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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 317 of 1027

Mandala 4: HYMN XXI. Indra.

1.MAY Indra come to us for our protection; here be the Hero, praised, our feast-companion. May he whose powers are many, waxen mighty, cherish, like Dyaus, his own supreme dominion.

2.Here magnify his great heroic exploits, most glorious One, enriching men with bounties, Whose will is like a Sovran in assembly, who rules the people, Conqueror, all-surpassing.

3.Hither let Indra come from earth or heaven, hither with speech from firmament or ocean; With Maruts, from the realm of light to aid us, or from a distance, from the seat of Order.

4.That Indra will we laud in our assemblies, him who is Lord of great and lasting riches, Victor with Vāyu where the herds are gathered, who leads with boldness on to higher fortune.

5.May the Priest, Lord of many blessings, striving,—who fixing reverence on reverence, giving Vent to his voice, inciteth men to worship—with lauds bring Indra hither to our dwellings.

6.When sitting pondering in deep devotion in Auśija’s abode they ply the press-stone, May he whose wrath is fierce, the mighty bearer, come as the house-lord’s priest within our chambers.

7.Surely the power of Bhārvara the mighty for ever helpeth to support the singer; That which in Auśija’s abode lies hidden, to come forth for delight and for devotion.

8.When he unbars the spaces of the mountains, and quickens with his floods the water-torrents, He finds in lair the buffalo and wild-ox when the wise lead him on to vigorous exploit.

9.Auspicious are thy hands, thine arms well-fashioned which proffer bounty, Indra, to thy praiser. What sloth is this? Why dost thou not rejoice thee? Why dost thou not delight thyself with giving?

10.So Indra is the truthful Lord of treasure. Freedom he gave to man by slaying Vṛtra. Much-lauded! help us with thy power to riches: may I be sharer of thy Godlike favour.

11.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, care-borne, through song be victors ever.

Asked of Guide

Why do the singers call Indra to come from earth, heaven, or the sea?

The singers summon Indra from earth, heaven, or ocean because the hymn presents him as the communal protector whose presence brings bounty, victory, and the breaking-open of obstacles. Verse 3 explicitly asks him to come “with speech from firmament or ocean,” while verses 1–4 and 10 tie his arrival to protection, riches, and the freeing act of slaying Vṛtra.

Calling him from every realm insists his power is everywhere and can be invoked into the ritual space by the priest and singers; verses 5–7 describe the priest’s lauds and the supporting power that “helpeth to support the singer,” making the ritual summons effective. This functional, worldly theology echoes themes in the Atharva Veda where ritual speech aims to draw deities into immediate action for human need.

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