
The Rig Veda Book 3 - Verses 31 to 40

HYMN XXXI. Indra.
1. WISE, teaching, following the thought of Order,
the sonless gained a grandson from his daughter.
Fain, as
a sire, to see his child prolific, he sped to meet her with
an eager spirit.
2 The Son left not his portion to the brother,
he made a home to hold him who should gain, it.
What time
his Parents gave the Priest his being, of the good pair one
acted, one promoted.
3 Agni was born trembling with tongue
that flickered, so that the Red's great children should be honoured.
Great is their germ, that born of them is mighty, great the
Bays' Lord's approach through sacrifices.
4 Conquering bands
upon the Warrior waited: they recognized great light from out
the darkness.
The conscious Dawns went forth to meet his
coming, and the sole Master of the kine was Indra.
5 The
sages freed them from their firmbuilt prison: the seven priests
drove them forward with their spirit.
All holy Order's pathway
they discovered he, full of knowledge, shared these deeds through
worship.
6 When Sarama had found the mountain's fissure,
that vast and ancient place she plundered thoroughly.
In
the floods' van she led them forth, light-footed: she who well
knew came first unto their lowing.
7 Longing for friendship came the noblest singer: the hill
poured forth its treasure for the pious.
The Hero with young
followers fought and conquered, and straightway Angiras was
singing praises,
8 Peer of each noble thing, yea, all excelling,
all creatures doth he know, he slayeth Susna.
Our leader,
fain for war, singing from heaven, as Friend he saved his lovers
from dishonour.
9 They sate them down with spirit fain for
booty, making with hymns a way to life eternal.
And this
is still their place of frequent session, whereby they sought
to gain the months through Order.
10 Drawing the milk of
ancient seed prolific, they joyed as they beheld their own possession.
Their shout of triumph heated earth and heaven. When the kine
showed, they bade the heroes rouse them.
11 Indra drove forth
the kine, that Vrtra-slayer, while hymns of praise rose up and
gifts were offered.
For him the Cow, noble and far-extending,
poured pleasant juices, bringing oil and sweetness.
12 They
made a mansion for their Father, deftly provided him a great
and glorious dwelling;
With firm support parted and stayed
the Parents, and, sitting, fixed him there erected, mighty.
13 What time the ample chalice had impelled him, swift waxing,
vast, to pierce the earth and heaven,-
Him in whom blameless
songs are all united: all powers invincible belong to Indra.
14 I crave thy powers, I crave thy mighty friendship: full many
a team goes to the Vrtra-slayer.
Great is the laud, we seek
the Princes' favour. Be thou, O Maghavan, our guard and keeper.
15 He, having found great, splendid, rich dominion, sent life
and motion to his friends and lovers.
Indra who shone together
with the Heroes begot the song, the fire, and Sun and Morning.<
16 Vast, the House-Friend, he set the waters flowing, all-lucid,
widely spread, that move together.
By the wise cleansings
of the meath made holy, through days, and nights they speed
the swift streams onward.
17 To thee proceed the dark, the
treasure-holders, both of them sanctified by Surya's bounty.
The while thy ovely storming Friends, O Indra, fail to attain
the measure of thy greatness.
18 Be Lord of joyous songs,
O Vrtra-slayer, Bull dear to all, who gives the power of living.
Come unto us with thine auspicious friendship, hastening, Mighty
One, with mighty succours.
19 Like Angiras I honour him with
worship, and renovate old song for him the Ancient.
Chase
thou the many godless evil creatures, and give us, Maghavan,
heaven's light to help m.
20 Far forth are spread the purifying
waters convey thou us across them unto safety.
Save us, our
Charioteer, from harm, O Indra, soon, very soon, make us win
spoil of cattle.
21 His kine their Lord hath shown, e'en
Vrtra's slayer, through the black hosts he passed with red attendants.
Teaching us pleasant things by holy Order, to, us hath he thrown
open all his portals.
22 Call we on Maghavan, auspicious
Indra, best Hero in this fight where spoil is gathered.
The
Strong who listens, who gives aid in battles, who slays the
Vrtras, wins and gathers riches.
HYMN XXXII. Indra
1. DRINK thou this Soma, Indra, Lord of Soma;
drink thou the draught of noonday which thou Iovest.
Puffing
thy cheeks, impetuous, liberal Giver, here loose thy two Bay
Horses and rejoice thee.
2 Quaff it pure, meal-blent, mixt
with milk, O Indra; we have poured forth the Soma for thy rapture.
Knit with the prayer-fulfilling band of Maruts, yea, with the
Rudras, drink till thou art sated;
3 Those who gave increase
to thy strength and vigour; the Maruts singing forth thy might,
O Indra.
Drink thou, O fair of cheek, whose hand wields thunder,
with Rudras banded, at our noon libation.
4 They, even the
Maruts who were there, excited with song the meath-created strength
of Indra.
By them impelled to act he reached the vitals Of
Vrtra, though he deemed that none might wound him.
5 Pleased,
like a man, with our libation, Indra, drink, for enduring hero
might, the Soma.
Lord of Bays, moved by sacrifice come hither:
thou with the Swift Ones stirrest floods and waters.
6 When
thou didst loose the streams to run like racers in the swift
contest, having smitten Vrtra
With flying weapon where he
lay, O Indra, and, godless, kept the Goddesses encompassed.
7 With reverence let us worship mighty Indra, great and sublime,
eternal, everyouthful,
Whose greatness the dear world-halves
have not measured, no, nor conceived the might of him the Holy.
8 Many are Indra's nobly wrought achievements, and none of all
the Gods transgress his statutes.
He beareth up this earth
and heaven, and, doer of marvels, he begot the Sun and Morning.
9 Herein, O Guileless One, is thy true greatness, that soon
as born thou drankest up the Soma.
Days may not check the
power of thee the Mighty, nor the nights, Indra, nor the months,
nor autumns.
10 As soon as thou wast born in highest heaven
thou drankest Soma to delight thee, Indra;
And when thou
hadst pervaded earth and heaven thou wast the first supporter
of the singer.
11 Thou, puissant God, more mighty, slewest.
Ahi showing his strength when couched around the waters.
The heaven itself attained not to thy greatness when with one
hip of thine the earth was shadowed.
12 Sacrifice, Indra,
made thee wax so mighty, the dear oblation with the flowing
Soma.
O Worshipful, with worship help our worship, for worship
helped thy bolt when slaying Ahi.
13 With sacrifice and wish
have I brought Indra; still for new blessings may I turn him
hither,
Him magnified by ancient songs and praises, by lauds
of later time and days yet recent.
14 I have brought forth
a song when longing seized me: ere the decisive day will I laud
Indra;
Then may lie safely bear us over trouble, as in a
ship, when both sides invocate him.
15 Full is his chalice:
Glory! Like a pourer I have filled up the vessel for his drinking.
Presented on the right, dear Soma juices have brought us Indra,
to rejoice him, hither.
16 Not the deep-flowing flood, O
Much-invoked One! not hills that compass thee about restrain
thee,
Since here incited, for thy friends, O Indra, thou
breakest e'en the firm built stall of cattle.
17 Call we
on Maghavan, auspicious Indra, best Hero in this fight where
spoil is gathered,
The Strong who listens, who gives aid
in battles, who slays the Vrtras, wins and gathers riches.
HYMN XXXIII. Indra.
1. FORTH from the bosom of the mountains, eager
as two swift mares with loosened rein contending,
Like two
bright mother cows who lick their youngling, Vipas and Sutudri
speed down their waters.
2 Impelled by Indra whom ye pray
to urge you, ye move as 'twere on chariots to the ocean.
Flowing together, swelling with your billows, O lucid Streams,
each of you seeks the other.
3 I have attained the most maternal
River, we have approached Vipas, the broad, the blessed.
Licking as 'twere their calf the pair of Mothers flow onward
to their common home together.
4 We two who rise and swell
with billowy waters move forward to the home which Gods have
made us.
Our flood may not be stayed when urged to motion.
What would the singer, calling to the Rivers?
5 Linger a
little at my friendly bidding rest, Holy Ones, a moment in your
journey.
With hymn sublime soliciting your favour Kusika's
son hath called unto the River.
6 Indra who wields the thunder
dug our channels: he smote down Vrtra, him who stayed our currents.
Savitar, God, the lovely-handed, led us, and at his sending
forth we flow expanded.
7 That hero deed of Indra must be
lauded for ever that he rent Ahi in pieces.
He smote away
the obstructors with his thunder, and eager for their course
forth flowed the waters.
8 Never forget this word of thine,
O singer, which future generations shall reecho.
In hymns,
O bard, show us thy loving kindness. Humble us not mid men.
To thee be honour!
9 List quickly, Sisters, to the bard who
cometh to you from far away with car and wagon.
Bow lowly
down; be easy to be traversed stay, Rivers, with your floods
below our axles.
10 Yea, we will listen to thy words, O singer.
With wain and car from far away thou comest.
Low, like a
nursing mother, will I bend me, and yield me as a maiden to
her lover.
11 Soon as the Bharatas have fared across thee,
the warrior band, urged on and sped by Indra,
Then let your
streams flow on in rapid motion. I crave your favour who deserve
our worship.
12 The warrior host, the Bharatas, fared over
the singer won the favour of the Rivers.
Swell with your
billows, hasting, pouring riches. Fill full your channels, and
roll swiftly onward.
13 So let your wave bear up the pins,
and ye, O Waters, spare the thongs;
And never may the pair
of Bulls, harmless and sinless, waste away.
HYMN XXXIV. Indra.
1. FORT-RENDER, Lord of Wealth, dispelling foemen,
Indra with lightnings hath o'ercome the Dasa.
Impelled by
prayer and waxen great in body, he hath filled earth and heaven,
the Bounteous Giver.
2 I stimulate thy zeal, the Strong,
the Hero decking my song of praise forth; Immortal.
O Indra,
thou art equally the Leader of heavenly hosts and human generations.
3 Leading, his band Indra encompassed Vrtra; weak grew the wily
leader of enchanters.
He who burns fierce in forests slaughtered
Vyamsa, and made the Milch-kine of the nights apparent.
4
Indra, light-winner, days' Creator, conquered, victorious, hostile
bands with those who loved him.
For man the days' bright
ensign he illumined, and found the light for his joy and gladness.
5 Forward to fiercely falling blows pressed Indra, herolike
doing many hero exploits.
These holy songs he taught the
bard who gaised him, and widely spread these Dawns' resplendent
colour.
6 They laud the mighty acts of him the Mighty, the
many glorious deeds performed by Indra.
He in his strength,
with all-surpassing prowess, through wondrous arts crushed the
malignant Dasyus.
7 Lord of the brave, Indra who rules the
people gave freedom to the Gods by might and battle.
Wise
singers glorify with chanted praises these his achievements
in Vivasvan's dwelling.
8 Excellent, Conqueror, the victory-giver,
the winner of the light and Godlike Waters,
He who hath won
this broad earth and this heaven, -in Indra they rejoice who
love devotions.
9 He gained possession of the Sun and Horses,
Indra obtained the Cow who feedeth many.
Treasure of gold
he won; he smote the Dasyus, and gave protection to the Aryan
colour.
10 He took the plants and days for his possession;
he gained the forest trees and air's mid-region.
Vala he
cleft, and chased away opponents: thus was he tamer of the overweening.
11 Call we on Maghavan, auspicious Indra, best Hero in the fight
where spoil is gathered,
The Strong, who listens, who gives
aid in battles, who slays the Vrtras, wins and gathers treasures.
HYMN XXXV Indra.
1. MOUNT the Bay Horses to thy chariot harnessed,
and come to us like Vayu with his coursers.
Thou, hastening
to us, shalt drink the Soma. Hail, Indra. We have poured it
for thy rapture.
2 For him, the God who is invoked by many,
the two swift Bay Steeds to the pole I harness,
That they
in fleet course may bring Indra hither, e'en to this sacrifice
arranged completely.
3 Bring the strong Steeds who drink
the warm libation, and, Bull of Godlike nature, be thou gracious.
Let thy Steeds eat; set free thy Tawny Horses, and roasted grain
like this consume thou daily.
4 Those who are yoked by prayer
I harness, fleet friendly Bays who take their joy together.
Mounting thy firm and easy car, O Indra, wise and all-knowing
come thou to the Soma.
5 No other worshippers must stay beside
them thy Bays, thy vigorous and smooth-backed Coursers.
Pass
by them all and hasten onward hither: with Soma pressed we will
prepare to feast thee.
6 Thine is this Sorna: hasten to approach
it. Drink thou thereof, benevolent, and cease not.
Sit on
the sacred grass at this our worship, and take these drops into
thy belly, Indra.
7 The grass is strewn for thee, pressed
is the Soma; the grain is ready for thy Bays to feed on.
To thee who lovest them, the very mighty, strong, girt by Maruts,
are these gifts presented.
8 This the sweet draught, with
cows, the men, the mountains, the waters, Indra, have for thee
made ready.
Come, drink thereof, Sublime One, friendly-minded,
foreseeing, knowing well the ways thou goest.
9 The Maruts,
they with whom thou sharedst Soma, Indra, who made thee strong
and were thine army,-
With these accordant, eagerly desirous
drink thou this Soma with the tongue of Agni.
10 Drink, Indra,
of the juice by thine own nature, or by the tongue of Agni,
O thou Holy.
Accept the sacrificial gift, O Sakra, from the
Adhvaryu's hand or from the Hotar's.
11 Call we on Maghavan,
auspicious Indra, best Hero in the fight where spoil is gathered,
The Strong, who listens, who.gives aid in battles, who slays
the Vrtras, wins and gathers riches.
HYMN XXXVI. Indra.
1. WITH constant succours, fain thyself to share
it, make this oblation which we bring effective.
Grown great
through strengthening gifts at each libation, he hath become
renowned by mighty exploits.
2 For Indra were the Somas erst-
discovered, whereby he grew strong-jointed, vast, and skilful.
Indra , take quickly these presented juices: drink of the strong,
that which the strong have shaken.
3 Drink and wax great.
Thine are the juices, Indra, both Somas of old time and these
we bring thee.
Even as thou drankest, Indra, earlier Somas,
so drink to-day, a new guest, meet for praises.
4 Great and
impetuous, mighty-voiced in battle, surpassing power is his,
and strength resistless.
Him the broad earth hath never comprehended
when Somas cheered the Lord of Tawny Coursers.
5 Mighty and
strong he waxed for hero exploit: the Bull was furnished a Sage's
wisdom.
Indra is our kind Lord; his steers have vigour; his
cows are many with abundant offspring.
6 As floods according
to their stream flow onward, so to the sea, as borne on cars,
the waters.
Vaster is Indra even than his dwelling, what
time the stalk milked out, the Soma, fills him.
7 Eager to
mingle with the sea, the rivers carry the well-pressed Soma
juice to Indra.
They drain the stalk out with their arms,
quick-banded, and cleanse it with a stream of mead and filters.
8 Like lakes appear his flanks filled full with Soma: yea, he
contains libations in abundance.
When Indra had consumed
the first sweet viands, he, after slaying Vrtra, claimed the
Soma.
9 Then bring thou hither, and let none prevent it:
we know thee well, the Lord of wealth and treasure.
That
splendid gift which is thine own, O Indra, vouchsafe to us,
Lord of the Tawny Coursers.
10 O Indra, Maghavan, impetuous
mover, grant us abundant wealth that brings all blessings.
Give us a hundred autumns for our lifetime: give us, O fair-checked
Indra, store of heroes.
11 Call we on Indra, Maghavan, auspicious,
best Hero in the fight where spoil is gathered,
The Strong,
who listens, who gives aid in battles, who slays the Vrtras,
wins and gathers riches.
HYMN XXXVII. Indra.
1. O INDRA, for the strength that slays Vrtra
and conquers in the fight,
We turn thee hitherward to us.
2 O Indra, Lord of Hundred Powers, may those who praise thee
hitherward.
Direct thy spirit and thine eye.
3 O Indra,
Lord of Hundred Powers, with all our songs we invocate
Thy
names for triumph over foes.
4 We strive for glory through
the powers immense of him whom many praise,
Of Indra who
supports mankind.
5 For Vrtra's slaughter I address Indra
whom many invocate,
To win us booty in the wars.
6 In
battles be victorious. We seek thee, Lord of Hundred Powers,
Indra, that Vrtra may be slain.
7 In splendid combats of
the hosts, in glories where the fight is won.
Indra, be victor
over foes.
8 Drink thou the Soma for our help, bright, vigilant,
exceeding strong,
O Indra, Lord of Hundred Powers.
9 O
Satakratu, powers which thou mid the Five Races hast displayed-
These, Indra, do I claim of thee.
10 Indra, great glory hast
thou gained. Win splendid fame which none may mar
We make
thy might perpetual.
11 Come to us either from anear, Or,
Sakra, come from far away.
Indra, wherever be thy home, come
to us thence, O Thunder-armed.
HYMN XXXVIII. Indra.
1. HASTING like some strong courser good at drawing,
a thought have I imagined like a workman.
Pondering what
is dearest and most noble, I long to see the sages full of wisdom.
2 Ask of the sages' mighty generations firm-minded and devout
they framed the heaven.
These are thy heart-sought strengthening
directions, and they have come to be sky's upholders.
3 Assuming
in this world mysterious natures, they decked the heaven and
earth for high dominion,
Measured with measures, fixed their
broad expanses, set the great worlds apart held firm for safety.
4 Even as he mounted up they all adorned him: self-luminous
he travels clothed in splendour.
That is the Bull's, the
Asura's mighty figure: he, omniform, hath reached the eternal
waters.
5 First the more ancient Bull engendered offspring;
these are his many draughts that lent him vigour.
From days
of old ye Kings, two Sons of Heaven, by hymns of sacrifice have
won dominion.
6 Three seats ye Sovrans, in the Holy synod,
many, yea, all, ye honour with your presence.
There saw I,
going thither in the spirit, Gandharvas in their course with
wind-blown tresses.
7 That same companionship of her, the
Milch-cow, here with the strong Bull's divers forms they stablished.
Enduing still some new celestial figure, the skilful workers
shaped a form around him.
8 Let no one here debar me from
enjoying the golden light which Savitar diffuses.
He covers
both all-fostering worlds with praises even as a woman cherishes
her children.
9 Fulfil, ye twain, his work, the Great, the
Ancient: as heavenly blessing keep your guard around us.
All the wise Gods behold his varied actions who stands erect,
whose voice is like a herdsman's.
10 Call we on Indra, Maghavan,
auspicious, best Hero in the fight where spoil is gathered,
The Strong, who listens, who gives aid in battles, who slays
the Vrtras, wins and gathers riches.
HYMN XXXIX. Indra.
1. To Indra from the heart the hymn proceedeth,
to him the Lord, recited, built with praises;
The wakening
song sung forth in holy synod: that which is born for thee,
O Indra, notice.
2 Born from the heaven e'en in the days
aforetime, wakening, sting aloud in holy synod,
Auspicious,
clad in white and shining raiment, this is the ancient hymn
of our forefathers.
3 The Mother of the Twins hath borne
Twin Children: my tongue's tip raised itself and rested silent.
Killing the darkness at the light's foundation, the Couple newly
born attain their beauty.
4 Not one is found among them,
none of mortals, to blame our sires who fought to win the cattle.
Their strengthener was Indra the Majestic he spread their stalls
of kine the Wonder-Worker.
5 Where as a Friend with friendly
men, Navagvas, with heroes, on his knees he sought the cattle.
There, verily with ten Dasagvas Indra found the Sun lying hidden
in the darkness.
6 Indra found meath collected in the milch-cow,
by foot and hoof, in the cow's place of pasture.
That which
lay secret, hidden in the waters, he held in his right hand,
the rich rewarder.
7 He took the light, discerning it from
darkness: may we be far removed from all misfortune.
These
songs, O Soma-drinker, cheered by Soma, Indra, accept from thy
most zealous poet.
8 Let there be light through both the
worlds for worship: may we be far from most overwhelming evil.
Great woe comes even from the hostile mortal, piled up; but
good at rescue are the Vasus.
9 Call we on Maghavan, auspicious
Indra, best Hero in the fight where spoil is gathered,
The
Strong, who listens, who gives aid in battles, who slays the
Vrtras, wins and gathers riches.
HYMN XL. Indra.
1. THEE, Indra, we invoke, the Bull, what time
the Soma is expressed.
So drink thou of the savoury juice.
2 Indra, whom many laud, accept the strength-conferring Soma
juice:
Quaff, pour down drink that satisfies.
3 Indra,
with all the Gods promote our wealth-bestowing sacrifice,
Thou highly-lauded Lord of men.
4 Lord of the brave, to thee
proceed these drops of Soma juice expressed,
The bright drops
to thy dwelling-place.
5 Within thy belly, Indra, take juice,
Soma the most excellent: Thine are the drops celestial.
6
Drink our libation, Lord of hymns: with streams of meath thou
art bedewed
Our glory, Indra, is thy gift.
7 To Indra
go the treasures of the worshipper, which never fail:
He
drinks the Soma and is strong
8 From far away, from near
at hand, O Vrtra-slayer, come to us:
Accept the songs we
sing to thee.
9 When from the space between the near and
far thou art invoked by us,
Thence, Indra. come thou hitherward.
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.