The Nineteenth Book

[Hymn 6]

Indra is King of the world and of peoples, and upon the earth, he is whatever exists in diverse forms. From there, he gives to the donor, he sets in motion the wealth, and even from the heavens, he leans toward us. || 1 ||

Indra. King. Of the world. Of peoples. Upon. The earth. Diverse-form. Which. Exists.
From there. Gives. To the donor. Goods. Sets in motion. Wealth. From the heavens. Indeed. Toward us. || 1 ||

Indra, the possessor of supreme power, is the king and lord of the three worlds and of the charṣaṇī peoples—a term for humans. He is the king of both divine and human subjects. To the donor who has given the offering, he gives goods—that is, wealth—from there. The verb "brings" is interpolated. He should give. If one asks what "from there" refers to, it says: "upon the earth." Grammatical note: In the seventh case singular, the final vowel is elided. "Upon" acts as an indicator for the seventh case. "Whatever exists in diverse forms" implies he should give from that which is varied. He mentions this by saying "sets in motion." Being praised by us, he acts as the "one from the heavens." The word "indeed" is used for emphasis. "Toward us"—may he set in motion, that is, provide, the wealth. Grammatical note: This involves the causal form of the verb to urge.

Thus ends the fifth hymn of the first Anuvāka.

The two hymns starting with "The thousand-armed Person" are employed in the Puruṣamedha Human Sacrifice rite during the invitation of the person to be sacrificed. It is stated in the Vaitāna Sūtra that after the person is bathed and adorned, one invokes them with the mantras "The thousand-armed Person" (Atharvaveda 19.6) and "With what hand" (Atharvaveda 10.2).

Similarly, these two hymns are employed in the Havīrājya-homa butter-offering ritual to the planet Saturn and for the placing and invocation of the sacred fire. As stated in the Śānti-kalpa manual, these hymns are for the planet Saturn. These two hymns are also employed in the butter-offering ritual during the gifting of golden land.

Because this Puruṣasūkta Hymn of the Person is the text that expounds upon the Puruṣamedha sacrifice performed by the Nārāyaṇa the Primordial Person who desires the status of being the soul of all things, and because it expounds upon the Nārāyaṇa who is the cause of the world, it is called the Puruṣasūkta. Therefore, this hymn has a twofold meaning: physical and spiritual.