Rigveda – Mandala 1, Sukta – 52 & 53

 
We shall discuss the hymns, Sukta wise & Mandala wise. Our focus is on the implicit meaning of the various hymns instead of literal translations of the hymns. These purported meanings are based primarily on the English translations by Swami Dharmanand Saraswati of the works done by Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
 
Highlights –
It is the duty of men to behave like the sun for dispelling the darkness of ignorance and spread happiness and peace. The President of the Assembly should be humble, meek and unassuming. The assembly should possess all noble virtues and should distribute wealth among the deserving and needy persons.
The learned and righteous person who acquires the wealth of knowledge, kingdom, vigour, strength and the co-operation of men, enjoys good happiness. Those learned persons ever enjoy happiness who worship one God only.
 
God is the Dispenser of justice giving the fruits of the good or bad actions done by the souls.
 
A man cannot fulfil his desires without the Grace of God and the association with absolutely truthful learned persons.
 
The hymn wise, purported explanations –
 
Mandala 1 – Sukta – 52
Just as human beings drive chariots etc. by harnessing horses, in the same way, tasks should be accomplished by driving vehicles with fire et cetera.

1. The man who like the sun, maintains his army properly and like the cloud producing grain by raining, increases the strength of soldiers, standing firm like the mountain, in his joyful state, having slayed his enemies, can develop the State thoroughly.
2. Men should elect only such a person as President of the Assembly as nourishes the people like the cloud and rains happiness like the sun.
3. As rivers become established by reaching the ocean or the firmament, all subjects become established in happiness by approaching the learned President with his assembly.
4. As the waters go towards a low place, in the same way, the President of the Assembly should be humble, meek and unassuming.
5. It is the duty of men to behave like the sun (for dispelling the darkness of ignorance) and like the cloud by raining down happiness and peace and manifest the rain of knowledge and justice.
6. As the water becomes pure and secure going to a lower level, in the same manner, the workers of the State become firmly established and purifiers of all, having approached a virtuous and humble person.
7. As the sun upholds all worlds with his power and attraction draws the water up and having rained it produces divine happiness, in the same manner, the assembly should possess all noble virtues, attract prosperity from all sides and having distributed wealth among the deserving and needy persons, should manifest bliss among the people.
8. The learned and righteous person who acquires the wealth of knowledge, kingdom, vigour, strength and the co-operation of men, enjoys good happiness.
9. The Commander of the Army and others should behave towards their enemies like the rays of the sun and the cloud, tearing them off.

1. The officers and workers of the State should also put forth their united efforts to increase happiness and virtues.
2. God is perfectly free from all misery, the most exalted Supreme Being who creates all worlds by His power and pervades them. He is the Dispenser of justice giving the fruits of the good or bad actions done by the souls, thus keeping law and order in the Universe. The President of the Assembly or King also should follow Him (God) and give happiness to all.
3. We should adore God only knowing that He is the Creator and measurer of this world, Omnipresent Illuminator of Truth and therefore there is none, has never been and will never be like or equal to Him.
4. As none can reach the end of any attribute of God, as God punishes the wicked by giving them suffering or as the sun cuts into pieces the cloud like a fighter, so should all righteous persons be. (They should be virtuous and just).
5. Those learned persons ever enjoy happiness who worship one God only, and having acquired knowledge and conquered their enemies, gladden their subjects.

 
Mandala 1 – Sukta – 53
 

1. As sleeping men take rest, in the same way, having ever accepted refined speech with education and culture and having done noble deeds and giving up indolence, men should endeavour to have the light of true praise of all articles.
2. There is none giver of all happiness and requisite articles except a righteous and learned person who becomes pure and benevolent in his nature like God. But only those who are friendly to all and have acquired good education can enjoy this happiness and none else.
3. A man cannot fulfil his desires without the Grace of God and the association with absolutely truthful learned persons like the President of the Assembly and others. Therefore, men should adore God and associate with the learned wise men so that they may be able to accomplish their noble desires.
4. The President of the Assembly or the commander of the army who gives us happiness by dispelling all ignorance and poverty, by conquering enemies and by educating all should be approached by all. No one can enjoy worldly happiness without his help. Therefore, all should begin the performance of all righteous acts and the enjoyment of all legitimate happiness.
5. None can accomplish all objects without the help of the learned persons. None can defeat enemies without the powerful, healthy and educated army consisting of righteous and brave persons and endowed with requisite implements and parts. Therefore, a King must possess such a strong army.
6. All men should enjoy bliss by associating themselves with the righteous noble persons and by adopting all legitimate means for the purpose. The Mantra is also equally applicable to the Acharya or Preceptor of an educational institution like the Gurukul whose duty it is, to remove all obstacles to the progress of his pupils and make them happy and healthy. It is the duty of the taught to obey their teachers and to delight them with their proper conduct and character.
7. Men should make many friends, should with their help drive away wicked foes, should destroy the bands and cities of the enemies, should cast into prison all unjust persons and by ruling over very vast righteous Government should attain prosperity.
8. The officers of the State should destroy their enemies and protect the substances and beings in order to honour highly learned, benevolent righteous guests and thus administer the State lawfully and righteously. The dogs should be trained properly and utilized for watch as other animals cannot protect their masters like them, they being most faithful.
9. An emperor should rule over the vast country righteously pleasing all sub-ordinate kings, their servants, house-holders or recluses, protecting all those who approach him for shelter. The officers of the State should duly protect and punish all according to their good or bad deeds.
10. It is the duty of the officers of the State to drive away all enemies and to keep all happy by protecting them well. They should always have at heart the progress and prosperity of the State. The Acharya or Principal of the educational institution should educate all and should make them well-versed in the use of various weapons, so that they may protect the people.

1. All men should enjoy fully mature life or ripe old age (of at least a hundred years) being friendly to one another and making all men and women educated, having control over their senses and urging upon others to do the same.