Rigveda – Mandala 1, Sukta – 64 to 66

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 –
Sun and winds are important for life as well as death; happiness and sorrow. Knowledge of both is necessary for material prosperity as well as spiritual progress. For spiritual and secular happiness, company of the learned people and the knowledge of the science of the air and other elements are required. Knowledge of Prana Vidya and vital energy is essential for spiritual progress. Likewise, scientific knowledge of properties of energy and air is essential for material prosperity. God can be attained with this knowledge and then enjoy perfect bliss.
Those people are always happy and long-lived who know well the means of Brahmacharya (perfect purity and self-control) and use them for the accomplishment of their works, who possess and utilises properly all necessary articles for suitable and regular diet and walk etc.
 
The hymn wise, purported explanations –
 
Mandala 1 – Sukta – 64

1. Men should know that whatever is the movement, force, knowledge, exertion, speech, hearing, growth, decay, hunger and thirst, it is all caused by the air. They should rightly preach the science of air to others.
2. As there are mighty lions, elephants and oxen in the creation of God, so are these powerful winds. As the rays of the sun purify, so do winds also. Without the sun and the winds, it is not possible to have health or disease, birth and death etc. Therefore, men should know thoroughly the attributes of both of them (the sun and winds) and should utilise them properly in their works.
3. Just as clouds are the basis of water, mountains are the basis of medicines etc., similarly, it should be understood that winds are the source of their union and separation, the basis of all, the cause of happiness and sorrow, and are always devoid of touch. Without these, the particles from the group of water and fire would not be able to move and stay on the earth.
4. Men should know the attributes of the Maruts (winds and brave soldiers mighty like them) and should enjoy pure happiness.

1. O men, God teaches you about the attributes of the Maruts (winds). These airs or winds make all people happy by generating lightning, by raining down water, by sprinkling earth and herbs etc. You should know all this well.
2. As there is the oblation of the Ghee or clarified butter in the Yajnas, as there is the well for watering the field and animals, as there is the horse for semination the mare, in the same manner, when the airs or winds are utilised with scientific knowledge, they accomplish all acts.
3. Men cannot make any movement, eating, riding etc. without the winds. Therefore, these winds should be properly utilised in aeroplanes, boats and steamers etc. and with the combination of fire and water quick moving vehicles should be constructed.
4. One should know that all strength, force, life, hearing and other faculties are mostly dependent upon the winds.
5. Men should know that it is the winds that are the supporters of all embodied things and means of strength, bravery, art, knowledge and other works.
6. Men cannot attain spiritual and secular happiness without the learned people and the knowledge of the science of the air and other elements.
7. Men should know well the attributes of the winds which produce rain etc. and should utilise them properly.
8. Men should know that no movement is possible without air, therefore they should master the science of air and accomplish all their works utilising the wind properly.
9. Those men who know the Prana Vidya or the science of Vital Energy, become mighty and respectable. They get over their foes and all misery and possessing elephants, horses, men, wealth and intellect they ever grow harmoniously.
10. Other men also should try to acquire the knowledge of the winds or the science of airs as learned scientists do.
11. As a virtuous extra-ordinarily wise man endowed with wisdom and labour, acquires from the winds and other elements many kinds of happiness after accomplishing many works, in the same manner, you should also acquire the knowledge of this science of air and enjoy happiness.

Mandala 1 – Sukta – 65

1. As men catch hold of a thief seeing his foot-marks etc. and take from him the animals and other things stolen by him, in the same manner, attain God who is within the soul as True Preceptor, the Support of all and who can be attained with knowledge and then enjoy perfect bliss.
2. Same
3. As by the light of the sun, all objects become visible, by the association of the learned, God is realised when a man acquires the Vedic knowledge and observes rules of Dharma (righteousness). Electricity and other substances also can be known well in this way with all their attributes and actions.
4. Same
5. There are few in the world who are eager to know and attain God and also utilise electricity properly after or along with that great Knowledge. As the best growth of body, mind and soul enables a man to get kingdom, rain to get good water, and as good horse and ocean are givers of much happiness, in the same manner, God and electricity lead to much delight and bliss, but a great, scholar possessing the correct knowledge of these two is rare.
6. Same
7. When men use the fire excited by the wind in the works of transportation and driving various vehicles and engines etc. it can accomplish many works. This is what men should know well.
8. same
9. As it is not possible for anyone to accomplish various objects without the use of fire in the form of electricity, it should therefore, be used properly after knowing its science thoroughly.
10. same

Mandala 1 – Sukta – 66

1. God alone is to be always adored who has created for the welfare of all beings the [fire] for the possesses many attributes and is very useful.
2. Same
3. Those people are always happy and long-lived who know well the means of Brahmacharya (perfect purity and self-control) and use them for the accomplishment of their works, who possess and utilises properly all necessary articles for suitable and regular diet and walk etc.
4. Same
5. That man can attain the prosperity of a State who is steadfast and firm like the harmony of knowledge and action, who is the cause of all happiness like an agreeable wife, who Is resplendent or bright like the sun, who is wonderful leader of the path of emancipation and who is conqueror in all battles like a brave hero.
6. Same
7. Men should know that a good commander of an army destroys all miseries as a well-trained army conquers the enemies and as the knowers of the science of archery destroy their adversaries by throwing upon them powerful arms.
8. Same
9. Those who thus adore God, enjoy happiness as cows go to their stall and rays to the sun. As a man can accomplish many works by going to the sea, in the same manner, men should get their desire fulfilled by having communion with Omnipresent God and by having correct knowledge of the science of electricity.
10. Same