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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 232 of 1027

Mandala 2: HYMN XLI. Various Deities.

1.O VĀYU, come to us with all the thousand chariots that are thine, Team-borne, to drink the Soma juice.

2.Drawn by thy team, O Vāyu, come; to thee is offered this, the pure. Thou visitest the presser’s house.

3.Indra and Vāyu, drawn by teams, ye Heroes, come today and drink. Of the bright juice when blent with milk.

4.This Soma hath been shed for you, Law-strengtheners, Mitra-Varuṇa! Listen ye here to this my call.

5.Both Kings who never injure aught seat them in their supremest home, The thousand-pillared, firmly-based.

6.Fed with oblation, Sovran Kings, Ādityas, Lords of liberal gifts. They wait on him whose life is true.

7.With kine, Nāsatyas, and with steeds, come, Aśvins, Rudras, to the house That will protect its heroes well;

8.Such, wealthy Gods! as none afar nor standing nigh to us may harm, Yea, no malicious mortal foe.

9.As such, O longed-far Aśvins, lead us on to wealth of varied sort, Wealth that shall bring us room and rest.

10.Verily Indra, conquering all, driveth e’en mighty fear away, For firm is he and swift to act.

11.Indra be gracious unto us: sin shall not reach us afterward, And good shall be before us still.

12.From all the regions of the world let Indra send security, The foe-subduer, swift to act.

13.O all ye Gods, come hitherward: hear this mine invocation, seat Yourselves upon this sacred grass.

14.Among the Śunahotras strong for you is this sweet gladdening draught. Drink ye of this delightsome juice.

15.Ye Maruts led by Indra, Gods with Pūṣan for your bounteousest, Hear all of you this call of mine.

16.Best Mother, best of Rivers, best of Goddesses, Sarasvatī, We are, as ’twere, of no repute and dear Mother, give thou us renown.

17.In thee, Sarasvatī, divine, all generations have their stay. Be, glad with Śunahotra’s sons: O Goddess grant us progeny.

18.Enriched with sacrifice, accept Sarasvatī, these prayers of ours, Thoughts which Gṛtsamadas beloved of Gods bring, Holy One, to thee.

19.Ye who bless sacrifice, go forth, for verily we choose you both, And Agni who conveys our gifts.

20.This our effectual sacrifice, reaching the sky, shall Heaven and Earth Present unto the Gods to-day.

21.In both your laps, ye guileless Ones, the Holy Gods shall sit them down To-day to drink the Soma here.

Asked of Guide

Why does the hymn call different gods—Vāyu, Indra, Aśvins, Sarasvatī—to drink Soma?

The hymn invites each deity to partake of Soma because offering the sacred juice binds the gods to the sacrificer and secures their specific powers: Vāyu brings movement and arrival with “all the thousand chariots,” Indra brings victory and security, and the Aśvins bring wealth and protection. The repeated summons—“come… drink”—frames the ritual as a communal feast that enlists each god’s function for the sacrificer’s welfare.

Sarasvatī is asked for renown and progeny, showing that gods are addressed for social and cosmic goods as well as military success; the hymn names gifts and roles directly rather than speaking in abstract terms. This practical technique of naming deities and offerings resembles the procedural hymns elsewhere in the Rig Veda, such as many hymns in Mandala 1 that pair libation with a specific boon.

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.