Rig Veda · 1016 of 1027
Mandala 10: HYMN CLXXIX. Indra.
1.Now lift ye up yourselves and look on Indra’s seasonable share. If it be ready, offer it; unready, ye have been remise.
2.Oblation is prepared: come to us, Indra; the Sun hath travelled over half his journey. Friends with their stores are sitting round thee waiting like lords of clans for the tribe’s wandering chieftain.
3.Dressed in the udder and on fire, I fancy; well-dressed, I fancy, is this recent present. Drink, Indra, of the curd of noon’s libation with favour, Thunderer, thou whose deeds are mighty.
Asked of Guide
Why does the hymn tell people to lift up and look on Indra’s 'seasonable share' before offering it?
The hymn instructs the worshippers to inspect Indra’s seasonable share so the oblation is offered at the right moment and in proper condition: “If it be ready, offer it; unready, ye have been remise.” This is a practical ritual rule—timing and preparedness make the offering effective and show respect to the deity.
The poem also frames the oblation socially: the Sun’s progress marks the proper hour and friends “sitting round thee waiting like lords of clans” emphasize communal participation and status during the rite. This aligns with later Vedic ritual manuals that tie sacrificial timing to solar movement and communal roles, as in the Brāhmaṇas’ prescriptions about correct moments and attendants.
Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.