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II KÂNDA, I ADHYÂYA, 2 BRAHMANA, 17.
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14. Indra then considered?, 'If they construct that (fire-altar), they will certainly prevail over us.' He secured a brick and proceeded thither, passing himself off for a Brâhman.
15. Hark ye!' he said, 'I, too, will put on this (brick) for myself!' Very well,' they replied. He put it on. That fire (altar) of theirs wanted but very little to be completely built up,
16. When he said, 'I shall take back this (brick) which belongs to me.' He took hold of it and pulled it out; and on its being pulled out, the fire-altar fell down; and along with the falling fire-altar the Asuras fell down. He then converted those bricks into thunderbolts and clove the (Asuras') necks.
17. Thereupon the gods assembled and said, Wonderfully (kitram) indeed it has fared with us who have slain so many enemies !' Hence the wonderful nature (kitråtval of the asterism
stituted for mountains; and if we bear in mind that the later versions of the myth, e.g. in the well-known passage of Ovid, put the Gigantes in the place of the Aloades.' See also Weber, Nakshatra, II, p. 372.
1 The Kânva text here proceeds thus: The gods then were afraid and said, “If those (Asuras) complete (samâsyanti) that (firealtar), they will prevail over us.' Then Indra having fastened a brick with the lightning-band (årkena dâmna) went thither passing himself off for a Brâhman. He said, I, too, will put on this (brick) for myself.' They said, 'On then (upa hi)!' He put it on. That (fire-altar) wanted but very little to be built up, when he said, 'I shall take this (brick) which is mine.' 'Take it then (å hi)!' they said. Then seizing it (tâm abhihaya) he pulled it out. On its being pulled out the fire-altar tumbled down. On the fire-altar having tumbled down he made thunderbolts with those bricks and smote those (Asuras). Then the gods prevailed and the Asuras were worsted, &c.
Or, perhaps, its identity with (Indra's brick) Kitrâ; cf. preceding note.
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