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30 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
“Indra, as thou hast been like a joy to former worshippers who praised thee, like waters to the thirsty, I invoke thee again and again with this hymn.”
“The ancient rishis, resplendent and sage, have placed in front of them (Brihaspati) with gladdening tongue.”
“Neither the ancients nor later men, nor any modern man, has attained to (conceived) thy prowess, O, Madhavan.”
“As (Indra’s) former worshippers were, (may we be) blameless, irreproachable, and unharmed.”
“For, now, O energetic god, men are thy worshippers as the ancients born of old and the men of the middle and later ages have been thy friends, And O, much-invoked think of the most recent of all.
“To Him (Indra) our ancient fathers, the seven Navagava sages desiring food, (resorted) with their hymns.”
“Glorified by our newest hymn, do thou bring to us wealth and food with progeny.”
A closer study of the Rig-Veda will show that the Rig-Veda itself makes a distinction between old hymns and new hymns. Some of them are given below:
“Glorified by our newest hymn, do thou bring to us wealth and food and progeny.”
“Agni thou hast announced (or do thou announcest) among the gods this our offering, our newest hymn.”
“Through our new hymns, do thou, vigorous in action, destroyer of cities, sustain us with invigorating blessings.”
“I bring to Agni, the son of strength, a new and energetic hymn, a production of thought uttered by the voice (vachah).”
“I present to the mighty protector a mental production, a new utterance (now) springing up”
“May the new prayer impel thee, the heroic well-accourted, the loudthundering to succour us.”
“I seek like the ancients, to stimulate thee, the ancient, with a new hymn.”
“May the new hymns made to praise you, may these prayers gratify you.”
“ Sing O, Sobhari, with a new hymn to these youthful, vigorous, and brilliant (gods)
“Indra, slayer of Vritra, thunderer, invoked of many, we (thy) numerous (worshippers) bring to thee, as thy hire, hymns which never before existed.”