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

HYMN 54

Rishi : SAVYA Deity: INDRA

1. O Indra, neglect us not in these fights with evil. Thy might cannot be surpassed. The rivers and woods reverberate with thy roar; how can the (three) worlds not come together in fear?

2. Worship Indra with his consort. Praise adoringly Indra who heareth, Indra who with his assaulting might gladdening both heaven and earth, is celebrated as the champion, the bountiful showerer.

3. Utter happy praise for mighty luminous Indra who assaults with mind concentrated like self-born might; he of great renown, powerful, repeller of enemies, adored with his bay steeds, the showerer, hastens (hither).

4. Thou hast shaken the peak of the great heaven. Assaulting, thou hast slain Shambara by thyself; exulting in the gladdening Soma thou hurlest the sharpened, bright-rayed thunderbolt against the assembled, cunning Asuras.

5. Roaring, thou pourest delightful (waters) on the head of wind as on Shushna with his cohorts. As of old, even today thou actest with thy opulent mind. Who can excel thee!

Indra pours delightful waters on the summits of life-sustaining Prana and renders the world of the Yajamana replete with affluent power. Likewise he pours on Shushna with his associates thereby neutralising his penchant for drying up with the result that the world of the Yajamana delights in abundance. Indra has been doing this from ancient times and indeed does so even today. Nobody can excel him.

6. Thou hast protected Narya, Turvasha, Yadu and Turviti, son of Vayya. Doer of hundred deeds, thou hast protected Etasha, Ratha, in winning the wealth, thou hast demolished ninety-nine cities (of the Asuras).

Narya: benefactor of men. Turvasha and Turviti: of winning gait. Vayya : skilled in extending the thread in sacrifice. Etasha: moving. Ratha: speedy.

7. He who offers obltations and conforms to (Indra’s) Law, prospers, the Yajamana, royal, lording on creatures. He who richly recites hymns in praise, to him bounteous Indra showers from heaven gifts from on high.

8. Unequalled is his might, unequalled is his wisdom. May those of insufficient Soma become by their acts full. Indra, those who make offerings increase thy vast might, thy ample vigour.

9. For thee are readied these Soma-libations, plentiful, pressed out with stones, contained in the ladles, for thy quaff. Accept them, Indra, satiate thy need; then be mindful to give us the wealth.

In the inner context the two stones used for pressing out the Soma juice are the outer and the inner beings. The rock is the inconscient; Soma (Delight) hidden in it is drawn out and poured.

10. Darkness obstructed the flow of waters; the cloud was within the insides of Vritra. Indra precipitated down to the hollows all these waters concealed in succession by Vritra.

The waters are the currents of light; they are obstructed by darkness (which is opposed to light).

The rock in which the waters are concealed has several plateaus and accordingly are the waters levelled.

11. Bestow on us, O Indra, the light that promotes peace and happiness, the great might that subdues the host of foes; make us wealthy and protect, make us wise and protect; vouchsafe us wealth with impulsions of happy issue.