The Rig Veda

by Anonymous

Stirrer to action of the poor and lowly, of priest, of suppliant who sings his praises; Who, fair-faced, favours him who presses Soma with stones made ready, He, O men, is Indra.

who hath smitten, ere they knew their danger, with his hurled weapon many grievous sinners; Who pardons not his boldness who provokes him, who slays the Dasyu, He, O men, is Indra.

Not by both worlds is thine own power to be surpassed, nor may thy car be stayed by mountains or by seas. None cometh near, O Indra, to thy thunderbolt, when with swift steeds thou fliest over many a league. 4. For all men bring their will to him the Resolute, to him the Holy One, to him the Strong they cleave. Pay worship with oblation, strong and passing wise. Drink thou the Soma, Indra, through the mighty blaze.

4. With laud and song let me extol that Indra in whom of old men prospered and were mighty. May he, implored, fulfil the prayer for plenty of him who worships, of the living mortal.

He, Indra whom the Angirases' praise delighted, strengthened their prayer and made their goings prosper. Stealing away the mornings with the sunlight, he, lauded, crushed even Aṣna's ancient powers. 6. He verily, the God, the glorious Indra, hath raised him up for man, best Wonder-Worker. He, self-reliant, mighty and triumphant, brought low the dear head of the wicked Dâsa. 7. Indra the Vṛitra-slayer, Fort-destroyer, scattered the Dâsa hosts who dwelt in darkness.

For men hath he created earth and waters, and ever helped the prayer...

8. To him in might the Gods have ever yielded, to Indra in the tumult of the battle. When in his arms they laid the bolt, he slaughtered the D...

HYMN XXII. Indra.

Hymns 11 through 22 Have a lot more about the theology of Indra worship than I have chosen to highlight, including further confirmations that worship and sacrifice (especially sacrifice of Soma) give Indra his much vonted strength.

4. Thou leadest with good guidance and preservest men; distress o'ertakes not him who offers gifts to thee. Him who hates prayer thou punishest, Bṛhaspati, quelling his wrath: herein is thy great mightiness.

5. No sorrow, no distress from any side, no foes, no creatures double-tongued have overcome the man,— Thou drivest all seductive fiends away from him whom, careful guard, thou keepest Brahmaṇaspati.

13. The mover mid the spoil, the winner of all wealth, to be invoked in fight and reverently adored, Bṛhaspati hath overthrown like cars of war all wicked enemies who fain would injure us.

14. Burn up the demons with thy fiercest flaming brand, those who have scorned thee in thy manifested might. Show forth that power that shall deserve the hymn of praise: destroy the evil speakers, O Bṛhaspati. 15. Bṛhaspati, that which the foe deserves not which shines among the folk effectual, splendid, That, Son of Law I which is with might refulgent-that treasure wonderful bestow thou on us. 16. Give us not up to those who, foes in ambuscade, are greedy for the wealth of him who sits at ease, Who cherish in their heart abandonment of Gods. Bṛhaspati, no further rest shall they obtain.

For Tvashṭar, he who knows each sacred song, brought thee to life, preeminent o'er all the things that be. Guilt-scourger, guilt-avenger is Bṛhaspati, who sl...

HYMN XXV. Brahmaṇaspati. 1. HE lighting up the flame shall conquer enemies: strong shall he be who offers prayer and brings his gift. He with his seed spreads forth beyond another's seed, whomever Brahmaṇaspati takes for his friend.

With heroes he shall overcome his hero foes, and spread his wealth by kine wise by himself is be. His children and his children's children grow in strength, whomever Brahmaṇaspati takes for his friend. 3. He, mighty like a raving river's billowy flood, as a bull conquers oxen, overcomes with strength. Like Agni's blazing rush he may not be restrained, whomever Brahmaṇaspati takes for his friend. 4. For him the floods of heaven flow never failing down: first with the heroes he goes forth to war for kine. He slays in unabated vigour with great might, whomever Brahmaṇaspati takes for his friend. 5. All roaring rivers pour their waters down for him, and many a flawless shelter hath been granted him. Blest with the happiness of Gods he prospers well, whomever Brahmaṇaspati takes for his friend.

HYMN XXVI. Brahmaṇaspati. 1. THE righteous singer shall o'ercome his enemies, and he who serves the Gods subdue the godless man. The zealous man shall vanquish the invincible, the worshipper share the food of him who worships not.

2. Worship, thou hero, chase the arrogant afar: put on auspicious courage for the fight with foes. Prepare oblation so that thou mayst have success. we crave the favouring help of Brahmaṇaspati. 3. He with his folk, his house, his family, his sons, gains booty for himself, and, with the heroes, wealth, Who with oblation and a true believing heart serves Brahmaṇaspati the Father of the Gods.

4. Whoso hath honoured him with offerings rich in oil, him Brahmaṇaspati leads forward on his way, Saves him from sorrow, frees him from his enemy,...

HYMN XXVII. Âdityas.

The best interpretation I can manage is that Adityas is not the name of an individual, but a title which a small group of gods have earned. Alternatively it could be the plural of Aditya, But I would then expect Aditya to have a similar meaning. If however one already had the idea that all gods were one in some mystical sins or that one god could spiritually contain several others then this him would be the best proof text I’ve found so far. In particular the online about not distinguishing the east from the west makes this interpretation nearly as likely as the one above. Of course my ideas of correct interpretation make the most sense when dealing with a single author. Everything is more complicated when dealing with works that mutated over generations.

10. Thou over all, O Varuṇa, art Sovran, be they Gods, Asura! or be they mortals.

I am not even mine eyelid's lord without thee. 7. Strike us not, Varuṇa, with those dread weapons which, Asura, at thy bidding wound the sinner.

HYMN XXXIII. Rudra. 1. FATHER of Maruts, let thy bliss approach us: exclude us not from looking on the sunlight. Gracious to our fleet courser be the Hero may we transplant us, Rudra, in our children. 2. With the most saving medicines which thou givest, Rudra, may I attain a hundred winters. Far from us banish enmity and hatred, and to all quarters maladies and trouble.

10. Worthy, thou carriest thy bow and arrows, worthy, thy many-hued and honoured necklace. Worthy, thou cuttest here each fiend to pieces: a mightier than thou there is not, Rudra.

5. For happiness, men, having trimmed the sacred grass, set Agni glorious for his strength before them here; Yea, with raised ladles, him bright, dear to all the Gods, perfecting aims of works, Rudra of solemn rites.

Agni is Mitra when enkindled duly, Mitra as Priest, Varuṇa, Jâtavedas; Mitra as active minister, and House-Friend, Mitra of flowing rivers and of mountains.

The skilful God who knows all forms of knowledge made for himself a fair form, meet for worship. This Agni guards with care that never ceases the Soma's skin, the Bird's place rich in fatness.

Thou at thy birth didst fill both earth and heaven, yea, Most Adorable, thou didst exceed them. Even through the heaven's and through the earth's expanses let thy swift seven-tongued flames roll on, O Agni.

HYMN XI. Agni. 1. AGNI is Priest, the great High Priest of sacrifice, most swift in act: He knows the rite in constant course. 2. Oblation-bearer, deathless, well inclined, an eager messenger,

Agni comes nigh us with the thought.

3. Ensign of sacrifice from of old, Agni well knoweth with his thought To prosper this man's aim and hope. 4. Agni, illustrious from old time, the Son of Strength who know...

Infallible is Agni, he who goes before the tribes of men, A chario...

6. Strength of the Gods which none may harm, subduing all his enemies, Agn...

By offering sacred food to him the mortal worshipper obtains. A home from him...

From Agni, by our hymns, may we gain all things that bring happiness, Singers of him who knows all life. 9. O Agni, in our deeds of might may we obtain all preci...

HYMN XII. Indra-Agni.

1. MOVED, Indra-Agni, by our hymn, come to the juice, the precious dew:

Drink ye thereof, impelled by song.

2. O Indra-Agni, with the man who lauds you comes the wakening rite: So drink ye ...

Through force of sacrifice I choose Indra-Agni who love the wise: With Soma let these sate them here. 4. Indra and Agni I invoke, joint-victors, bounteous, un...

8. O Indra-Agni, powers are yours, and dwellings and delightful food Good is your readiness to act.

6. For, Son of Strength, from thee come many succours, and powers abundant that a God possesses. Agni, to us with speech that hath no falsehood grant riches, real, to be told in thousands.

HYMN XVI. Agni. 1. THIS Agni is the Lord of great felicity and hero Strength; Lord of wealth in herds of kine; Lord of the battles with the foe. 2. Wait, Maruts, Heroes, upon him the Prosperer in whom is bliss-increasing wealth; Who in fights ever conquer evil-hearted men, who overcome the enemy.

1. DULY enkindled after ancient customs, bringing all treasures, he is balmed with unguents,— Flame-haired, oil-clad, the purifying Agni, skilled in fair rites, to bring the Gods for worship.

HYMN XX. Agni. 1. WITH lauds at break of morn the priest invoketh Agni, Dawn, Dadhikrâs, and both the Aṣvins. With one consent the Gods whose light is splendid, longing to taste our sacrifice, shall hear us.

Three are thy powers, O Agni, three thy stations, three are thy tongues, yea, many, Child of Order! Three bodies hast thou which the Gods delight in: with these protect our hymns with care unceasing.

3. O Agni, many are the names thou bearest, immortal, God, Divine, and Jâtavedas. And many charms of charmers, All-Inspirer! have they ...

4. Agni, like Bhaga, leads the godly people, he who is true to Law and guards the seasons. Ancient, all-knowing, he the Vṛitra-slayer shall bea...

5. I call on Savitar the God, on Morning, Bṛhaspati, and Dadhikrâs, and Agni, On Varuṇa and Mitra, on the Aṣvins, Bha...

HYMN XXI. Agni. 1. SET this our sacrifice among the Immortals: be pleased with these our presents, Jâtavedas. O Priest, O Agni, sit thee down before us, and first enjoy the drops of oil and fatness. 2. For thee, O Purifier, flow the drops of fatness rich in oil. After thy wont vouchsafe to us the choicest boon that Gods may feast. 3. Agni, Most Excellent! for thee the Sage are drops that drip with oil. Thou art enkindled as the best of Seers. Help thou the sacrifice. 4. To thee, O Agni, mighty and resistless, to thee stream forth the drops of oil and fatness. With great light art thou come, O praised by poets! Accept our offering, O thou Sage. 5. Fatness exceeding rich, extracted from the midst,—this as our gift we offer thee. Excellent God, the drops run down upon thy skin. Deal them to each among the Gods.

1. THIS is that Agni whence the longing Indra took the pressed Soma deep within his body. Winner of spoils in thousands, like a courser, with praise art thou exalted, Jâtavedas.