Page:Lays of Ancient India.djvu/41

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INDRA, THE RAIN-GIVER.

"Vritra is supposed to confine the waters, and will not let them descend until the sky-god or rain-god, Indra, strikes the monster with his thunderbolt. The captive waters theil descend in copious showers, rivers rise almost instantaneously, and gods and men rejoice over the changed face of nature."—Civilisation in Ancient India, vol. i. p. 79.

1.

I sing the lay, our fathers knew,—
How Indra mighty Vritra slew!
He pierced the rain-cloud in his might,
And gave us water, copious, bright!
The joyous mountain streams rolled swiftly by,
For Indra cleared for them the rocky way!

2.

He pierced the rain-cloud, stout of heart,
And Tvashtri forged the lightning's dart!
The grateful showers in torrents fell,
And joyous streamlets roar and swell!
And as the milch-kine hasten to their young,
Unto the sea the streamlets speed along!

3.

Impetuous like a bull in might,
Indra, eager for the fight,

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