Hymn 81: Indra grants felicities appropriately

Rişhi: Gotama Rāhūgaņa

MANTRA (1.81.1): GREAT OR SMALL OBSTRUCTIONS

The joy and puissance of Indra have been increased

By the (hymns) of men; him only, the Vŗtra-slayer,

We invoke in battles, great and small;

May he foster in us opulence.

indro madāya vāvŗdhe shavase

Indra, joy, increased, puissance,

vŗtrahā nŗbhiĥ,

slayer of vŗtra, men,

tamit mahatsu ājişhu,

him only, great, battles,

uta im arbhe havāmahe

and, him, small, (we) invoke,

sa vājeşhu pra no avişhat.

he, opulence, ., us, fosters.

Details:

The power of Indra grows in the human seeker as a result of the hymns of praise and the Soma offered to him. The growth involves a change of consciousness from the state dominated by matter (earth) to the one dominated by the higher mind (heaven). As the journey from Earth to Heaven proceeds, there are obstructions, major or minor, from the hostile beings. In this battle the aid of the Gods is indispensable; human effort alone is not enough.

vājeşhu: opulence or varieties of wealth obtained from the enemies after conquest by the Gods. S translates it as battles.

MANTRA (1.81.2): YOU ELEVATE EVEN THE FEEBLE

O hero, you are an army;

You are the giver of abundant wealth;

You elevate even the feeble;

In the human seeker who gives Soma, you manifest your divine and abundant wealth.

asi hi vīra senyo

are, ., hero, host or army,

asi bhūri parādadiĥ,

are, abundant giver of recovered wealth,

asi dabhrasya chit vŗdhaĥ

are, feeble, verily, increasers,

yajamānāya shikşhasi sunvate bhūri te vasu.

to human aspirant, gives or bring out, who releases Soma, and, abundant, your substance.

Details:

The human aspirant in his subtle body has abundant wealth in a latent condition; Indra brings out this wealth.

parādadiĥ: recovered wealth, wealth recovered from the foes.

dabhra: one who is weak.

MANTRA (1.81.3): WHOM WILL YOU ENTHRONE OR SLAY ?

When battles begin, the wealth comes to the victor (chosen by Indra).

Yoke your steeds that drip with intoxication.

Whom shall you slay? Whom shall you enthrone in riches?

O Indra, you shall enthrone us in your riches.

yat udīrata ājayo

when, begin, battles,

dhŗşhņave dhīyate dhanā,

victor, possess, wealth,

yukşhvā madachyutā harī

yoke, that drip with intoxication, steeds,

kam hanaĥ kam vasau

whom, destroy, whom, make wealthy,

dadho asmān indra vasau dadhaĥ.

us, Indra, wealth, give.

Details:

The idea in line 1 is that only Indra determines the victor in a battle. The sage completely surrenders to Indra and prays for the wealth. Note that the battles are psychological.

The intoxication refers to the spiritual ecstasies which the life-energies or the steeds bring to the human seeker or rişhi.

dhīyate: hold; the wealth of the defeated one goes to the victor.

MANTRA (1.81.4): GREAT BY WILL OF ACTION

He who is great by will of action according to his law of nature,

The terrible one, has increased his puissance;

Eminent, with strong jaws, along with his steeds,

Has taken in his hands the adamant vajra to win  glory.

kratvā mahān anuşhvadham

willed action, great self-nature,

bhima ā vāvŗdhe shavaĥ,

terrible, ., increased, puissance,

shriya ŗşhva upākayoĥni shiprī harivān

affluence or glory, eminent, joined, ., strong-chinned, one with steeds,

dadhe hastayoĥ vajram āyasam.

grasps, hands, vajra, adamant.

Details:

nidadhe: establish.

MANTRA (1.81.5): NONE LIKE YOU OR NONE WILL BE

He has filled the earth and the midworld;

He has firmly established the luminous worlds in heaven.

O Indra, there is none like you;

None is born your equal, nor shall be born;

You superbly uphold the entire universe.

ā paprau pārthivam rajo

., fills, earth, midworld,

badbadhe rochanā divi,

establishes firmly, lustres or luminous, in heaven,

na tvāvān indra kah chana

none, equal to you, Indra, who, exists,

na jāto na janişhyate

none, born, none, to be born,

ati vishvam vavakşhitha.

beyond, the entire universe, upholds.

MANTRA (1.81.6): DISTRIBUTE YOUR ABUNDANT RICHES

The lord Indra, who returns the mortal enjoyments to the giver,

May he bestow on us (the gifts);

Distribute your abundant riches;

Let me have the joy of your opulence.

yo aryo martabhojanam parādadāti dāshuşhe,

who, lord, enjoyable by mortals, returns, offerer,

indro asmabhyam shikşhatu

Indra, us, bestow,

vibhajā bhūri te vasu

portion out, abundant, your, wealth,

bakşhīya tava rādhasaĥ.

may I enjoy, you, of your wealth.

Details:

parādadāti: returns the felicities stolen by the demonic foes.

MANTRA (1.81.7): SHARPEN US TO RECEIVE YOUR FELICITIES

In rapture and rapture, he gives us the light, he, the straight in will;

Collect riches in the hundreds in both your arms;

Sharpen us, bring us the felicities.

mademade hi no dadiĥ

in rapture and rapture, ., us, gives,

yūthā gavām ŗjukratuĥ,

host of, rays, straight in will,

samgŗbhāya purū shata ubhayāhastyā vasu

gather, many, hundreds, in your two arms, your substance,

shishīhi rāya ābhara.

sharpen (us) wealth, bring.

Details:

Sharpen our faculties in order to receive and hold the celestial wealth and felicities.

Sharpening means the preparation of all the parts of the body, both physical and subtle so that it has the ability to withstand the incoming forces. Otherwise the body will break like an unbaked jar, RV (9.83.1).

MANTRA (1.81.8): BECOME THE FOSTERER OF OUR BEING

Enjoy along with us the purified Soma for strength and opulence, O hero;

We know you to be plentifully rich;

We address our desires to you;

Become the fosterer of our being.

mādayasva sute sachā

enjoy, the purified Soma, along with us,

shavase shūra rādhase,

for might, O hero, for opulence,

vidmā hi tvā purūvasum

know, ., you, plentifully rich,

upa kāmān sasŗjmahe

towards (you), desire, address,

athā naĥ avitā bhava

then, our, fosterer, become.

Details:

Both God and human beings share the enjoyment of the Divine Delight; This idea is developed in great detail in the Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion, which was formalised much later.

MANTRA (1.81.9): YOU SEE WITHIN THE NON-GIVERS

All beings are yours, O Indra,

Who increases every desirable thing;

For you, the lord, have seen within the knowledge of those who give not;

Bring to us their wealth (knowledge).

ete ta indra jantavo

these (beings), yours, Indra, beings,

vishvam puşhyanti vāryam,

all, cherish, which is desired,

antaĥ hi khyo janānām aryo vedo adāshuşhām

within, ., sees, beings, lord, knowledge, non-givers,

teşhām no vedah ābhara.

their, us, knowledge, bring.

Details:

Line 1 declares that all beings, both givers and non-givers, belong to Indra. Hence Indra can see within the thought or knowledge of the beings of both these classes.

Vedaĥ: even though the natural meaning of Veda is knowledge, ritualists like S translate it as physical wealth like cows. Note the phrase, ‘you see within the non-givers,' is out of place with the idea of physical wealth. The demons or evil forces steal this knowledge or Rays and store them without using them. The prayer is to discover that knowledge and return it to us. Recall the phrase in the earlier mantra, "satisfy our desires'.

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