The Rig Veda: An Anthology

Indra, the king of the gods in the Vedic period, is known for his heroic deeds and fondness for the sacred drink Soma. He is primarily a warrior god in the Rig Veda, though in later Hindu tradition, he will become a storm god, and the mace, the lightning bolt. Many Rig Veda hymns allude to Indra’s feats, such as freeing the cows from Vala’s cave, luring Agni out of the waters, and killing the demon Vrtra. This chapter contains eight hymns centering on important episodes in Indra’s career, demonstrating the popular veneration he enjoyed in the Vedic period.

Hymn 4.18 recounts the birth and childhood deeds of Indra. Its form is a dialogue between Indra and his unnamed mother (elsewhere identified as Aditi), interspersed with the poet’s narration of events. The narrative sequence is not chronological: during Indra’s birth, the narrator presents the heroic deeds he will perform later as having already occurred. This telescoping of past, present, and future events into a single eternal present is characteristic of the Rig Veda.

Indra’s mother carries her son in the womb for a thousand months, presumably to protect him from the enmity of his father.