61.) to that of mediaeval literature,[38] and is found in full in the epic, as in the Brahmanic period; but the story always ends with the horror of the gods at the act.[39] Old legends are varied.

The victory over Vritra is now expounded thus: Indra, who slays Vritra, is the sun.

Vritra is the moon, who swims into the sun's mouth on the night of the new moon.

The sun rises after swallowing him, and the moon is invisible because he is swallowed ("he who knows this swallows his foes").

The sun vomits out the moon, and the latter is then seen in the west, and increases again, to serve the sun as food.