Worship of Indra: Benefits - Functions
Vaisvamitra then goes on
to enumerate the advantages of worshipping Indra.
Attention! (This) to
gratify the most mighty, possessed of strength in battle is an invocation heard
by revelation. The
most mighty possesses abundant blessings and thousands of pleasures verily.
This verse claimed specifically to be “an invocation was heard by revelation (हवनश्रुतम्)” (1.010.10). In this he says, that the most mighty one
possesses (वृषन्तमस्य), abundant blessings (हूमह ऊतिं),[2] that conveyed a thousand
pleasures verily (सहस्रसातमाम्).[3]
Indra in this verse is
not named directly but is called to as the most mighty (वृषन्तंमं) (a new epithet in the hymns) and as one
possessed of strength in battle (वाजेषु) (familiar to us) to establish the connection
with Indra (1.10.10).
Wealth and good fortune (नः सुभगाँ) await the worshipper.
Those who have benefitted declare that worship accomplishes wonderful deeds (अरिवोचेयुर्दस्म)[4] and attracts Union (कृष्टंयः) (1.004.6).[5] In another verse, he says: dedicate your
wealth and breath to Indra and obtain Union (सातये)[6] (1.004.9). He also bestows
Union (yoga) with meditation on Siva/Visnu (राये स पुरंध्याम्,[7] 1.005.3).
Recitation of Indra’s
good fortune (उक्थमिन्द्राय),[8] loudly read (शंस्यं), elevates spirits (वर्धनं) and bestows heaven (पुरुनिष्षिधे).[9] Indra bestows as suitable (शक्रो यथा),[10] offspring and desires (सुतेषु),[11] knowledge (णो)[12] and also grants resounding
friendship with Vishnu (एष)( रारणत्सख्येषु च)[13] (1.010.5)
Calling Indra easily
accessible and well born (सुविवृतं सुनिरजमिन्द्र),[14] he says that Indra grants
your desires and even fame (त्वादातमिद्यशः).[15] Then lists the benefits that
could accrue to cattleherders: Cows,
guarding (you or them) against sickness, increasing the flock, removing
injuries (गवामप व्रजं वृधि कृणुष्व). Because of this benevolence of Indra he calls him: राधो अद्रिवः[16]; i.e. the beneficent and the one armed with
thunderbolt (1.010.7).
Indra: Functions and Worship
Vaisvamitra says that has
come into light to make firm knowledge and power (एमाशुमाशवे),[17] supports protects yagna (भर यज्ञश्रियं), gladdens men (नृमादनम्) and flies to delight
friends (पतयन्मन्दयत्सखम्)[18] (1.004.7). He is the friend
of sacrificers (सुन्वतः सखा, 1.004.10). The sage calls upon him to befriend (प्रावो, 1.004.8)[19], He is the One possessed of strength in battle and
heroism (वाजेषु वाजिनम्)[20](1.004.8-9). He is the
controller of battles (वाजयामः[21], 1.004.9) Indra is described as powerful (बृहत्), purifying (मर्कः) (1.007.1). Indra spreads
auspiciousness too around richly (इन्द्रं वो विश्वतस्परि,[22] 1.007.10). Indra apparently
aids judgement after death. For it is said that his voice is heard conferring
praise and burning the wicked (इन्द्रं वाणीरनूषत)[23] (1.007.1).
For these reasons Indra
is to be worshipped. In 1.004.5, the sage advocated dedicating righteous
behaviour as an offering to Indra:
उत ब्रुवन्तु नो
निदो निरन्यतश्चिदारत | दधाना इन्द्र इद्दुवः || (1.004.5)[24]
And by calling oneself
guardian (उत ब्रुवन्तु)
(of one’s body), not censuring anyone (नो निदो), keeping aloof, attain to gentle intellect; Give
this as an offering to Indra.
Vaishvamitra adds that
one must dedicate one’s wealth and breath to Indra (धनानामिन्द्र,[25] 1.004.9). He must shout his
love for Indra and beg for his protection (स्यामेदिन्द्रस्य
शर्मणि,[26] 1.004.6); and celebrate
Indra’s good fortune in a song (इन्द्राय गायत,[27] 1.004.10). He is described
as One whom man praises to get knowledge (भिर्-अर्क्-इ-णः)[28] (1.007.1). This last
attribute is not surprising, since Indra is described as गिर्वणः[29], i.e., he who rejoices in praise (1.005.7, 10).
Indra has power and is
illuminated (त्वेता,[30] 1.005.1). He blesses you,
bestows gifts and illuminates (शं ते सन्तु प्रचेतसे,[31] 1.005.7). He is the Lord of
heaven, inner knowledge and self (पुरूणामीशानं)[32] (1.005.2). Praise the kindly
disposed, granter of prosperity, protector, (अवीवृधन्त्वामुक्था,[33]) says the sage. These are
not mere words, he is the protector who grants prosperity (वर्धन्तु नो गिरः)[34] (1.005.8).
He acts against and
brings to an end plots of enemies (अभिद्रुहन्तनूनामिन्द्र)[36], and is the lord who averts
murder (ईशानो यवया वधम्)[37] (1.005.10). His strength is
thousandfold (वाजमिन्द्रः सहस्रिणम्,[38] 1.005.9).
[1] विद्मा हि त्वा वृषन्तंमं वाजेषु हवन - श्रुतम् | वृषन्तम् - अस्य हू - मह ऊतिं सहस्र – सातम् - आम् ||
Attention (विद्मन् = विद्मा) to gratify (हि) most
mighty (वृषन्तमं) battle (वाजः) possessed of strength (इषः = इषु) invocation (हवन) that which was heard by revelation (श्रुतम्|
Most mighty possesses (वृषन्तम्-अस्य = वृषन्तमस्य) abundant ! (हू-मह) blessing
(ऊतिं)
thousand (सहस्र) pleasures (सातम्) verily (आम्).
[4] obtaining (अरि) declare
(वोचः)
worship (यु) accomplishing worderful deeds (दस्म)
(अरि-वोचः-यु-दस्म = अरिवोचेयुर्दस्म)
[5] attracted Union (कृष्ट-यः)
[6] Obtained union (सात-यः = सातये)
[12] knowledge (णः = णो)
[13] grants (रा) resounding
(रणत्)
friendship (सख्य) Vishnu (एष)(रा-रणत्-सख्य-एष
= रारणत्सख्येषु) also (च)
[14] Easily opened (सुविवृतं) well
born (सु-निर्-अजम्) Indra (इन्द्र)(सु-निर्-अजम्-इन्द्र =
सुनिरजमिन्द्र)
[15] to you (त्वा) grant
(दा)
desire (तम्) even (इद्) fame (यशस् = यशः)(त्वा-दा-तम्-इद्-यशस् = त्वादातमिद्यशः)
[17] Come into (ए) light (मा) to make
firm (शु) knowledge (मा) power (शवस् = शवे)(ए-मा-शु-मा-शवस् = एमाशुमाशवे)
[21] battle control (वाजः-यामः =
वाजयामः)
[22] Indra honour (इन्द्र-अम् =
इन्द्रं) auspiciousness (वः = वो) all around richly (विश्वतस्-परि =
विश्वतस्परि)
[23] Indra (इन्द्रं) voice
(वाणी)
conferring (र) praise (नु) burn (उष) wicked man (त) (वाणी-र-नु-उष-त = वाणीरनूषत)
And (उत) calling oneself guardian (ब्रुव-अन्तु) not (नो) censuring
(निद
= निदो) free from another (निर्-अन्यत्) attain to (अश्) intellect
(चित्)
gentle (आरत) | Give thus (दध-अना = दधाना) Indra (इन्द्र) this an offering (इद्-दुवस् =
इद्दुवः)
[25] Wealth (धन) breath
(अनः)
connect oneself with (अम्) Indra (इन्द्र) (धन-अनः-अम्-इन्द्र = धनानामिन्द्र)
[26] Cry aloud (स्यम् = स्य) to
love (मेद्) Indra (इन्द्र) to be (अस् = अस्य) (स्य-मेद्-इन्द्र-अस्य = स्यामेदिन्द्रस्य) protection
to beg (शर्मन्-ई = शर्मणि)
[28] बृहदिन्द्रमर्केभिरर्किणः = Powerful (बृहत्) Indra
(इन्द्र)
purifying (मर्कः) man (भिर् = भिरु) praise (अर्क्) obtain (इ) knowledge
(णः)
(बृहत्-इन्द्र-मर्कः-भिर्-अर्क्-इ-णः)
[29] rejoices in praise (गिर्वणस् =
गिर्वणः)
[30] having power shining (तु-एता = त्वेता)
[33] kindly disposed (अवि = अवी) increaser
(वृध)
protector (अन्तु) verily (आम्) eulogise (उक्थ) (अवि-वृध-अन्तु-आम्-उक्थ = अवीवृधन्त्वामुक्था)
[35] Granting (गम् = गमत्) sacrificial
prayer (वाजः) of man (भिरु=भिरा) (गमत्-वाजः-भिरु = गमद्वाजेभिरा) together with (स) wealth (नः)
[36] against (अभि) plotting
as an enemy (द्रुह्) end (अन्त) therefore (नूनम् = नून) honour (अम्) Indra
(इन्द्र)
(अभि-द्रुह्-अन्त-नून-अम्-इन्द्र = अभिद्रुहन्तनूनामिन्द्र)
No comments:
Post a Comment