根據梨俱吠陀所建議的三重劃分,吠陀諸神可以最方便地分為天神、空氣神和大地神。天神是 Dyaus、Varuna、Mitra、Surya、Savitr、Pusan、Asvins,以及女神 Usas、Dawn 和 Ratri,Night。大氣神是因陀羅、阿帕姆•納帕特、樓陀羅、馬魯特、瓦尤、帕賈尼亞和沃特斯。陸地神祇是普蒂維 (Prthivi)、阿格尼 (Agni) 和索瑪 (Soma)。這本讀物包含了獻給所有這些神的讚美詩,並儘可能用梨俱吠陀的文字詳細介紹了他們的性格。一些相當低級的神祇沒有被包括在內,部分原因是沒有整首讚美詩是針對他們的。其中兩個屬於天體。特里塔 (Trita) 是一位默默無聞的神,僅在 RV(梨俱吠陀) 的獨立詩節中提及,來自印度-伊朗時期。他似乎代表了火的“第三種”或閃電形式。與因陀羅的起源相似,貝在早期就被後者驅逐。Matarisvan 是神聖的存在,也只在梨俱吠陀的零散詩節中被提及。他被描述為將隱藏的火從天上降到人間,就像希臘神話中的普羅米修斯一樣。在陸地神靈中,某些河流在 RV 中被擬人化並被召喚。因此,Sindhu (Indus) 在一首讚美詩 (x. 75, 2. 4. 6) 中被尊奉為女神,而 Vipas (Bïas) 和 Sutudri (Sutlej) 在另一首讚美詩 (iii. 33)。然而,最重要和最常受到讚揚的是Sarasvati(妙音天女)(vi. 61; vii. 95)。儘管這裡的擬人化比其他溪流的情況要遠得多,但在房車中,女神與河流的聯繫從未被忽視。
1-57-1
प्र मंहिष्ठाय बृहते बृहद्रये सत्यशुष्माय तवसे मतिं भरे । अपामिव प्रवणे यस्य दुर्धरं राधो विश्वायु शवसे अपावृतम् ॥
pra maṃhiṣṭhāya bṛhate bṛhadraye satyaśuṣmāya tavase matim bhare | apām iva pravaṇe yasya durdharaṃ rādho viśvāyu śavase apāvṛtam ||
I offer especial praise to the most bountiful, the excellent, th eopulent, the verily powerful and stately Indra, whose irresistible impetuosity is like (the rush) of waters down a precipice, and by whom widely-diffused wealth is laid open (to his worshippers) to sustain (their) strength.
我特別讚揚最慷慨、最優秀、最富裕、真正強大和莊嚴的因陀羅,他的不可抗拒的狂暴就像懸崖上的水流奔馳,透過他,廣大傳播的財富被散佈向他的崇拜者,以維持他們的力量。
1-57-2
अध ते विश्वमनु हासदिष्टय आपो निम्नेव सवना हविष्मतः । यत्पर्वते न समशीत हर्यत इन्द्रस्य वज्रः श्नथिता हिरण्ययः ॥
adha te viśvam anu hāsad iṣṭaya āpo nimneva savanā haviṣmataḥ | yat parvate na samaśīta haryata indrasya vajraḥ śnathitā hiraṇyayaḥ ||
All the world, Indra, was intent upon your worship; the oblations of the sacrificer (flowed) like water (falling) to a depth); for the fatal golden thunderbolt of Indra, when hurling it (against the foe), did not sleep upon the mountain.
因陀羅,整個世界都致力於崇拜您;祭祀者的祭品如流水般落至深淵;因為因陀羅(Indra)向敵人投擲致命的金色雷電時,並沒有沉睡在山上。
1-57-3
अस्मै भीमाय नमसा समध्वर उषो न शुभ्र आ भरा पनीयसे । यस्य धाम श्रवसे नामेन्द्रियं ज्योतिरकारि हरितो नायसे ॥
asmai bhīmāya namasā sam adhvara uṣo na śubhra ā bharā panīyase | yasya dhāma śravase nāmendriyaṃ jyotir akāri harito nāyase ||
Beautiful Uṣas, now present the oblation in this rite to the formidable, praise-deserving Indra, whose all-sustaining, celebrated, and characteristic radiance has impelled him hither and thither, (in quest) of (sacrificial) food, as (a charioteer drives) his horses (in various directions).
美麗的Uṣas(烏薩斯),現在在這個儀式中將祭品獻給令人敬畏的、值得讚揚的因陀羅,他的一切持續的、馳名的和特有的光芒,驅使他到處尋求祭祀的食物,作為戰車禦者,駕著他的馬奔向各個方向。
1-57-4
इमे त इन्द्र ते वयं पुरुष्टुत ये त्वारभ्य चरामसि प्रभूवसो । नहि त्वदन्यो गिर्वणो गिरः सघत्क्षोणीरिव प्रति नो हर्य तद्वचः ॥
ime ta indra te vayam puruṣṭuta ye tvārabhya carāmasi prabhūvaso | nahi tvad anyo girvaṇo giraḥ saghat kṣoṇīr iva prati no harya tad vacaḥ ||
Much-lauded and most opulent Indra, we are thy, who, relying (on your favour), approach you; accepter of praise, no other than you receie our commendations; be plural ased (with our address), as the earth (cherishes) her creatures.
備受讚譽和最富裕的因陀羅,我們是你的,仰賴你的青睞來接近你;接受讚美的人,除了你以外,沒有其他人能接受我們的讚美;帶著我們所說的各種請求,因為地球珍惜她的眾生。
1-57-5
भूरि त इन्द्र वीर्यं तव स्मस्यस्य स्तोतुर्मघवन्काममा पृण । अनु ते द्यौर्बृहती वीर्यं मम इयं च ते पृथिवी नेम ओजसे ॥
bhūri ta indra vīryaṃ tava smasy asya stotur maghavan kāmam ā pṛṇa | anu te dyaur bṛhatī vīryam mama iyaṃ ca te pṛthivī nema ojase ||
Great is your prowess, Indra; we are yours; satisfy Maghavan, the desires of this your worshipper, the vast heaven has acknowledged your might; this earth has been bowed down through your vigour.
因陀羅,你的力量真是偉大;我們是祢的;滿足Maghavan,你的崇拜者的願望,廣闊的天堂已經認知你的力量;這個地球已經被你的活力所征服。
1-57-6
त्वं तमिन्द्र पर्वतं महामुरुं वज्रेण वज्रिन्पर्वशश्चकर्तिथ । अवासृजो निवृताः सर्तवा अपः सत्रा विश्वं दधिषे केवलं सहः ॥
tvaṃ tam indra parvatam mahām uruṃ vajreṇa vajrin parvaśaś cakartitha | avāsṛjo nivṛtāḥ sartavā apaḥ satrā viśvaṃ dadhiṣe kevalaṃ sahaḥ ||
You, thunderer, have shattered with your bolt the broad and massive cloud into fragments, and have sent down the waters that were confined in it, to flow (at will); verily you alone possess all power.
你,雷霆,用你的閃電將廣闊而巨大的雲打碎成碎片,並讓囚禁在其中的水隨意地流下來;事實上,只有你能擁有所有的力量。