A READER IN COMPARATIVE INDO-EUROPEAN MYTHOLOGY

7 To thee, dispeller of the night, O Agni, day by day with prayer
Bringing thee reverence, we come
8 Ruler of sacrifices, guard of Law eternal, radiant One,
Increasing in thine own abode.
9 Be to us easy of approach, even as a father to his son:
Agni, be with us for our weal.
2. The myth of Indra and the dragon Vrtra, RV I.32 1-5
1. indrasya nu vryāni pra vocam
yni cakra prathamni vajr |
ahann ahim anv apas tatarda
pra vaksan abhinat parvatnm ||
2. ahann ahim parvate sisriynam
tvasṭsmai vajram svaryam tataksa |
vsr iva dhenavah syandamnh-
an~jah samudram ava jagmur pah ||
3. vrsyamno 'vrnta somam
trikadrukesv apibat sutasya |
syakam maghavdatta vajram
ahann enam prathamajm ahnm ||
4. yad indrhan prathamajm ahnm
n myinm aminh prota myh |
t sryam janayan dym ussam
tdtn satrum na kil vivitse ||
5. ahan vrtram vrtrataram vyamsam
indro vajrena mahat vadhena |
skandhmsva kulisen vivrkn-
-ahih sayata upaprk prthivyh ||
1 I WILL declare the manly deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the Thunder-wielder.
He slew the Dragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the mountain
torrents.
2 He slew the Dragon lying on the mountain: his heavenly bolt of thunder Tvastar fashioned.
Like lowing kine in rapid flow descending the waters glided downward to the ocean.
3 Impetuous as a bull, he chose the Soma and in three sacred beakers drank the juices.
Maghavan grasped the thunder for his weapon, and smote to death this firstborn of the
dragons.
4 When, Indra, thou hadst slain the dragon's firstborn, and overcome the charms of the
enchanters,
Then, giving life to Sun and Dawn and Heaven, thou foundest not one foe to stand against
thee.
5 Indra with his own great and deadly thunder smote into pieces Vrtra, worst of Vrtras.
As trunks of trees, what time the axe hath felled them, low on the earth so lies the prostrate
Dragon.
3. The hymn to the Dawn, RV 1.48 1. saha vmena na uso