
The Rig Veda, Book 1, Verses 100 - 110

HYMN C. Indra.
1. MAY he who hath his home with strength, the
Mighty, the King supreme of earth and spacious heaven,
Lord
of true power, to he invoked in battles,-may Indra, girt by
Maruts, be our succour.
2 Whose way is unattainable like
Surya's: he in each fight is the strong Vrtra-slayer,
Mightiest
with his Friends in his own courses. May Indra, girt by Maruts,
be our succour.
3 Whose paths go forth in their great might
resistless, forthmilking, as it were, heaven's genial moisture.
With manly strength triumphant, foe-subduer,-may Indra, girt
by Maruts, be our succour.
4 Among Angirases he was the chiefest,
a Friend with friends, mighty amid the mighty.
Praiser mid
praisers, honoured most of singers. May Indra, girt by Maruts,
be our succour.
5 Strong with the Rudras as with his own
children, in manly battle conquering his foemen '
With his
close comrades doing deeds of glory,-may Indra, girt by Maruts,
be our succour.
6 Humbler of pride, exciter of the conflict,
the Lord of heroes, God invoked of many,
May he this day
gain with our men the sunlight. May Indra, girt by Maruts, be
oursuccour.
7 His help hath made him cheerer in the battle,
the folk have made him guardian of their comfort.
Sole Lord is he of every holy service. May Indra, girt by
Maruts, be our succour.
8 To him the Hero, on high days of
prowess, heroes for help and booty shall betake them.
He
hath found light even in the blinding darkness. May Indra, girt
by Maruts, be our succour.
9 He with his left hand checketh
even the mighty, and with his righthand gathereth up the booty.
Even with the humble he acquireth riches. May Indra, girt by
Maruts, be our succour.
10 With hosts on foot and cars he
winneth treasures: well is he known this day by all the people.
With manly might he conquereth those who hate him. May Indra,
girt by Maruts, be our succour.
11 When in his ways with
kinsmen or with strangers he speedeth to the fight, invoked
of many,
For gain of waters, and of sons and grandsons, may
Indra, girt by Maruts, be our succour.
12 Awful and fierce,
fiend-slayer, thunder-wielder, with boundless knowledge, hymned
by hundreds, mighty,
In strength like Soma, guard of the
Five Peoples, may Indra, girt by Maruts, be our succour.
13 Winning the light, hitherward roars his thunder like the
terrific mighty voice of Heaven.
Rich gifts and treasures
evermore attend him. May Indra, girt by Maruts, be our succour.
14 Whose home eternal through his strength surrounds him on
every side, his laud, the earth and heaven,
May he, delighted
with our service, save us. May Indra, girt by Maruts, be our
succour.
15 The limit of whose power not Gods by Godhead,
nor mortal men have reached, nor yet the Waters.
Both Earth
and Heaven in vigour he surpasseth. May Indra, girt by Maruts,
he our succour.
16 The red and tawny mare, blaze-marked,
high standing, celestial who, to bring Rjrasva riches,
Drew
at the pole the chariot yoked with stallions, joyous, among
the hosts of men was noted.
17 The Varsagiras unto thee,
O Indra, the Mighty One, sing forth this laud to please thee,
Rjrasva with his fellows, Ambarisa, Suradhas, Sahadeva, Bhayamana.
18 He, much invoked, hath slain Dasyus and Simyus, after his
wont, and laid them low with arrows.
The mighty Thunderer
with his fair-complexioned friends won the land, the sunlight,
and the waters.
19 May Indra evermore be our protector, and
unimperilled may we win the booty.
This prayer of ours may
Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN CI. Indra.
1. SING, with oblation, praise to him who maketh
glad, who with Rjisvan drove the dusky brood away.
Fain for
help, him the strong whose right hand wields the bolt, him girt
by Maruts we invoke to be our Friend.
2 Indra, who with triumphant
wrath smote Vyamsa down, and Sambara, and Pipru the unrighteous
one;
Who extirpated Susna the insatiate, him girt by Maruts
we invoke to be our Friend.
3 He whose great work of manly
might is heaven and earth, and Varuna and Surya keep his holy
law;
Indra, whose law the rivers follow as they flow,-him
girt by Maruts we invoke to be our Friend.
4 He who is Lord
and Master of the steeds and kine, honoured -the firm and sure-
at every holy act;
Stayer even of the strong who pours no
offering out, -him girt by Maruts we invoke to be our Friend.
5 He who is Lord of all the world that moves and breathes, who
for the Brahman first before all found the Cows;
Indra who
cast the Dasyus down beneath his feet,-him girt by Maruts we
invoke to be our Friend.
6 Whom cowards must invoke and valiant
men of war, invoked by those who conquer and by those who flee;
Indra, to whom all beings turn their constant thought,-him
girt by Maruts we invoke to be our Friend.
7 Refulgent in
the Rudras' region he proceeds, and with the Rudras through
the wide space speeds the Dame.
The hymn of praise extols
Indra the far-renowned: him girt by Maruts we invoke to be our
Friend.
8 O girt by Maruts, whether thou delight thee in
loftiest gathering-place or lowly dwelling,
Come thence unto
our rite, true boon-best-ower: through love of thee have we
prepared oblations.
9 We, fain for thee, strong Indra, have
pressed Soma, and, O thou sought with prayer, have made oblations.
Now at this sacrifice, with all thy Maruts, on sacred grass,
O team-borne God, rejoice thee.
10 Rejoice thee with thine
own Bay Steeds, O Indra, unclose thy jaws and let thy lips be
open.
Thou with the fair cheek, let thy Bay Steeds bring
thee: gracious to us, he pleased with our oblation.
11 Guards
of the camp whose praisers are the Maruts, may we through Indra,
get ourselves the booty.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant,
and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN CII. Indra.
1. To thee the Mighty One I bring this mighty
hymn, for thy desire hath been gratified by my laud.
In Indra,
yea in him victorious through his strength, the Gods have joyed
at feast and when the Soma flowed.
2 The Seven Rivers bear
his glory far and wide, and heaven and sky and earth display
his comely form.
The Sun and Moon in change alternate run
their course, that we, O Indra, may behold and may have faith.
3 Maghavan, grant us that same car to bring us spoil, thy conquering
car in which we joy in shock of fight.
Thou, Indra, whom
our hearts praise highly in the war, grant shelter, Maghavan,
to us who love thee well.
4 Encourage thou our side in every
fight: may we, with thee for our ally, conquer the foeman's
host.
Indra, bestow on us joy and felicity break down, O
Maghavan, the vigour of our foes.
5 For here in divers ways
these men invoking thee, holder of treasures, sing hymns to
win thine aid.
Ascend the car that thou mayest bring spoil
to us, for, Indra, thy fixt winneth the victory.
6 His arms
win kine, his power is boundless in each act best, with a hundred
helps waker of battle's din
Is Indra: none may rival him
in mighty strength. Hence, eager for the spoil the people call
on him.
7 Thy glory, Maghavan, exceeds a hundred yea, more
than a hundred, than a thousand mid the folk,
The great bowl
hath inspirited thee boundlessly: so mayst thou slay the Vrtras
breaker-down of forts!
8 Of thy great might there is a three
counterpart, the three earths, Lord men and the three realms
of light.
Above this whole world, Indra, thou hast waxen
great: without a foe art thou, nature, from of old.
9 We
invocate thee first among the Deities: thou hast become a mighty
Conquer in fight.
May Indra fill with spirit this our singer's
heart, and make our car impetuous, foremost in attack.
10
Thou hast prevailed, and hast not kept the booty back, in trifling
battles in those of great account.
We make thee keen, the
Mighty One, succour us: inspire us, Maghavan, when we defy the
foe.
11 May Indra evermore be our Protector, and unimperilled
may we win the booty.
This prayer of ours may Vartuna grant
and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN CIII. Indra.
1. THAT highest Indra-power of thine is distant:
that which is here sages possessed aforetime.
This one is
on the earth, in heaven the other, and both unite as flag with
flag in battle.
2 He spread the wide earth out and firmly
fixed it, smote with his thunderbolt and loosed the waters.
Maghavan with his puissance struck down Ahi, rent Rauhipa to
death and slaughtered Vyarnsa.
3 Armed with his bolt and
trusting in his prowess he wandered shattering the forts of
Dasas.
Cast thy dart, knowing, Thunderer, at the Dasyu; increase
the Arya's might and glory, Indra.
4 For him who thus hath
taught these human races, Maghavan, bearing a fame-worthy title,
Thunderer, drawing nigh to slay the Dasyus, hath given himself
the name of Son for glory.
5 See this abundant wealth that
he possesses, and put your trust in Indra's hero vigour.
He found the cattle, and he found the horses, he found the plants,
the forests and the waters.
6 To him the truly strong, whose
deeds are many, to him the strong Bull let us pour the Soma.
The Hero, watching like a thief in ambush, goes parting the
possessions of the godless.
7 Well didst thou do that hero
deed, O Indra, in waking with thy bolt the slumbering Ahi.
in thee, delighted, Dames divine rejoiced them, the flying Maruts
and all Gods were joyful.
8 As thou hast smitten Susna, Pipru,
Vrtra and Kuyava, and Sambara's forts O Indra.
This prayer
of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth
and Heaven.
HYMN CIV. Indra.
1. THE altar hath been made for thee to rest
on: come like a panting courser and be seated.
Loosen thy
flying Steeds, set free thy Horses who bear thee swiftly nigh
at eve and morning.
2 These men have come to Indra for assistance:
shall he not quickly come upon these pathways?
May the Gods
quell the fury of the Dasa, and may they lead our folk to happy
fortune.
3 He who hath only wish as his possession casts
on himself, casts foam amid the waters.
Both wives of Kuyava
in milk have bathed them: may they be drowned within the depth
of Sipha.
4 This hath his kinship checked who lives beside
us: with ancient streams forth speeds and rules the Hero, Anjasi,
Kulisi, and Virapatni, delighting him, bear milk upon their
waters.
5 Soon as this Dasyu's traces were discovered, as
she who knows her home, he sought the dwelling.
Now think
thou of us, Maghavan, nor cast us away as doth a profligate
his treasure.
6 Indra, as such, give us a share of sunlight,
of waters, sinlessness, and reputation.
Do thou no harm to
our yet unborn offspring: our trust is in thy mighty Indra-power.
7 Now we, I think, in thee as such have trusted: lead us on,
Mighty One, to ample riches.
In no unready house give us,
O Indra invoked of many, food and drink when hungry.
8 Slay
us not, Indra; do not thou forsake us: steal not away the joys
which we delight in.
Rend not our unborn brood, strong Lord
of Bounty! our vessels with the life that is within them.
9 Come to us; they have called thee Soma-lover: here is the
pressed juice. Drink thereof for rapture.
Widely-capacious,
pour it down within thee, and, invocated, hear us like a Father.
HYMN CV. Visvedevas.
1. WITHIN the waters runs the Moon, he with the
beauteous wings in heaven.
Ye lightnings with your golden
wheels, men find not your abiding-place. Mark this my woe, ye
Earth and Heaven.
2 Surely men crave and gain their wish.
Close to her husband clings the wife.
And, in embraces intertwined,
both give and take the bliss of love. Mark this my woe, ye Earth
and Heaven.
3 O never may that light , ye Gods, fall from
its station in the sky.
Ne'er fail us one like Soma sweet,
the spring of our felicity. Mark this my woe ye Earth and Heaven.
4 I ask the last of sacrifice. As envoy he shall tell it forth.
Where is the ancient law divine? Who is its new diffuser now?
Mark this my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
5 Ye Gods who yonder
have your home in the three lucid realms of heaven,
What
count ye truth and what untruth? Where is mine ancient call
on you? Mark this my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
6 What is
your firm support of Law? What Varuna's observant eye?
How
may we pass the wicked on the path of mighty Aryaman? Mark this
my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
7 1 am the man who sang of old
full many a laud when Soma flowed.
Yet torturing cares consume
me as the wolf assails the thirsty deer. Mark this my woe, ye
Earth and Heaven.
8 Like rival wives on every side enclosing
ribs oppress me sore.
O Satakratu, biting cares devour me,
singer of thy praise, as rats devour the weaver's threads. Mark
this my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
9 Where those seven rays
are shining, thence my home and family extend.
This Trta
Aptya knoweth well, and speaketh out for brotherhood. Mark this
my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
10 May those five Bulls which
stand on high full in the midst of mighty heaven,
Having
together swiftly borne my praises to the Gods, return. Mark
this my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
11 High in the mid ascent
of heaven those Birds of beauteous pinion sit.
Back from
his path they drive the wolf as he would cross the restless
floods. Mark this my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
12 Firm is
this new-wrought hymn of praise, and meet to be told forth,
O Gods.
The flowing of the floods is Law, Truth is the Sun's
extended light. Mark this my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
13
Worthy of laud, O Agni, is that kinship which thou hast with
Gods.
Here seat thee like a man: most wise, bring thou the
Gods for sacrifice. Mark this my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
14 Here seated, man-like as a priest shall wisest Agni to the
Gods
Speed onward our oblations, God among the Gods, intelligent.
Mark this my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
15 Varuna makes the
holy prayer. To him who finds the path we pray.
He in the
heart reveals his thought. Let sacred worship rise anew. Mark
this my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
16 That pathway of the
Sun in heaven, made to be highly glorified,
Is not to be
transgressed, O Gods. O mortals, ye behold it not. Mark this
my woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
17 Trta, when buried in the
well, calls on the Gods to succour him.
That call of his
Brhaspati heard and released him from distress. Mark this my
woe, ye Earth and Heaven.
18 A ruddy wolf beheld me once,
as I was faring on my path.
He, like a carpenter whose back
is aching crouched and slunk away. Mark this my woe, ye Earth
and Heaven.
19 Through this our song may we, allied with
Indra, with all our heroes conquer in the battle.
This prayer
of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth
and Heaven.
HYMN CVI. Visvedevas.
1. CALL we for aid on Indra, Mitra, Varuna and
Agni and the Marut host and Aditi.
Even as a chariot from
a difficult ravine, bountiful Vasus, rescue us from all distress.
2 Come ye Adityas for our full prosperity, in conquests of the
foe, ye Gods, bring joy to us.
Even as a chariot from a difficult
ravine, bountiful Vasus, rescue us from all distress.
3 May
the most glorious Fathers aid us, and the two Goddesses, Mothers
of the Gods, who strengthen Law.
Even as a chariot from a
difficult ravine, bountiful Vasus, rescue us from all distress.
4 To mighty Narasamsa, strengthening his might, to Pusan, ruler
over men, we pray with hymns.
Even as a chariot from a difficult
ravine, bountiful Vasus, rescue us from all distress.
5 Brhaspati,
make us evermore an easy path: we crave what boon thou hast
for men in rest and stir.
Like as a chariot from a difficult
ravine, bountiful Vasus, rescue us from all distress.
6 Sunk
in the pit the Rsi Kutsa called, to aid, Indra the Vrtra-slayer,
Lord of power and might.
Even as a chariot from a difficult
ravine, bountiful Vasus, rescue us from all distress.
7 May
Aditi the Goddess guard us with the Gods: may the protecting
God keep us with ceaseless care.
This prayer of ours may
Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN CVII. Visvedevas.
1. THE sacrifice obtains the Gods' acceptance:
be graciously inclined to us, Adityas.
Hitherward let your
favour be directed, and be our best deliverer from trouble.
2 By praise-songs of Angirases exalted, may!he Gods come to
us with their protection.
May Indra with his powers, Maruts
with Maruts, Aditi with Adityas grant us shelter.
3 This
laud of ours may Varuna and Indra, Aryaman Agni, Savitar find
pleasant.
This prayer' of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra,
and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN CVIII. Indra-Agni.
1. ON that most wondrous car of yours, O Indra
and Agni, which looks round on all things living,
Take ye
your stand and come to us together, and drink libations of the
flowing Soma.
2 As vast as all this world is in its compass,
deep as it is, with its far-stretching surface,
So let this
Soma be, Indra and Agni, made for your drinking till your soul
be sated.
3 For ye have won a blessed name together: yea,
with one aim ye strove, O Vrtra-slayers.
So Indra-Agni, seated
here together, pour in, ye Mighty Ones, the mighty Soma.
4 Both stand adorned, when fires are duly kindled, spreading
the sacred grass, with lifted ladles.
Drawn by strong Soma
juice poured forth around us, come, Indra-Agni, and display
your favour.
5 The brave deeds ye have done, Indra and Agni,
the forms ye have displayed and mighty exploits,
The ancient
and auspicious bonds of friendship,-for sake of these drink
of the flowing Soma.
6 As first I said when choosing you,
in battle we must contend with Asuras for this Soma.
So came
ye unto this my true conviction, and drank libations of the
flowing Soma.
7 If in your dwelling, or with prince or Brahman,
ye, Indra-Agni, Holy Ones, rejoice you,
Even frorn thence,
ye mighty Lords, come hither, and drink libation of the flowing
Soma.
8 If with, the Yadus, Turvasas, ye sojourn, with Druhyus,
Anus, Purus, Indra-Agni!
Even from thence, ye mighty Lords,
come hither, and drink libations of the flowing Soma.
9 Whether,
O Indra-Agni, ye be dwelling in lowest earth, in central, or
in highest.
Even from thence, ye mighty Lords, come hither,
and drink libations of the flowing Soma.
10 Whether, O Indra-Agni,
ye be dwelling in highest earth, in central, or in lowest,
Even from thence, ye mighty Lords, come hither, and drink libations
of the flowing Soma.
11 Whether ye be in heaven, O Indra-Agni,
on earth, on mountains, in the herbs, or waters,
Even from
thence, ye mighty Lords, come hither, and drink libations of
the flowing Soma.
12 If, when the Sun to the mid-heaven hath
mounted, ye take delight in food, O Indra-Agni,
Even from
thence, ye mighty Lords, come hither, and drink libations of
the flowing Soma.
13 Thus having drunk your fill of our libation,
win us all kinds of wealth, Indra and Agni.
This prayer of
ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth
and Heaven.
HYMN CIX. Indra-Agni.
1. LONGING for weal I looked around, in spirit,
for kinsmen, Indra-Agni, or for brothers.
No providence but
yours alone is with me so have I wrought for you this hymn for
succour.
2 For I have heard that ye give wealth more freely
than worthless son-in-law or spouse's brother.
So offering
to you this draught of Soma, I make you this new hymn, Indra
and Agni,
3 Let us not break the cords: with this petition
we strive to gain the powers of our forefathers.
For Indra-Agni
the strong drops are joyful-, for here in the bowl's lap are
both the press-stones.
4 For you the bowl divine, Indra and
Agni, presses the Soma gladly to delight you.
With hands
auspicious and fair arms, ye Asvins, haste, sprinkle it with
sweetness in the waters.
5 You, I have heard, were mightiest,
Indra-Agni, when Vrtra fell and when the spoil was parted.
Sit at this sacrifice, ye ever active, on the strewn grass,
and with the juice delight you.
6 Surpassing all men where
they shout for battle, ye Twain exceed the earth and heaven
in greatness.
Greater are ye than rivers and than mountains,
O Indra-Agni, and all things beside them.
7 Bring wealth
and give it, ye whose arms wield thunder: Indra and Agni, with
your powers protect us.
Now of a truth these be the very
sunbeams wherewith our fathers were of old united.
8 Give,
ye who shatter forts, whose hands wield thunder: Indra and Agni,
save us in our battles.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant,
and Mitra, and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
HYMN CX. Rbhus.
1. THE holy work I wrought before is wrought
again: my sweetest hymn is sung to celebrate your praise.
Here, O ye Rbhus, is this sea for all the Gods: sate you with
Soma offered with the hallowing word.
2 When, seeking your
enjoyment onward from afar, ye, certain of my kinsmen, wandered
on your way,
Sons of Sudhanvan, after your long journeying,
ye came unto the home of liberal Savitar.
3 Savitar therefore
gave you immortality, because ye came proclaiming him whom naught
can hide;
And this the drinking-chalice of the Asura, which
till that time was one, ye made to be fourfold.
4 When they
had served with zeal at sacrifice as priests, they, mortal as
they were, gained immortality.
The Rbhus, children of Sudhanvan,
bright as suns, were in a year's course made associate with
prayers.
5 The Rbhus, with a rod measured, as 'twere a field,
the single sacrificial chalice. wide of mouth,
Lauded of
all who saw, praying for what is best, desiring glorious fame
among Immortal Gods.
6 As oil in ladles, we through knowledge
will present unto the Heroes of the firmament our hymn,-
The Rbhus who came near with this great Father's speed, and
rose to heaven's high sphere to cat the strengthening food.
7 Rbhu to us is Indra freshest in his might, Rbhu with powers
and wealth is giver of rich gifts.
Gods, through your favour
may we on the happy day quell the attacks of those who pour
no offerings forth.
8 Out of a skin, O Rbhus, once ye formed
a cow, and brought the mother close unto her calf again.
Sons of Sudhanvan, Heroes, with surpassing skill ye made your
aged Parents youthful as before.
9 Help us with strength
where spoil is won, O Indra: joined with the gbhus give us varied
bounty.
This prayer of ours may Varuna grant, and Mitra,
and Aditi and Sindhu, Earth and Heaven.
Suggestions for Further Reading
- The Rig Veda translation by Griffith, Introduction
- Hymns of the Sama veda translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
- Yajur Veda: The Veda Of The Black Yajus School
- Hymns Of The Atharva-Veda
- Anugita English Translation
- THE Sanatsugâtîya, A Spiritual Dialogue
- Dharmashastras, the Sacred Law Books of Hindus
- The Hindu Dharmashastras, Subject Index
- The Grihya Sutras, The Vedic Domestic Ritual Texts
- The Sankhya Sutras of Kapila, Index page
- Translation of Upanishads by Swami Paramananda, Index
- A History Of Indian Philosophy - Chapter Index
- The Upanishads translated by Max Muller
- Vedic Reader for Students
- The Bhagavad-gita in a nutshell
- Essays On Dharma
- Esoteric Mystic Hinduism
- Introduction to Hinduism
- Hindu Way of Life
- Essays On Karma
- Hindu Rites and Rituals
- The Origin of The Sanskrit Language
- Symbolism in Hinduism
- Essays on The Upanishads
- Concepts of Hinduism
- Essays on Atman
- Hindu Festivals
- Spiritual Practice
- Right Living
- Yoga of Sorrow
- Happiness
- Mental Health
- Concepts of Buddhism
- General Essays
Source: An English translation of the Vedas by Ralph T.H. Griffith, 1896.