Rig Veda · 984 of 1027
Mandala 10: HYMN CXLVII. Indra.
1.I TRUST in thy first wrathful deed, O Indra, when thou slewest Vṛtra and didst work to profit man; What time the two world-halves fell short of thee in might, and the earth trembled at thy force, O Thunder-anned.
2.Thou with thy magic powers didst rend the conjurer Vṛtra, O Blameless One, with heart that longed for fame. Heroes elect thee when they battle for the prey, thee in all sacrifices worthy of renown.
3.God Much-invoked, take pleasure in these princes here, who, thine exalters, Maghavan, have come to wealth. In synods, when the rite succeeds, they hymn the Strong for sons and progeny and riches undisturbed.
4.That man shall find delight in well-protected wealth whose care provides for him the quick-sought joyous draught. Bringing oblations, strengthened Maghavan, by thee, he swiftly wins the spoil with heroes in the fight.
5.Now for our band, O Maghavan, when lauded, make ample room with might, and grant us riches. Magician thou, our Varuṇa and Mitra, deal food to us, O Wondrous, as Dispenser.
Asked of Guide
Why does the hymn call Indra 'Maghavan' and ask him for 'sons and progeny and riches'?
The hymn uses Maghavan—“much-giver”—to name Indra as the dispenser of prizes and prosperity, tying his victory over Vṛtra to social reward; line 1 recalls his first wrathful deed, and lines 3–4 ask him to “take pleasure in these princes” and grant “sons and progeny and riches undisturbed.” The poet treats Indra’s heroic slaying as the cosmic origin of bounty, so supplication asks him to repeat that distributive power for the worshippers.
This solicitation matches how later Vedic hymns and the Gṛhya-sūtras read Indra: a war-god whose fame and generosity secure cattle, sons, and status. If you want parallel language, look at Rig Veda Mandala 1 hymns where Indra’s gifts and the spoils of battle are likewise the rationale for praise and ritual offerings.
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