Rig Veda

RIG VEDA – BOOK TEN
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He made the Cow, and be became the Sovran of Heaven,
primeval, matchless, and unshaken.
4 Praised by Angirases, Indra demolished with might the
works of the great watery monster
Full many regions, too, hath he pervaded, and by his truth
supported earth's foundation.
5 The counterpart of heaven and earth is Indra: he knoweth all
libations, slayeth Susna.
The vast sky with the Sun hath he extended, and, best otpillars,
stayed it with a pillar.
6 The Vrtra-slaver with his bolt felled Vrtra: the magic of the
godless, waxen mighty,
Here hast thou, Bold Assailant, boldly conquered. Yea, then
thine arms, O Maghavan, were potent.
7 When the Dawns come attendant upon Surya their rays
discover wealth of divers colours.
The Star of heaven is seen as 'twere approaching: none
knoweth aught of it as it departeth.
8 Far have they gone, the first of all these waters, the waters
that flowed forth when Indra sent them.
Where is their spring, and where is their foundation? Where
now, ye Waters, is your inmost centre?
9 Thou didst free rivers swallowed by the Dragon; and rapidly
they set themselves in motion,
Those that were loosed and those that longed for freedom.
Excited now to speed they run unresting.
10 Yearning together they have sped to Sindhu: the Fortdestroyer,
praised, of old, hath loved them.
Indra, may thy terrestrial treasures reach us, and our full songs
of joy approach thy dwelling.
HYMN CXII. Indra.
1. DRINK of the juice, O Indra, at thy plea. sure, for thy first
draught is early morn's libation.
Rejoice, that thou mayst slay our foes, O Hero, and we with
lauds will tell thy mighty exploits.
2 Thou hast a car more swift than thought, O Indra; thercon
come hither, come to drink the Soma.
Let thy Bay Steeds, thy Stallions, hasten hither, with whom
thou cornest nigh and art delighted.
3 Deck out thy body with the fairest colours, with golden
splendour of the Sun adorn it.
O Indra, turn thee hitherward invited by us thy friends; be
seated and be joyful.
4 O thou whose grandeur in thy festive transports not even
these two great worlds have comprehended.
Come, Indra, with thy dear Bay Horses harnessed, come to our
dwelling and the food thou lovest.
5 Pressed for thy joyous banquet is the Soma, Soma whereof
thou, Indra, ever drinking,
Hast waged unequalled battles with thy foemen, which
prompts the mighty flow of thine abundance.
6 Found from of old is this thy cup, O Indra: Satakratu, drink
therefrom the Soma.
Filled is the beaker with the meath that gladdens, the beaker
which all Deities delight in.
7 From many a side with proffered entertainment the folk are
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calling thee, O Mighty Indra.
These our libations shall for thee be richest in sweet meath:
dvink thereof and find them pleasant.
8 I will declare thy deeds of old, O Indra, the mighty acts
which thou hast first accomplished.
In genuine wrath thou loosenedst the mountain so that the
Brahman easily found the cattle.
9 Lord of the hosts, amid our bands be seated: they call thee
greatest Sage among the sages.
Nothing is done, even far away, without thee: great, wondrous,
Maghavan, is the hymn I sing thee.
10 Aim of our eyes be thou, for we implore thee, O Maghavan,
Friend of friends and Lord of treasures.
Fight, Warrior strong in truth, fight thou the battle: give us our
share of undivided riches.
HYMN CXTII. Indra.
1. THE Heavens and the Earth accordant with all Gods
encouraged graciously that vigorous might of his.
When he came showing forth his majesty and power, he drank
of Soma juice and waxed exceeding strong.
2 This majesty of his Visnu extols and lauds, making the
stalCthat gives the meath flow forth with inight.
When Indra Maghavan with those who followed him had
smitten Vrtra he deserved the choice of Gods.
3 When, bearing warlike weapons, fain to win thee praise, thou
mettest Vrtra, yea, the Dragon, for the fight,
Then all the Maruts who were gathered with dice there
extolled, O Mighty One, thy powerful majesty.
4 Soon as he sprang to life he forced asun. der hosts: forward
the Hero looked to manly deed and war.
He cleft the rock, he let concurrent streams flow forth, and
with his skilful art stablished the heavens' wide vault.
5 Indra hath evermore possessed surpassing power: he forced,
far from each other, heaven and earth apart.
He hurled impetuous down his iron thunderbolt, a joy to
Varuna's and Mitra's worshipper.
6 Then to the mighty powers of Indra, to his wrath, his the
fierce Stormer, loud of voice, they came with speed;
What time the Potent One rent Vrtra with his strength, who
held the waters back, whom darkness compassed round.
7 Even in the first of those heroic acts which they who strove
together came with might to execute,
Deep darkness fell upon the slain, and Indra won by victory
the right of being first invoked.
8 Then all the Gods extolled, with eloquence inspired by
draughts of Soma juice, thy deeds of manly might.
As Agni eats the dry food with his tcetlv, he ate Vrtra, the
Dragon, maimed by Indra's deadly dart.
9 Proclaim his many friendships, met with friendship, made
with singers, with the skilful and the eloquent.
Indra, when he subdues Dhuni and Cumuri, lists to Dabhiti for
his faithful spirit's sake.
10 Give riches manifold with noble horses, to be remembered
while my songs address thee.
May we by easy paths pass all our troubles: find us this day a
ford wide and extensive.