Rig Veda

Essential Quotes

“Let me now sing the heroic deeds of Indra, the first that the thunderbolt-wielder performed. He killed the dragon and pierced an opening for the waters; he split open the bellies of mountains.”

“Would that I might reach his dear place of refuge, where men who love the gods rejoice. For there one draws close to the wide-striding Vishnu; there, in his highest footstep, is the fountain of honey.”

“Let this racehorse bring us good cattle and good horses, male children and all-nourishing wealth. Let Aditi make us free from sin. Let the horse with our offerings achieve sovereign power for us.”

“This altar is the farthest end of the earth; this sacrifice is the navel of the universe. This Soma is the semen of the stallion bursting with seed; this Brahmin priest is the final abode of Speech.”

“Whoever has spoken against me with false words when I was acting with a pure heart, O Indra let him become nothing even as he talks about nothing, like water grasped in one’s fist.”

“His mouth became the Brahmin; his arms were made into the Warrior, his thighs the People, and from his feet the Servants were born.”