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Rigveda – Mandala 1, Sukta – 49 to 51

5/16/2025

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 –
The Sukta 49 to 51 of Mandala 1 teaches about the value system and virtues. Whether women or married couples both should follow the virtuous values and appreciate these. All should keep the company of leaned & virtuous people. Highly educated people should marry with the righteous woman. All married couples should observe perfect chastity and faithfulness to each other without any default. King, head of the institution, commander, etc. all should be respected because of their virtues.
Men should get rid of all diseases and acquire strength by adopting necessary means, using fruits, herbs and ointments etc.

It is the duty of the President of the Assembly, the Commander of the army and other officers of the State to kill their enemies like the sun dispelling darkness, to protect the righteous, to tread upon the noble path, to bear infinite might and to increase their influence to put an end to their' foes. If the power remains in the hands of the righteous and noble persons, the happiness of all increases thereby, but on the other hand, if it is in the hands of the wicked, it causes suffering and misery to all.

Men should give up the bad habits of wicked ignoble people and cultivate noble disposition. Men should become righteous, dispelling all darkness of ignorance of the people, they should accept Dharma and renounce Adharma (unrighteousness). Learned persons should bring about the welfare of all beings. All men should associate themselves with learned persons and enjoy happiness and bliss in this world by adoring God and keeping company with the wise learned people with perfect love.

The hymn wise, purported explanations –

Mandala 1 – Sukta – 49

As the Dawn born from the horizon (association of the light of the sun with the earth) when turned into day, gladdens all manifesting all objects, in the same way, a woman endowed with Brahmacharya (continence) and Vidya (Knowledge) is to be admired.

Men should know that as by the light, things look beautiful, in the same way, by the association of learned auspicious virtuous wife, all domestic works are well accomplished and there is noble progeny.
As the Dawn divides the year into the moments, hours, days, months, seasons etc. in the same manner, a wife should divide her domestic duties regularly.
The learned persons should know and teach others that a woman behaving like the Dawn dispelling the darkness (of ignorance) is admirable.

Mandala 1 – Sukta – 50

As the rays bear the sun, highly educated persons should urge upon all learned men to marry educated and righteous women suitable or agreeable to themselves.

Just as the constellations and the moon live with breath and body in the night, so should married men and women live.
As the sun and the blazing fires, shine outside, in the same way, there is the light of God in the inner soul. All men should try to acquire this knowledge by all means. By His command, all married couples should observe perfect chastity and faithfulness to each other by renouncing all kinds of infidelity of un-chastity.
As the sun and the electricity illuminate external gross or embodied objects, God illuminates the whole world.
Because God is Omnipresent, the Inner Spirit pervading all and witness of all actions, He alone is worthy of adoration and communion.
None can attain true knowledge and purity without the adoration or worship of God (through communion) therefore He alone should be adored by all persons.
All men should know and believe that God who creates the sun and other objects of the world, is the proper giver of the fruits of the meritorious or sinful actions of all souls having seen them thoroughly and is the True and just Sovereign of all.
O men, you should know that at it is not possible to have the vision of the sun without his rays, so it is not possible to have thorough knowledge or Darshan (perfect realization) of God without the study of the Vedas.
God alone should be adored by all men, who is Self-effulgent like the sun, pervading all like the sky and purifier of His devotees.
Men should know that there is none who is equal to God, the Supreme Being and none can get emancipation without attaining Him.
As on the rising of the sun, darkness and thieves etc. disappear, in the same manner, when a good physician comes, all wrong way of diet or causes of ill-health and diseases go away.
Men should get rid of all diseases and acquire strength by adopting necessary means, using fruits, herbs and ointments etc.
Men should act like the omnipotent God or the cause of strength like the Prana (vital energy) or electricity. They should be friendly to all righteous persons and should preserve all subjects.

Mandala 1 – Sukta – 51

Men should honor that king only who, on account of his many virtues, is shining like the sun. Without such a mighty king, it is not possible for anyone to enjoy happiness.
All should take shelter in à virtuous person who is admired and advised by highly intelligent righteous people.
Unless and until the Commander of the army and other military officers become mighty like the sun, they cannot achieve victory over their enemies.
Men should know that it is God who has created the sun that attracts all the worlds, and causes rain and gives happiness to all by illuminating them. (The President of the Assembly should imitate God in discharging his duties and should be full of splendor and mighty like the sun.)
Only that president of the assembly or the Commander of the army commands respect of the people who with his truth and justice, gives good or bad fruit to the righteous and unrighteous persons respectively and thus protects the people.
It is the duty of the President of the Assembly, the Commander of the army and other officers of the State to kill their enemies like the sun dispelling darkness, to protect the righteous, to tread upon the noble path, to bear infinite might and to increase their influence to put an end to their' foes.
If the power remains in the hands of the righteous and noble persons, the happiness of all increases thereby, but on the other hand, if it is in the hands of the wicked, it causes suffering and misery to all. Therefore, it is the duty of all to help in the growth of happiness and strength of the righteous persons and diminution of the power of the wicked.
Men should give up the bad habits of wicked ignoble people and cultivate noble disposition. Those persons only can become Aryas who constantly endeavor to spread knowledge for the accomplishment of good or legitimate enjoyment of all articles and for the removal of un-righteousness and unrighteous persons. None can become a learned, righteous person of noble disposition without the company, study and teaching of the Aryas. Therefore, everyone should always perform good deeds, cultivate good habits and give up all ignoble acts and should thus enjoy happiness.
Men should become righteous, dispelling all darkness of ignorance of the people, They should accept Dharma and renounce Adharma (unrighteousness) after proper deliberation and should prompt others also to do the same. They should keep company with noble righteous persons and give up the association of the ignoble and thus should remain in good order of the society.
Without the help and guidance of the learned commander in-chief of the army, it is not possible to establish law and order on earth, the destruction of the power of the enemies, the manifestation and diffusion of knowledge and noble virtues and the acquisition of food materials and other articles.
Men should appoint only such a person as the President or Officer-in-charge of the Assembly etc. who is a highly learned poet, well-versed in all Shastras and destroyer of crookedness, fierce for the wicked but mild and kind towards the righteous persons, increaser of the strength of the State.
None can enjoy happiness without the use of aero planes and other vehicles and the association with the learned persons. Therefore, one should enjoy bliss by organizing the conferences of highly learned persons and by the knowledge and application of physics and other sciences.
Learned persons should bring about the welfare of all beings by giving instructions about fire, electricity and other scientific and technical subjects.
As it is with the help of the light of the sun that many works are accomplished, the same way, with the guidance given by the learned and with the proper combination of fire, water etc. that men can acquire wealth by making various kinds of vehicles and using them.
All men should associate themselves with learned persons and enjoy happiness and bliss in this world by adoring God and keeping company with the wise learned people with perfect love.

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