[79] Muir, loc. cit. 5, 193 ff.
[80] "Rigveda," 1, 49; 1, 92; 1, 2, 5; 1, 113, 19 in Benfey's rendering, "Orient," 1, 404; 2, 257; 3, 155. The three skilful Ribhus, who are frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, are assistants of the spirits of light. They assist the gods to liberate the cows, which the spirits of the night have fastened in the rock-stable, i. e. the bright clouds.
[81] The spirits of light are called sons of Aditi, i. e. of the Eternal, Unlimited, Infinite; seven or eight sons are ascribed to her; Hillebrandt, "Die Göttin Aditi." Originally Aditi meant, in mythology, merely the non-ending, the imperishable, in opposition to the perishable world, and the gods are called the sons of immortality because they cannot die. Darmesteter, "Haurvatat," p. 83.
[82] "Rigveda," 1, 50, according to Sonne's translation in Kuhn, "Z. V. Spr." 12, 267 ff.; cf. Benfey's rendering, "Orient," 1, 405.
[83] "Rigveda," 1, 35, according to Roth's translation; cf. Benfey, "Orient," 1, 53.
[84] "Rigveda," 2, 38, according to Roth's translation, "Z. D. M. G." 1870, 306 ff.
[85] Muir, loc. cit. 5, 171 ff. Kaegi, "Rigveda," 2, 43.
[86] Kuhn, "Herabkunft des Feuers," s. 66.
[87] "Rigveda," 1, 51, 5; 2, 12, 12.
[88] "Rigveda," 1, 32, according to Roth's translation; cf. Benfey, "Orient," 1, 46.