✶Gnosis
← Contents
Theme
0203 / 1027

Listen

Dhammapada · narration sample

A one-minute narration sample. Every book in the library is narrated end to end — hear the rest in the app.

Rig Veda · 203 of 1027

Mandala 2: HYMN XII. Indra.

1.HE who, just born, chief God of lofty spirit by power and might became the Gods’ protector, Before whose breath through greatness of his valour the two worlds trembled, He, O men, is Indra.

2.He who fixed fast and firm the earth that staggered, and set at rest the agitated mountains, Who measured out the air’s wide middle region and gave the heaven support, He, men, is Indra.

3.Who slew the Dragon, freed the Seven Rivers, and drove the kine forth from the cave of Vala, Begat the fire between two stones, the spoiler in warriors’ battle, He, O men, is Indra.

4.By whom this universe was made to tremble, who chased away the humbled brood of demons, Who, like a gambler gathering his winnings seized the foe’s riches, He, O men, is Indra.

5.Of whom, the Terrible, they ask, Where is He? or verily they say of him, He is not. He sweeps away, like birds, the foe’s possessions. Have faith in him, for He, O men, is Indra.

6.Stirrer to action of the poor and lowly, of priest, of suppliant who sings his praises; Who, fair-faced, favours him who presses Soma with stones made ready, He, O men, is Indra.

7.He under whose supreme control are horses, all chariots, and the villages, and cattle; He who gave being to the Sun and Morning, who leads the waters, He, O men, is Indra.

8.To whom two armies cry in close encounter, both enemies, the stronger and the weaker; Whom two invoke upon one chariot mounted, each for himself, He, O ye men, is Indra.

9.Without whose help our people never conquer; whom, battling, they invoke to give them succour; He of whom all this world is but the copy, who shakes things moveless, He, O men, is Indra.

10.He who hath smitten, ere they knew their danger, with his hurled weapon many grievous sinners; Who pardons not his boldness who provokes him, who slays the Dasyu, He, O men, is Indra.

11.He who discovered in the fortieth autumn Śambara as he dwelt among the mountains; Who slew the Dragon putting forth his vigour, the demon lying there, He, men, is Indra.

12.Who with seven guiding reins, the Bull, the Mighty, set free the Seven great Floods to flow at pleasure; Who, thunder-armed, rent Rauhiṇa in pieces when scaling heaven, He, O ye men, is Indra.

13.Even the Heaven and Earth bow down before him, before his very breath the mountains tremble. Known as the Soma-drinker, armed with thunder, who wields the bolt, He, O ye men, is Indra.

14.Who aids with favour him who pours the Soma and him who brews it, sacrificer, singer. Whom prayer exalts, and pouring forth of Soma, and this our gift, He, O ye men, Is Indra.

15.Thou verily art fierce and true who sendest strength to the man who brews and pours libation. So may we evermore, thy friends, O Indra, speak loudly to the synod with our heroes.

Asked of Guide

Why does every verse end by saying “He, O men, is Indra”?

The refrain names Indra each stanza to fix a single deity as the agent behind many deeds: slaying the Dragon, freeing the Seven Rivers, giving support to heaven and earth. Repetition turns a list of feats into a unified identity so listeners know these varied wonders are all expressions of Indra’s power.

This device matches other Vedic hymns that use anaphora to teach and to make prayer easy to chant; see Mandala 1 and the Gayatri-like hymns where repeated lines make a god’s attributes memorable. The line also signals praise and calls for faith—“Have faith in him,” the hymn itself instructs—so the refrain both describes and invokes Indra.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.