Great Indian Religion

Author(s): G T Bettany
Publisher: Ward Lock Bowden and Co

Page 20

8
THE EARLY VEDIC RELIGION.
Whoever far beyond the sky should think his way to wing, He could not there elude the grasp of Varuna the King. His spies descending from the skies glide all the world around, Their thousand eyes all-scanning sweep to earth's remotest bound. Whate'er exists in heaven and earth, whate'er beyond the skies, Before the eyes of Varuna, the King, unfolded lies.
The ceaseless winkings all he counts of every mortal's eyes; He wields this universal frame, as gamester throws his dice. Those knotted nooses which thou fling'st, O God, the bad to snare, All liars let them overtake, but all the truthful spare."
In this and in many other passages Varuna appears as a moral Being of high elevation. His forgiveness is implored by the Rishi or sacred bard; and it is urged that wine, anger, dice, or thoughtlessness have led him astray. Very much the same attributes are ascribed to Mitra and Varuna together as to the latter alone. It will be seen later how closely the Zoroastrian Mithra resembles the Indian Mitra; and there cannot be much doubt that this conception of the Deity
INDRA (FROM A NATIVE PICTURE).
existed previous to the separation of the Indian from the Iranian (Persian) branch. Later, Varuna became specially associated with the rule over water, and was solicited to send flood and rain from the sky.
Indra the
Indra and Agni, at first less important than god of the the foregoing, later grow in importance: they clear blue were born of parents, and have various striking qualities, and there are many features of
sky.