Rigveda – Mandala 1, Sukta – 34

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 –
This Sukta highlights the importance of various machines driven in the combination of water, air, fire and other elements. For travelling distant places, prosperity and happiness such vehicles are necessary.
The hymn wise, purported explanations –
 
Mandala 1 – Sukta – 34
 

1. Men should use various machines in proper order and coordination like the day and the night. We should manufacture vehicles which may travel on earth, in oceans and the sky by making various machines, pegs and wedges etc. and moving them with the combination of the water, air and other elements. Without this science, it is not possible for anyone to eradicate poverty and attain prosperity.
2. Those persons who desire to travel on the earth, the ocean and the firmament, should construct aero planes and other vehicles with three sets of wheels and supports. Sitting in such cars, they can travel by the route of the earth, the ocean and the firmament thrice in a day and a night. The pillars or supports should be of such a nature that all parts of the machines and the parts of the pillars made of wood and iron may have their proper place. These cars or vehicles should be moved None can travel on with the proper use of the fire and water. the earth, the ocean and the middle regions, without such vehicles. Therefore, special efforts should be made for the construction of such cars.
3. Learned artisans and conductors of vehicles with machines should manufacture various conveyances artistically for the happiness and pleasure of the body, mind and soul. They should earn money and make all beings happy, so that everyone may learn this science and make progress in it day and night industriously, giving up indolence and endeavor to preserve it with zeal.
4. It is the duty of the persons well-versed in various arts, to make those intelligent men who desire to acquire the knowledge of these arts, to give proper theoretical and practical training and thereby enable them to accomplish many works by acquiring the knowledge of these arts, with dexterity and Labor.
5. Men should always enjoy happiness by accomplishing the works of arts with the help of the ashvinau (fire and water), ´ developing their intellects, food and prosperity and travelling to distant places in the vehicles manufactured by expert artisans.
6. Men should take for health, medicines which are in the water or on the earth, which destroy diseases. They should manufacture conveyances like the home of iron, copper and brass etc. store their barley and other corns, should burn fire, place water and by their combination should make them to move fast, going to distant places for business and work and coming back soon. In this way, they can enjoy much happiness.
7. Those who desire worldly happiness, should construct vehicles with parts of the earth and other elements and mechanical devices and by the proper use and combination of the water and fire should go soon to distant countries, as the soul soon goes to another body by the path of the firmament after death. None can enjoy worldly happiness without this act.
8. Men should know that it is on account of the disintegrating, gravitative and rain-producing properties of the air and the sun, that the rivers flow. The oblation that is put in the fire, removes all bad smell and other impurities and causes happiness to all which is free from all misery and beneficial so that happiness and health grow day by day. Without it, none can live happily. Therefore, men should perform this Yajna everyday with the object of purifying the air and water.
9. The persons who long for prosperity should fasten three things or have three seats in the beginning, middle and end of the vehicles. (1) A seat for men. (2) Second place for keeping the fire. (3) Third place for keeping water. Whenever there is desire to go out on tour, fuel etc. should be properly put to feed the fire, which should be burnt with the aid of the air produced by machines and with the force of the steam. In this way, men can go to distant places as if they are close by. Without such conveyances or chariots (aero plane being one of them) no one can travel to distant places safely.
10. When fire and water are put in proper proportion and duly combined in the vehicles, they take us soon to distant places. There should be such a place for the exit of the steam, that the speed may be accelerated. He can enjoy happiness well who knows this science.
11. When men travel in nice vehicles, they can comfortably go to the other end of the great ocean in three days and nights and go round the world in eleven days and nights. Doing this, attaining full age, casting aside all their miseries, conquering their enemies, they are entitled to enjoy the happiness of vast government.

No one can traverse by the paths of the earth, water and firmament without the car or vehicle prepared and yoked by expert learned artisans. Therefore, men should attain prosperity of good Government, good army and brave persons and should get victory in battles using such wonderful vehicles. So men should pay attention to this important matter also.