The Rig Veda: An Anthology

Indra, the king of the gods in the Vedic period, is known for his heroic deeds and fondness for the sacred drink Soma. He is primarily a warrior god in the Rig Veda, though in later Hindu tradition, he will become a storm god, and the mace, the lightning bolt. Many Rig Veda hymns allude to Indra’s feats, such as freeing the cows from Vala’s cave, luring Agni out of the waters, and killing the demon Vrtra. This chapter contains eight hymns centering on important episodes in Indra’s career, demonstrating the popular veneration he enjoyed in the Vedic period.

Hymn 4.18 recounts the birth and childhood deeds of Indra. Its form is a dialogue between Indra and his unnamed mother (elsewhere identified as Aditi), interspersed with the poet’s narration of events. The narrative sequence is not chronological: during Indra’s birth, the narrator presents the heroic deeds he will perform later as having already occurred. This telescoping of past, present, and future events into a single eternal present is characteristic of the Rig Veda.

Indra’s mother carries her son in the womb for a thousand months, presumably to protect him from the enmity of his father. Indra, impelled by a sense of his heroic destiny, tells his mother that he can’t be born normally but will force his way out through her side. Emerging from his mother’s body, Indra’s mighty form fills the sky and earth. His mother hears the waters that Indra will release singing on the mountain where he kills Vrtra. Indra’s mother recalls her son’s triumph over Vrtra and alludes to the mighty god’s flaw, which may be the sin he incurs by killing the demon. After his birth, Indra’s mother abandons him, telling her son that the gods are deserting him. Indra asks Vishnu to help him kill Vrtra, and the poet asks who aided Indra when he crushed his father. Denouncing the gods, Indra recalls how the eagle brought Soma to him, presumably because his father’s death allowed him access to the sacred drink.

“Indra Chastises his Son” (10.28) expresses anxiety about properly performing a sacrifice to attract the gods. Indra’s son tries to coax the god to attend a sacrifice in his honor, offering his father Soma and cooked bulls. But Indra is angry because his son tries to rival his father’s might and status. The two exchange boasts: Indra warns his son about the destructive consequences of greed and poor judgment, while his son takes credit for Indra’s great deeds, mimicking his father’s braggadocio. As Indra’s admonishment about rivaling the gods becomes increasingly severe, his son relents and praises his father’s glory and heroic status.

“The Killing of Vrtra” (1.32) recounts Indra’s first and greatest heroic deed, the slaying of the dragon Vrtra and the freeing of the waters held captive by the demon. Fortified with copious amounts of Soma, Indra hurls his thunderbolt, overcoming the dragon’s magic with his own. After dismembering Vrtra, Indra brings forth the sun, sky, and dawn from the demon’s body, and the waters pour forth from the shattered mountain for the benefit of mankind. Indra kills Vrtra’s mother, Danu, and flees the unnamed avenger of the dragon. The hymn concludes by praising Indra as the king of the living, who, as a powerful bull bursting with seed, won the cows, won Soma, and released the seven streams of water.

Another of Indra’s great deeds, the freeing of the cows, is the subject of Hymn 3.31. After an obscure allusion to Agni that may relate to the kindling of the sacrificial fire, the poem describes Indra killing Susna, the demon of drought. First, the Angiras priests surround Indra and honor him with a sacrifice—their gift of Soma gives Indra strength and inspiration to perform the feat. Finding his way into the mountain with the help of his dog Sarama, Indra “with songs released the rosy cows together with their offspring and oblations” (153). The poet then recounts Indra’s other deeds—the killing of Vrtra; the creation of the sun, dawn, and fire; and the freeing of the waters—all tokens of the god’s martial and poetic powers. Invoking Indra as protector and giver of abundance, the poet declares he has renewed an ancient song of praise for the great and generous god.

The freeing of the cows is the subject of another hymn, “Sarama and the Panis” (10.108). The poem is a dialogue between Sarama, Indra’s hound, and the Panis, sky-dwelling demons who have imprisoned the cows in mountain caves. The Angiras poet-priests have joined with Indra, Soma, and Agni to retrieve the cattle. They send Sarama to track the cows beyond the river Rasa, which separates the earth and sky; there the Panis try to bribe Sarama by offering to share the cows with her. Samara refuses to betray her master and warns the Panis to flee—otherwise Indra, Soma, and the inspired sages will destroy the demons when they arrive to claim the cows.

Two additional hymns praise the glorious deeds of Indra and his generosity toward his worshippers. In 8.14, the poet declares that if he were like Indra, he would bless his devotees with cows and horses: “For the one who sacrifices and presses Soma your opulence is a cow milked of the cattle and horses with which she swells to overflowing” (159). The hymn proceeds with a litany of Indra’s feats, paying homage to the god to win his favor. When Indra, ecstatic with Soma, shattered Vala for imprisoning the cattle of the Angirases, he also created the skies. Indra expelled the Dasysus, demons who had climbed up to heaven. Indra destroys those who do not press Soma in his honor, but the praise of those who worship him makes him reward their offerings with abundance. Hymn 2.12 is a series of responses to unspoken questions about Indra. The poet declares the god’s generosity, immense power, and wisdom, each verse concluding with the refrain “he, my people, is Indra” (160-161). Indra displayed insight the moment he was born; he ordered the cosmos and propped up the sky; and he encourages the sick and weary. He destroyed the demonic enemies of the gods and men and invented fire; he defeats all enemies and is the one to whom warring armies turn for aid; he strikes down the unjust and impious; and he is the awesome wielder of the thunderbolt and drinker of sacrificial Soma.