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

HYMN 62

Rishi: NODHASA Deity: INDRA

1. We meditate, like Angirasa, a gladdening laud to him who is praiseworthy and exceeding mighty. We worship with luminous laud Indra, the celebrated leader, for him (Yajamana) who sings welcoming praises of adoration.

2. Do ye offer to (Indra), exceeding mighty, great adoration, song of chant with which the worshipping Angirasa, our ancient fathers, knowing the route attained the cows.

3. In the search by Indra and Angirasas, Sarama (the hound) discovered a foundation for her Son; Brihaspati (Angirasa) slew Vala (the devourer) and attained the Cows. The Gods exulted with the recovered Cows.

Indra is the lord of the pure divine Mind. Sarama, the heavenly hound, is the power of Intuition going straight at truth. She darts to the cave of the hill of Inconscience where the Rays of Consciousness (denoted by cows) are hidden and shows up the way for the entry of the divine Mind in the Yajamana. By this action, the workings of intuition (progeny) are stabilised. On Indra’s recovery of the cows, intuition gets established.

4. Adored with well accented lauds by the seven sages, Navagvas and Dasagvas, waiting to go ahead, O mighty Indra, thou didst rend with thy cry Vala, the devourer who conceals.

Adri: hill; Sphaliga: concealer; Vala: encloser - all apply to the same Asura.

5. Destroyer of foes, O Indra, praised by the Angirasas, thou hast dispelled the darkness with the rays of the dawn and the sun. Thou hast spread out the high ridges, strengthened the base of the mid-region under heaven.

Rays: of Truth-Consciousness. Earth: field of waking consciousness. Mid-region: field of intermediate consciousness.

6. Of the mighty doer this is the deed most worthy of honour and graceful: he hath set aflow the four rivers, sweet of water, from the high regions.

Leaving aside the three worlds of the lower hemisphere in the scheme of the seven worlds, we have the four higher. The streams of these regions of Existence, Consciousness, Light, Bliss, cannot be reached to the earth (field of waking consciousness) by anyone else than Indra.

7. Unattainable by effort, pleased by hymns of the singers, he parted twofold the eternal and fused earth and heaven. He of happy deeds nourished both in the lofty firmament, like the sun.

Heaven is the consciousness of divine Mind; earth is the lower physical consciousness. Both are fused together in the unregenerate state of man. When he ripens in the course of the sacrifice, the two states are separated; freed from the lower, the higher resumes its own status and the lower its own.

Separating them from each other, Indra nourishes both the states of man in the higher firmament - not in the (lower) physical sky.

8. Distinct of hue, repeatedly born, the youthful dames traverse of old round heaven and earth - Night with its dark features and the Day with its bright lustres alternate.

The state of consciousness is not always the same in the inner life of the sacrificer. The states alternate like Night and Day.

In this Rik Ushas denotes the Day.

First Indra establishes earth and heaven in their respective statuses. Then follows their growth through alternations of Day and Night. Both are the workings of Indra.

9. Doer of good deeds, the Son, skilled in works, maintaintains with might his ancient comradeship. Thou providest ripe, bright, milk even in the raw cows, dark of hue or ruddy.

Mighty Indra, doer of good deeds, out of friendship with the Yajamana, stores nectar even in immature rays of Consciousness (cows) – whether during (dark) nights or (ruddy) dawns.

10. From of old, the Sisters, of common dwelling, stable, protective, undecaying, guard the thousand deeds (of Indra) with their strength; they wait upon the haughty (Indra) like wives (of the Gods) and matrons.

Sisters: divine Powers.

Thousand deeds of Indra for the Yajamana.

11. Handsome one, thou art to be praised with hymns and obeisance. The wise repair to thee, desirous of lasting wealth. Mighty One, their minds (lauds) adhere to thee like longing wives to their desiring lord.

12. Handsome One, riches in thy hands since long do not decay nor diminish. O Indra, thou art wise, luminous, strong-willed. Endowed with might, enrich us with thy powers.

The riches of Indra are supernatural; they are undecaying.

13. Mighty Indra, Nodhasa, son of Gotama, has fashioned for us this new hymn to thee who art eternal, who harnessest thy steeds, superb leader. May he, rich in thought, come at dawn anon.