Hymn 10.123 of Rigveda!
Translated by Kant!

!

Wendy Doniger (in her book The Rig Veda, Penguin, 2000), calls this hymn “a strange and!
mystical hymn to a sage or God named Vena.” Jamison & Brereton (Rigveda, Oxford Univ.
Press, 2014) state “A famous and mystical hymn, whose opacity still defies complete
comprehension..”!

!

As my translation shows, this hymn is neither strange nor mystical. Vena is neither a sage
nor a God. And thanks to my translation the hymn is no longer secret and opaque.!
Vena is the newly born son of an unnamed (possibly Bhargava) king. The male heir to the
throne is born. A large celebration is organised. The palace is lit up with lamps. Sages
have been invited to compose and sing a eulogy to and bless the child.!

!

The sages sing: !

!

1. This Vena, born of Prsni’s womb,!
cherished with lamps, in his stately chariot.!
Here, where the waters meet the Sun,!
the sages recite this hymn for the child.!

!

2. Like how the rising Sun
appears!
over the sea in the far
horizon,!
so appears the delightful
newborn’s backside.!

!

May he acquire infinite
greatness,!
just as a young woman
acquires a loving husband.!

!!

!

!

3. Like how a newly purchased cow

is branded,!

the mother has placed a black mark

on the new born.!

!

May he be blessed, this circle of men

chants,!

with honey sweet, elixir like voice.!

!!

4. Knowing he will have a generous

nature,!

the sages will go along the paths,!
declaring his greatness.!
Duly arriving on the Sindhu,!
we will spread his name amongst the

Gandharvas,!

so firmly that it can’t be obliterated.!

!

5. The Apsaras go roaming high quickly with

the chariot,!

the women, they take him to the highest

heaven.!

Wandering about, the women make Vena

ride!

on their golden wings.!

!!

6. In the firmament, with their strong wings,!
they fly high so that Vena’s glory can be

seen widely.!

Even the golden winged emissary of Varuna,!
and the Griffon, the follower of Yama,!
have become perturbed.!

!!

7. In the high region of the Gandharvas,!
in the skies controlled by them,!
they establish him firmly, in the unfriendly skies,!
amongst the uncouth, the dasyus, the enemies.!

!

Like how a sweet smell spreads,!
we will go about displaying his name,!
so as to spread it amongst the tribe,!
so that they all come to know of it,!

!!

8. with his banner, marked with his name stamp,!
holding it firmly, and high,!
so that it can be seen by all citizens.!

!

The prince, is brilliant as Venus.!
A chariot’s wheel goes about scattering sparks all over,!
likewise, may his fame spread everywhere.!

!

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