Indra (Rig Veda 1.11) - Madhuchanda Vaisvamitra:

इन्द्रं विश्वा अवीवृधन्त्समुद्रव्यचसं गिरः ।
रथीतमं रथिनां वाजानां सत्पतिं पतिम् ॥१.११.१॥
Indram Vishvaa Aviivrdhant-Samudra-Vyacasam Girah |
Rathiitamam Rathinaam Vaajaanaam Satpatim Patim ||1.11.1||

• इन्द्रं विश्वा अवीवृधन्त्समुद्रव्यचसं गिरः (Indram Vishvaa Aviivrdhant-Samudra-Vyacasam Girah): The Hymns expanded Indra across the World (Vishva) like an expansive Ocean (Samudra).
• वाजानां सत्पतिं पतिम् (Vaajaanaam Satpatim Patim): Who is the Lord of the virtuous keeper of Wealth.

Comments:

- In this mantra, and the subsequent mantras of this sukta, the awakening of the power of Indra by the Vedic chants, and the work of that power is described. The hymns expanded Indra across the world like an expansive ocean. Indra is mentioned as the keeper of wealth.

- The first stage in the awakening of the power of Indra (or any other divine power) is expansion. Since Cosmic Order operates from a plane which is both internal and external, this expansion will have effect on the mind of the performer of Yagna internally and on the Nature externally.

- Internally, this expansion will tend to open up the performer of the Yagna towards the vast Cosmic Order.

- Externally, this expansion will spread across Nature and bring about the appropriate effect over it (since Nature operates on a large scale and for the good of all).

- Indra is mentioned here as the virtuous keeper of Wealth. The wealth here is the wealth of Nature. The Devas are the upholders of Cosmic Order, and Nature is the expression of that Cosmic Order. So the Devas preserve the Wealth of Nature. Over and above this, Indra has a special role, since Indra is the dynamic aspect of the Cosmic Order.

- To preserve Wealth, the first step is expansion, since the performer of the Yagna needs to expand inwardly and identify himself with the Wealth of Nature, and not merely individual wealth cut off from the Cosmic Order.

पुरां भिन्दुर्युवा कविरमितौजा अजायत ।
इन्द्रो विश्वस्य कर्मणो धर्ता वज्री पुरुष्टुतः ॥१.११.४॥
Puraam Bhinduryuvaa Kaviramitaujaa Ajaayata |
Indro Vishvasya Karmanno Dhartaa Vajrii Purussttutah ||1.11.4||

• पुरां भिन्दुः अजायत (Puraam Bhinduh Ajaayata): The power which breaks the abode (of the Asuras) was born.
• युवा कविः अमित ओजाः अजायत (Yuvaa Kavih Amita Ojaah Ajaayata): (The power which is) Youthful (Yuva), full of Wisdom (Kavi) and has immense Strength (Amita Ojaah) was born.
• इन्द्रो विश्वस्य कर्मणो धर्ता (Indro Vishvasya Karmanno Dhartaa): Indra is the bearer of the activities of the World (oriented towards Cosmic Order).

Comments:

- In this mantra, the power of Indra is described. It is youthful, full of wisdom and has immense strength. That power breaks the abode of the Asuras. That power bears the activities of the world.

- The first stage in the awakening of the power of Indra is expansion. This expansion tends to inwardly open up the individual towards Rita or Cosmic Order. But there are Asuras to be destroyed who will resist the inward expansion of the individual towards the Cosmic Order.

- The second stage in the awakening of the power of Indra is the destruction of the abodes of the Asuras. The abodes of the Asuras are within the individuality resisting the expansion. This expansion and destruction of Asuras will continue together for a long time, gradually making the individual established in the Cosmic Order.

- In this way, by transforming the individual inwardly, the power of Indra bears the activities of the World, which are the activities related to the Cosmic Order. There is also the external dimension of the power reflected in Nature which will be described in the subsequent mantras.

त्वं वलस्य गोमतोऽपावरद्रिवो बिलम् ।
त्वां देवा अबिभ्युषस्तुज्यमानास आविषु ॥१.११.५॥
Tvam Valasya Gomato-[A]pa-Avar-Adrivo Bilam |
Tvaam Devaa Abibhyussas-Tujyamaanaasa Aavissu ||1.11.5||

• त्वं वलस्य गोमतोऽपावरद्रिवो बिलम् (Tvam Valasya Gomato-[A]pa-Avar-Adrivo Bilam): You broke open the mountain Cave (signifying the mountain of Clouds) of Asura Vala (literally means Cloud) which hid the Go (light of the Devas).
• देवाः अबिभ्युषः (Devaah Abibhyussah): The Devas (or shining beings) became fearless (and shone with their own lights).

Comments:

- In this mantra, the nature of impediment of Asura Vala and how Indra overcomes it is mentioned.

- Vala literally means a cave or cloud. The power of Vala will hide the rays of light within the cave of clouds created by it. This is not the normal rain-bearing cloud. Since Cosmic Order operates both internally and externally, this will have an effect both internal and external.

- Cosmic Order is designed such that it contains both the power of the Devas and the power of the Asuras. The power of the Devas will only be available to us through the self-effort of Yagna. Else they will be kept hidden by the power of the Asuras. It is as if the Cosmic Order wants us to self-exert and attain the power of the Devas.

- What we normally see internally within us and externally in Nature is only a faint glow of the power of the Devas. Most of it is hidden by the Asuras. The Vedas invite us to uncover the power of the Devas through Yagna.

- So the role of Asura Vala is to hide the power of the Devas by creating a cave of clouds around it. It is like the normal cloud which covers most of the Sun and allows only a few trickles of rays to flow out. The core of the divine powers like Savitri (of Gayatri mantra) lies in the region of Heaven (Dyau) covered by Vala.

- When the power of Indra is awakened, it will release the divine powers from the cloud of Vala. It is as if the Devas or shining beings now become fearless to shine. Now the core powers of the Devas related to the Sun (like Savitri) will shine forth. External Nature will also manifest the divine powers.

- In the Rig Veda Samhita, Agni and Indra has the largest number of mantras. Agni does the first-stage work of overcoming our initial lethargy and preparing us for subsequent grace by purifying us. Indra does the second-stage work of expanding us towards the Cosmic Order and destroying the Asuras hiding the divine powers. After this the divine powers related to the Sun will grace us during the third stage.

मायाभिरिन्द्र मायिनं त्वं शुष्णमवातिरः ।
विदुष्टे तस्य मेधिरास्तेषां श्रवांस्युत्तिर ॥१.११.७॥
Maayaabhir-Indra Maayinam Tvam Shussnnam-Ava-Atirah |
Vidusstte Tasya Medhiraas-Tessaam Shravaamsy[i]-Uttira ||1.11.7||

• मायाभिरिन्द्र मायिनं त्वं शुष्णमवातिरः (Maayaabhir-Indra Maayinam Tvam Shussnnam-Ava-Atirah): Indra, by the power of Maya (Supernatural power of Cosmic Order) destroyed Asura Shushna (who dries up and creates drought externally, and removes the Rasa from life internally).

Comments:

- In this mantra, the nature of impediment of Asura Shushna is mentioned and how Indra overcomes it.

- Shushna literally points to the power which dries up. Vrtra and Vala are the powers which hide. Internally the power will manifest as a shell of individuality cut of from the Cosmic Order of life. The power of Shushna is even worse. It will manifest as the sense of mental depression where the Rasa of life is dried up. With limited individuality limited joy of life can still be experienced. But with the sense of depression life becomes bereft of all joy.

- Externally, Nature will appear to be in a state without Rasa, like the state of drought. Or in less severe state, like the state of depression.

- Indra destroys the power of Maya of Asura Shushna by the higher power of the Cosmic Order. Then rain will come and fill the world with Rasa. Internally there will be a shower of Rasa, and externally there will be a shower of moisture.

- Destroying the power of Vala brings Light and destroying the power of Shushna brings Water (or Rasa). The Light awakens our Intelligence (Jnana) and the Rasa awakens our Devotion (Bhakti). And both these dimensions are tied to our inner world and the outer Nature by the Cosmic Order (Rita).

- Hence in Sanatana Dharma the role of Nature is very important. Nature provides us with food and raw materials. But this is only its superficial role. The greater role is that Nature reflects the Cosmic Order. The perception or manifestation of Cosmic Order changes according to the state of the combination of the powers of the Devas and the Asuras. Nature invites us to perform Yagna to manifest the beauty of the Cosmic Order. And Nature gives us the indications when the Yagna is successful (and also the indications when our activities will make life unsustainable).