Religion
Atharva Veda 2.5: Invitation to, and praise of Indra
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1895–96) · From The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda (1895–96)
Indra, be gracious, drive thou forth, come, Hero, with thy two bay steeds.
Taste the libation, hither, enjoying meath and the hymn, come, fair, to the banquet.
O Indra, even as one athirst, fill thee with meath as 'twere from heaven.
Sweet-toned, the raptures of this juice have come to thee as to the light.
Swift-conquering Indra, Mitra like, smote, as a Yati, Vritra dead.
Like Bhrigu he cleft Vala through, and quelled his foes in Soma's rapturous joy.
O Indra, let the juices enter thee. Fill full thy belly, sate thee, mighty one! Let the hymn bring thee.
Hear thou my call, accept the song I sing, here, Indra, with thy friends enjoy thyself, to height of rapture.
Now will I tell the manly deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the thunder-wielder.
He slew the Dragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the mountain torrents.
He slew the Dragon lying on the mountain: his heavenly bolt of thunder Tvashtar fashioned.
Like lowing kine in rapid flow descending the waters glided downward to the ocean.
Impetuous as a bull he chose the Soma, and quaffed the juices in three sacred beakers.
Maghavan grasped the thunder for his weapon, and smote to death this first-born of the dragons.
Cite this poem
MLA
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 2.5: Invitation to, and praise of Indra.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/39/.
Chicago
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 2.5: Invitation to, and praise of Indra.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/39/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by The Rishis of the Atharva Veda
- Atharva Veda 1.30: A benediction on a King at his consecration
- Atharva Veda 5.7: A charm to deprecate Arāti or Malignity
- Atharva Veda 6.84: A charm to accompany the symbolical loosing of sacrificial victims
- Atharva Veda 7.52: A prayer for peace and concord
- Atharva Veda 13.3: A glorification of Rohita. with a malediction on the man who wrongs a Brāhman