Book Reviewed: The Rig Veda: Book 1, by Ralph T.H. Griffith

Rig-Veda Mandala-I: The English Translation of sacred texts (four stars)

Ralph Griffith’s translation of Rigveda is based on Max Müller's six-volume Sanskrit edition of the sacred text, and also by the work of well-known Vedic interpreter Sayana. This translation is readily available online. The exegesis of Vedic religion is complex but its interpretation is still debated by many scholars, and Griffith’s translation is useful in understanding the meaning of the sacred texts.

Rigveda is one of the four canonical sacred texts (śruti) of Hinduism which has 1,028 hymns in ten books (Mandalas). Generally each hymn contains more than one verse, and the entire text of Rigveda consists of 10,600 verses. The hymns are arranged according to its composer and often a group of hymns are composed by a single seer. Books 2-7, known as the "family books" is written by the members of the same family. There are ten families of seers who are responsible for the composition of large part of Rigveda. Hymns are typically dedicated to various deities, and the chief of whom are Indra, Agni, Soma, the Adityas, Mitra, Varuna, Ushas, Savitr, Vishnu, Rudra, Pushan, Brihaspati and others.

One of the most important hymns of Rig-Veda in spiritual and philosophical dimesnsion is found in the hymn 164 of Mandala-1. There are 52 verses in this hymn and some of the profound thoughts seems to emerge from the seer of this hymn. This hymn may have influenced the seers and scribes of early Upanishads that dealt with physical reality and quantum consciousness. This hymn is addressed to Visvedevas (viśve-devāḥ "all-gods"); various Vedic gods taken together as a whole. The rishi or the scribe is Dīrghatamas. He was well known for his philosophical views in the Rig-Veda, and the author of hymns 140 to 164 of Mandala-1. He was the chief priest of King Bharata (Aitareya Brahmana VIII.23), after whom the nation was named as Bharata (the traditional name of India). Despite the schism of Western scholars that does not acknowledge the wisdom in Rig-Veda. These verses are not merely liturgical. One can understand the mind of the seer who remains calm and unflinching in the analysis of reality and the cosmic creation. A sample of the translation for Rigveda I.164.17 illustrate the veracity and meaning of the translation:

Rigveda I.164.17
Transliteration:
avaḥ pareṇa para enāvareṇa padā vatsaṃ bibhratī ghaurudasthāt
sā kadrīcī kaṃ svidardhaṃ parāghāt kva svit sūte nahi yūthe antaḥ

R.T.H Griffith Translation
Beneath the upper realm, above this lower, bearing her calf at foot the Cow hath risen.
Witherward, to what place hath she departed? Where calves she? Not amid this herd of cattle.

R.L. Kashyap and Kapali Shastriar Translation:
Below the far-off (domain), or above the lower, The Ray-cow has stood up,
Bearing her calf with her feet. Where has she gone away, to which half (ardha) has she gone?
Where is she given birth? (Clearly) it is not in this herd.

Devichand Translation (based on Dayananda’s interpretation)
Beneath the upper realm above, this lower one, this power of God sustaining the universe is visible everywhere. None knows whence it comes and whither it goes, and to what Gracious God it returns. How it creates innumerable creatures is not known. God Himself belongs not to the world of Matter.

Swami Amritananda Translation:
The cow (oblation in the form of a cow) carrying her calf (Agni) underneath her forefeet and then above her with her hind-feet has risen. Where has she gone? For whose sake did she turn back when half way? Where does she deliver? Certainly not amidst the herd.

H.H. Wilson Translation:
The cow, holding her calf underneath her fore-feet, and then above with her hind feet, has risen up; whither is she gone; to whom has she turned back when half-way; where does she bear young: it is not amidst the herd.