength with trickhng honey : bestow 

 abundant food upon our people : may we acquire riches in 

 the strife of heroes." 



" May the three-wheeled cart of the As'wins, drawn by 

 swift horses, laden with honey, three-canopied, filled with 

 treasure, and every way auspicious, come to our presence, 

 and bring prosperity to our people and our cattle." 



" Bring us, Aswins, vigour : animate us with your honied 

 speech : prolong our existence ; wipe away our sins ; de- 

 stroy our foes ; be ever our associates." 



" With those aids by which you defended Kris'ariu in 

 battle, with which you succored the horse of the young 

 Purukutsa in speed, and by which you deliver the pleasant 

 honey to the bees ; with them, As'wins, come willingly 

 hither." 



1 Quotations from Hindu literature having been taken from vari- 

 ous translators, the accents used are those of the translators quoted. 

 - Another name for Aswins. 



