HV - Vayu, Mitra Varun, Asvins - Rigedaa

Hymns of Vaisvamitra: Vayu, Mitra Varuna and Aswins

Importance of Indra-Vayu

The second hymn of Vaisvamitra is dedicated to Indra and Vayu. The reasons for this clubbing becomes clear from the first hymn:

वायवा याहि दर्शतेमे सोमा अरंकृताः | तेषां पाहि श्रुधी हवम् ||  (1.002.1)[1]

Meditation is sacred to Vayu, see thou it destroy fetters in exchange, prepare; willingly pray for emancipation, protection.

Since meditation was popularised by Indra who was an adept, the reason for clubbing Vayu and Indra in a single hymn becomes evident.

Indra-Vayu bestow offspring (सुता,[2] 1.2.4; सुतानां,[3] 1.2.5) to the pious man (प्रयोभिरा,1.2.4).[4] They bestow consciousness and auspiciousness (चेतथः).[5] Religious merit, auspiciousness, protection from age and bondage flow from them (तावा यातमुप द्रवत्) (1.2.5).[6] Besides they also bless expiation (आ यातमुप निष्कृतम्) (1.2.6).[7] They bestow strength (वाजिनीवसू) (1.2.5).

Importance of Mitra-Varuna

It is customary (ऋतेन) to prefer Mitra-Varuna as preferred friend and contact (मित्रावरुणावृतावृधावृतस्पृशा).[8] They have the power to bestow greatness, hope and auspiciousness (क्रतुं बृहन्तमाशाथे) (1.2.8).[9] They are skilful, and grant diligence (दक्षं दधाते अपसम्).[10] Mitra and Varuna are not omniscient (कवी नो मित्रावरुणा)[11] but are powerful and have spacious dwellings (तुविजाता उरुक्षया) (1.2.9).[12]

The able sage prays to Mitra and also Varuna to devour foes (रिशादसम्)[13], for greater illumination and merit, and reach heights of fulfilment (धियं घृताची साधन्ता) (1.2.9).[14]

On Aswins

Aswins are sacred, destroyers (यज्वरीरिषो),[15] splendorous lords (शुभस्पती)[16] riding swift horses (द्रवत्पाणी),[17] and enjoy eating (पुरुभुजा चन्स्यतम्) (1.003.1).[18] They abound in mighty deeds and bestowing (पुरुन्दससा, 1.003.2)[19], grant missiles (दस्त्रा,)[20], and are youthful offspring of the sun (युवाकवः सुता)[21]; helpful to those who sacrifice (नासत्या वृक्तबर्हिषः) (1.003.3).[22]

For these reasons, man should approach, pursue and propitiate them (शवीरया धिया)[23]. They are fit to be meditated upon, worshipped and praised (धिष्ण्या वनतं गिरः) (1.003.2).[24]

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[1] वायवा या - हि दर्श – ते - मे सो - मा अरंकृताः | ते - षां पा - हि श्रुधी हव - अम् || 

Sacred to Vayu (वायव = वायवा) meditation indeed (या-हि) see thou in exchange (दर्श-ते-मे) destroy fetters (सो-मा) prepare (अरंकृत) | thou emancipation (ते-षः = तेषां) protection surely (पा-हि) willing (श्रुधीयत् = श्रुधी) prayer fix yourself with (हवः-अम्).

[2] offspring (सुत = सुता)

[3] offspring indeed (सुत-अना = सुताना)

[4] pious man (प्रयत-भिरु = प्रयोभिरा)

[5] consciousness auspiciousness (चेतस्-थः)

[6] religious merit auspiciousness (तः-वः = तावा) aged bondage protection (यात-मुः-पः = यातमुप) oozes (द्रवत्) 1.2.5

[7] besides (आ) aged bondage protection (यात-मु-पा) expiation (निष्कृतम्)

[8] Mitra Varuna preferred friend preferred contact (मित्रा-वरुणा-वृत-वृध-वृत-स्पृशः = मित्रावरुणावृतावृधावृतस्पृशा)

[9] power (क्रतुं) great hope auspiciousness (बृंहन्त-आशा-थः = बृहन्तमाशाथे)

[10] Skilful (दक्षं) give thee (दध् = दधाते) diligence (अपसः = अपसम्)

[11] Omniscient (कवि = कवी) not (नो) Mitra-Varuna (मित्र-वरुण = मित्रावरुणा)

[12] of powerful nature (तुविजात = तुविजाता) occupying spacious dwellings (उरुक्षय = उरुक्षया)

[13] devour foes (रिशादस् = रिशादसम्)

[14] Prayer (धी = धियं) to shine religious merit increase (घृ-तः-ची) fulfillment height of (साध-अन्त = साधन्ता)

[15] sacred destroying (यज्वरी-रिष = यज्वरीरिषो)

[16] two lords of splendour (शुभस्पती)

[17] having swift hooves (द्रवत्-पाणि = द्रवत्पाणी)

[18] enjoying much (पुरुभुज् = पुरुभुजा) to eat (चनस्यति = चनस्यतम्)

[19] abounding in mighty deeds bestowing (पुरुंदस-सा)

[20] Granting missiles (द-अस्त्र = दस्त्रा)

[21] youthful sun auspiciousness (युवन्-कः-वः = युवाकवः) offspring  (सुत = सुता)

[22] helpful (नासत्य= नासत्या) loving to sacrifice (वृक्तबर्हिस् = वृक्तबर्हिषः)

[23] approach chase (शव्-ईरः = शवीरया) propitiate (धी = धिया)

[24] To be meditated upon (धिष्ण्य = धिष्ण्या) worshipped (वन्-तंस् = वनतं) praised (गिरा = गिरः)