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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 690 of 1027

Mandala 8: HYMN LXX. Indra.

1.INDRA, God of the mighty arm, gather for us with thy right hand Manifold and nutritious spoil.

2.We know thee mighty in thy deeds, of mighty bounty, mighty wealth, Mighty in measure, prompt to aid.

3.Hero, when thou art fain to give, neither may Gods nor mortal men Restrain thee like a fearful Bull.

4.Come, let us glorify Indra, Lord supreme of wealth, Self-ruling King: In bounty may he harm us not.

5.Let prelude sound and following chant so let him hear the Sāman sung, And with his bounty answer us.

6.O Indra, with thy right hand bring, and with thy left remember us. Let us not lose our share of wealth.

7.Come nigh, O Bold One, boldly bring hither the riches of the churl Who giveth least of all the folk.

8.Indra, the booty which thou hast with holy singers to receive, Even that booty win with us.

9.Indra, thy swiftly-coming spoil, the booty which rejoices all, Sounds quick in concert with our hopes.

Asked of Guide

Why does the hymn ask Indra to use both his right and left hands for bounty?

The hymn calls for Indra to “gather for us with thy right hand” and also to “with thy left remember us,” using both hands as a vivid way to request complete, unmistakable generosity. The right hand names decisive giving—“gather…with thy right hand”—while the left hand’s remembrance ensures the supplicants are not overlooked in the distribution of spoil.

This pairing echoes other Vedic hymns where bodily imagery signals full favor; compare Rig Veda Mandala 1 hymns that ask Soma or Agni to “accept” and “protect” in complementary actions. Here the two hands promise both immediate bounty and assured share in the communal reward.

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