Hymn to Sindhu

HYMN TO SINDHU
(The Mother of Rivers)
(Rigveda: X. 75)

1. O Waters, the Poet-Creator proclaims your supreme greatness in the House of the Sun.

The Waters move out in seven streams in each of three channels. Sindhu surpasses all hastening streams in her stupendous urge.

2. God Varuna dug out the path for your going when, O Sindhu, you rush to meet the Plenitudes.

You surge over the fields and up along the plateaus when you move in front of these moving streams as their Master and ruler.

3. To the Heaven the echo perseveres. And on the Earth the Sindhu, by her lustre impels upward the sweep of Infinity.

It is as though from the clouds pour out floods of rain. Indeed as she flows down, the Sindhu comes roaring like a mighty bull.

4. Towards you, O Sindhu, as towards their child the  Mothers bellowing rush forth, heavy with milk they are.

Like a warrior king you take lead in the outpouring when you drive forward all these streamings.

5. O Ganga and Yamuna and Saraswati! O Shutudri with thy companion Parushni! Cling to this hymn to you.

O Marutbridha with thy companion Asikni, O Arijikya with thy companion Vitasta and Sushoma lend your ears to me.

6. The first on your way you joined with is Trishtama and then with Susartu and Rasa and Shweti.

O Sindhu, with Kubha you joined Gomati, and Krumu with Mehatnu: with all of them you move forward in one single movement.

7. Driving straight, bright and gleaming in her greatness, she overflows the wide spaces of speeding realms.

Sindhu, inviolate, the greatest worker among workers, she is like a marvellous-hued steed, beautiful like the body of a woman.

8. Sindhu rides the perfect steed, drives a perfect chariot, wonderfully robed, golden-hued, great deeds she does, full of the plenitudes is she.

Youthful she is, rich in fine fleece, rich in fibrous reeds, she glides over honey-bearing growths, she brings perfect delight (enjoyment).

9. Sindhu has yoked horses to her happy-going chariot. With that help she wins the plenitude in this sacrifice.

Great is its greatness that is at work. It is inviolate, shines in its own glory, exuberant in its strength.

Note: These Rivers, names after the well-known ancient rivers of the Punjab, are here symbolic of the streamings, forces of consciousness. They are, as it is said, solar powers, the radiant energies of the Sun-the Supreme Light, their seat and source. They are encompassing and flooding the whole universe including the three domains, the Earth, the Heaven and the Mid-region. The foremost among them is the Sindhu; all the others are its branches and tributaries. Indeed, they represent the Supreme Power (Parashakti) and her emanations and manifestations and personalities.