Religious Conceptions and Feeling 187
transparent. It menus “to set one’s heart upon. ” This etymology, which is still quite clear to the Ve- dic poets, shows it full of ethical possibilities. The word starts well in the Ringeda. It means first of all belief in the existence and godhend of the gods. So, :1 poet is anxious to melee certain the position of t11egodIndrn,thnt blustering, pinchbeok, braggnrt, I‘lorouloen god whose shortcomings have gone far to establish a certain position for the Vedic {teethinken
The poets say of him:
“ The terrible one of whom they ask, where is he? Nny verily they say of him, he is not at all. He makes shrink the goods of his enemy like a gambler the stakes of his opponent : Put your faith in him-“He, 0 folks, is Indra.”
(Rig-Veda. 2. I2. 5.)
“ As a. strong warrior, he verily fights with might great battles in behalf of the people. Aye, then they have faith in strong Indra, as he hurls down his weapon.”
(Ringeda I. 5 5, 5.)
“Who, whet mortal, can overcome hirn whose treasure thou art, 0 Indra? Through faith in thee, O liberal God, on the decisive day, does he that strives obtain
booty.” (Rig—Veda 7. 32. I4.) 80 there is no doubt that faith means the belief in the existence of the gods, and their interference in the life of man. It would be doing injustice to those
