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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 174 of 1027

Mandala 1: HYMN CLXXIV. Indra.

1.THOU art the King of all the Gods, O Indra: protect the men, O Asura, preserve us. Thou Lord of Heroes, Maghavan, our saver, art faithful, very rich, the victory-giver.

2.Indra, thou humbledst tribes that spake with insult by breaking down seven autumn forts, their refuge. Thou stirredst, Blameless! billowy floods, and gavest his foe a prey to youthful Purukutsa.

3.With whom thou drivest troops whose lords are heroes, and bringest daylight now, much worshipped Indra, With them guard lion-like wasting active Agni to dwell in our tilled fields and in our homestead.

4.They through the greatness of thy spear, O Indra, shall, to thy praise, rest in this earthly station. To loose the floods, to seek, for kine, the battle, his Bays he mounted boldly seized the booty.

5.Indra, bear Kutsa, him in whom thou joyest: the dark-red horses of the Wind are docile. Let the Sun roll his chariot wheel anear us, and let the Thunderer go to meet the foemen.

6.Thou Indra, Lord of Bays, made strong by impulse, hast slain the vexers of thy friends, who give not. They who beheld the Friend beside the living were cast aside by thee as they rode onward.

7.Indra, the bard sang forth in inspiration: thou madest earth a covering for the Dāsa. Maghavan made the three that gleam with moisture, and to his home brought Kuyavāc to slay him.

8.These thine old deeds new bards have sung, O Indra. Thou conqueredst, boundest many tribes for ever. Like castles thou hast crushed the godless races, and bowed the godless scorner’s deadly weapon.

9.A Stormer thou hast made the stormy waters flow down, O Indra, like the running rivers. When o’er the flood thou broughtest them, O Hero, thou keptest Turvaśa and Yadu safely.

10.Indra, mayst thou be ours in all occasions, protector of the men, most gentle-hearted, Giving us victory over all our rivals. May we find strengthening food in full abundance.

Asked of Guide

Why does the hymn keep calling Indra 'Maghavan' and 'Lord of Bays'?

The hymn uses Maghavan and Lord of Bays as titles that celebrate Indra’s gifts and martial power: Maghavan means “bountiful giver,” emphasizing his role as the victory-giver and preserver, and Lord of Bays highlights his association with swift, noble horses that carry him into battle. The repeated praise links those names to specific deeds in the chapter — breaking forts, loosing floods, and bearing Kutsa — so the names enact the qualities they claim.

This practice matches how other Vedic hymns operate: names perform identity while recalling mythic acts. See Rig Veda Mandala 1, Hymn CLXXIV itself and compare to hymns about Agni and Soma where epithets likewise tie a god’s function to narrated exploits.

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