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The Angiras Rishis 169
truth-thinking and seven-rayed, whose seven rays of the light
hold that truth which he thinks (r.tadhītim) and whose seven
mouths repeat the word that expresses the truth, the god of
whom it is said (IV.50.4-5), “Brihaspati coming first to birth out
of the great Light in the highest heaven, born in many forms,
seven-mouthed, seven-rayed (saptāsyah. saptara´smih. ), by his cry
dispelled the darkness; he by his host with the Rik and the Stubh
(the hymn of illumination and the rhythm that affirms the gods)
broke Vala by his cry.” It cannot be doubted that by this host
or troop of Brihaspati (sus.t.ubhā r.kvatā gan. ena) aremeantthe
Angiras Rishis who by the true mantra help in the great victory.
Indra is also described as becoming an Angiras or as becoming
possessed of the Angiras quality. “May he become most
Angiras with the Angirases, being the Bull with bulls (the bull
is the male power or Purusha, nr., with regard to the Rays and
the Waters who are the cows, gāvah. , dhenavah. ), the Friend with
friends, the possessor of the Rik with those who have the Rik
(r.gmibhir r.gmī), with those who make the journey (gātubhih. ,
the souls that advance on the path towards the Vast and True)
the greatest; may Indra become associated with the Maruts
(marutvān) for our thriving.” The epithets here (I.100.4) are all
the proper epithets of the Angiras Rishis and Indra is supposed
to take upon himself the qualities or relations that constitute
Angirashood. So in III.31.7, “Most illumined in knowledge
(vipratamah. , answering to the vepis.t.ho a ˙ngirasā ˙m viprah. of
VI.11.3), becoming a friend (sakhīyan, the Angirases are friends
or comrades in the great battle) he went (agacchad, upon the
path, cf. gātubhih. , discovered by Sarama); the hill sped forth
its pregnant contents (garbham) for the doer of the good work;
strong in manhood with the young (maryo yuvabhih. , the youth
also giving the idea of unaging, undecaying force) he sought
fullness of riches and won possession (sasāna makhasyan); so
at once, chanting the hymn (arcan), he became an Angiras.”
This Indra who assumes all the qualities of the Angiras is, we
must remember, the Lord of Swar, the wide world of the Sun
or the Truth, and descends to us with his two shining horses,
harī, which are called in one passage sūryasya ketū, the sun’s