Transparent and Opaque Gods 171

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The following specimen shows the tone of the not too numerous hymns addressed to him:

Rig- Veda 6.. 54,

Guide us, 0 Pushan, to a man Who, wise, straightway shall point the way, And say to us : “ LO, here it is! ”

With l’fishan joined let us go forth; He points our houses out to us, And saith to us : “Right here they are E ”

His chariot’s Wheel doth never break; Its seat cloth never tumble down; Nor doth his wheel’s rim ever crack.

Whoso payeth tribute to the god Him Pushan never doth forget ; That man is first to gather wealth.

May Pushan follow our kins, May he protect: our horses too, And furnish us with solid wealth l

May naught be lost, nor aught be hurt ; May naught be injured in the pit ; Our cattle sound bring back to us 1

May Pfishan pass his good right hand Around about and far and wide, And drive our lost goods back to us I

The standard interpretation of this god is again as a sun-god. This is well supported by some higher