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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 672 of 1027

Mandala 8: HYMN LII. Indra.

1.WITH powers of Mighty Ones hath he, Ancient, Beloved, been equipped, Through whom the Father Manu made prayers efficacious with the Gods.

2.Him, Maker of the sky, let stones wet with the Soma ne’er forsake, Nor hymns and prayer that must be said.

3.Indra who knew full well disclosed the kine to the Aṅgirases. This his great deed must be extolled.

4.Indra, promoter of the song, the sage’s Strengthener as of old, Shall come to bless and succour us at presentation of this laud.

5.Now after their desire’s intent the pious singers with the cry Of Hail! have sung loud hymns to thee, Indra, to gain a stall of kine.

6.With Indra rest all deeds of might, deeds done and yet to be performed, Whom singers know devoid of guile.

7.When the Five Tribes with all their men to Indra have sent out their voice, And when the priest hath strewn much grass, this is the Friend’s own dwelling-place.

8.This praise is verily thine own: thou hast performed these manly deeds, And sped the wheel upon its way.

9.At the o’erflowing of this Steer, boldly he strode for life, and took Soma as cattle take their corn.

10.Receiving this and craving help, we, who with you are Dakṣa’s sons, Would fain exalt the Maruts’ Lord.

11.Yea, Hero, with the singers we sing to the duly-coming Band. Allied with thee may we prevail.

12.With us are raining Rudras, clouds accordant in call to battle, at the death of Vṛtra, The strong assigned to him who sings and praises. May Gods with Indra at their head protect us.

Asked of Guide

Why do the singers call Indra to gain a stall of kine?

The singers appeal to Indra because he is portrayed as the giver and revealer of cattle — stanza 3 says he “disclosed the kine to the Aṅgirases,” and stanza 5 records they sing “to gain a stall of kine.” The hymn treats Indra as the divinity who grants material and social prosperity when honoured with hymns and ritual offerings like Soma.

Behind that request is a ritual logic: praise, ritual strewing of grass (stanza 7), and Soma offerings create the proper relation so Indra “shall come to bless and succour us” (stanza 4). This matches themes in other Rigveda hymns where Indra’s heroic deeds (like Vṛtra’s slaying mentioned in stanza 12) establish his role as bestower of wealth, a theme also prominent in Mandala 1 hymns to Indra.

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