Benefits of Worship
Vaisvamitra then goes on to enumerate the advantages of worshipping Indra.
विद्मा हि त्वा वृषन्तंमं वाजेषु हवनश्रुतम् | वृषन्तमस्य हूमह ऊतिं सहस्रसातमाम् || (1.010.10)[1]
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).
[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).
[2] abundant ! (हू-मह) blessing (ऊतिं)
[3] thousand (सहस्र) pleasures (सातम्) verily (आम्) (सहस्र-सातम्-आम् = सहस्रसातमाम्).
[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)
[7] bestowing Union (रा-यः = राये) together with (स) Visnu/Siva meditation (पुर-ध्या = पुरंध्याम्)
[8] Recitation (उक्थं) Indra (इन्द्र) good fortune (अय)(उक्थं-इन्द्र-अय = उक्थमिन्द्राय)
[9] heavan (पुरु) bestowing (निष्षिध्)(पुरु-निष्षिध् = पुरुनिष्षिधे)
[10] Indra (शक्रो) as wished/suitably (यथा)
[11] offspring (सुत) desire (एष)(सुत-एष = सुतेषु)
[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)
[16] beneificient (राधस् = राधो) Armed with thunderbolt (अद्रिवत् = अद्रिवः)
Continued in : Functions and Worship
Also see: Sage, Poet and Man , Indra and Siva, Asvins, Visnu, Respect for Visnu and Siva, Saraswati, Indra Vayu, Mitra Varuna, Vishvadeva, Agni
Vaisvamitra then goes on to enumerate the advantages of worshipping Indra.
विद्मा हि त्वा वृषन्तंमं वाजेषु हवनश्रुतम् | वृषन्तमस्य हूमह ऊतिं सहस्रसातमाम् || (1.010.10)[1]
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).
[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).
[2] abundant ! (हू-मह) blessing (ऊतिं)
[3] thousand (सहस्र) pleasures (सातम्) verily (आम्) (सहस्र-सातम्-आम् = सहस्रसातमाम्).
[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)
[7] bestowing Union (रा-यः = राये) together with (स) Visnu/Siva meditation (पुर-ध्या = पुरंध्याम्)
[8] Recitation (उक्थं) Indra (इन्द्र) good fortune (अय)(उक्थं-इन्द्र-अय = उक्थमिन्द्राय)
[9] heavan (पुरु) bestowing (निष्षिध्)(पुरु-निष्षिध् = पुरुनिष्षिधे)
[10] Indra (शक्रो) as wished/suitably (यथा)
[11] offspring (सुत) desire (एष)(सुत-एष = सुतेषु)
[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)
[16] beneificient (राधस् = राधो) Armed with thunderbolt (अद्रिवत् = अद्रिवः)
Continued in : Functions and Worship
Also see: Sage, Poet and Man , Indra and Siva, Asvins, Visnu, Respect for Visnu and Siva, Saraswati, Indra Vayu, Mitra Varuna, Vishvadeva, Agni