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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 274 of 1027

Mandala 3: HYMN XL. Indra.

1.THEE, Indra, we invoke, the Bull, what time the Soma is expressed. So drink thou of the savoury juice.

2.Indra, whom many laud, accept the strength-conferring Soma juice: Quaff, pour down drink that satisfies.

3.Indra, with all the Gods promote our wealth-bestowing sacrifice, Thou highly-lauded Lord of men.

4.Lord of the brave, to thee proceed these drops of Soma juice expressed, The bright drops to thy dwelling-place.

5.Within thy belly, Indra, take juice, Soma the most excellent: Thine are the drops celestial.

6.Drink our libation, Lord of hymns: with streams of meath thou art bedewed Our glory, Indra, is thy gift.

7.To Indra go the treasures of the worshipper, which never fail: He drinks the Soma and is strong

8.From far away, from near at hand, O Vṛtra-slayer, come to us: Accept the songs we sing to thee.

9.When from the space between the near and far thou art invoked by us, Thence, Indra. come thou hitherward.

Asked of Guide

Why does every verse urge Indra to drink the Soma so insistently?

The hymn presents Soma drinking as the ritual act that transfers divine power: each verse sends “drops of Soma” into Indra’s belly so he becomes strong and bestows wealth and glory. The Rishis treat the libation as a means of communion—Indra’s drinking makes him “highly-lauded” and binds the gods to the worshipper’s prosperity.

This chapter frames the act as reciprocity: the sacrificer offers Soma and songs, Indra accepts and returns victory and riches, as other Rig Veda hymns do when gods are solicited for favors. See Mandala 1 and 4 where sacrifice and gift-exchange between worshipper and deity follow the same pattern.

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