"It is curious," says Mueller, "to watch the almost imperceptible
transition by which the phenomena of nature, if reflected in the mind of
the poet, assume the character of divine beings. The dawn is frequently
described in the Veda as it might be described by a modern poet. She is
the friend of men, she smiles like a young wife, she is the daughter of
the sky." "But the transition from _devi_, the bright, to _devi_, the
goddess, is so easy; the daughter of the sky assumes so readily the same
personality which is given to the sky, Dyaus, her father, that we can only
guess whether in every passage the poet is speaking of a bright
apparition, or of a bright goddess; of a natural vision, or of a visible
deity. The following hymn of Vashishtha will serve as an instance:--

"She shines upon us, like a young wife, rousing every living being to
go to his work. The fire had to be kindled by men; she brought light by
striking down darkness.

"She rose up, spreading far and wide, and moving towards every one. She
grew in brightness, wearing her brilliant garment. The mother of the
cows (of the morning clouds), the leader of the days, she shone
gold-colored, lovely to behold.

"She, the fortunate, who brings the eye of the god, who leads the white
and lovely steed (of the sun), the Dawn was seen, revealed by her rays;
with brilliant treasures she follows every one.

"Thou, who art a blessing where thou art near, drive far away the
unfriendly; make the pastures wide, give us safety! Remove the haters,
bring treasures! Raise wealth to the worshipper, thou mighty Dawn.

"Shine for us with thy best rays, thou bright Dawn, thou who
lengthenest our life, thou the love of all, who givest us food, who
givest us wealth in cows, horses, and chariots.

"Thou, daughter of the sky, thou high-born Dawn, whom the Vasishthas
magnify with songs, give us riches high and wide: all ye gods, protect
us always with your blessings!"

"This hymn, addressed to the Dawn, is a fair specimen of the original
simple poetry of the Veda. It has no reference to any special sacrifice,
it contains no technical expressions, it can hardly be called a hymn, in
our sense of the word. It is simply a poem expressing, without any effort,
without any display of far-fetched thought or brilliant imagery, the
feelings of a man who has watched the approach of the Dawn with mingled
delight and awe, and who was move