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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 313 of 1027

Mandala 4: HYMN XVII. Indra.

1.GREAT art thou, Indra; yea, the earth, with gladness, and heaven confess to thee thine high dominion. Thou in thy vigour having slaughtered Vṛtra didst free the floods arrested by the Dragon.

2.Heaven trembled at the birth of thine effulgence; Earth trembled at the fear of thy displeasure. The stedfast mountains shook in agitation . the waters flowed, and desert spots were flooded.

3.Hurling his bolt with might he cleft the mountain, while, putting forth his strength, he showed his vigour. He slaughtered Vṛtra with his bolt, exulting, and, their lord slain, forth flowed the waters swiftly.

4.Thy Father Dyaus esteemed himself a hero: most noble was the work of Indra’s Maker, His who begat the strong bolt’s Lord who roareth, immovable like earth from her foundation.

5.He who alone o’erthrows the world of creatures, Indra the peoples’ King, invoked of many- Verily all rejoice in him, extolling the boons which Maghavan the God hath sent them.

6.All Soma juices are his own for ever, most gladdening draughts are ever his, the Mighty, Thou ever wast the Treasure-Lord of treasures: Indra, thou lettest all folk share thy bounty.

7.Moreover, when thou first wast born, O Indra, thou struckest terror into all the people. Thou, Maghavan, rentest with thy bolt the Dragon who lay against the waterfloods of heaven.

8.The ever-slaying, bold and furious Indra, the bright bolt’s Lord, infinite, strong and mighty, Who slayeth Vṛtra and acquireth booty, giver of blessings, Maghavan the bounteous:

9.Alone renowned as Maghavan in battles, he frighteneth away assembled armies. He bringeth us the booty that he winneth may we, well-loved, continue in his friendship.

10.Renowned is he when conquering and when slaying: ‘fis he who winneth cattle in the combat. When Indra hardeneth his indignation all that is fixed and all that moveth fear him.

11.Indra hath won all kine, all gold, all horses,—Maghavan, he who breaketh forts in pieces; Most manly with these men of his who help him, dealing out wealth and gathering the treasure.

12.What is the care of Indra for his Mother, what cares he for the Father who begat him? His care is that which speeds his might in conflicts, like wind borne onward by the clouds that thunder.

13.Maghavan makes the settled man unsettled: he scatters dust that he hath swept together, Breaking in pieces like Heaven armed with lightning: Maghavan shall enrich the man who lauds h;m.

14.He urged the chariot-wheel of Sūrya forward: Etaśa, speeding on his way, he rested. Him the black undulating cloud bedeweth, in this mid-air’s depth, at the base of darkness,

15.As in the night the sacrificing priest.

16.Eager for booty, craving strength and horses, we-singers stir Indra, the strong, for friendship, Who gives the wives we seek, whose succour fails not, to hasten, like a pitcher to the fountain.

17.Be thou our guardian, show thyself our kinsman, watching and blessing those who pour the Soma; As Friend, as Sire, most fatherly of fathers giving the suppliant vital strength and freedom.

18.Be helping Friend of those who seek thy friendship . give life, when lauded, Indra, to the singer. For, Indra, we the priests have paid thee worship, exalting thee with these our sacrifices.

19.Alone, when Indra Maghavan is lauded, he slayeth many ne’er-resisted Vṛtras. Him in whose keeping is the well-loved singer never do Gods or mortals stay or hinder.

20.E’en so let Maghavan, the loud-voiced Indra, give us true blessings, foeless, men’s upholder. King of all creatures, give us glory amply, exalted glory due to him who lauds thee.

21.Now, Indra! lauded, glorified with praises, let power swell high like rivers for the singer. For thee a new hymn, Lord of Bays! is fashioned. May we, car-borne, through song be victors ever.

Asked of Guide

Why does the hymn keep calling Indra 'Maghavan' and praise his slaying of Vṛtra so insistently?

The hymn repeatedly names Indra ‘Maghavan’ to stress his role as the generous bestower of wealth and booty; Maghavan means ‘bountiful’ and the singers invoke that generosity as the reason he grants cattle, horses and prosperity. The poem ties Indra’s largesse to his martial deed: by slaying Vṛtra he releases the waters and the riches withheld from the world, so his generosity issues from a decisive, world-making act.

The focus on Vṛtra’s slaying locates Indra’s power in a cosmic rescue: lines like “thou…didst free the floods arrested by the Dragon” present his violence as the return of abundance. This hymn echoes other Rig Veda hymns where heroic deeds justify divine gifts; compare Mandala 1 hymns that also link Indra’s victory over Vṛtra to the distribution of booty and the maintenance of order.

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