The sweets which the Acvins bring are either on their chariot, or, as is often related, in a bag; or they burst forth from the hoof of their steed.  Pegasus’ spring in Helicon has been compared with this.  Their vehicles are variously pictured as birds, horses, ships, etc.  It is to be noticed that in no one of their attributes are the Acvins unique.  Other gods bring sweets, help, protect, give offspring, give healing medicines, and, in short, do all that the Acvins do.  But, as Bergaigne points out, they do all this pacifically, while Indra, who performs some of their wonders, does so by storm.  He protects by not injuring, and helps by destroying foes.  Yet is this again true only in general, and the lines between warlike, peaceful, and ‘sovereign’ gods are often crossed.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 1:  Such for instance as the hymn to the Acvins, RV. ii. 39.  Compare verses 3-4:  ’Come (ye pair of Acvins) like two horns; like two hoofs; like two geese; like two wheels; like two ships; like two spans’; etc.  This is the content of the whole hymn.]

     [Footnote 2:  Deva is ‘shining’ (deus), and S[=u]rya
     (sol, [Greek:  aelios]) means the same.]

     [Footnote 3:  Let the reader note at the outset that there is
     scarcely an activity considered as divine which does not
     belong to several gods (see below).]

     [Footnote 4:  From su, sav, enliven, beget, etc.  In RV. iv.
     53.6 and vii, 63.2, pra-savitar.]

     [Footnote 5:  RV.  VII. 66. 14-15; compare X. 178. 1.  In the
     notes immediately following the numbers all refer to the Rig
     Veda.]

     [Footnote 6:  V. 47, 3; compare vs. 7, and X. 189. 1-2.]

     [Footnote 7:  Compare X. 177. 1.]

     [Footnote 8:  X. 37. 9.]

     [Footnote 9:  V. 63. 7.  Varuna and Mitra set the sun’s car in
     heaven.]

     [Footnote 10:  1 IV. 13. 2-5; X. 37, 4; 85, 1.  But ib. 149.
     1.  Savitar holds the sky ‘without support.’]

     [Footnote 11:  VII 63.1; I. 115.11; X. 37. 1.]

     [Footnote 12:  III. 61.4; VII. 63. 3.]

     [Footnote 13:  VII 78.3.]

     [Footnote 14:  I. 56,4; IX. 84. 2; Compare I. 92. 11; 115, 2;
     123. 10-12.  V. 44. 7, and perhaps 47.6, are late.  VII. 75.
     5, is an exception (or late).]

     [Footnote 15:  La Religion Vedique, I.6; II. 2.]

     [Footnote 16:  Ehni, Yama, p. 134.]

     [Footnote 17:  RV., IV. 54. 2.  Here the sun gives life even
     to the gods.]

     [Footnote 18:  Ten hundred and twenty-eight hymns are
     contained in the ‘Rig Veda Collection.’]

     [Footnote 19:  IV. 14.]