Cox, George - Aryan Mythology Vol 2.pdf

DWARF GODS. 105
Krishna, who, having become the son of Aditi, was called CHAP.
Vishnu. 1 In the Bhagavata Purana the story assumes pro- _^J_
portions almost as vast as those of the god whom it seeks to
glorify. No sooner has Bali granted the seemingly moderate
request of Hari or Vishnu, than the body of the dwarf begins
to expand and fills the whole universe, and Bali is bound
with the chains of Varuna. 2 This dwarf appears elsewhere
in the person of the child Kumara, the son of Aushasi, the
daughter of the dawn. 3 Thus throughout we are dealing
with phrases which the Hindu commentators knew to be
mere phrases ; and thus without a thought of injustice done
to the deities whom he seemed to disparage, the worshipper
could say that Varuna himself and the Asvins do the bidding
of Vishnu, and that Vishnu is more beneficent than his chosen
companion Indra.
6 King Varuna and the Asvins wait on the decree of this
ruler, attended by the Maruts : Vishnu possesses excellent
wisdom, which knows the proper day, and with his friend
opens up the cloud.
* The divine Vishnu who has chosen companionship with
the beneficent Indra, himself more beneficent, the wise god
has gratified the Arya.' 4
And again,
' Thou, Agni, art Indra, bountiful to the good ; thou art
Vishnu, the wide-stepping, the adorable.' 5
So when Indra is about to smite Vritra, he is at once Majesty of
represented as bidding his friend Vishnu to stride vastly.
6 Friend* Vishnu, stride vastly : sky, give room for the
thunderbolt to strike ; let us slay Vritra and let loose the
waters.' 6
Yet although in some passages Vishnu is described as
having established the heavens and the earth, and as sus-
1 Muir, Sanskrit Texts, pt. iv. p. 118. contempt. The idea of mere diminu-
2
Id. ib. p. 125, &c.
3
Id. ib. p. 284. The diminutive size
of many of the heroes of popular tradition
must be traced to this idea. Odystiveness
issues at length in the stories
of Tom Thumb : but Tom Thumb is in
reality as little to be despised as any
other hero of Aryan legends.
seus is small, when he stands, as com- 4 It V. i. 156 ; Muir, Sanskrit Texts,
pared with Menelaos: in other words part iv. p. 66.
he is Shortshanks (Grimm). Boots is
5 Muir, ib.
despised for his insignificant stature,
6 R. V. viii. 89, 12; Muir, ib. p. 68.
and the Master Thief incurs the same