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JONE, 1921) TRANS-HIMALAYAN REMINISCENCES IN PALI LITERATURE
183
Other Collateral Evidence
(1) THE RIGVEDA. There is unmistakable evidence in the Rigveda to the effect that the land of the five rivers was not the original home of the Indo-Aryans :
(a) 3EET fruita atat Ura Toft
भहनहिमन्वपस्ततः प्रावक्षणा अभिनत् पवतानाम् ॥ [ I shall presently speak about the first and foremost deeds done by Indra, the wielder of thunder (71). He killed Ahi (cloud); brought down the rain ; and clove the mountains for making paths for the flowing waters.)
This preserves the memory of what the Rishis actually saw on the mountains where they once lived.
(6) 330 Waga Terawat TTT seara:
याचित्रो महिना पय॑तिष्ठन् त्रासामहिः पत्सुतः कीबभूव (Just as a river overflows its fallen banks, the delightful waters are flowing over the prostrate vritra (cloud); Vitra (cloud), who kept the waters in confinement by his prowess when he was alive, is now lying under their feet.]
This is a faithful picture of what takes place after a thunder-storm in the mountains. The display of lightning and heavy roll of thunder as dark masses of cloud are driven upon the hill tops, the copious shower following upon it and then the scattered flakes clinging to the mountain side and the rushing torrents running down to the valleys below. It is only in a mountain country that this beautiful cloud-myth could have originated.
(c) दासपबीरहिगोपा अतिष्ठन्त्रिरुदा भापः पपिनेव गावः ।
अपां विलमपिहितं यदासीद्रवं जघन्वा भप सहवार ॥ Like the kine which were concealed by Pani, the waters were confined by Vitra (cloud) who is their husband and master. Indra killed Vitra (cloud), and cleared the path along which the waters flowed, and which was obstructed by Vitra (cloud).]
The hill streams, which are ordinarily dry, become flooded and rush down in torrents after a heavy shower. This is a common sight in the mountains after a thunder-storm. It is impossible to explain this verse and the one preceding it unless on the supposition that these scenes were witnessed in mountain regions and not on the plains watered by the five rivers.
(d) 342ąrat argare
तम्तिो अर्थ चेतति यूथेन वृष्णिरेजति ॥ When the sacrificer climbed from hill to hill (for collecting the soma plant etc.), a large quantity was collected (of soma etc.). Indra knows why this was being done and is shaking with excitement in his eagerness to come to the sacrificial ground) with his whole host.]
The first part of the verse brings toʻus the memory of a time when the sacrificer used to go from hill to hill collecting soma and other things required for a sacrifice.
(e) are quarrafa t il
प्रो भारत मरुतो दुर्मदा इव देवासः सर्वया विद्या । [Shaking the mountains, driving apart great trees (lit. lords of the forest). Oh MarutDevas, you go freely with all your followers like those who are drunk.] This again is a vivid picture of a storm in the mountains.
0 अमी बरक्षा निहितास उचा मोह चिपिवेयुः।
भदब्धानि वरुणस्थ ब्रतानि विचाकाचन्द्रमा नक्कमेति ॥ [Those Rikshas (the seven Rishis or the Great Bear) placed high up in the sky, are seen at night, where do they go during the day! The deeds of King Varuņa no one can ainsay. It is by his command that the moon moved in splendour at night.] Rigveda, 1. 32. 1. 33 Ibid., I. 32. 8.
# Ibid., I. 10. 2.
