Indra (Rig Veda 1.4) - Madhuchanda Vaisvamitra:

उपः नः सवना गहि सोमस्य सोमपाः पिब ।
गोदा इन्द्रेवतो मदः ॥१.४.२॥
Upah Nah Savanaa Gahi Somasya Somapaah Piba |
Godaa Indrevato Madah ||1.4.2||

• सोमपाः (Somapaah): Who is the drinker of Soma.

Comments:

- In this mantra, Indra is mentioned as the drinker of Soma.

- Drinking Soma is a very important function from the perspective of the performer of Yagna, because it is the beginning of the dawn of grace. To come to this stage is not an easy thing. It requires great self-effort and invocation on the part of the invoker. The first half of the Yagna Cycle represents self-effort. The second half represents grace. After repeated invocation and purification during the first half of the Yagna Cycle, the second half may fructify.

अस्य पीत्वा शतक्रतो घनो वृत्राणामभवः ।
प्रावो वाजेषु वाजिनम् ॥१.४.८॥
Asya Piitvaa Shatakrato Ghano Vrtraannaam-Abhavah |
Praavo Vaajessu Vaajinam ||1.4.8||

• शतक्रतु (Shatakratu): Who is associated with hundred Yagnas.
• अस्य पीत्वा शतक्रतो घनो वृत्राणामभवः (Asya Piitvaa Shatakrato Ghano Vrtraannaam-Abhavah): Having drunk (the Soma), O Shatakratu, you become the slayers of Vrtras (indicates many asuras).

Comments:

- In this mantra, the role of Indra is mentioned as the slayer of Vrtras.

- Agni and Indra has the largest number of mantras in the Rig Veda Samhita. This is because of the crucial roles they play in interfacing with the Yagna performer.

- Agni drives away the initial lethargy during the start of the Yagna. Then Agni purifies the invoker. Thereafter Agni invokes the Devas in the Yagna. These earlier stages during the first half of the Yagna Cycle has to be repeated again and again for the grace to dawn during the second half. Hence Agni has a large number of mantras in the Rig Veda Samhita.

- During the dawn of grace in the second half of the Yagna Cycle, Indra plays a very important role. Indra has an exalted position among the Devas, because like Varuna, Indra also presides over Rita or Cosmic Order. The difference is that Varuna represents the static aspect of Rita while Indra represents the dynamic aspect of Rita. They are like two sides of the same coin. Indra however is nearer to the performer of Yagna and interfaces with them. Indra plays such an important role that like Agni, Indra needs to be invoked again and again. Indra is therefore also known as Shatakratu, who is associated with hundred Yagnas (performed by the invoker). Hence Indra has a large number of mantras in the Rig Veda Samhita.

- The most important function of Indra is the slaying of Vrtras. According to the Vedic Vision of Nature, the Devas uphold the Rita or Cosmic Order. Along with the Devas, there are also the Asuras, the prominent among them are Vrtras. Vrtra literally means to cover and these Asuras does the same. They cover Rita by their power of Maya (Illusory energy). Like Devas, Asuras also operate from a plane which is both internal and external. So their function will reflect internally within us and externally in Nature.

- When Rita gets covered by the Vrtras, internally we feel like we have our own individual worlds. It is the sense of ego. Even though we are placed within the vast world, we will not feel one with it. We will not feel one with Rita or Cosmic Order. Our concern is limited to our own individual worlds. We can say that this Maya is also part of the Cosmic Order.

- When Rita gets covered by the Vrtras, externally the full beauty of Nature will not get manifested. External beauty of Nature is imbued by the divine forces or Devas, and Vrtras cover their functions. This leads to a very important concept. What we generally see in Nature is only a truncated beauty. With the same arrangement of trees, plants and mountains natural beauty can be enhanced many times by only slaying the Vrtras. The ability of Nature to manifest beauty is unlimited, but our self-effort is required to perform Yagna and destroy the Vrtras.

- Indra plays the very important role of slaying the Vrtras. Agni overcomes our initial lethargy and purifies us. Then, Indra slays the Vrtras and breaks our narrowness. When our narrowness is broken we are in a position to receive the grace of other Devas. So when Indra starts drinking the Soma, it signifies the dawn of grace.