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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 656 of 1027

Mandala 8: HYMN XXXVI. Indra.

1.THOU helpest him whose grass is trimmed, who sheds the juice, O Śatakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad. The share which they have fixed for thee, thou, Indra, Victor o’er all hosts and space, begirt with Maruts, Lord of Heroes, winner of the floods.

2.Maghavan, help thy worshipper: let him help thee. O Śatakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad. The share which they have fixed for thee, etc.

3.Thou aidest Gods with food, and that with might aids thee, O Śatakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad.

4.Creator of the heaven, creator of the earth, O Śatakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad.

5.Father of cattle, father of all steeds art thou. O Śatakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad.

6.Stone-hurler, glorify the Atris’ hymn of praise. O Śatakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad.

7.Hear thou Śyāvāśva while he pours to thee, as erst thou heardest Atri when he wrought his holy rites. Indra, thou only gavest Trasadasyu aid in the fierce fight with heroes, strengthening his prayers.

Asked of Guide

Why does every verse repeat “O Śatakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad”?

The hymn frames Indra as the guest who must be made glad by Soma; repeating “O Śatakratu, drink Soma to make thee glad” is a ritual insistence that his vigor and favor are renewed through the libation. Each refrain ties Indra’s many roles—creator, father of cattle, stone-hurler—to the sacrificial action that sustains those powers.

This pattern appears elsewhere in the Rigveda where liturgy links deity function to sacrificial practice, as in Mandala 1 hymns that repeatedly call gods to the offering. The refrain keeps attention on the practical economy of worship: Soma energizes the god so he can grant wealth and victory to worshippers.

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