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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 132 of 1027

Mandala 1: HYMN CXXXII. Indra.

1.HELPED, Indra Maghavan, by thee in war of old, may we subdue in fight the men who strive with us, conquer the men who war with us. This day that now is close at hand bless him who pours the Soma juice. In this our sacrifice may we divide the spoil, showing our strength, the spoil of war.

2.In war which wins the light, at the free-giver’s call, at due oblation of the early-rising one, oblation of the active one, Indra slew, even as we know—whom each bowed head must reverence. May all thy bounteous gifts be gathered up for us, yea, the good gifts of thee the Good.

3.This food glows for thee as of old at sacrifice, wherein they made thee chooser of the place, for thou choosest the place of sacrifice. Speak thou and make it known to us: they see within with beams of light. Indra, indeed, is found a seeker after spoil, spoil-seeker for his own allies.

4.So now must thy great deed be lauded as of old, when for the Aṅgirases thou openedst the stall, openedst, giving aid, the stall. In the same manner for us here fight thou and be victorious: To him who pours the juice give up the lawless man, the lawless who is wroth with us.

5.When with wise plan the Hero leads the people forth, they conquer in the ordered battle, seeking fame, press, eager, onward seeking fame. To him in time of need they sing for life with offspring and with strength. Their hymns with Indra find a welcome place of rest: the hymns go forward to the Gods.

6.Indra and Parvata, our champions in the fight, drive ye away each man who fain would war with us, drive him far from us with the bolt. Welcome to him concealed afar shall he the lair that he hath found. So may the Render rend our foes on every side, rend them, O Hero, everywhere.

Asked of Guide

Why does this hymn keep asking Indra to grant the spoil to the sacrificer?

The hymn treats Indra as both war-hero and ritual ally whose victories convert into tangible rewards for the sacrificer: “give up the lawless man” and “may all thy bounteous gifts be gathered up for us.” The sacrificer’s pouring of Soma links human ritual action to Indra’s battlefield success so the god’s spoil becomes the community’s gain.

This is a contractual vision of divinity—sacrifice obliges deity to act and to redistribute the booty—echoing what the Rgveda repeatedly shows about gods responding to hymns and gifts. See the adjoining hymns to Indra in Mandala 1, which likewise tie oblation, praise, and martial bounty together.

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