Metamorphosis
This being so, how was Indra elevated to godhood? The explanation too comes in a lighter vein (एवा हि ते):
एवा हि ते विभूतय ऊतया इन्द्र मावते | सद्यश्चित्सन्ति दाशुषे || (1.008.9)[1]
The sage says humourously, that the mighty (विभूतय) favoured (ऊतया) Indra is like me (इन्द्र मावते), and explains: suddenly he regains consciousness, starts bestowing gifts (सद्यश्चित्सन्ति), and turns pious (दाशुषे). This shows that at a later stage in life, there was a metamorphosis in Indra. He had a change of heart and understanding, turned pious, and distributed his wealth.
That this is the correct understanding of the events is shown in another verse made in lighter vein:
एवा ह्यस्य काम्या स्तोम उक्थं च शंस्या | इन्द्राय सोमपीतये || (1.008.10)
The meaning of the first line has already been explained. To repeat, Indra’s desires/women were praised, his life though bad was praiseworthy. The second line: इन्द्राय सोमपीतये, is telling. This is a brilliant twist of phrase. It means directly that Indra’s good fortune was that he drank soma, playing on Indra’s fondness for drink . But सोमपीतये also means : As time drew to an end, he increased protection (finish time increase protection: सो-म-पी-तयः = सोमपीतये).[2] Thus, Indra’s good fortune was that he increased protection before his time on earth came to an end.
In yet another verse, Vaisvamitra refers to the events relating to the change of heart of Indra:
नव्यमायु प्र सू तिर कृधी सहस्रसामृषिम् || (1.010.11.2)[3]
Before starting on his new life (नव्यमायु प्र), (he) secretly made his intentions and appeased a thousand sages (सहस्रसामृषिम्), presumably seeking their blessings.
[1] Merely (एवा) to gratify (हि) you (ते) mighty (विभूतय) favoured (ऊतय) Indra (इन्द्र) like me (मावत् = मावते) | Suddenly (सद्यस् = सद्यश्) regain consciousness (चित्) bestowing gifts (सन्त्य = सन्ति)(सद्यस्-चित्-सन्ति = सद्यश्चित्सन्ति) pious (दाशुषे).
[2] That this is a correct interpretation of the term is confirmed by verse 1.002.3, which begins with : प्रपृञ्चती धेना जिगाति दाशुषे, i.e., before getting caught in the swiftly moving river (of time), seek emancipation, and it ends: उरूची सोमपीतये, i.e., as earthly time finishes, one must increase protection.
[3] नव्यम्-आयु प्र सू तिर कृधी सहस्र – साम् - ऋषिम् ||
New (नव्यम्) life (आयु)(नव्यम्-आयु = नव्यमायु) before (प्र) bringing forth (सू) secretly (तिर) make (कृ) intention (धी) thousand (सहस्र) to appease (साम्) sages (ऋषिम्)(सहस्र-साम्-ऋषिम् = सहस्रसामृषिम् )
Continued in : Peity and Yoga
Also see: Sage, Poet and Man , Indra and Siva, Asvins, Visnu, Respect for Visnu and Siva, Saraswati, Indra Vayu, Mitra Varuna, Vishvadeva, Agni
This being so, how was Indra elevated to godhood? The explanation too comes in a lighter vein (एवा हि ते):
एवा हि ते विभूतय ऊतया इन्द्र मावते | सद्यश्चित्सन्ति दाशुषे || (1.008.9)[1]
The sage says humourously, that the mighty (विभूतय) favoured (ऊतया) Indra is like me (इन्द्र मावते), and explains: suddenly he regains consciousness, starts bestowing gifts (सद्यश्चित्सन्ति), and turns pious (दाशुषे). This shows that at a later stage in life, there was a metamorphosis in Indra. He had a change of heart and understanding, turned pious, and distributed his wealth.
That this is the correct understanding of the events is shown in another verse made in lighter vein:
एवा ह्यस्य काम्या स्तोम उक्थं च शंस्या | इन्द्राय सोमपीतये || (1.008.10)
The meaning of the first line has already been explained. To repeat, Indra’s desires/women were praised, his life though bad was praiseworthy. The second line: इन्द्राय सोमपीतये, is telling. This is a brilliant twist of phrase. It means directly that Indra’s good fortune was that he drank soma, playing on Indra’s fondness for drink . But सोमपीतये also means : As time drew to an end, he increased protection (finish time increase protection: सो-म-पी-तयः = सोमपीतये).[2] Thus, Indra’s good fortune was that he increased protection before his time on earth came to an end.
In yet another verse, Vaisvamitra refers to the events relating to the change of heart of Indra:
नव्यमायु प्र सू तिर कृधी सहस्रसामृषिम् || (1.010.11.2)[3]
Before starting on his new life (नव्यमायु प्र), (he) secretly made his intentions and appeased a thousand sages (सहस्रसामृषिम्), presumably seeking their blessings.
[1] Merely (एवा) to gratify (हि) you (ते) mighty (विभूतय) favoured (ऊतय) Indra (इन्द्र) like me (मावत् = मावते) | Suddenly (सद्यस् = सद्यश्) regain consciousness (चित्) bestowing gifts (सन्त्य = सन्ति)(सद्यस्-चित्-सन्ति = सद्यश्चित्सन्ति) pious (दाशुषे).
[2] That this is a correct interpretation of the term is confirmed by verse 1.002.3, which begins with : प्रपृञ्चती धेना जिगाति दाशुषे, i.e., before getting caught in the swiftly moving river (of time), seek emancipation, and it ends: उरूची सोमपीतये, i.e., as earthly time finishes, one must increase protection.
[3] नव्यम्-आयु प्र सू तिर कृधी सहस्र – साम् - ऋषिम् ||
New (नव्यम्) life (आयु)(नव्यम्-आयु = नव्यमायु) before (प्र) bringing forth (सू) secretly (तिर) make (कृ) intention (धी) thousand (सहस्र) to appease (साम्) sages (ऋषिम्)(सहस्र-साम्-ऋषिम् = सहस्रसामृषिम् )
Continued in : Peity and Yoga
Also see: Sage, Poet and Man , Indra and Siva, Asvins, Visnu, Respect for Visnu and Siva, Saraswati, Indra Vayu, Mitra Varuna, Vishvadeva, Agni