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Stanza 4.18.1
अ॒यं पन्था॒ अनु॑वित्तः पुरा॒णो यतो॑ दे॒वा उ॒दजा॑यन्त॒ विश्वे॑ | अत॑श्चि॒दा ज॑निषीष्ट॒ प्रवृ॑द्धो॒ मा मा॒तर॑ममु॒या पत्त॑वे कः ||
ayám pánthā ánuvittaḥ purāṇó yáto devā́ udájāyanta víśve átaś cid ā́ janiṣīṣṭa právr̥ddho mā́ mātáram amuyā́ páttave kaḥ
This is the ancient, well-known path from which all gods originated. From here, even a greatly grown being could be born. But who would destroy the mother by deviating from it?
This stanza describes an ancient and established path, understood as the origin point for all the gods. It suggests that by following this path, even one who has become powerful can attain birth or further development. However, it warns against straying from this path, which could lead to the destruction of one's 'mother' – perhaps representing a source of origin, sustenance, or fundamental principles.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. अयं पन्थाः अनुवित्तः पुराणः ayám pánthāḥ ánuvittaḥ purāṇáḥ (11 syllables)
- B. यतः देवाः उदजायन्त विश्वे yátas devā́ḥ udájāyanta víśve (11 syllables)
- C. अतश्चिदा चित् आ जनीषीष्ट प्रवृद्धो átas cit ā́ janiṣīṣṭa právr̥ddhaḥ (11 syllables)
- D. मा मातरम अमुया पत्तवे कः mā́ mātáram amuyā́ páttave kar (11 syllables)
अयं (ayám)
this
पन्थाः (pánthāḥ)
path, way
अनुवित्तः (ánuvittaḥ)
found, discovered, understood
पुराणः (purāṇáḥ)
ancient, old
यतः (yátas)
from which
देवाः (devā́ḥ)
gods
उदजायन्त (udájāyanta)
were born, arose
विश्वे (víśve)
all, entire
अतश्चिदा (átas)
from here, thence
चित् (cit)
indeed, certainly (intensifier)
आ (ā́)
here, up to
जनीषीष्ट (janiṣīṣṭa)
may one be born, may one come into existence
प्रवृद्धो (právr̥ddhaḥ)
greatly grown, increased
मा (mā́)
do not
मातरम (mātáram)
mother
अमुया (amuyā́)
by that (path)
पत्तवे (páttave)
to fall, to stray
कः (kar)
may one do, may one cause
Stanza 4.18.2
नाहमतो॒ निर॑या दु॒र्गहै॒तत्ति॑र॒श्चता॑ पा॒र्श्वान्निर्ग॑माणि | ब॒हूनि॑ मे॒ अकृ॑ता॒ कर्त्वा॑नि॒ युध्यै॑ त्वेन॒ सं त्वे॑न पृच्छै ||
nā́hám áto nír ayā durgáhaitát tiraścátā pārśvā́n nír gamāṇi bahū́ni me ákr̥tā kártvāni yúdhyai tvena sáṁ tvena pr̥chai
I do not go forth from here; it is a difficult passage. From the side, I shall emerge obliquely. I have many things yet to accomplish; one I must fight, another I must question.
The speaker declares they cannot proceed along this difficult path. Instead, they will exit obliquely from the side, acknowledging that they have many unfinished tasks and duties. They express a need to engage in conflict with one matter and to question another.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. न अहं अतो र्गमाणि अया दुर्गहै एतत् ná ahám átas nís ayā durgáhā etát (11 syllables)
- B. तिरश्चता पार्श्वान्नि र्गमाणि बहि tiraścátā pārśvā́t nís gamāni (11 syllables)
- C. बहुनि मे अकृता कर्त्वानि bahū́ni me ákr̥tā kártvāni (11 syllables)
- D. युध्यै त्वेन सं त्वेन पृच्छै yúdhyai tvena sám tvena pr̥chai (11 syllables)
न (ná)
not
अहं (ahám)
I
अतो (átas)
from here
र्गमाणि (nís)
out, forth
अया (ayā)
may I go, may I proceed
दुर्गहै (durgáhā)
difficult passages, hard to traverse (plural)
एतत् (etát)
this
तिरश्चता (tiraścátā)
obliquely, sideways
पार्श्वान्नि (pārśvā́t)
from the side
र्गमाणि (nís)
out, forth
बहि (gamāni)
may I go, may I come
बहुनि (bahū́ni)
many
मे (me)
my, to me
अकृता (ákr̥tā)
undone, unaccomplished (plural)
कर्त्वानि (kártvāni)
things to be done, actions
युध्यै (yúdhyai)
may I fight
त्वेन (tvena)
with it, that one
सं (sám)
together, completely
त्वेन (tvena)
with it, that one
पृच्छै (pr̥chai)
may I ask, may I question
Stanza 4.18.3
प॒रा॒य॒तीं मा॒तर॒मन्व॑चष्ट॒ न नानु॑ गा॒न्यनु॒ नू ग॑मानि | त्वष्टु॑र्गृ॒हे अ॑पिब॒त्सोम॒मिन्द्रः॑ शतध॒न्यं॑ च॒म्वोः॑ सु॒तस्य॑ ||
parāyatī́m mātáram ánv acaṣṭa ná nā́nu gāny ánu nū́ gamāni tváṣṭur gr̥hé apibat sómam índraḥ śatadhanyàṁ camvòḥ sutásya
He looked upon the departing mother. 'I retract my word.' 'I will follow her.' In Tvashṭar's house, Indra drank the Soma, pressed from the vessels, a hundredfold potent.
The speaker observed their 'mother' (possibly representing the world or a creative force) as she was departing or fading. The speaker then retracts their previous statement or intention ('my word I now withdraw') and declares they will follow that departing entity. Following this, the focus shifts to Indra, who drank Soma in the dwelling of Tvashṭar, a potent, pressed offering.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. परायतीं मातरं अनु चष्ट parāyatī́m mātáram ánu acaṣṭa (11 syllables)
- B. न न अनु गान अनु गमानि ná ná ánu gāni ánu nú + gamāni (11 syllables)
- C. त्वष्टुः गृहे अपिबत् सोमं इन्द्रः tváṣṭuḥ gr̥hé apibat sómam índraḥ (11 syllables)
- D. शतधन्यं चम्वोः सुतस्य śatadhanyàm camvòḥ sutásya (11 syllables)
परायतीं (parāyatī́m)
departing, going away
मातरं (mātáram)
mother
अनु (ánu)
after, following
चष्ट (acaṣṭa)
he looked, he beheld
न (ná)
not
न (ná)
not
अनु (ánu)
after, following
गान (gāni)
may I go
अनु (ánu)
after, following
(nú +)
गमानि (gamāni)
may I go
त्वष्टुः (tváṣṭuḥ)
of Tvashṭar (the divine artisan)
गृहे (gr̥hé)
in the house, in the dwelling
अपिबत् (apibat)
he drank
सोमं (sómam)
Soma (the divine drink)
इन्द्रः (índraḥ)
Indra (the king of gods)
शतधन्यं (śatadhanyàm)
of a hundred offerings, extremely potent
चम्वोः (camvòḥ)
from the Soma-vessel
सुतस्य (sutásya)
of the pressed (Soma)
Stanza 4.18.4
किं स ऋध॑क्कृणव॒द्यं स॒हस्रं॑ मा॒सो ज॒भार॑ श॒रद॑श्च पू॒र्वीः | न॒ही न्व॑स्य प्रति॒मान॒मस्त्य॒न्तर्जा॒तेषू॒त ये जनि॑त्वाः ||
kíṁ sá ŕ̥dhak kr̥ṇavad yáṁ sahásram māsó jabhā́ra śarádaś ca pūrvī́ḥ nahī́ nv àsya pratimā́nam ásty antár jātéṣūtá yé jánitvāḥ
What mighty deed can he perform, whom his mother bore for a thousand months and many autumns? There is no equal to him among those already born, nor among those who will be born.
This verse questions the nature of the being ('him whom his Mother bore for a thousand months'). It asks what extraordinary action such a being could perform. The stanza then asserts that this being has no equal, either among those already born or those yet to be born, highlighting their unparalleled status.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. किं स ऋधक् कृणवत् यं सहस्रं kím sáḥ ŕ̥dhak kr̥ṇavat yám sahásram (11 syllables)
- B. मासो जभार शरद श्च पूर्वीं māsáḥ jabhā́ra śarádaḥ ca pūrvī́ḥ (11 syllables)
- C. न स्य प्रतिमानम अस्ति nahí + nú asya pratimā́nam ásti (11 syllables)
- D. अन्तर्जा जातेषु उत ये जनिताः antár jātéṣu utá yé jánitvāḥ (11 syllables)
किं (kím)
what
स (sáḥ)
he
ऋधक् (ŕ̥dhak)
wonderfully, marvelously
कृणवत् (kr̥ṇavat)
may he do, may he perform
यं (yám)
whom
सहस्रं (sahásram)
a thousand
मासो (māsáḥ)
months
जभार (jabhā́ra)
he bore, he brought forth
शरद (śarádaḥ)
autumns
श्च (ca)
and
पूर्वीं (pūrvī́ḥ)
many, numerous
(nahí +)
न (nú)
indeed, surely
स्य (asya)
his, of him
प्रतिमानम (pratimā́nam)
equal, peer, comparison
अस्ति (ásti)
is
अन्तर्जा (antár)
among, within
जातेषु (jātéṣu)
among those born
उत (utá)
and, also
ये (yé)
those who
जनिताः (jánitvāḥ)
will be born, future generations
Stanza 4.18.5
अ॒व॒द्यमि॑व॒ मन्य॑माना॒ गुहा॑क॒रिन्द्रं॑ मा॒ता वी॒र्ये॑णा॒ न्यृ॑ष्टम् | अथोद॑स्थात्स्व॒यमत्कं॒ वसा॑न॒ आ रोद॑सी अपृणा॒ज्जाय॑मानः ||
avadyám iva mányamānā gúhākar índram mātā́ vīryèṇā nyr̥̀ṣṭam áthód asthāt svayám átkaṁ vásāna ā́ ródasī apr̥ṇāj jā́yamānaḥ
Thinking him a disgrace, the mother hid Indra, endowed with heroic power. Then he arose himself, clad in his garment, and as soon as he was born, he filled the earth and sky.
The mother, considering the child a disgrace, hid him away, despite his divine power. However, the child, identified as Indra, then emerged on his own, clad in his garments. As soon as he was born, he expanded to fill the earth and sky, demonstrating his immense presence and power.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. अवद्यं इव मन्यमाना गुहा अकर् avadyám iva mányamānā gúhā akar (11 syllables)
- B. इन्द्रं माता न्यृष्टं índram mātā́ vīryèṇa + nyr̥̀ṣṭam (11 syllables)
- C. अथो दस्थात् स्वय अत्कं वसा न átha út asthāt svayám átkam vásānaḥ (11 syllables)
- D. आ रोदसी अपृणाज्जाय मानः ā́ ródasī apr̥ṇāt jā́yamānaḥ (11 syllables)
अवद्यं (avadyám)
disgrace, reproach, blame
इव (iva)
like, as if
मन्यमाना (mányamānā)
thinking, considering
गुहा (gúhā)
in secret, hidden
अकर् (akar)
he made, he did
इन्द्रं (índram)
Indra
माता (mātā́)
mother
(vīryèṇa +)
न्यृष्टं (nyr̥̀ṣṭam)
endowed, equipped, perfected
अथो (átha)
then
दस्थात् (út)
up
स्वय (asthāt)
he stood, he rose
अत्कं (svayám)
himself
वसा (átkam)
garment, robe
न (vásānaḥ)
wearing
आ (ā́)
up to, toward
रोदसी (ródasī)
earth and sky (dual)
अपृणाज्जाय (apr̥ṇāt)
he filled
मानः (jā́yamānaḥ)
being born, as he was born
Stanza 4.18.6
ए॒ता अ॑र्षन्त्यलला॒भव॑न्तीर्ऋ॒ताव॑रीरिव सं॒क्रोश॑मानाः | ए॒ता वि पृ॑च्छ॒ किमि॒दं भ॑नन्ति॒ कमापो॒ अद्रिं॑ परि॒धिं रु॑जन्ति ||
etā́ arṣanty alalābhávantīr r̥tā́varīr iva saṁkróśamānāḥ etā́ ví pr̥cha kím idám bhananti kám ā́po ádrim paridhíṁ rujanti
These waters flow, not failing, like the season-following ones, shouting together. Ask them what this is they say; what surrounding barrier do the waters break?
The stanza addresses the waters, describing them as flowing with lively motion and calling out like divine beings. The speaker is instructed to ask the waters what they are saying and what confining barrier they are breaking through.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. एता अर्षन्ति अललाभवन्तीर् etā́ḥ arṣanti alalābhávantīḥ (11 syllables)
- B. ऋतवरीरिव संक्रोश मानाः r̥tā́varīḥ iva saṃkróśamānāḥ (11 syllables)
- C. एता वि पृच्छ किं इदं भनन्ति etā́ḥ ví pr̥cha kím idám bhananti (11 syllables)
- D. कमा पो अद्रिं परिधिं रुजन्ति kám ā́paḥ ádrim paridhím rujanti (11 syllables)
एता (etā́ḥ)
these
अर्षन्ति (arṣanti)
they flow, they move
अललाभवन्तीर् (alalābhávantīḥ)
unhindered, unimpeded
ऋतवरीरिव (r̥tā́varīḥ)
following the cosmic order, orderly
संक्रोश (iva)
like, as if
मानाः (saṃkróśamānāḥ)
shouting together
एता (etā́ḥ)
these
वि (ví)
apart, asunder
पृच्छ (pr̥cha)
ask (imperative plural)
किं (kím)
what
इदं (idám)
this
भनन्ति (bhananti)
they speak, they say
कमा (kám)
what
पो (ā́paḥ)
waters
अद्रिं (ádrim)
rock, mountain
परिधिं (paridhím)
surrounding barrier, enclosure
रुजन्ति (rujanti)
they break
Stanza 4.18.7
किमु॑ ष्विदस्मै नि॒विदो॑ भन॒न्तेन्द्र॑स्याव॒द्यं दि॑धिषन्त॒ आपः॑ | ममै॒तान्पु॒त्रो म॑ह॒ता व॒धेन॑ वृ॒त्रं ज॑घ॒न्वाँ अ॑सृज॒द्वि सिन्धू॑न् ||
kím u ṣvid asmai nivído bhananténdrasyāvadyáṁ didhiṣanta ā́paḥ mámaitā́n putró mahatā́ vadhéna vr̥tráṁ jaghanvā́m̐ asr̥jad ví síndhūn
What are they saying to him? Do the waters wish to bear Indra's reproach? My son has slain Vritra with a great weapon and released the rivers.
This verse questions whether the divine beings are addressing Indra with welcoming words or if they are taking upon themselves the 'shame' or reproach associated with him. It then states that Indra, the son, has slain Vritra with a great thunderbolt and released the rivers, implying his heroic actions are the reason for any potential 'reproach' or admiration.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. किमु उ स्वि अस्मै निविदो भनन्ते kím u svit asmai nivídaḥ bhananta (11 syllables)
- B. इन्द्रस्या अवद्यं दिधिषन्त आपः índrasya avadyám didhiṣante ā́paḥ (11 syllables)
- C. मम एतान् पुत्रो महता वधेन máma etā́n putráḥ mahatā́ vadhéna (11 syllables)
- D. वृत्रं जघन्वां असृजद्वि सिन्धू न् vr̥trám jaghanvā́n asr̥jat ví síndhūn (11 syllables)
किमु (kím)
what
उ (u)
and, also
स्वि (svit)
indeed, truly
अस्मै (asmai)
to him
निविदो (nivídaḥ)
invocations, welcome words
भनन्ते (bhananta)
they speak, they say
इन्द्रस्या (índrasya)
of Indra
अवद्यं (avadyám)
reproach, blame, fault
दिधिषन्त (didhiṣante)
do they wish to bear, do they accept
आपः (ā́paḥ)
waters
मम (máma)
my
एतान् (etā́n)
these
पुत्रो (putráḥ)
son
महता (mahatā́)
great
वधेन (vadhéna)
with weapon, with thunderbolt
वृत्रं (vr̥trám)
Vritra (a demon)
जघन्वां (jaghanvā́n)
having slain, who slew
असृजद्वि (asr̥jat)
he released, he caused to flow
सिन्धू (ví)
apart, asunder
न् (síndhūn)
rivers, streams
Stanza 4.18.8
मम॑च्च॒न त्वा॑ युव॒तिः प॒रास॒ मम॑च्च॒न त्वा॑ कु॒षवा॑ ज॒गार॑ | मम॑च्चि॒दापः॒ शिश॑वे ममृड्यु॒र्मम॑च्चि॒दिन्द्रः॒ सह॒सोद॑तिष्ठत् ||
mámac caná tvā yuvatíḥ parā́sa mámac caná tvā kuṣávā jagā́ra mámac cid ā́paḥ śíśave mamr̥ḍyur mámac cid índraḥ sáhasód atiṣṭhat
My offspring, the youthful one, has cast you away. Kushava has swallowed you. The waters were gracious to the infant. Indeed, Indra, my son, has risen with strength.
This stanza is spoken from the perspective of a mother (or a primal entity) who rejects her child. She states that she casts him away, and that another figure, Kushava, has 'swallowed' him. She notes that the waters were gracious to him as an infant. Finally, she observes that Indra, her son, has risen with great power and vigor.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. ममच्चि न त्वा युवतिः परास mámat caná tvā yuvatíḥ parā́sa (11 syllables)
- B. ममच्चि न त्वा कुषवा जगार mámat caná tvā kuṣávā jagā́ra (11 syllables)
- C. ममच्चि दिन्द्रः आपः शिशवे ममृड्युः mámat cit ā́paḥ śíśave mamr̥ḍyuḥ (11 syllables)
- D. ममच्चि दिन्द्रः सहसो दतिष्ठत् mámat cit índraḥ sáhasā út atiṣṭhat (11 syllables)
ममच्चि (mámat)
my own
न (caná)
indeed, truly
त्वा (tvā)
you
युवतिः (yuvatíḥ)
youthful (female)
परास (parā́sa)
he cast away, he sent forth
ममच्चि (mámat)
my own
न (caná)
indeed, truly
त्वा (tvā)
you
कुषवा (kuṣávā)
Kushava (a name, possibly an entity)
जगार (jagā́ra)
he swallowed
ममच्चि (mámat)
my own
दिन्द्रः (cit)
indeed, certainly
आपः (ā́paḥ)
waters
शिशवे (śíśave)
to the infant
ममृड्युः (mamr̥ḍyuḥ)
may they have been gracious, they favored
ममच्चि (mámat)
my own
दिन्द्रः (cit)
indeed, certainly
सहसो (índraḥ)
Indra
दतिष्ठत् (sáhasā)
with strength, with force
(út)
up
(atiṣṭhat)
he stood up, he arose
Stanza 4.18.9
मम॑च्च॒न ते॑ मघव॒न्व्यं॑सो निविवि॒ध्वाँ अप॒ हनू॑ ज॒घान॑ | अधा॒ निवि॑द्ध॒ उत्त॑रो बभू॒वाञ्छिरो॑ दा॒सस्य॒ सं पि॑णग्व॒धेन॑ ||
mámac caná te maghavan vyàṁso nivividhvā́m̐ ápa hánū jaghā́na ádhā níviddha úttaro babhūvā́ñ chíro dāsásya sám piṇak vadhéna
Indeed, you are mine, O Maghavan, whom Vyansa, striking, shattered your jaws. Then, struck through, you became superior, and with the thunderbolt, you crushed the Dasa's head.
The speaker addresses Indra as 'Maghavan' (the wealthy one), declaring him to be 'theirs'. The stanza recounts an event where Vyansa struck Indra, shattering his jawbones. Despite this, Indra, having been struck, gained superiority. The verse concludes by stating that Indra then crushed the head of the Dasa (an enemy figure) with his thunderbolt.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. ममच्च न ते मघवन् व्यं mámat caná te maghavan vyàṃsaḥ (11 syllables)
- B. विविध्वां अप हनू जघान nivividhvā́n ápa hánū jaghā́na (11 syllables)
- C. निവിഡ് उत्तर बभूवान् ádha + níviddhaḥ úttaraḥ babhūvā́n (11 syllables)
- D. शिरो दासस्य संपि णग्व धेन śíraḥ dāsásya sám piṇak vadhéna (11 syllables)
ममच्च (mámat)
my own
न (caná)
indeed, truly
ते (te)
to you, your
मघवन् (maghavan)
O Maghavan (rich one, epithet of Indra)
व्यं (vyàṃsaḥ)
Vyansa (name of an antagonist)
विविध्वां (nivividhvā́n)
having pierced, having struck
अप (ápa)
away
हनू (hánū)
jawbones (dual)
जघान (jaghā́na)
he struck, he slew
(ádha +)
निവിഡ് (níviddhaḥ)
having been struck, pierced through
उत्तर (úttaraḥ)
superior, higher
बभूवान् (babhūvā́n)
he became
शिरो (śíraḥ)
head
दासस्य (dāsásya)
of the Dasa (enemy)
संपि (sám)
together, completely
णग्व (piṇak)
crush, shatter (imperative)
धेन (vadhéna)
with weapon, with thunderbolt
Stanza 4.18.10
गृ॒ष्टिः स॑सूव॒ स्थवि॑रं तवा॒गाम॑नाधृ॒ष्यं वृ॑ष॒भं तुम्र॒मिन्द्र॑म् | अरी॑ळ्हं व॒त्सं च॒रथा॑य मा॒ता स्व॒यं गा॒तुं त॒न्व॑ इ॒च्छमा॑नम् ||
gr̥ṣṭíḥ sasūva stháviraṁ tavāgā́m anādhr̥ṣyáṁ vr̥ṣabháṁ túmram índram árīḷhaṁ vatsáṁ caráthāya mātā́ svayáṁ gātúṁ tanvà ichámānam
The Heifer brought forth the strong, unassailable, powerful, fierce bull, Indra. The mother left her unlicked calf to find its own way, seeking a path for its body.
This verse describes the birth of a powerful being, identified as Indra, from a 'Heifer' (possibly a metaphor for the Earth or a divine mother). This offspring is described as strong, unassailable, virile, and fierce. The mother, having released him, leaves her 'unlicked calf' (the newly born Indra) to find his own way, seeking a path for himself.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. गृष्टिः ससूव स्थविरं तवागामं gr̥ṣṭíḥ sasūva stháviram tavāgā́m (11 syllables)
- B. अनाधृष्यं वृषभं तुम्रमिन्द्रं अरीळ्हं anādhr̥ṣyám vr̥ṣabhám túmram índram (11 syllables)
- C. वत्सँ चरथाय माता स्वयं árīḷham vatsám caráthāya mātā́ (11 syllables)
- D. गातुं तन्व इच्छमानं svayám gātúm tanvè ichámānam (11 syllables)
गृष्टिः (gr̥ṣṭíḥ)
heifer (often a metaphor for Earth or a divine mother)
ससूव (sasūva)
she brought forth, she bore
स्थविरं (stháviram)
strong, robust
तवागामं (tavāgā́m)
mighty, powerful
अनाधृष्यं (anādhr̥ṣyám)
unassailable, unconquerable
वृषभं (vr̥ṣabhám)
bull (symbol of strength and virility)
तुम्रमिन्द्रं (túmram)
fierce, angry, strong
अरीळ्हं (índram)
Indra
वत्सँ (árīḷham)
unlicked, unrefined (as a calf)
चरथाय (vatsám)
calf
माता (caráthāya)
for wandering, for moving
स्वयं (mātā́)
mother
गातुं (svayám)
himself, itself
तन्व (gātúm)
path, way, course
इच्छमानं (tanvè)
for the body, for the self
(ichámānam)
seeking, desiring
Stanza 4.18.11
उ॒त मा॒ता म॑हि॒षमन्व॑वेनद॒मी त्वा॑ जहति पुत्र दे॒वाः | अथा॑ब्रवीद्वृ॒त्रमिन्द्रो॑ हनि॒ष्यन्त्सखे॑ विष्णो वित॒रं वि क्र॑मस्व ||
utá mātā́ mahiṣám ánv avenad amī́ tvā jahati putra devā́ḥ áthābravīd vr̥trám índro haniṣyán sákhe viṣṇo vitaráṁ ví kramasva
Then the Mother turned to her mighty son: 'The gods are abandoning you, son.' Then Indra, about to slay Vritra, said, 'O friend Vishnu, stride widely.'
The mother turns to her powerful son, stating that the gods are abandoning him. In response, Indra, preparing to fight Vritra, addresses Vishnu as a friend. He asks Vishnu to take a wider stride, possibly indicating a need for Vishnu to expand his cosmic presence to assist in the impending battle.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. उत माता महिषमन्वे वेन दत् utá mātā́ mahiṣám ánu avenat (11 syllables)
- B. अमी त्वा जहति पुत्र देवाः amī́ tvā jahati putra devā́ḥ (11 syllables)
- C. अथा ब्रवीदि वृत्रमिन्द्रो हन िष्यन् átha abravīt vr̥trám índraḥ haniṣyán (11 syllables)
- D. सखे विष्णो वितरं विक्र मस्व sákhe viṣṇo vitarám ví kramasva (11 syllables)
उत (utá)
and, then
माता (mātā́)
mother
महिषमन्वे (mahiṣám)
mighty one, powerful son
वेन (ánu)
towards, after
दत् (avenat)
she turned, she addressed
अमी (amī́)
these
त्वा (tvā)
you
जहति (jahati)
they abandon, they leave
पुत्र (putra)
son
देवाः (devā́ḥ)
gods
अथा (átha)
then
ब्रवीदि (abravīt)
he spoke
वृत्रमिन्द्रो (vr̥trám)
Vritra (a demon)
हन (índraḥ)
Indra
िष्यन् (haniṣyán)
about to slay
सखे (sákhe)
O friend
विष्णो (viṣṇo)
O Vishnu
वितरं (vitarám)
more widely, further
विक्र (ví)
apart, asunder
मस्व (kramasva)
stride, step (imperative)
Stanza 4.18.12
कस्ते॑ मा॒तरं॑ वि॒धवा॑मचक्रच्छ॒युं कस्त्वाम॑जिघांस॒च्चर॑न्तम् | कस्ते॑ दे॒वो अधि॑ मार्डी॒क आ॑सी॒द्यत्प्राक्षि॑णाः पि॒तरं॑ पाद॒गृह्य॑ ||
kás te mātáraṁ vidhávām acakrac chayúṁ kás tvā́m ajighāṁsac cárantam kás te devó ádhi mārḍīká āsīd yát prā́kṣiṇāḥ pitáram pādagŕ̥hya
Who made your mother a widow? Who wished to harm you while you were lying down or moving? What god offered comfort when you seized your father by the foot and killed him?
The speaker asks who could have made their mother a widow and who wished to harm them while they were resting or moving. They then inquire which god offered comfort when they seized their father by the foot and killed him, suggesting a past act of violence or transgression.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. कस्ते दे विधवाम चक्रच्छ युं káḥ te mātáram vidhávām acakrat (11 syllables)
- B. कस्त्वाम कस्ते सत् चरन्त म śayúm káḥ tvā́m ajighāṃsat cárantam (11 syllables)
- C. कस्ते दे वो अधि मार्डीक आसी káḥ te deváḥ ádhi mārḍīké āsīt (11 syllables)
- D. द्यत् प्राक्षि णाः पितरं पादगृह्य yát prá ákṣiṇāḥ pitáram pādagŕ̥hya (11 syllables)
कस्ते (káḥ)
who
दे (te)
your
विधवाम (mātáram)
mother
चक्रच्छ (vidhávām)
widow
युं (acakrat)
he made
कस्त्वाम (śayúm)
lying down, resting
कस्ते (káḥ)
who
सत् (tvā́m)
you
चरन्त (ajighāṃsat)
he wished to kill, he attacked
म (cárantam)
moving, active
कस्ते (káḥ)
who
दे (te)
your
वो (deváḥ)
god
अधि (ádhi)
upon, concerning
मार्डीक (mārḍīké)
comfort, solace, protection
आसी (āsīt)
was
द्यत् (yát)
when
प्राक्षि (prá)
forth
णाः (ákṣiṇāḥ)
you struck, you killed
पितरं (pitáram)
father
पादगृह्य (pādagŕ̥hya)
seizing by the foot
Stanza 4.18.13
अव॑र्त्या॒ शुन॑ आ॒न्त्राणि॑ पेचे॒ न दे॒वेषु॑ विविदे मर्डि॒तार॑म् | अप॑श्यं जा॒यामम॑हीयमाना॒मधा॑ मे श्ये॒नो मध्वा ज॑भार ||
ávartyā śúna āntrā́ṇi pece ná devéṣu vivide marḍitā́ram ápaśyaṁ jāyā́m ámahīyamānām ádhā me śyenó mádhv ā́ jabhāra
In distress, I cooked a dog's intestines. I found no comforter among the gods. I saw my wife degraded. Then the falcon brought me the pleasant Soma.
The speaker describes a state of extreme distress where they resorted to cooking a dog's intestines, indicating dire need. They found no god to comfort them. They also saw their wife in a degraded or neglected state. In this difficult situation, a falcon brought them the pleasant Soma drink.
Meter: Tristubh
- A. अवर्त्या शुन आत्राणि पेचे ávartyā śúnaḥ āntrā́ṇi pece (11 syllables)
- B. न देवेषु विविदे मर् họa ná devéṣu vivide marḍitā́ram (11 syllables)
- C. अपश्यं जया महीयमाना ápaśyam jāyā́m ámahīyamānām (11 syllables)
- D. मे श्ये न आ जभार ádha + me śyenáḥ mádhu ā́ jabhāra (11 syllables)
अवर्त्या (ávartyā)
in distress, in hardship
शुन (śúnaḥ)
of a dog
आत्राणि (āntrā́ṇi)
intestines
पेचे (pece)
I cooked
न (ná)
not
देवेषु (devéṣu)
among the gods
विविदे (vivide)
I found
मर् họa (marḍitā́ram)
comforter, protector
अपश्यं (ápaśyam)
I saw
जया (jāyā́m)
wife
महीयमाना (ámahīyamānām)
degraded, dishonored, neglected
(ádha +)
मे (me)
to me
श्ये (śyenáḥ)
falcon
न (mádhu)
pleasant, sweet
आ (ā́)
towards
जभार (jabhāra)
he brought