✶Gnosis
← Contents
Theme
0501 / 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 · 501 of 1027

Mandala 6: HYMN LX. Indra-Agni.

1.HE slays the foe and wins the spoil who worships Indra and Agni, strong and mighty Heroes, Who rule as Sovrans over ample riches, victorious, showing forth their power in conquest.

2.So battle now, O Indra and thou, Agni, for cows and waters, sunlight, stolen Mornings. Team-borne, thou makest kine thine own, O Agni: thou, Indra, light, Dawns, regions, wondrous waters.

3.With Vṛtra-slaying might, Indra and Agni, come, drawn by homage, O ye Vṛtra-slayers. Indra and Agni, show yourselves among us with your supreme and unrestricted bounties.

4.I call the Twain whose deeds of old have all been famed in ancient days O Indra-Agni, harm us not.

5.The Strong, the scatterers of the foe, Indra and Agni, we invoke; May they be kind to one like me.

6.They slay our Ārya foes, these Lords of heroes, slay our Dasyu foes And drive our enemies away.

7.Indra and Agni, these our songs of praise have sounded forth to you: Ye who bring blessings! drink the juice.

8.Come, Indra-Agni, with those teams, desired of many, which ye have, O Heroes, for the worshipper.

9.With those to this libation poured, ye Heroes, Indra-Agni, come: Come ye to drink the Soma juice.

10.Glorify him who compasses all forests with his glowing flame, And leaves them blackened with his tongue.

11.He who gains Indra’s bliss with fire enkindled finds an easy way Over the floods to happiness.

12.Give us fleet coursers to convey Indra and Agni, and bestow Abundant strengthening food on us.

13.Indra and Agni, I will call you hither and make you joyful with the gifts I offer. Ye Twain are givers both of food and riches: to win me strength and vigour I invoke you.

14.Come unto us with riches, come with wealth in horses and in kine. Indra and Agni, we invoke you both, the Gods, as Friends for friendship, bringing bliss.

15.Indra and Agni, hear his call who worships. with libations poured. Come and enjoy the offerings, drink the sweetly-flavoured Soma juice.

Asked of Guide

Why are Indra and Agni addressed together as one (Indra‑Agni) throughout this hymn?

The hymn treats Indra and Agni as a united pair because both function as active patrons of the worshipper’s welfare: Indra is the warrior who wins spoil and waters, while Agni is the priestly carrier of offerings and enkindler who “compasses all forests with his glowing flame.” Calling them Indra‑Agni bundles their complementary powers so the ritual plea covers victory, wealth, sacrificial efficacy, and the consumptive act of the Soma.

This double-name repeats in requests and images — teams, coursers, Soma to drink — to ensure both the martial redistribution of goods (Indra) and the sacrificial mediation (Agni) attend the rite. This pairing appears elsewhere in the Vedas where joint epithets unify functions; see other Mandalas that invoke pairs to guarantee both cosmic force and ritual presence.

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.