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Hymn 55: Faith in Indra
Rişhi: Savya
Angirasa
MANTRA (1.55.1): HIS VASTNESS WIDER THAN THE HEAVEN
His range is greater than that of heaven;
Earth compares not to Indra in his greatness;
Terrible and powerful, he torments the foes of the devotees;
He whets his vajra for sharpness as a bull (does his horns).
divaĥ chit asya varimā vipapratha
the heaven dyu, ., his, wideness, more extensive,
indram na mahnā pŗthivī chana prati;
Indra, nor, greatness, earth, also, compare,
bhīmaĥ tuvişhmān charşhaņibhyaĥ ātapaĥ
terrible, powerful, for the sake of his devotees, torments (the
foes),
shishīte vajram tejase na vamsagaĥ
whets, vajra, for sharpness like, a bull.
Details:
varimā:
the property of having a wide or extensive range; it is
translated as urutvan in Sanskrit [CWKS, vol.5].
MANTRA (1.55.2): MUTUAL
NOURISHMENT
Just as the
ocean receives the rivers,
He, Indra, the ocean - like store, accepts the widespread
waters.
For drinking Soma, he showers gifts like a bull;
Fighter of old, he is eager for great deeds with his might.
so arņavaĥ na nadyaĥ samudriyaĥ
he, oceans, like, rivers, ocean like store,
prati gŗbhņāti vishritā varīmabhiĥ;
., receives, waters, widespread,
indraĥ somasya pītaye vŗşhāyate
Indra, Soma, drinking of, showers gifts like a bull,
sanāt saĥ yudhma ojasā panasyate.
from ancient days, he, fighter, with his might, achieve mighty
deeds.
Details:
Indra accepts the Waters or
energies; then he, desirous of Soma, showers those energies on
the human aspirant who, energised by the gifts of Indra, presses
the Soma for offering to Indra. Indra becoming powerful
by the Soma is ready for great deeds.
samudriyaĥ:
the ocean or the infinite substance having all the energies.
varīmabhiĥ:
the widespread Waters, symbolising the powers of Light and
Might.
vishritā:
that which spreads, namely the Waters.
MANTRA (1.55.3): INDRA DOES NOT
STRIKE THE HILL FOR HIS OWN ENJOYMENT
O Indra, you have not struck the mountain of ignorance for your
own enjoyment.
You rule over
the Gods of vast might;
The God (Indra) excelling in valour is known to us excellently;
Foremost, he is established in front for various actions.
tvam tam indra parvatam na bhojase
you, him, Indra, mountain (of ignorance), not, (your) enjoyment,
maho nŗmņasya dharmaņām irajyasi,
vast, might, holders or Gods, rules over,
pra vīryeņa devatā ati chekite
., valour, God, excelling, known,
vishvasmā ugraĥ karmaņe purohitaĥ.
all types of, foremost, for actions, in front.
Details:
parvatam:
a common epithet for the evil forces purveying ignorance, which
is formidable like a mountain.
pra + chekite:
known to us excellently.
MANTRA (1.55.4): INDRA SPEAKS TO
THE RISHIS
The delighted Indra speaks to his worshippers;
He pleasantly reveals to his people his secrets;
The bounteous and opulent showerer (Indra) pleases his
worshipper
By impelling happy speech in the human aspirant.
sa it vane namasyubhiĥ vachasyate
he, .,
delighted, worshippers, speaks,
chāru janeşhu prabruvāņa indriyam,
pleasantly, people, reveals, his secrets,
vŗşhā chhanduĥ bhavati haryato
showerer (Indra), delights, becomes, one who pleases,
vŗşhā kşhemeņa dhenām maghavā yat invati.
with happy mind, speech, the rich (Indra), when, impels.
Details:
Note that it is Indra who impels
the rişhi to recite happy speech or hymns and again it is
Indra who showers his choice blessings on the worshipper in
response to the prayers.
haryataĥ:
the human seeker who pleases the Gods.
haryati:
shining.
MANTRA (1.55.5): FAITH IN INDRA
With his purifying and intense might, the great battles
Are fought by the warrior (Indra) for the sake of human beings.
They have faith in the resplendent Indra only later.
He wields the vajra and kills Vŗtra.
sa it mahāni samithāni majmanā
he, ., great, battles, purifying might,
kŗņoti yudhma ojasā janebhyaĥ,
does, warrior, intense might, for men,
adhā chana shrat dadhati tvişhīmata
later, only, truth or faith, bear or uphold, luminous,
indrāya vajram nighanighnate vadham.
Indra, vajra, kills (vŗtra), wields.
Details:
shrat:
faith. It should be distinguished
from ordinary belief. In spiritual life, one must have faith in
the existence of Gods and the efficacy of their actions, just as
in everyday life one has a faith in the existence of oneself.
This mantra says that in many of us the faith develops only
after an experience, often intense, of the action of God or the
presence of God.
shrat
occurs elsewhere also. (1.104.7) states, "I know my faith in
your power'. "Indra upholds the faith in every human being' RV
(2.12.5).
In later times
shradhda is used instead of shrat.
MANTRA (1.55.6): RENDERING THE
LIGHTS FREE FROM OBSTRUCTION
Desirous of renown, the artful dwellings of the demons
Are destroyed
by his might and by his pervading all over the earth.
He renders the lights free from obstructions.
He of happy deeds
releases the
waters for the worshipper.
sa hi shravasyuĥ sadanāni kŗtrimā
he, ., desirous of renown, dwellings, artful,
kşhmayā vŗdhāna ojasā vināshayan,
earth,
increasing, with his might, destroying,
jyotīmşhi kŗņvan avŗkāņi
lights, doing, free of obstructions,
yajyaveva sukratuĥ sartavā apaĥsŗjat.
worshipper, of happy deeds, aflow, waters, releases.
Details:
The dwellings sadana, of the
demons or evil forces are only artful and are not based on
proper foundations. The dwelling is not a physical house, but an
inner structure in the subtle body of each human being
representing our beliefs, our ideals, etc. Indra can extend
himself over the entire earth and destroy these structures in
each human being.
avŗkāņi:
vŗka means wolf. Clearly this meaning of non-wolf is not
helpful. The correct meaning can be derived from the symbolic
meaning of vŗka, namely a demonic force which tears down
auspicious objects or persons. Thus, avŗkāņi means free
from the demonic forces, or from obstructions caused by these
forces.
MANTRA (1.55.7): YOUR INTUITION
LEADS US NOT ASTRAY
Drinker of Soma, may your mind be disposed towards giving.
Listener of prayers, bring your steeds here.
Indra, your charioteers are skilled in controlling (the steeds);
Your effectuating intuitive rays do not lead (us) astray.
dānāya manaĥ somapāvan astu te
towards
gifting, mind, Soma - drinker, is, your,
arvānchā harī vandanashrut ākŗdhi,
here, steeds, listener of prayers, bring,
yamişhţhāsaĥ sārathayo ya indra te
skilled in controlling, charioteers, who, Indra, your,
na tvā ketā ā dabhnuvanti bhūrņayaĥ.
not, your, intuitive rays, ., lead astray, effectuating.
Details:
The effectuating beams of intuition
show not only the path, but also provide the energy for
accomplishing the deeds. They never lead the worshipper in wrong
directions.
MANTRA (1.55.8): IN YOUR LIMBS
ABUNDANT WILL-POWER ABIDES
O Indra, you hold in your hands inexhaustible wealth;
Celebrated, you bear in your body unvanquished strength.
Like wells surrounded by men,
Abundant powers reside in your limbs, O Indra.
aprakşhitam vasu bibharşhi hastayoĥ
inexhaustible, wealth, hold, in (your) hands,
aşhāļham sahaĥ tanvi shruto dadhe,
unvanquished, strength, in your body, celebrated, (you) bear,
āvŗtāsaĥ
avatāsaĥ na kartŗbhiĥ
surrounded, wells, like, by men,
tanūşhu te kratava indra bhūrayaĥ.
in (your) limbs, your, will power, Indra, many.
Details:
Just as men
seeking water surround the well, the will-powers surround the
limbs of Indra.
kratavaĥ: powers of will based on wisdom.
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