Rigveda – Mandala 1, Sukta – 17 to 20

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 -
Swami Dayananda Saraswati has refuted the claims of Sayanacharya, Prof. Wilson and Griffith that Indra and Varuna are mythological Gods dwelling in heaven. Indra and Varuna are attributes of the almighty in the form of Agni (fire, energy, light, electricity etc.) and water respectively. He explained that the stories that are sometimes found in the Vedas are symbolical.
 
The Vedic hymns are symbolic and it stresses on righteousness, company of meritorious persons, yajna, yoga & meditation. Such persons get intellect, happiness and progress. Those wise persons who with their scientific knowledge and with their words, make subtle the attributes of movement and maintenance and for the attainment of prosperity, perform various Yajnas in the form of industrious works, enjoy happiness and prosper.
 
These mandalas explains that men should give up laziness, perform good deeds, and have association with learned persons, so that ignorance and poverty may be rooted out. When the men use the fire, electricity, air and water in machines in methodical manner, the machines of conveyance are formed which gives abundant happiness. One should learn the properties of the air, electricity, sun, Soma etc. to acquire happiness.
Further, the doctrine of Re-birth is enunciated. Whatever kinds of actions are performed by men, they get the same kinds of birth and enjoyment in the next.
         
The hymn wise, purported explanations –
 
Mandala 1 – Sukta – 17

1. We should be like the shining sun and moon which are benefactors of the world causing happiness to us in all worldly activities and are protectors like a vast empire.
2. When men use the fire and water in machines, in a methodical proper manner, they become the means of the speedy motion of the conveyances (like the Railways) and by carrying men and articles, become the sources of happiness to all.
3. Men should know the properties of fire and water (Indra & Varuna) which when utilized properly lead to much happiness.
4. Men should give up laziness, perform good deeds, and have association with learned persons, so that ignorance and poverty may be rooted out.
5. Among all the objects like the earth etc. which are the means of the gift of food and other things, fire, electricity and sun (which are all denoted by the common term Indra) are very prominent. Similarly, the water, air and moon (all denoted by the common term Varuna) are praiseworthy on account of their attributes. If they are used in actions with knowledge, they accomplish various purposes. This should be known to all.
6. Men should acquire much wealth by the proper use of fire, water, air, electricity etc. and by saving and increasing it, should spend it properly to bring about the welfare of all in the State.
7. Those persons who properly utilize Indra and Varuna (fire and water etc.) in their works, having acquired manifold wealth and victory, enjoyed happiness and made others also happy.
8. I invoke or utilize Indra and Varuna (air and water) which quickly bestow happiness upon us, for the accomplishment of various works.
9. Men should know exactly the properties or attributes of every object with deliberation and then should derive benefit from them.

 
Mandala 1 – Sukta – 18

1. Only a person who is born of light of knowledge can be a teacher well-versed in the science of arts.
2. May God Who is the Lord of infinite wealth of knowledge etc. Who is the Destroyer of all diseases like ignorance and physical maladies, who increases the power of body and soul, who know all things. Who promptly giveth happiness, endow us with the wealth of wisdom and of other kinds.
3. None should ever keep company with a wicked person, nor should one resort to violence unjustly, but all should protect all with justice.
4. Those persons who accomplish their work having learnt the properties of the air, electricity, sun, Soma and other creepers do not lose happiness. There is no end to their happiness.
5. Those persons who keeping themselves away from sin, desire to increase their happiness, should meditate upon God and properly use air, the medicinal juice and noble virtues that lead to progress.
6. Those persons only enjoy happiness who meditate upon God the Omnipotent Lord of all and giver of all Bliss and who associate with the President of the assembly, a man of the best merits and temperament. They get intellect which is full of e knowledge of all Shastras and their practical shape. Having become industrious and learned, they become delighted.
7. God who is Omnipotent and Omniscient and without whom this world can never be accomplished, pervades and knows the association of intellects and actions.
8. Omniscient Lord performs this Yajna in the form of the universe, where external sacrifices are performed and which is attained by all, being visible. He makes all the articles of the sacrifice which are put in the fire-oblations. He promotes the course of this wonderful sacrifice (in the form of the world) and is attained by the persons possessing Divine (noble) virtues.
9. As an ordinary man sees the light of the sun pervading on all sides, in the same manner, he attains grand happiness and joy by seeing omnipresent God who possesses the light of knowledge on all sides.

 
Mandala 1 – Sukta – 19

1. This physical fire, which ignites with the famous Sun and electrical form winds, should be preached or listened to by the laudable intellect of scholars with special knowledge of virtues for the accomplishment of every action or for the protection of all.

1. God's glory is infinite. No one can attain its end. But one can know it according to one's intellect and knowledge in the State of deep concentration and the practice of Pranayama etc. Men know it only to the extent that the glory is manifest in nature and told in the Vedas. It is not possible to know it perfectly.
2. The enlightened persons only, devoid of malignity who know the great worlds along with fire and airs, enjoy happiness. O Self-effulgent God, you are realised with the help of the Maruts (Pranas).
3. Those airs which are having quality of high speed, do not get stopped by anyone and are present with a group of powers etc. and illuminate the Sun world etc. by their qualities. By these winds electricity and this fire gets obtained well from every direction and is helpful in accomplishment of the tasks.
4. Airs when purified through the Yajna destroy all diseases and when they are impure, destroy all happiness. Therefore, men should enjoy happiness and health by purifying the air with the help of the lire (of the Yajna).
5. The worlds like the earth and moon depend upon or are illuminated by the brilliant sun. The fire leads to much happiness with the help of the airs.
6. It is with the combination of the air that it rains and water and particles go up and then come down. It is on account of them, that electricity is produced and used for various purposes.
7. With the association of the gases, all articles grow and become full of force. Therefore, men should accomplish various purposes with the combination of the fire and air.
8. Men should accomplish their various works through the combination of the air, fire, water etc. as learned scientists do.

 
Mandala 1 – Sukta – 20

1. In this Mantra, the doctrine of Re-birth is enunciated. Whatever kinds of actions are performed by men, they get the same kinds of birth and enjoyment in the next.
2. Those wise persons who with their scientific knowledge and with their words, make subtle the attributes of movement and maintenance and for the attainment of prosperity, perform various Yajnas in the form of industrious works, enjoy happiness and prosper.
3. Those persons who read the Vedas with the Upavedas and with the scientific and other technical knowledge thus acquired about the properties of the fire, water, air etc. apply it in the Vehicles fitted with various machines construct aero planes and the like, never suffer from poverty and misery.
4. Ribhus (wise scientists and artisans) who are endowed with righteousness (or are honest), whose ideas are perfectly true, apply the fire and water which protect body and soul and which have the property of uniting and dissecting, for the accomplishment of works again and again.
5. When learned persons acquiring the knowledge of the air and electricity make Agneya and other weapon, and conveyances with the rays of the sun, they get victory over their enemies and enjoy happiness.
6. When learned persons see with their own eyes the pleasing and new accomplished work of an artist scholar which confers happiness on all, they make it again fourfold by accomplishing works of art made with the earth, water, fire and air.
7. All men should discharge the duties of the Ashramas (Stages of life) namely Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa along with the respect for the wise, association with noble persons and charity to the needy and deserving. All this should be done with body, speech and mind. Those who thus discharge their duties, make others happy with their association and teachings by giving them wisdom and wealth. But these actions should be completed one by one and then others should be taken up with peace and labour.

1. Those wise men who are performers of noble deeds, by their pious and holy acts, dwelling among the enlightened persons perform all sacrificial functions and thus enjoy abiding joy and bliss.