186, the poet calls on Wind to bring health to the worshipper, and to prolong his life.

He addresses Wind as 'father and brother and friend,' asking the power that blows to bring him ambrosia, of which Wind has a store.

These are rather pretty verses without special theological intent, addressed more to Wind as such than to a spiritual power.

The other hymn from the same book is directed to V[=a]ta also, not to V[=a]yu, and though it is loftier in tone and even speaks of V[=a]ta as the soul of the gods, yet is it evident that no consistent mythology has worked upon the purely poetic phraseology, which is occupied merely with describing the rushing of a mighty wind (x.

168).