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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 598 of 1027

Mandala 7: HYMN LXXXII. Indra-Varuṇa

1.GRANT us your strong protection, IndraVaruṇa, our people, and our family, for sacrifice. May we subdue in fight our evil-hearted foes, him who attacks the man steadfast in lengthened rites.

2.O Indra-Varuṇa, mighty and very rich One of you is called Monarch and One Autocrat. All Gods in the most lofty region of the air have, O ye Steers, combined all power and might in you.

3.Ye with your strength have pierced the fountains of the floods: the Sun have ye brought forward as the Lord in heaven. Cheered by this magic draught ye, Indra-Varuṇa, made the dry places stream, made songs of praise flow forth.

4.In battels and in frays we ministering priests, kneeling upon our knees for furtherance of our weal, Invoke you, only you, the Lords of twofold wealth, you prompt to hear, we bards, O Indra-Varuṇa.

5.O Indra-Varuṇa, as ye created all these creatures of the world by your surpassing might, In peace and quiet Mitra waits on Varuṇa, the Other, awful, with the Maruis seeks renown.

6.That Varuṇa’s high worth may shine preeminent, these Twain have measured each his proper power and might. The One subdueth the destructive enemy; the Other with a few furthereth many a man.

7.No trouble, no misfortune, Indra-Varuṇa, no woe from any side assails the mortal man Whose sacrifice, O Gods, ye visit and enjoy: ne’er doth the crafty guile of mortal injure him.

8.With your divine protection, Heroes, come to us: mine invncation hear, if ye be pleased therewith. Bestow ye upon us, O Indra-Varuṇa, your friendship and your kinship and your favouring grace.

9.In battle after battle, Indra-Varuṇa, be ye our Champions, ye who are the peoples’ strength, When both opposing bands invoke you for the fight, and men that they may gain offspring and progeny.

10.May Indra, Varuṇa, Mitra, and Aryaman vouchsafe us glory and great shelter spreading far. We think of the beneficent light of Aditi, and Savitar’s song of praise, the God who strengthens Law.

Asked of Guide

Why do the hymn's speakers call Indra and Varuṇa together as one protectors?

The hymn presents Indra and Varuṇa as a paired divine force who jointly secure the world and the sacrificers: “One of you is called Monarch and One Autocrat,” and “these Twain have measured each his proper power and might.” The priests ask both to grant protection, victory in battle, and prosperity, since the pair combine storm-like martial power (Indra) and cosmic order and oversight (Varuṇa).

This coupling appears throughout Vedic hymns where complementary gods share duties; compare Rig Veda Mandala 3 and the hymn to Mitra-Varuṇa where Mitra and Varuṇa govern social law together. Here the poem uses that partnership to claim both physical safety and moral or ritual legitimacy for the worshippers’ rites.

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