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Hymn 52:
The one, unequalled, has established the order in all things
Rişhi: Savya Angirasa
MANTRA (1.52.1): KNOWER OF THE
LIGHT OF SVAR
Worship well Indra, the celebrated, ever-wakeful and knower of
svar,
Whose numerous collaborators go together;
With his strong steed-like car that speeds to our call,
I urge Indra with adorable hymns to come for our growth.
tyam su meşham mahayā svarvidam
celebrated, well, ever-wakeful, worship, knower of svar,
shatam yasya subhvaĥ sākam īrate;
hundred or numerous, whose, followers, together, go,
atyam na vājam havanasyadam ratham
steed, like, strong, that speeds to the call, car,
indram vavŗtyām avase suvŗktibhiĥ.
., Indra, (I) urge, for increase, with adorable hymns.
Details:
The first sentence is addressed by
the rişhi to his own soul or self.
avase:
for the increase of Light and Might in us.
svar:
the fourth world beyond the lower triple worlds of earth
(matter), midregion (life-energies) and heaven (mind). It is the
home of the Gods. Recall that all these four worlds are present
in the subtle body of man albeit potentially. Spiritual
practices develop all those worlds within us.
growth: growth and development of
the Indra-powers in us.
MANTRA (1.52.2): INDRA STOOD
IMMOVABLE
He (Indra) stood immovable like a mountain amidst the
all-supporting waters
And the thousand fold protector increased in vigour.
Indra slew Vŗtra, the obstructer of streams;
Being exhilarated with Soma, he forced the flow of the waters.
sa parvato na dharuņeşhu achyutaĥ
he, mountain, like, waters that support all, immovable,
sahasram ūtim tavişhīşhu vāvŗdhe;
thousand fold, protection, vigour, increased,
indro yat vŗtram avadhīt nadīvŗtam
Indra, even as, Vŗtra, slew, stayer of streams,
ubjan arņāmsi jarhŗşhāņo andhasā.
forced (inflicted pain), waters, highly exhilarated, with Soma.
Details:
After the slaying of Vŗtra,
Indra stands firm amidst the currents of Light and Force, which
support all the beings of the Universe. Increased by their
varied strengths, Indra is able to effect the many fold growth
of the seeker.
MANTRA (1.52.3): INDRA'S FOUNDATION IS DELIGHT
He who stays those wanting to stop (the flow of waters)
Is rooted in delight and he is increased in rapture by the wise.
Him, Indra, I
invoke with auspicious thoughts,
Who gives in abundance, who is full of Soma and fills us with
Soma, the delight.
sa hi dvaro dvarişhu vavra ūdhani
he, ., stays or covers, those who want to stop, covers, the
source,
chandrabudhno madavŗdhdo manīşhibhiĥ;
rooted in delight, increased in rapture, by the wise,
indram tam ahve svapasyayā dhiyā
Indra, him, invoke, auspicious, thoughts,
mamhişhţharātim sa hi papriĥ andhasaĥ
who gives in abundance, he, ., fills or full of, Soma.
Details:
Indra's rapture is increased
by his symbolically partaking of the pure Soma offered by the
wise seers.
manīşhi:
the power of discrimination between the Truth and Falsehood; it
is the same as budhdi of the later literature.
chandra budhna:
chandra is Delight; budhna is the source or
foundation.
vavra ūdhani:
covers the Source so that it is not accessible to the forces of
Evil.
MANTRA (1.52.4): SOMA FILLS INDRA IN HEAVEN
Soma placed on the inner altar fills Indra in heaven,
Even as well-formed rivers, self-impelled, fill the ocean;
At the slaying of Vŗtra, the supporters stood with
Indra,
The foe-destroyer, who is stable and is elegant in form.
ā yam pŗņanti divi sadmabarhişhaĥ
., him
(Indra), fill, in heaven, the seat on the sacred grass or altar,
samudram na subhva svā abhişhţayaĥ
ocean, like, well-formed, by itself, self-impelled (rivers),
tam vŗtrahatye anutasthuĥūtayaĥ
him, in the killing of Vŗtra, stood by him,
supporters,
shuşhmā indram
avātā ahŗutapsavaĥ
destroyer, Indra, stable, elegant of form or without cunning.
MANTRA (1.52.5): TRITA BREAKING
THE CLOSED DOORS
His
exhilarated allies went ahead of him against the foe, the
obstructer of the waters,
Like flowing waters going down the slopes.
Indra emboldened by Soma
Slew Vala with his vajra, even as Trita did the ringed lids.
abhi svavŗşhţim made asya yudhyato
infront of, holder of waters, exhilarated, his, against the
fighter,
raghvīriva pravaņe sasruĥ ūtayaĥ;
like flowing waters, slope, went, supporters,
indro yat vajrī dhŗşhamāņo andhasā
Indra, where, with vajra, emboldened, by Soma,
bhinat valasya paridhīriva tritaĥ.
broke, of Vala, like ringed lids, Trita.
Details:
The episode of Trita is mentioned
in RV (1.105.17), which states, ‘Trita trapped in the well (the
realm of inconscient matter) calls on the Gods for succour.
Bŗhaspati heard the call, enlarged the lid of the covering and
released him'. In order to raise up the power signified by the
Waters concealed in the realm of the inconscient Matter of the
threefold world (well), Trita, son of the Waters, descends into
the inconscient, but finds the door of exit shut by the evil
forces. He prays to the Gods and with the power of their grace
tears open the lids in the form of rings.
Even as Trita did with the
coverings, Indra deals with the encircling demon, Vŗtra.
MANTRA (1.52.6):
SPLENDOUR-ENCOMPASSED INDRA
The splendour encompassed you and your might shone forth,
When Vŗtra who covered the source of the waters in the midregion
And reposed unrestrained in the lowest deeps,
Was smitten on the cheeks by your vajra, O Indra.
pari im ghŗņā charati titvişhe shavaĥ
., ., splendour, encompassed, shone out, luminous might,
apo vŗtvī rajaso bhudhnam āshayat;
waters, covered, mid region, source, reposed,
vŗtrasya yat pravaņe durgŗbhishvano
of Vŗtra, ., lowest deep, unrestrained,
nijaghantha hanvoĥ indra tanyatum.
smote, cheeks of, Indra, with vajra.
Details:
When Vŗtra was killed, all
the energies trapped by him were released and they enveloped
Indra with their splendour.
ghŗ
in ghŗņa indicates something shining as in the word
ghŗta.
pari + charati:
encompassed.
MANTRA (1.52.7): HYMNS COME TO INDRA
Like waters coming to the lake,
The hymns come to you that increase your power in us, O Indra.
Tvaşhţā himself has greatened your worthy might
And sharpened your vajra with his overpowering might.
hŗadam na hi tvā nyŗşhanti ūrmayo
lake, like, ., you, attain, waves or waters,
brahmāņi indra tava yāni vardhanā;
hymns, Indra, you, those, increase (you),
tvaşhţā chit te yujyam vāvŗdhe shavas
Tvaşhţā, ., your, worthy, greatened, might,
tatakşha vajram abhibhūtyojasam.
sharpened, vajra, with overpowering might.
Details:
Hymns or mantrās, brahmāņi,
increase the Indra-power in the human seeker. In this
sense the hymns increase Indra.
MANTRA (1.52.8): DEEDS DONE WITH
YOUR STEEDS
O Indra, you have accomplished difficult tasks with your steeds.
Desiring the course of waters for men, you have indeed slain
Vŗtra, the coverer;
You have taken
up in your hands the strong vajra;
You have established the sun in the heaven for us to see.
jaghanvān u haribhiĥ sambhŗtakrato
slain, ., steeds, accomplished deeds,
indra vŗtram manuşhe gātuyan apaĥ;
Indra, Vŗtra, for men, course of, waters,
ayachchhathā bāhvoĥ vajram āyasam
(you) have taken up, hands, vajra, made of iron or strong,
adhārayo divyā sūryam dŗshe.
established, in the heaven, Sūrya, for (our) vision.
Details:
Indra releases the waters for the
sake of humanity, not for himself.
MANTRA (1.52.9): SELF-DELIGHTING
AND POWERFUL SAMAN
When the worthy Sāman, self-delighting and powerful
Was recited by the fearful singers for leading them to heaven,
Maruts, battling for men, guarding the heaven and
Serving the men, followed and enthused Indra.
bŗhat svashchandram amavat yat ukthyam
the great
(Sāman), self-delighting, powerful, when, worthy of chant,
akŗņvata bhiyasā rohaņam divaĥ;
did, with fear, leading to, the heaven,
yat mānuşhapradhanā indram ūtayaĥ svar
when, battling for men, Indra, guarding, svar,
nŗşhācho maruto amadan anu.
serving the men, Maruts, made (Indra) happy, following.
Details:
Maruts are the Gods of
Life-energies who are the helpers of Indra. Their
tempestuous arrival causes fear in the singers.
bŗhat:
the Sāma chant of that name.
They are self-delighting, powerful and lead the singer to
heaven.
MANTRA (1.52.10): THE ROAR OF AHI
At the roar of Ahi, even the mighty heaven
Was rent asunder with fear;
O Indra, in your battle with Vŗtra, afflicting heaven and earth,
you,
Exhilarated with Soma, severed his head with the vajra, with its
luminous power.
dyauĥ chit asya amavān aheĥ svanāt
heaven, .,
his, mighty, Ahi, roar of,
ayoyavīt bhiyasā vajra indra te;
rent asunder, with fear, vajra, Indra, your,
vŗtrasya yat badbadhānasya rodasī
of Vŗtra, when, afflicting, heaven and earth,
made sutasya shavasa abhināt shiraĥ.
in exhilaration, of Soma, luminous power, struck off, the head.
Details:
The head is the
standard symbol for the key part of any entity or organization.
Use of this word does not imply that Ahi is a living
human being. Note the adjective, "luminous head' for Ahi,
indicates that Ahi is a cosmic force hiding the Light or
knowledge.
MANTRA (1.52.11): PROWESS OF
INDRA SHINES ETERNALLY
O Indra, were the earth to become tenfold,
Or all men multiply day by day,
Even then the prowess of Maghavan declared here would stay
renowned.
Your glory
increased by your might becomes famous like the heaven.
yadinnu indra prthivī dashabhujiĥ
if ever, Indra, earth, (become) ten-fold,
ahāni vishvā tatananta kŗşhţayaĥ;
day by day, all, multiply, men,
atrāha te maghavan vishrutam saho
declared here,
your, Maghavan, renowned, prowess,
dyām anu shavasā barhaņā bhuvat.
heaven following, might, increase, become.
MANTRA (1.52.12): EARTH FORMED
ON THE PATTERN OF INDRA'S MIGHT
In the region beyond the limits of the midworld,
You abide in
your might offering protection to all, O bold of spirit.
You have formed the earth on the pattern of your might;
Encompassing the waters and the light you attain the heaven.
tvam asya pāre rajaso vyomanaĥ
you, this, limit, midworld, region beyond,
svabhūtyojā avase dhŗşhanmanaĥ,
abiding in your might, protection, bold of spirit,
chakŗşhe bhūmim pratimānam ojasa
formed, earth, pattern, of (your) might,
apaĥ svaĥ paribhūĥ eşhi ādivam.
waters, svar, encompassing, attain, heaven.
Details:
Indra abides in the supreme state,
parame vyoman, beyond the midregion.
MANTRA (1.52.13): INDRA IS THE
COUNTERPART OF EARTH
You are the
counterpart of the earth;
You are the guardian of the lofty heaven of mighty heroes;
You have
filled the entire midregion with your greatness;
True it is that there is none else like you.
tvam bhuvaĥ pratimānam pŗthivyā
you, are, counterpart, or mould, of earth,
ŗşhvavīrasya bŗhataĥ patiĥ bhūĥ;
mighty heroes, high heaven, lord, are,
vishvam āprā antarikşham mahitvā
all, filled, midregion, with (your) greatness,
satyam adhdā nakiĥ anyaĥ tvāvān.
certainly, true, none, other, equal to you.
Details:
In the previous rik the
earth was described as patterned after Indra; here it is
Indra who is the counterpart of earth. Indra is the mould from
which the earth has been formed. This indicates the
indescribable glory of earth.
MANTRA (1.52.14): INDRA HAS
ESTABLISHED ALL THINGS IN ORDER
Earth and heaven are unable to envisage his extent;
The rivers flowing above the midworld do not reach his limit;
The streaming prowess of his fighting (Vŗtra) in joy is
unequalled.
The one absolute, you have placed all things in order.
na yasya dyāvāpŗthivī anu vyacho
not, whose, heaven and earth, follow, (his) extent,
na sindhavo rajaso antam ānashuĥ;
not, rivers, midworld, limit, reach,
na uta svavŗşhţim made asya yudhyata
not, ., streaming prowess, enjoy, his, fighting (Vŗtra),
eko anyat chakŗşhe vishvam ānuşhak.
one unequalled, all others besides you, set, all, in order.
Details:
The last line is reminiscent of the
£sha Up. (8), which declares, "The one who becomes
everywhere, the Self-existent, has ordered objects perfectly
according to their nature for long.'
The use of the word, eka,
the One unequalled, is also to be noted.
MANTRA (1.52.15): GODS EXULTANT
The Maruts
worshipped you in the battle.
All the Gods followed you in joy in this event,
When with the spiky and fatal vajra,
You fully smote the face of Vŗtra, O Indra.
ārchan atra marutaĥ sasmin ājau
worshipped, here, Maruts, this, battle,
vishve devāso amadan anu tvā;
all, Gods, in joy, followed, you,
vŗtrasya yat bhŗşhţimatā vadhena
of Vŗtra, when, spiky, by the fatal (vajra),
ni tvam indra prati ānam jaghantha.
., you, Indra, fully, face, smote.
Details:
prati + ni
+ jaghantha: fully smote or fully slain. |
