Ṛgveda · Maṇḍala 1

Sūkta 17

Indra, Varuṇa · Medhātithi Kāṇva · 9 ṛks

Link
Devatā देवता
Indra, Varuṇa
Ṛṣi ऋषि
Medhātithi Kāṇva
Chandas छन्दस्
Gāyatrī, Pādanicṛt
Metres by ṛk

1st set of styles gāyatrī (1, 3, 7, 9); yavamadhyāvirāḍgāyatrī (2); gāyatrī (pādanicṛdgāyatrī) (4); bhurigārcīgāyatrī (5); nicṛdgāyatrī (6); pipīlikāmadhyānicṛdgāyatrī (8)

2nd set of styles gāyatrī (1-3, 6-9); pādanicṛt (4-5)

  1. Ṛk 1

    इंद्रा॒वरु॑णयोर॒हं स॒म्राजो॒रव॒ आ वृ॑णे ।
    ता नो॑ मृळात ई॒दृशे॑ ॥

    इन्द्रावरुणयोर् अहं सम्राजोर् अव आ वृणे |
    ता नो मृऌआत ईदृशे ||

    índrāváruṇayorahám samrā́joráva ā́ vṛṇe ǀ
    tā́ no mṛḷāta īdṛ́śe ǁ

    indrāvaruṇayor ahaṃ samrājor ava ā vṛṇe |
    tā no mṛḷāta īdṛśe ||

    इन्द्रा॒वरु॑णयोः । अ॒हम् । स॒म्ऽराजोः॑ । अवः॑ । आ । वृ॒णे॒ ।
    ता । नः॒ । मृ॒ळा॒तः॒ । ई॒दृशे॑ ॥

    इन्द्रावरुणयोः । अहम् । सम्ऽराजोः । अवः । आ । वृणे ।
    ता । नः । मृळातः । ईदृशे ॥

    índrāváruṇayoḥ ǀ ahám ǀ sam-rā́joḥ ǀ ávaḥ ǀ ā́ ǀ vṛṇe ǀ
    tā́ ǀ naḥ ǀ mṛḷātaḥ ǀ īdṛ́śe ǁ

    indrāvaruṇayoḥ ǀ aham ǀ sam-rājoḥ ǀ avaḥ ǀ ā ǀ vṛṇe ǀ
    tā ǀ naḥ ǀ mṛḷātaḥ ǀ īdṛśe ǁ

    1.17.1 Aṣṭaka 1.1.32.1Anuvāka 1.4.58

  2. Ṛk 2

    गंता॑रा॒ हि स्थोऽव॑से॒ हवं॒ विप्र॑स्य॒ माव॑तः ।
    ध॒र्तारा॑ चर्षणी॒नां ॥

    गन्तारा हि स्थो ऽवसे हवं विप्रस्य मावतः |
    धर्तारा चर्षणीनाम् ||

    gántārā hí sthó’vase hávam víprasya mā́vataḥ ǀ
    dhartā́rā carṣaṇīnā́m ǁ

    gantārā hi stho 'vase havaṃ viprasya māvataḥ |
    dhartārā carṣaṇīnām ||

    गन्ता॑रा । हि । स्थः । अव॑से । हव॑म् । विप्र॑स्य । माऽव॑तः ।
    ध॒र्तारा॑ । च॒र्ष॒णी॒नाम् ॥

    गन्तारा । हि । स्थः । अवसे । हवम् । विप्रस्य । माऽवतः ।
    धर्तारा । चर्षणीनाम् ॥

    gántārā ǀ hí ǀ stháḥ ǀ ávase ǀ hávam ǀ víprasya ǀ mā́-vataḥ ǀ
    dhartā́rā ǀ carṣaṇīnā́m ǁ

    gantārā ǀ hi ǀ sthaḥ ǀ avase ǀ havam ǀ viprasya ǀ mā-vataḥ ǀ
    dhartārā ǀ carṣaṇīnām ǁ

    1.17.2 Aṣṭaka 1.1.32.2Anuvāka 1.4.59

  3. Ṛk 3

    अ॒नु॒का॒मं त॑र्पयेथा॒मिंद्रा॑वरुण रा॒य आ ।
    ता वां॒ नेदि॑ष्ठमीमहे ॥

    अनुकामं तर्पयेथाम् इन्द्रावरुण राय आ |
    ता वां नेदिष्ठम् ईमहे ||

    anukāmám tarpayethāmíndrāvaruṇa rāyá ā́ ǀ
    tā́ vām nédiṣṭhamīmahe ǁ

    anukāmaṃ tarpayethām indrāvaruṇa rāya ā |
    tā vāṃ nediṣṭham īmahe ||

    अ॒नु॒ऽका॒मम् । त॒र्प॒ये॒था॒म् । इन्द्रा॑वरुणा । रा॒यः । आ ।
    ता । वा॒म् । नेदि॑ष्ठम् । ई॒म॒हे॒ ॥

    अनुऽकामम् । तर्पयेथाम् । इन्द्रावरुणा । रायः । आ ।
    ता । वाम् । नेदिष्ठम् । ईमहे ॥

    anu-kāmám ǀ tarpayethām ǀ índrāvaruṇā ǀ rāyáḥ ǀ ā́ ǀ
    tā́ ǀ vām ǀ nédiṣṭham ǀ īmahe ǁ

    anu-kāmam ǀ tarpayethām ǀ indrāvaruṇā ǀ rāyaḥ ǀ ā ǀ
    tā ǀ vām ǀ nediṣṭham ǀ īmahe ǁ

    1.17.3 Aṣṭaka 1.1.32.3Anuvāka 1.4.60

  4. Ṛk 4

    यु॒वाकु॒ हि शची॑नां यु॒वाकु॑ सुमती॒नां ।
    भू॒याम॑ वाज॒दाव्नां॑ ॥

    युवाकु हि शचीनां युवाकु सुमतीनाम् |
    भूयाम वाजदाव्नाम् ||

    yuvā́ku hí śácīnām yuvā́ku sumatīnā́m ǀ
    bhūyā́ma vājadā́vnām ǁ

    yuvāku hi śacīnāṃ yuvāku sumatīnām |
    bhūyāma vājadāvnām ||

    यु॒वाकु॑ । हि । शची॑नाम् । यु॒वाकु॑ । सु॒ऽम॒ती॒नाम् ।
    भू॒याम॑ । वा॒ज॒दाव्ना॑म् ॥

    युवाकु । हि । शचीनाम् । युवाकु । सुऽमतीनाम् ।
    भूयाम । वाजदाव्नाम् ॥

    yuvā́ku ǀ hí ǀ śácīnām ǀ yuvā́ku ǀ su-matīnā́m ǀ
    bhūyā́ma ǀ vājadā́vnām ǁ

    yuvāku ǀ hi ǀ śacīnām ǀ yuvāku ǀ su-matīnām ǀ
    bhūyāma ǀ vājadāvnām ǁ

    1.17.4 Aṣṭaka 1.1.32.4Anuvāka 1.4.61

  5. Ṛk 5

    इंद्रः॑ सहस्र॒दाव्नां॒ वरु॑णः॒ शंस्या॑नां ।
    क्रतु॑र्भवत्यु॒क्थ्यः॑ ॥

    इन्द्रः सहस्रदाव्नां वरुणः शंस्यानाम् |
    क्रतुर् भवत्य् उक्थ्यः ||

    índraḥ sahasradā́vnām váruṇaḥ śáṃsyānām ǀ
    kráturbhavatyukthyáḥ ǁ

    indraḥ sahasradāvnāṃ varuṇaḥ śaṃsyānām |
    kratur bhavaty ukthyaḥ ||

    इन्द्रः॑ । स॒ह॒स्र॒ऽदाव्ना॑म् । वरु॑णः । शंस्या॑नाम् ।
    क्रतुः॑ । भ॒व॒ति॒ । उ॒क्थ्यः॑ ॥

    इन्द्रः । सहस्रऽदाव्नाम् । वरुणः । शंस्यानाम् ।
    क्रतुः । भवति । उक्थ्यः ॥

    índraḥ ǀ sahasra-dā́vnām ǀ váruṇaḥ ǀ śáṃsyānām ǀ
    krátuḥ ǀ bhavati ǀ ukthyáḥ ǁ

    indraḥ ǀ sahasra-dāvnām ǀ varuṇaḥ ǀ śaṃsyānām ǀ
    kratuḥ ǀ bhavati ǀ ukthyaḥ ǁ

    1.17.5 Aṣṭaka 1.1.32.5Anuvāka 1.4.62

  6. Ṛk 6

    तयो॒रिदव॑सा व॒यं स॒नेम॒ नि च॑ धीमहि ।
    स्यादु॒त प्र॒रेच॑नं ॥

    तयोर् इद् अवसा वयं सनेम नि च धीमहि |
    स्याद् उत प्ररेचनम् ||

    táyorídávasā vayám sanéma ní ca dhīmahi ǀ
    syā́dutá prarécanam ǁ

    tayor id avasā vayaṃ sanema ni ca dhīmahi |
    syād uta prarecanam ||

    तयोः॑ । इत् । अव॑सा । व॒यम् । स॒नेम॑ । नि । च॒ । धी॒म॒हि॒ ।
    स्यात् । उ॒त । प्र॒ऽरेच॑नम् ॥

    तयोः । इत् । अवसा । वयम् । सनेम । नि । च । धीमहि ।
    स्यात् । उत । प्रऽरेचनम् ॥

    táyoḥ ǀ ít ǀ ávasā ǀ vayám ǀ sanéma ǀ ní ǀ ca ǀ dhīmahi ǀ
    syā́t ǀ utá ǀ pra-récanam ǁ

    tayoḥ ǀ it ǀ avasā ǀ vayam ǀ sanema ǀ ni ǀ ca ǀ dhīmahi ǀ
    syāt ǀ uta ǀ pra-recanam ǁ

    1.17.6 Aṣṭaka 1.1.33.1Anuvāka 1.4.63

  7. Ṛk 7

    इंद्रा॑वरुण वाम॒हं हु॒वे चि॒त्राय॒ राध॑से ।
    अ॒स्मांत्सु जि॒ग्युष॑स्कृतं ॥

    इन्द्रावरुण वाम् अहं हुवे चित्राय राधसे |
    अस्मान् सु जिग्युषस् कृतम् ||

    índrāvaruṇa vāmahám huvé citrā́ya rā́dhase ǀ
    asmā́ntsú jigyúṣaskṛtam ǁ

    indrāvaruṇa vām ahaṃ huve citrāya rādhase |
    asmān su jigyuṣas kṛtam ||

    इन्द्रा॑वरुणा । वा॒म् । अ॒हम् । हु॒वे । चि॒त्राय॑ । राध॑से ।
    अ॒स्मान् । सु । जि॒ग्युषः॑ । कृ॒त॒म् ॥

    इन्द्रावरुणा । वाम् । अहम् । हुवे । चित्राय । राधसे ।
    अस्मान् । सु । जिग्युषः । कृतम् ॥

    índrāvaruṇā ǀ vām ǀ ahám ǀ huvé ǀ citrā́ya ǀ rā́dhase ǀ
    asmā́n ǀ sú ǀ jigyúṣaḥ ǀ kṛtam ǁ

    indrāvaruṇā ǀ vām ǀ aham ǀ huve ǀ citrāya ǀ rādhase ǀ
    asmān ǀ su ǀ jigyuṣaḥ ǀ kṛtam ǁ

    1.17.7 Aṣṭaka 1.1.33.2Anuvāka 1.4.64

  8. Ṛk 8

    इंद्रा॑वरुण॒ नू नु वां॒ सिषा॑संतीषु धी॒ष्वा ।
    अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतं ॥

    इन्द्रावरुण नू नु वां सिषासन्तीषु धीष्व् आ |
    अस्मभ्यं शर्म यच्छतम् ||

    índrāvaruṇa nū́ nú vām síṣāsantīṣu dhīṣvā́ ǀ
    asmábhyam śárma yacchatam ǁ

    indrāvaruṇa nū nu vāṃ siṣāsantīṣu dhīṣv ā |
    asmabhyaṃ śarma yacchatam ||

    इन्द्रा॑वरुणा । नु । नु । वा॒म् । सिसा॑सन्तीषु । धी॒षु । आ ।
    अ॒स्मभ्य॑म् । शर्म॑ । य॒च्छ॒त॒म् ॥

    इन्द्रावरुणा । नु । नु । वाम् । सिसासन्तीषु । धीषु । आ ।
    अस्मभ्यम् । शर्म । यच्छतम् ॥

    índrāvaruṇā ǀ nú ǀ nú ǀ vām ǀ sísāsantīṣu ǀ dhīṣú ǀ ā́ ǀ
    asmábhyam ǀ śárma ǀ yacchatam ǁ

    indrāvaruṇā ǀ nu ǀ nu ǀ vām ǀ sisāsantīṣu ǀ dhīṣu ǀ ā ǀ
    asmabhyam ǀ śarma ǀ yacchatam ǁ

    1.17.8 Aṣṭaka 1.1.33.3Anuvāka 1.4.65

  9. Ṛk 9

    प्र वा॑मश्नोतु सुष्टु॒तिरिंद्रा॑वरुण॒ यां हु॒वे ।
    यामृ॒धाथे॑ स॒धस्तु॑तिं ॥

    प्र वाम् अश्नोतु सुष्टुतिर् इन्द्रावरुण यां हुवे |
    याम् ऋधाथे सधस्तुतिम् ||

    prá vāmaśnotu suṣṭutíríndrāvaruṇa yā́m huvé ǀ
    yā́mṛdhā́the sadhástutim ǁ

    pra vām aśnotu suṣṭutir indrāvaruṇa yāṃ huve |
    yām ṛdhāthe sadhastutim ||

    प्र । वा॒म् । अ॒श्नो॒तु॒ । सु॒ऽस्तु॒तिः । इन्द्रा॑वरुणा । याम् । हु॒वे ।
    याम् । ऋ॒धाथे॑ इति॑ । स॒धऽस्तु॑तिम् ॥

    प्र । वाम् । अश्नोतु । सुऽस्तुतिः । इन्द्रावरुणा । याम् । हुवे ।
    याम् । ऋधाथे इति । सधऽस्तुतिम् ॥

    prá ǀ vām ǀ aśnotu ǀ su-stutíḥ ǀ índrāvaruṇā ǀ yā́m ǀ huvé ǀ
    yā́m ǀ ṛdhā́the íti ǀ sadhá-stutim ǁ

    pra ǀ vām ǀ aśnotu ǀ su-stutiḥ ǀ indrāvaruṇā ǀ yām ǀ huve ǀ
    yām ǀ ṛdhāthe iti ǀ sadha-stutim ǁ

    1.17.9 Aṣṭaka 1.1.33.4Anuvāka 1.4.66

Text, recitation and interpretations from the Ṛgveda database of theveda.org.in.

Ṛgveda 1.17 · Indra, Varuṇa

Interpretations

Kapali Shastri

Ṛk 1

Introduction

This is the sixth hymn in the fourth Section, with nine Riks, beginning with indrāvaruņayoḥ. The deities are Indra and Varuna. The Rishi and the metre are as before. The speciality here is that the two Riks beginning with yuvāku hi are cast in the metre of name pādanicṛn.

Translation

Tr. I seek the increase of the resplendent Indra and Varuna ; such, they make us happy.

Commentary

aham I; samrājoh of the resplendent; indrā-varuņayoḥ of Indra and of Varuna ; avaḥ increase-in me; āvṛne I pray for ; tā those two Gods ; idṛśe by reason of our seeking of this kind ; naḥ us; mpļātaḥ make happy.

ava: the termination as to the root av, in the sense of protection or increase. The birth of gods and their increase within the worshipper are among the fruits of the inner sacrifice.

mṛļātaḥ: mặd to please. Vedic Present in the sense of Benedictive to denote prayer.

Though stationed in Heaven, Indra is the monarch of Intelligence by his divine Mind. But Varuna is homed in Truth, increases the Truth, touches the Truth, full of Light; this characteristic of his is to be noted. The characteristics of both are dwelt upon in the first Section.

Ṛk 2

Translation

Tr. Attain to the call of the illumined seer like me for increase, upholders of the seers of truth.

Commentary

O Indra and Varuna, you, avase to increase (se in the sense of infinitive of purpose on av) for the increase of those who perform the inner sacrifice; māvataḥ of those like me (in the topic on vatup, the supplement says that the usage in the Veda is for resemblance); viprasya of the illumined: seer; havam the call; gantārau who attain; sthaḥ be; of what kind ? carşaņinām dhartārā upholders of persons who see the subtle truth or the secret of the gods.

carṣaniḥ in the act of seeing. The gods, Indra and Varuna carry the weal of the seer Rishis. carṣanayaḥ is not to be taken to denote the common man.

Ṛk 3

Translation

Tr. O Indra and Varuna, on satisfaction, with your wealth make us fulfilled; we seek your closest proximity.

Commentary

O indrāvarunā Indra and Varuna (the short a is in the Samhita text); both of you, Indra and Varuna; anukā mam after desire—anu preposition governing a noun. Sayana holds that anu here can be taken in the sense of 'as much as'; anu kāmam can be properly split as after the desire. In the former case it means as much as desired; in the latter, it means after the fulfilment of the desire for hearing of the hymn of affirmation, for drinking the Soma, etc. This is precisely what Skandaswamin holds : after Soma, after its drink to satisfaction. In both the cases, it means in our context, the desire of Indra-Varuna ; that is, as much as desired by them or after the fulfilment of their desire; rāyaḥ (genetive in the sense of the instrumental) with your divine wealth; ātarpayethām make us completely sated; tā those; vām you; nediştham closest ; imahe we beg.

The purport is to be understood in the sense of we beg of you your closest proximity, by appreciating that verbs having the sense of begging have two objects. Or it may be, we beg of you the intimacies, your wealth. All the old commentators have conflicting views in explaining the term nediştham. In the next Rik, yuvāku hi, is expounded covertly the divine wealth that is prayed for. The storehouse of opulence of intelligence and strength, the wealth of intimacy nediștha rāyaḥ. We will presently apprise.

Ṛk 4

Translation

Tr. As the strength of the Powers, the strength of the right thinkings, may we be of the donors of plenitude.

Commentary

hi because ; sacinām of the powers; yuvāku virility; sumatinām of right thinkings; yuvāku virility ; bhūyāma may we become (Benedictive to denote prayer. The elision of s is Vedic); therefore 'we seek Indra and Varuna closest' (in the previous Rik); of Powers or of right thinkings, of what kind ? vājadāvnām they who give dadati, plenitude vāja, is vājadāvānaḥ (termination vanip, Vedic). May we be the beings of strength of the Powers that give plenitude, of the auspicious or good activities of Intelligence, is the purport. Let us be possessed of or become the strength itself that belongs to the Powers that gift plenitude or to the activities of Intelligence. Therefore we desire them closest so that this may come to be. Commented upon otherwise, there is no connection with the previous Rik. This is that: because we are the strength of the Powers, because we are the strength of right thinkings, therefore may we be among the gods who gift the plenitude.

Footnote

By deciding upon the meaning of the word yuvāku the trouble in understanding the purport of the Mantra will be mitigated. The word yuvāku is arrived by applying the termination kaku in Unadi sutras to the root yu to mix. That which is mixed is the meaning. This meaning of Sayana's is useful in commenting ritualistically. The form yuvāku is used in this Rik twice. The first yuvāku of faci is a subs-tance connected with the rituals and oblation in the form of Soma mixed with water and other substances. But the second yuvāku of sumati is the laud connected with the Ritviks 'mixed' with laudable virtues. These two are accom-plished. Therefore, in the ritualist context, the purport of the Mantra is, let us be among the sovereign donors of food, vā jadāvnām. In many places Sayana has it : he who desires you is yuvāku. In the passage dasrā puvākavaḥ sutāḥ' we have explained the same as virile, strong Soma-juices. There, following the comment of Sayana in 3.62.1, we spoke of strength as denoted by the term yuva. Here too yuvāku means endowed with virility or strength. If according to the optional theory of Skandasvainin, the singular be said to be used in the place of the plural, yuvākavah, we accept it.

Ṛk 5

Translation

Tr. Of the givers of plenty, Indra is the Will to give ; of the laudable, Varuna is the excellently laudable. Thus ends the thirty-second group in the first Chapter of the first Eighth.

Commentary

indraḥ Indra; sahasradāvnām thousand indicates plenty, of the givers of various plenty of knowledge, strength and the like; kratuḥ who becomes the strong will to give, the maker of the gift or its author; varuṇaḥ Varuna; śamsyānām of the laudable; ukthyaḥ superbly laudable; bhavati becomes.

ukthyaḥ: uktham praise, there becoming as laudable; ya is Vedic in the sense of becoming.

Ṛk 6

Translation

Tr. By their increase may we attain and store by; may it be superbly exceeding.

Commentary

tayoḥ it of both, Indra the author who is the Will of all who give and Varuna the most excellently laudable ; avasā by their increase in us; vayam we avid of divine riches; sanema may we attain, obtain what is to be obtained ; and what is obtained nidhimahi ca let us lay by as store what remains after enjoyment as that is immense; that wealth is more than what is desired for enjoyment, hence it is guarded as safe deposit; further, it exceeds even what is possible for us to lay aside; in this sense he continues : uta and even; prarecanam superbly exceeding; syāt may it be. The purport is that the divine wealth that is obtained by the growth of the said Indra and Varuna in us is unlimited.

Remember here the Mantra of Maducchandas évibhu prabhu' (Rv. 1.9.5.). Here too ‘citrāya rādhase', for the variety of wealth, is spoken of in the next verse.

Ṛk 7

Translation

Tr. O Indra and Varuna, I invoke you for the varied wealth; endow us with perfect victory.

Commentary

O indrāvarunā Indra and Varura (the shortening in the Samhita text is Vedic); vām you both; aham huve I invoke; for what purpose ? citrāva for varied ; rādhas wealth; note that is a variegated wonderful divine wealth; asman us who are worshippers of God set on divine action ; sujig yuşaḥ endowed with perfect victory; kstam make.

jigyuṣaḥ: Perfect Participle of ji to conquer in the sense of Perfect. kstam : Imperative second person dual of kſ to do; the application tam as Present is Vedic.

Ṛk 8

Translation

Tr. Indra and Varuna, in our thoughts desirous to participate with you, give us happiness anon.

Commentary

indrāvarunā O Indra and Varuna (the shortening is in Samhita text); dhi şu in our thoughts; vām you; sisāsanti şu desirous to participate (Desiderative of the root şan, then present participle feminine); asmabhyam to us; sarma happiness; āyacchatam give on all sides; nu nu soon, repetition in the sense of exceedingly (the lengthening of the first nu in the Samhita text is Vedic).

Ṛk 9

Translation

Tr. Indra and Varuna, may the happy laud attain to you for which I call, the laud of accompaniment you increase.

Commentary

indrāvaruņā O Indra and Varuna ; suştutiḥ this my auspicious laud; vam you; pra aśnotu may it attain ; yām for the acceptance of which happy laud; huve I call you; yām sadhastutim which rite of the inner sacrifice along with with laudation; şdhāthe may you increase.

sadhastutim : transmutation of ha into dha, Bahuvrihi compound with the natural accent on the first word. Therefore it is explained as the rite of the inner sacrifice wherein there is the laudation having the accompaniment of Indra and Varuna. In every way in the compound the sense other than that of its constituents is important. It is the Rik that is sadhastuti, holds Sayana.

ṛdhāte: ṛdh to increase ; transmutation in conjugation; the sense of causal is implied; in that case this is the purport of this half-Rik: that sadhastuti' Rik or rite of inner sacrifice which you increase, may it attain to you superbly.

Thus ends the thirty-third group in the first Chapter of the first Eighth.