Translations of Rig Veda Suktas 33-121 by M.P. Pandit

HYMN 51

Rishi: Angiras Deity: INDRA Rishi Angiras performed austerities to obtain a son like Indra. As an act of grace, Indra himself was born to him as Savya. That is the legend. It purports to convey the identity of Savya and Indra. By the grace of Indra, Savya attained oneness with Indra.

1. Gladden ye with hymns the celebrated, ever-wakeful, Indra – invoked by many, worthy of praise by Riks, ocean of wealth. Worship him for enjoyment who is superbly powerful, wise, whose gracious deeds for mankind spread like the rays of the Sun.

2. The Ribhus, increasers, discriminate, have repaired to Indra of graceful impulsions, filling the mid-regions, pouring down the delights (of Soma), full of strengths, of plentiful deeds; our truthful speech urging for the destruction of the enemy has reached him.

3. Thou hast brought forth the host of Cows for the Angirasas; found the way out for Atri from the hundred doors; obtained for Vimada wealth as of utter rest; thou sportest the thunderbolt for one engaged in battle.

Atri is a historical seer; so too Vimada. In the inner sense Atri is one who enjoys what is given to the Gods - not what is secured by egoistic effort. Thus the pure and accomplished soul is Atri. Atri is the model for such.

Vimada is one with superb delight. An example of the delight obtained by the divine Grace.

Sasa is the sense of delight. The source of Truth is the source of felicity. (5.21.4)

4. Thou has dispelled the covering clouds over the waters, given worthy gifts in thy domain. O Indra, only when thou hadst slain Vritra, the coverer, with thy luminous strength, didst thou raise the sun in heaven for vision.

5. Thou hast scattered the deceivers with thy devices, them who sacrifice with shrug of the shoulders. Benefactor of men, thou hast broken open the forts of Pipru, thou hast protected the straightforward in robber-destroying battles.

6. Thou didst protect Kutsa in battles slaying Shushna, destroy Shambara for the host of guests, tread under thy foot the mighty Arbuda. Thus hast thou manifested from of old for the destruction of the Dasyus.

7. In thee is concentrated all strength. Thy full being rejoices in drinking the Soma. The thunder-weapon in thy hands is well-known. Do thou rend all the prowess of the foe.

8. Know well the Aryas (who sacrifice to the Gods), know the Dasyus (who oppose); in thy reign, punish the lawless for the weal of the sacrificer. Powerful as thou art, impel the sacrificer. I long to celebrate all thy glories in pleasing festivals.

9. Extolling Indra who puts down the lawless in favour of the lawful, punishing the unfavourable in favour of the favourable, whether old or growing fresh, attaining to heaven, Vamra carried off the assembled materials.

Praising Indra exultantly, as a result of his grace, Vamra carries off the sacrificial materials.

10. When Ushanas sharpens thy strength with his own, thy intense might agitates earth and heaven. Friend of man, may thy mind-harnessed steeds carry thee full (of vigour), with the speed of wind, to the seat of our Hearing.

11. When Indra is delighted with the poet-seer Ushanas, he rides his rapidly swerving steeds; forceful, he releases waters in torrents from the passing cloud; rends to pieces the strong forts on Shushma.

The purport: when Indra is pleased with the aspiring sacrificer, he harnesses his fast-moving steeds, releases the waters (carrying charges of light and strength) from the covering cloud and destroys the fortresses of Shushma, the Asura who dries up the saps.

12. Indra, thou ridest in thy car to Soma-draughts; delightful to thee, they are gathered in plenty by the warrior-sacrificer. Even as thou joyest in sacrifices pouring Soma, do thou take pleasure (here too). So done, thou obtainest secure fame in heaven for the sacrificer.

Warrior: the Yajamana who wars against the foes of sacrificer.

The historical Sharyati (or Sharyata) ever on the side of Gods is the model for warriors.

13. Indra, to aged Kakshivan praising thee and pouring libation, thou hast given youthful Vrichaya; doer of auspicious deeds, thou becomest Mena, daughter of Vrishanashva. All these deeds of thine must be lauded at Soma festivals.

Kakshivan: model for the knowers of the mysteries of the higher Gods.

Vrichaya: embodies lustre.

Even as female Shaktis are the executives of the Gods and are spoken of as their consorts, the wife is indispensable to the Yajain the ancient tradition.

All-powerful Indra grants Vrichaya to Kakshivan as his Shakti. For Vrishanashva, he himself becomes Mena the Shakti.

14. Indra is the refuge of the good in need, lauded among the powerful sacrificers with praise as firm as the doorpost. Indra alone is the donor of riches, giver of homes, kine, chariots, wealth.

Devotees who are bereft of things do not need to pray for riches. Lord Indra himself resorts to them and obtains for them the needed riches. Cows represent light, consciousness, horse, life-force etc.

15. This submission is uttered to thee, mighty one, who pourest, self-resplendent, of unfailing strength. May we, Indra, with all the heroes, with the wise, be in thy keeping in this battle.