Functions and Worship
Vaisvamitra says that Indra has come into light to make firm knowledge and power (एमाशुमाशवे),[1] supports protects yagna (भर यज्ञश्रियं), gladdens men (नृमादनम्) and flies to delight friends (पतयन्मन्दयत्सखम्)[2] (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)[3], He is the One possessed of strength in battle and heroism (वाजेषु वाजिनम्)[4](1.004.8-9). He is the controller of battles (वाजयामः[5], 1.004.9) Indra is described as powerful (बृहत्), purifying (मर्कः) (1.007.1). Indra spreads auspiciousness too around richly (इन्द्रं वो विश्वतस्परि,[6] 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)[7] (1.007.1).
For these reasons Indra is to be worshipped. In 1.004.5, the sage advocates dedicating righteous behaviour as an offering to Indra:
उत ब्रुवन्तु नो निदो निरन्यतश्चिदारत | दधाना इन्द्र इद्दुवः || (1.004.5)[8]
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,[9] 1.004.9). He must shout his love for Indra and beg for his protection (स्यामेदिन्द्रस्य शर्मणि,[10] 1.004.6); and celebrate Indra’s good fortune in a song (इन्द्राय गायत,[11] 1.004.10). He is described as One whom man praises to get knowledge (भिर्-अर्क्-इ-णः)[12] (1.007.1). This last attribute is not surprising, since Indra is described as गिर्वणः[13], i.e., he who rejoices in praise (1.005.7, 10).
Indra has power and is illuminated (त्वेता,[14] 1.005.1). He blesses you, bestows gifts and illuminates (शं ते सन्तु प्रचेतसे,[15] 1.005.7). He is the Lord of heaven, inner knowledge and self (पुरूणामीशानं)[16] (1.005.2). Praise the kindly disposed, granter of prosperity, protector, (अवीवृधन्त्वामुक्था,[17]) says the sage. These are not mere words, he is the protector who grants prosperity (वर्धन्तु नो गिरः)[18] (1.005.8).
He grants the sacrificial prayers of man together with wealth (गमद्वाजेभिरा स नः,[19] 1.005.3).
He acts against and brings to an end plots of enemies (अभिद्रुहन्तनूनामिन्द्र)[20], and is the lord who averts murder (ईशानो यवया वधम्)[21] (1.005.10). His strength is thousandfold (वाजमिन्द्रः सहस्रिणम्,[22] 1.005.9).
[1] Come into (ए) light (मा) to make firm (शु) knowledge (मा) power (शवस् = शवे)(ए-मा-शु-मा-शवस् = एमाशुमाशवे)
[2] Fly to (पतयन्) delighting (मन्दयत्) friends (सखम्) (पतयन्-मन्दयत्-सखम् = पतयन्मन्दयत्सखम्)
[3] प्राव्-ओ = प्रावो
[4] battle one possessed of strength (वाजः-इषः = वाजेषु) heroism (वाजिनम्).
[5] battle control (वाजः-यामः = वाजयामः)
[6] Indra honour (इन्द्र-अम् = इन्द्रं) auspiciousness (वः = वो) all around richly (विश्वतस्-परि = विश्वतस्परि)
[7] Indra (इन्द्रं) voice (वाणी) conferring (र) praise (नु) burn (उष) wicked man (त) (वाणी-र-नु-उष-त = वाणीरनूषत)
[8] उत ब्रुव - अन्तु नो निदो निर – अन्यत् – अश् - चित् - आरत | दध् - अना इन्द्र इद् - दुवस् ||
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)
[9] Wealth (धन) breath (अनः) connect oneself with (अम्) Indra (इन्द्र) (धन-अनः-अम्-इन्द्र = धनानामिन्द्र)
[10] Cry aloud (स्यम् = स्य) to love (मेद्) Indra (इन्द्र) to be (अस् = अस्य) (स्य-मेद्-इन्द्र-अस्य = स्यामेदिन्द्रस्य) protection to beg (शर्मन्-ई = शर्मणि)
[11] Indra good fortune (इन्द्र-अयः = इन्द्राय) celebrate in a song (गै = गायत).
[12] बृहदिन्द्रमर्केभिरर्किणः = Powerful (बृहत्) Indra (इन्द्र) purifying (मर्कः) man (भिर् = भिरु) praise (अर्क्) obtain (इ) knowledge (णः) (बृहत्-इन्द्र-मर्कः-भिर्-अर्क्-इ-णः)
[13] rejoices in praise (गिर्वणस् = गिर्वणः)
[14] having power shining (तु-एता = त्वेता)
[15] Blessing (शं) you (ते) bestowing gifts (सन्त्य = सन्तु) illuminates (प्रचेतन = प्रचेतसे).
[16] heaven (पुरु) knowledge (ण) self (अमः) Lord (ईशानः)(पुरु-ण-अमः-ईशानः = पुरूणामीशानं)
[17] kindly disposed (अवि = अवी) increaser (वृध) protector (अन्तु) verily (आम्) eulogise (उक्थ) (अवि-वृध-अन्तु-आम्-उक्थ = अवीवृधन्त्वामुक्था)
[18] granting prosperity (वर्ध) protector (अन्तु) (वर्ध-अन्तु = वर्धन्तु) not (नो) speech (गिरः).
[19] Granting (गम् = गमत्) sacrificial prayer (वाजः) of man (भिरु=भिरा) (गमत्-वाजः-भिरु = गमद्वाजेभिरा) together with (स) wealth (नः)
[20] against (अभि) plotting as an enemy (द्रुह्) end (अन्त) therefore (नूनम् = नून) honour (अम्) Indra (इन्द्र) (अभि-द्रुह्-अन्त-नून-अम्-इन्द्र = अभिद्रुहन्तनूनामिन्द्र)
[21] Lord (ईशानः = ईशानो) who averts (यवय= यवया) murder (वधः= वधम्)
[22] strength Indra (वाजम्-इन्द्र = वाजमिन्द्र) is thousandfold (सहस्रिन् = सहस्रिणम्)
Other Gods: Indra and Siva, Visnu, Respect for Visnu and Siva, Saraswati, Indra Vayu, Asvins, Mitra Varuna, Vishvadeva, Agni
Vaisvamitra says that Indra has come into light to make firm knowledge and power (एमाशुमाशवे),[1] supports protects yagna (भर यज्ञश्रियं), gladdens men (नृमादनम्) and flies to delight friends (पतयन्मन्दयत्सखम्)[2] (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)[3], He is the One possessed of strength in battle and heroism (वाजेषु वाजिनम्)[4](1.004.8-9). He is the controller of battles (वाजयामः[5], 1.004.9) Indra is described as powerful (बृहत्), purifying (मर्कः) (1.007.1). Indra spreads auspiciousness too around richly (इन्द्रं वो विश्वतस्परि,[6] 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)[7] (1.007.1).
For these reasons Indra is to be worshipped. In 1.004.5, the sage advocates dedicating righteous behaviour as an offering to Indra:
उत ब्रुवन्तु नो निदो निरन्यतश्चिदारत | दधाना इन्द्र इद्दुवः || (1.004.5)[8]
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,[9] 1.004.9). He must shout his love for Indra and beg for his protection (स्यामेदिन्द्रस्य शर्मणि,[10] 1.004.6); and celebrate Indra’s good fortune in a song (इन्द्राय गायत,[11] 1.004.10). He is described as One whom man praises to get knowledge (भिर्-अर्क्-इ-णः)[12] (1.007.1). This last attribute is not surprising, since Indra is described as गिर्वणः[13], i.e., he who rejoices in praise (1.005.7, 10).
Indra has power and is illuminated (त्वेता,[14] 1.005.1). He blesses you, bestows gifts and illuminates (शं ते सन्तु प्रचेतसे,[15] 1.005.7). He is the Lord of heaven, inner knowledge and self (पुरूणामीशानं)[16] (1.005.2). Praise the kindly disposed, granter of prosperity, protector, (अवीवृधन्त्वामुक्था,[17]) says the sage. These are not mere words, he is the protector who grants prosperity (वर्धन्तु नो गिरः)[18] (1.005.8).
He grants the sacrificial prayers of man together with wealth (गमद्वाजेभिरा स नः,[19] 1.005.3).
He acts against and brings to an end plots of enemies (अभिद्रुहन्तनूनामिन्द्र)[20], and is the lord who averts murder (ईशानो यवया वधम्)[21] (1.005.10). His strength is thousandfold (वाजमिन्द्रः सहस्रिणम्,[22] 1.005.9).
[1] Come into (ए) light (मा) to make firm (शु) knowledge (मा) power (शवस् = शवे)(ए-मा-शु-मा-शवस् = एमाशुमाशवे)
[2] Fly to (पतयन्) delighting (मन्दयत्) friends (सखम्) (पतयन्-मन्दयत्-सखम् = पतयन्मन्दयत्सखम्)
[3] प्राव्-ओ = प्रावो
[4] battle one possessed of strength (वाजः-इषः = वाजेषु) heroism (वाजिनम्).
[5] battle control (वाजः-यामः = वाजयामः)
[6] Indra honour (इन्द्र-अम् = इन्द्रं) auspiciousness (वः = वो) all around richly (विश्वतस्-परि = विश्वतस्परि)
[7] Indra (इन्द्रं) voice (वाणी) conferring (र) praise (नु) burn (उष) wicked man (त) (वाणी-र-नु-उष-त = वाणीरनूषत)
[8] उत ब्रुव - अन्तु नो निदो निर – अन्यत् – अश् - चित् - आरत | दध् - अना इन्द्र इद् - दुवस् ||
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)
[9] Wealth (धन) breath (अनः) connect oneself with (अम्) Indra (इन्द्र) (धन-अनः-अम्-इन्द्र = धनानामिन्द्र)
[10] Cry aloud (स्यम् = स्य) to love (मेद्) Indra (इन्द्र) to be (अस् = अस्य) (स्य-मेद्-इन्द्र-अस्य = स्यामेदिन्द्रस्य) protection to beg (शर्मन्-ई = शर्मणि)
[11] Indra good fortune (इन्द्र-अयः = इन्द्राय) celebrate in a song (गै = गायत).
[12] बृहदिन्द्रमर्केभिरर्किणः = Powerful (बृहत्) Indra (इन्द्र) purifying (मर्कः) man (भिर् = भिरु) praise (अर्क्) obtain (इ) knowledge (णः) (बृहत्-इन्द्र-मर्कः-भिर्-अर्क्-इ-णः)
[13] rejoices in praise (गिर्वणस् = गिर्वणः)
[14] having power shining (तु-एता = त्वेता)
[15] Blessing (शं) you (ते) bestowing gifts (सन्त्य = सन्तु) illuminates (प्रचेतन = प्रचेतसे).
[16] heaven (पुरु) knowledge (ण) self (अमः) Lord (ईशानः)(पुरु-ण-अमः-ईशानः = पुरूणामीशानं)
[17] kindly disposed (अवि = अवी) increaser (वृध) protector (अन्तु) verily (आम्) eulogise (उक्थ) (अवि-वृध-अन्तु-आम्-उक्थ = अवीवृधन्त्वामुक्था)
[18] granting prosperity (वर्ध) protector (अन्तु) (वर्ध-अन्तु = वर्धन्तु) not (नो) speech (गिरः).
[19] Granting (गम् = गमत्) sacrificial prayer (वाजः) of man (भिरु=भिरा) (गमत्-वाजः-भिरु = गमद्वाजेभिरा) together with (स) wealth (नः)
[20] against (अभि) plotting as an enemy (द्रुह्) end (अन्त) therefore (नूनम् = नून) honour (अम्) Indra (इन्द्र) (अभि-द्रुह्-अन्त-नून-अम्-इन्द्र = अभिद्रुहन्तनूनामिन्द्र)
[21] Lord (ईशानः = ईशानो) who averts (यवय= यवया) murder (वधः= वधम्)
[22] strength Indra (वाजम्-इन्द्र = वाजमिन्द्र) is thousandfold (सहस्रिन् = सहस्रिणम्)
Other Gods: Indra and Siva, Visnu, Respect for Visnu and Siva, Saraswati, Indra Vayu, Asvins, Mitra Varuna, Vishvadeva, Agni