Written by Sulaiman Razvi
When you show something from Hindu scriptures to Hindus that doesn’t favour them, They will quickly term the verse you posted as ‘Fake translation’, and the irony is that the Hindu will accuse you of using fake translation without even verifying what you posted. He will directly come to the conclusion that since you don’t like Hinduism and you are a non Hindu so whatever you posted must be falsely invented to malign Hinduism. But Hindus will never apply this logic while mocking other religions by copying from pro-Hindu websites. When you ask them to give the ‘Authentic’ translation they will never post that rather they will divert the topic. Whining over so called ‘fake translation’ is nothing but an excuse to run away from discussion. Next time you see a Hindu accusing you of using ‘fake translation’ it means that he is not able to defend his scriptures and wants to escape. When discussing Hindu scriptures, Hindu will first ask you to quote verses translated by Hindu scholars only, when you do it, He will say that it is difficult to translate Sanskrit verses into English as Sanskrit word has several meaning so he will then ask you to mention original Sanskrit text and translate it word by word.
Hindus takes immense pride when any white westerner says something good about Hinduism. But if there is any verse translated by another westerner Gora (white guy) that doesn’t favour Hinduism, then Hindus will start attacking the white translator of being a British agent, a Christian missionary whose aim was to malign Hinduism. The most popular Gora (white guy) accused of maligning Hinduism is Max Mueller. Swami Vivekananda praised Max Mueller and even considered him to be an incarnation of Sayana Acharya a renowned commentator of Vedas. Refer the article Why Hindus hate Max Mueller so much? For more information.
I didn’t write this article to use ‘Christian missionary’ translations of Vedas, As you can read my articles, I have used translations by Hindu scholars even when the translations by Indologists were same as those of Hindu scholars. So I am not using this article as an excuse to use non-Hindu translations. The purpose of this article is to expose those Hindus who accuses others of using fake translation and ironically it’s actually them who often distort Hindu scriptures according to their vested interest.
Second most popular Gora (white guy) accused of maligning Hinduism is Ralph T.H. Griffith. When you quote Griffith’s translation. Hindu will quickly call it fake translation, but what that Hindu may not be knowing is that Ralph T.H. Griffith’s translation is based on commentaries by Hindu scholars like Mahidhara, Uvvata, Even H.H. Wilson’s translation is based on Sayana Acharya’s commentary. So why Hindus still accuses these western translators of deliberately distorting the meaning of Vedas? That’s because these commentaries are outdated, exposes the fallibility of Vedas. So to completely re-interpret the Vedas according to their convenience and match it with modern science they have no choice except to reject all these commentaries. They cannot defend their Vedas by twisting (as they usually does it), they cannot hide the obscenities, they cannot prove science in Vedas using these commentaries because those commentaries confirms the errors mentioned in Vedas. Modern Vedic followers even interpret Vedas contrary to the interpretation given in Nirukta by Yaska Acharya.
Sayana was a 14th century scholar, Mahidhara was a 16th century scholar, Yaska was a 5th century B.C. scholar which means that these scholars may have been so influential and so intellectual of their time that their name and work is still preserved. So do Hindus claim that they know more than these scholars that they considers these scholar’s interpretation as wrong?
Hindus also claim that one Sanskrit word has several meaning hence it cannot be translated into other language. These are the same Hindus who claim Sanskrit to be the mother of all languages and also that Sanskrit is the most scientific language used by NASA (of which there is no evidence to prove it). Maybe Ishwar did a huge mistake by inspiring or revealing Vedas in Sanskrit language which is a dead language. But Swami Dayanand Saraswati has the answer as to why Ishwar revealed it in Sanskrit language,
“37. Why did He reveal the Veda in Sanskrit instead of a language of some particular country?
A.~ Had He revealed the Veda in the language of some particular country, He would have been partial to that country, because it would have been easier for the people of that country to learn and teach the Veda than for the foreigners, therefore, it is that He did it in Sanskrit that belongs to no country, and is the mother of all other languages. Just as He has ordained the material creation such as the earth, etc., which is also the source of all the useful arts, for the equal good of all, so should the language of the Divine revelation be accessible to all countries and nations with the same amount of labour. Hence the revelation of the Veda in Sanskrit does not make God partial to any nation.” By Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Satyarth Praksh, Ch 7, p.237, Tr. Chiranjiva Bhardwaja www.aryasamajjamnagar.org/chapterseven.htm
Maybe Ishwar wasn’t aware of what would happen in the future. Even in ancient India Sanskrit was not a spoken language and was limited to Brahmins alone and now it is a dead language and there are not even 10K people worldwide having Sanskrit as their mother tongue. Ask any foreigner about Sanskrit language, if he knows that there exists a language called Sanskrit then he will tell you that it is the language of Hinduism. And foreigners have to come to India to learn this language. So wasn’t Ishwar aware that this language called Sanskrit would be dead and limited to India alone? And would become partial to India?
Ishwar did a mistake in using Sanskrit language and made much bigger mistake in revealing Vedas a billion years ago (as claimed by Hindus), As people lived on the wrong interpretation of Vedas for a billion years, even classical and medieval scholars like Yaska, Sayana, Mahidhara, Uvvata etc couldn’t interpret it properly and only 21st century internet Hindu warriors can translate it correctly. Ishwar should have revealed Vedas in this 21st century to Hindu keyboard warriors and they would’ve interpreted its true meaning, isn’t it? Now let’s evaluate some of the translations of Vedic followers. I don’t mean entire translation is wrong, But I mean Arya Samajis translate it as per their convenience if they are uncomfortable with the meaning of some verse. They add their own words into the verses. Following verse says,
– Rig Veda 1.116.10 “Ye from the old Cyavāna, O Nāsatyas, stripped, as ’twere mail, the skin upon his body, Lengthened his life when all had left him helpless, Dasras! and made him lord of youthful maidens.” Ralph T.H. Griffith
This verse is about rejuvenating old Rishi named Chyavana and marrying him to youthful maidens. Now let’s look at Arya Samaj translations,
Rig Veda 1.116.10 “O truthful Presidents of the Raja Sabha (Council of ministers) and Dharma Sabha (Religious Assembly) as they remove an armour from a renegade. Keep a distributor of wealth or charitable person from all misery. Make arrangements for the education of the Brahmacharinis who are full of splendour from absolutely truthful aged and experienced for their marriage with suitable husbands (one for one). O givers of new life like the Vaidyas or physicians who are destroyers of all diseases, augment the life span of a man of renunciation (by providing him with all neccessities).” Tr. Acharya Dharma Deva Vidya Martanda
The English translation is actually a re-translation of Swami Dayanand’s Hindi Bhashya, I have also mentioned the Hindi translation by Dayanand. The verse actually says that a old Rishi named Chyavana was rejuvenated by Ashvins, the entire hymn 116 is dedicated on the glory of Ashvins. Now compare both Griffith’s and Swami Dayanand’s translation. Both are so different, you might think that I am deliberately posting different verses, but believe me these two verses are actually the same Rig Veda 1.116.10. So how do we verify which one is true? Do not worry, let me make it easier for you.
Panchavimsha Brahmana 14.6.10 “Cyavana, the son of Dadhyanc, was beloved by the Asvins. As he became of old age, by means of this (vinka-) saman, shook (vinkayati) him in the water and made him young again. This they had wished at that time. A wish-granting saman is the vinka. By means of it he gets (the fulfilment of) his wish.”
Mahabharata also mentions about Chyavana being rejuvenated so does Nirukta 4.19, But Nirukta makes a reference to Rig Veda 10.39.4. Now let’s read another verse,
– Rig Veda 1.116.12 “O leaders (teachers and preachers) pursuing a good and wise policy, having acquired knowledge from you, I who am the son of a man of non-violent nature and one who approaches the upholders of Dharma (righteousness) and Vidya (wisdom) reveal for the enjoyment of happiness, as the lightning manifests or produces rain, your sublime and mighty deed. You should manifest or bring before the public that great scholar who has taught you and me the sweet knowledge of the Shastras, with the noble action like that of the Acharya who pervades (is expert in) all sciences.” Tr. Acharya Dharma Deva Vidya Martanda
Griffith translated it as,
Rig Veda 1.116.12 “That mighty deed of yours, for gain, O Heroes, as thunder heraldeth the rain, I publish, When, by the horse’s head, Atharvan’s offspring Dadhyac made known to you the Soma’s sweetness.” Tr. Ralph T.H. Griffith
Again there is a difference in translation. The story is like Ashvins wanted to learn Madhu doctrine but Dadhyac was afraid because Indra told him that he would behead Dadhyac if he imparts this knowledge to others. So Ashvins makes a deal with Dadhyac and replaces his original head with a horse’s head as mentioned in Griffith’s translation.
Satapatha Brahmana 14.1.1.20-25 Now this was heard by the Asvins,–‘Verily, Dadhyañk Âtharvana knows this pure essence, this Sacrifice,–how this head of the Sacrifice is put on again, how this Sacrifice becomes complete.’ They went up to him and said, ‘We two will become thy pupils.’–‘What are ye wishing to learn?’ he asked.–‘This pure essence, this Sacrifice,–how this head of the Sacrifice is put on again, how this Sacrifice becomes complete,’ they replied. He said, ‘I was spoken to by Indra saying, ‘If thou teachest this to any one else, I shall cut off thy head;’ therefore I am afraid lest he should indeed cut off my head: I cannot take you as my pupils.’ They said, ‘We two shall protect thee from him.’–‘How will ye protect me?’ he replied.–They said, ‘When thou wilt have received us as thy pupils, we shall cut off thy head and put it aside elsewhere; then we shall fetch the head of a horse, and put it on thee: therewith thou wilt teach us; and when thou wilt have taught us, then Indra will cut off that head of thine; and we shall fetch thine own head, and put it on thee again.’–‘So be it,’ he replied. He then received them (as his pupils); and when he had received them, they cut off his head, and put it aside elsewhere; and having fetched the head of a horse, they put it on him: therewith he taught them; and when he had taught them, Indra cut off that head of his; and having fetched his own head, they put it on him again, Therefore it is concerning this that the Rishi has said (Rig-v. I, 116, 12), ‘That Dadhyañk Âtharvana, with a horse’s head, anywise spoke forth unto you two the sweet doctrine:’–‘Unrestrainedly he spoke this,’ is what is thereby meant.
This story is also mentioned in several other scriptures and also explained by Adi Shankaracharya in his commentary of Brahma Sutra. Read the article Head Transplant in Vedic Period for more information.
Arya Samaj translations doesn’t just contradict with Brahmanas but with Nirukta too,
– Rig Veda 3.33.5 “O men! as the rivers full of waters go towards the sea and become firmly established there, in the same way, be pleased with my solacing words leading to joy, I am like the son of a learned person who has attained the nectar of all true wisdom and knowledge and admire your great wisdom and longing for it.” Tr. Acharya Dharma Deva Vidya Martanda
Rig Veda 3.33.5 “Linger a little at my friendly bidding rest, Holy Ones, a moment in your journey. With hymn sublime soliciting your favour Kuśika’s son hath called unto the River.” Tr. Ralph. T.H. Griffith
Nirukta 2.24 “The seer Visvamitra was the domestic priest of Sudas, the son of Pijavana. Visva-mitra, friend of all…He, i.e. Visvamitra, implored the rivers to become fordable. (He addressed them) in the dual as well as in the plural number.”
Vishwamitra commanded the rivers to stop flowing, reading previous and next verses would help understand this. Even another Arya Samaji scholar has translated it correctly but it contradicts with Dayanand’s translation which is completely different.
-Rig Veda 3.33.5 “[The sage speaks] I, the disciple of an enlightened teacher, having acquired necessary knowledge, now desirous of protection, solicit your favour and address with earnest prayer to you the rivers before me. O rivers, charged with water, rest a moment from your course at my request.” Tr. SatyaPrakash Saraswati
Another verse reads as,
– Rig Veda 7.33.11 “Vasishtha, sage and scholar, living soul, you are a child of sun and moon, born of the heart of Mother Nature nurtured by mother knowledge. Like a drop of distilled soma, all divine powers of the world nourish you in the lotus cradle on celestial wealth of food for vitality and light for knowledge.” Tr. Tulsi Ram
Dayanand translated Rig Veda only up to 6th Mandal as he was poisoned before he could translate other Mandalas. But I have mentioned another Arya Samaj scholar Dr. Tulsi Ram’s English translation followed by Pandit Harisharan Siddhantalankar’s (Arya Samaj) Hindi translation. Griffith translated it as,
Rig Veda 7.33.11 “Born of their love for Urvasi, Vasiṣṭha thou, priest, art son of Varuṇa and Mitra; And as a fallen drop, in heavenly fervour, all the Gods laid thee on a lotus-blossorn.” Tr. Ralph T.H. Griffith
Yaska in Nirukta explains it as,
Nirukta 5.13-14 “Urvashi is (the name of) a naiad, (so called because) she pervades wide regions (uru + as- to pervade ‘), or she pervades by means of thighs [Sexual Intercourse] …On seeing her, the seminal fluid of Mitra and Varuna fell down…O Vasistha,thou art certainly the son of Mitra and Varuna. Brahman, O Brahman, thou wert born from the mind of Urvasi. (Thou art) the drop that fellin divine fervour.”
See how they are trying to hide the obscenity. Let’s move on to another verse,
– Yajur Veda 19.71 “O Commander of the army, just as the sun wrenches off the head of the cloud of water but unwilling to release it, so do thou advance thy armies, and subdue all contending hosts.” Tr. Devi Chand
English translation by Devi Chand is also a re-translation of Swami Dayanand’s Hindi Bhashya and I have also mentioned the Hindi translation by Dayanand. Griffith translates it as,
Yajur Veda 19.71 “Indra, with waters’ foam didst thou wrench off the head of Namuchi, Subduing all contending hosts.” Tr. Ralph T.H. Griffith
Again these two translations are completely different. The verse as translated by Griffith says how Indra beheaded Namuchi which is expounded in Brahmanas and Puranas,
Panchavimsha Brahmana 12.6.8-9 “Indra and the Asuric Namuci made an agreement: ‘of us two not (one) shall kill the other either by night or by day, either with (what is) wet or (what is) dry’. Indra cut off his head at dawn before sunrise with foam of water; what is at dawn before sunrise, is neither by night nor by day, and foam of water is neither wet nor dry. This head, a greater evil, (then the unslain himself had been) rolled after him, (calling out): ‘Man-slayer, thou hast cheated, thou hast cheated!’ Neither by verse nor by chant could repel it (this head), (but) by means of the finale of the harivarna-(saman) he repelled it.”
This is also mentioned in Mahabharata 9.43. But the contradiction between Arya Samaj translation and Panchavimsha Brahmana is not a major issue here, the major issue here is that following Rig Veda verse is repeated in the Yajur Veda and both the Rigved and Yajurved verses translated by Arya Samajis contradicts with each other. I have mentioned the Sanskrit text for you to read and compare.
– अपां फेनेन नमुचेः शिर इन्द्रोदवर्तयः |
विश्वा यदजयः सप्र्धः ||
Apam phenena namuceh sira indrodavartayah. Viswa yadajaya sprdhah.
Rig Veda 8.14.13 “When you fight out the adversaries of life and humanity, you crush the head of the demon of drought and famine with the sea mist and the cloud.” Tr. Tulsi Ram
अपां फेनेन नमुचेः शिर इन्द्रोदवर्तयः |
विश्वा यदजयः सप्र्धः ||
Apam phenena namuceh sira indrodavartayah. Viswa yadajaya sprdhah.
Yajur Veda 19.71 “Indra, ruler, commander, like the foam of the sea, like the vapours of water in the sky, rise and expand and break the head of the powers which hoard the wealth of the land like the cloud hoarding th waters. Conquer the forces which stand in opposition out of sheer jealousy.” Tr. Tulsi Ram
Both these verses are translated by the same Arya Samaj scholar even though it contradicts with each other, now compare it with Griffith’s translations,
Yajur Veda 19.71 “Indra, with waters’ foam didst thou wrench off the head of Namuchi, Subduing all contending hosts.” Tr. Ralph T.H. Griffith
Rig Veda 8.14.13 “With waters’ foam thou torest off, Indra, the head of Namuci, Subduing all contending hosts.” Tr. Ralph T.H. Griffith
Now you tell me who is more trustworthy? Same Sanskrit verse from Yajur and Rig are translated differently, this serves two things, you can translate Sanskrit verses as you like there is no rule for translating Vedas, or else Arya Samaj scholars have no masters of Sanskrit language. There’s more to see of their “honesty”. Following translations are all by Arya Samaj scholars,
अस्येदु मातुः सवनेषु सद्यो महः पितुं पपिवाञ्चार्वन्ना |
मुषायद विष्णुः पचतं सहीयान विध्यद वराहन्तिरो अद्रिमस्ता ||
asyedu mātuḥ savaneṣu sadyo mahaḥ pituṃ papivāñcārvannā |
muṣāyad viṣṇuḥ pacataṃ sahīyān vidhyad varāhantiro adrimastā ||
Rig Veda 1.61.7 “He alone deserves to be the commander of an army who appoints deserving persons on all posts and pervading in or being well-versed in all sciences and possessing wealth, quickly quaffs the soma and well-cooked good food, who destroys his enemies as the sun pierces the vast cloud mountain like with his rays, making it to fall down, being endowed with the power of endurance and hurling the thunderbolt or powerful weapons.” Tr. Achara Dharmadev Vidyamartanda
Rig Veda 1.61.7 “In the yajnic programmes of this Indra, lord of rule and power who measures everything to size, Vishnu, the great sun pervading everything with its light, drinks up the delicious holy foods prepared and sent up sanctified from the yajna, and then, challenging the mountainous cloud hoarding up the wealth of the same yajnic foods in the form of vapours, breaks up the cloud and throws it down (realising the showers of rain).” Tr. Tulsi Ram
The same verse is also repeated in Atharva Veda which Arya Samaji Vaidyanath Shastri translates as,
अस्येदु मातुः सवनेषु सद्यो महः पितुं पपिवाञ्चार्वन्ना |
मुषायद विष्णुः पचतं सहीयान विध्यद वराहन्तिरो अद्रिमस्ता ||
asyedu mātuḥ savaneṣu sadyo mahaḥ pituṃ papivāñcārvannā |
muṣāyad viṣṇuḥ pacataṃ sahīyān vidhyad varāhantiro adrimastā ||
Atharva Veda 20.35.7 “Only under this creating powers of God’s operations the sun always drinking great powerful drink of herbs and the nice corns and stealing the substances under process of ripening, become powerful and hurling the thunder-bolt pierces through the Varah, cloud whose feeder is water.” Tr. Acharya Vaidyanath Shastri
Following is the Hindi translation of Atharva Veda 20.35.7 by Pandit Harisharan Siddhantalankar,
Following is the Hindi translation by Swami Dayanand Saraswati,
Now compare these two Hindi translations, Also see another contradiction between Dayanand and Harishankar,
Yajur Veda 19.88 ”Just as a wife, the recipient of semen, at the time of cohabitation keeps her head opposite to the head of the husband, and her face opposite to that of his, so should both husband and wife perform together their domestic duties. A husband is a protector like a physician. He lives happily like a child, and with tranquillity produces progeny with penis keen with ardour.” Tr. Devi Chand
Following is the Hindi translation by Pandit Harisharan Siddhantalankar,
Tulsi Ram translates it as,
Yajur Veda 19.88 “Sarasvati and the Ashvinis, enlightened woman and the health and spirits of the man, create a happy home with the head and mouth of both together in truth with a sweet tongue fluent in purity. The purity, comfort and security of the home, the love and desire of the woman’s fertility, the passion and power of the man’s virility, and the child as bloom of the health and love of the union, all these keep the family together.” Tr. Tulsi Ram
Now compare these two Hindi translations and English translations as well. Both gives so different meaning, all these in an attempt to cover the obscenity of this verse.
Now see how Dayanand contradicted,
तवां हि मन्द्रतममर्कशोकैर्वव्र्महे महि नः शरोष्यग्ने |
इन्द्रं न तवा शवसा देवता वायुं पर्णन्ति राधसान्र्तमाः ||
tvāṃ hi mandratamamarkaśokairvavṛmahe mahi naḥ śroṣyaghne |
indraṃ na tvā śavasā devatā vāyuṃ pṛṇanti rādhasānṛtamāḥ ||
Yajur Veda 33.13 “O learned teacher, as thou payest attention to the weighty words of ours, the Brahmacharis; so we, along with men resplendent like the sun, accept thee deserving of highest reverence. The best men, with strength and wealth, please thee, godly in nature powerful like the sun and bounteous like the air.” Tr. Devi Chand
तवां हि मन्द्रतममर्कशोकैर्वव्र्महे महि नः शरोष्यग्ने |
इन्द्रं न तवा शवसा देवता वायुं पर्णन्ति राधसान्र्तमाः ||
tvāṃ hi mandratamamarkaśokairvavṛmahe mahi naḥ śroṣyaghne |
indraṃ na tvā śavasā devatā vāyuṃ pṛṇanti rādhasānṛtamāḥ ||
Rig Veda 6.4.7 “O enlightened person! purify like the Fire, as you listen to our great request. We accept the vast ghee as the giver of delight by the purification of food and other means. O the best leaders! as God gladdens the whole world, so you make Prana and others happy, with your strength and wealth. We accept you like electricity.” Tr. Acharya Dharma Deva Vidya Martanda
Both these are re-translation of Dayanand’s Hindi Bhashya to English. Yaska explains Yajur Veda 33.13 and Rig Veda 6.4.7 as,
Nirukta 1.17 “…Like Indra, like Vayu, the gods fill thee with strength. Here is the characteristic mark of Indra and Vayu in a stanza addressed to Agni…”
Now you see Swami Dayanand didn’t just contradicted his own translation but also Nirukta. This means that you can translate Vedic verses as per your convenience. As you can see there is not even a difference of one Sanskrit word despite this Dayanand translated it differently. Now let’s look at the English translation of Dayanand’s Hindi Bhashya,
अग्निं होतारं मन्ये दास्वन्तं वसुं सूनुं सहसो जातवेदसं विप्रं न जातवेदसम |
य ऊर्ध्वया सवध्वरो देवो देवाच्या कर्पा |
घर्तस्य विभ्राष्टिमनु वष्टि शोचिषाजुह्वानस्य सर्पिषः ||
aghniṃ hotāraṃ manye dāsvantaṃ vasuṃ sūnuṃ sahaso jātavedasaṃ vipraṃ na jātavedasam | ya ūrdhvayā svadhvaro devo devācyā kṛpā |
ghṛtasya vibhrāṣṭimanu vaṣṭi śociṣājuhvānasya sarpiṣaḥ ||
Rig Veda 1.127.1 “O girl, As I regard my husband the person who is well-performer of the Yajna with lofty knowledge and reverential devotion. Who shines like fire with the splendour of the Ghee (Clarified butter) put in the fire, who is munificent or a liberal donor, accepter of what is given with love and reverence, who knows all that exists like a sage who is endowed with wisdom, who is the son of A strong man and observer of Brahmacharya, so thou shouldst also accept or choose such a virtuous person as thy husband.” Tr. Acharya Dharma Deva Vidya Martanda
अग्निं होतारं मन्ये दास्वन्तं वसुं सूनुं सहसो जातवेदसं विप्रं न जातवेदसम |
य ऊर्ध्वया सवध्वरो देवो देवाच्या कर्पा |
घर्तस्य विभ्राष्टिमनु वष्टि शोचिषाजुह्वानस्य सर्पिषः ||
aghniṃ hotāraṃ manye dāsvantaṃ vasuṃ sūnuṃ sahaso jātavedasaṃ vipraṃ na jātavedasam | ya ūrdhvayā svadhvaro devo devācyā kṛpā |
ghṛtasya vibhrāṣṭimanu vaṣṭi śociṣājuhvānasya sarpiṣaḥ ||
Yajur Veda 15.47 “He, who with his superior knowledge, deserves harmlessness, is fit to be honoured by the learned, is powerful in deeds, is imbued with noble qualities, and displays diverse kinds of lustre, with extreme lovliness, by performing Havan, using ghee and water, him do I honor. He is the giver of happiness, the knower of all created objects, charitably disposed like the son of a great man, giver of gifts, foremost amongst the wise, and a trustworthy, highly learned person, brilliant like fire.” Tr. Devi Chand
Both above verses are re-translation of Dayanand’s Hindi Bhashya into English. Griffith translated it as,
Yajur Veda 15.47 “Agni I hold as Herald, the munificent, the gracious Son of Strength who knoweth all that live, as holy singer knowing all; Lord of fair rites, a God with form erected, turning to the Gods, He, when the flame hath sprung forth from the sacred oil, the offered fatness, longeth for it with his glow.” Tr. Ralph T.H. Griffith
Rig Veda 1.127.1. “AGNI I hold as herald, the munificent, the gracious, Son of Strength, who knoweth all that live, as holy Singer, knowing all, Lord of fair rites, a God with form erected turning to the Gods, He, when the flame hath sprung forth from the holy oil, the offered fatness, longeth for it with his glow.” Tr. Ralph T.H. Griffith
Yaska explains it as,
Nirukta 6.8 “…The gods with favour turned towards the gods. The god whose favour is directed towards the gods.”
Now let’s read Rig Veda 1.26.4 translations all by Arya Samajis
Rig Veda 1.26.4 “May Varuna, lord of knowledge, Mitra universal friend, and Aryama, lord of justice, all destroyers of sin, enemies and disease, grace the seats of our yajna with their blissful divine presence, as may the sagely scholar, our friends, and our dispensers of justice, all fighters against sin, enmity and negativity, come and take their seats on the vedi, sanctify and accomplish our yajna.” Tr. Tulsi Ram
Rig Veda 1.26.4 “O venerable God, destroyer of evil forces, pleasant law-giver, may you live in our inner-self, even as you grace other external human endeavours.” Tr. Svami Satya Prakash Saraswati
Rig Veda 1.26.4 “O men, sit down on your various seats which are pleasant as cultured men who are destroyers of internal and external foes or diseases, well versed in various science, friendly to all and dispensers of justice do in assemblies, so you should also do.” Tr. Acharya Dharma Deva Vidya Martanda
Below are the Hindi translations by Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Pandit Harisharan Siddhantlankar
Not just the English translations but even the Hindi translations of Arya Samajis are quite different with little similarity.
Now take a look at another verse,
Rig Veda 1.164.13 Upon this five-spoked wheel revolving ever all living creatures rest and are dependent. Its axle, heavy-laden, is not heated: the nave from ancient time remains unbroken.
Yaska explains it as,
Nirukta 4.27 “When the five-spoked wheel began to roll. This is with reference to the five seasons. There is a Brahmana passage: There are five seasons in the year, taking the winter and the dewy season together.”
But Arya Samajis has translated five-spoked as five elements,
Rig Veda 1.164.13 “All space planets and Panchabhootas abide in this five-spoked (the five spokes are the five elements) revolving wheel of Time. It’s heavily loaded axle is never heated. The Time is heavily laden (so to speak) and has God as a support (axle) and it has no wear and tear.” Tr. Acharya Dharmadev Vidya Martanda
Rig Veda 1.164.13 “Five are the spokes in the wheel of time-cum-prakrti, the temporal existence of physical world. (These are the five elements of prakrti, akasha, vayu, agni, apah, and prhtivi, and their internal changes)…” Tr. Tulsi Ram
Not just that, Some Hindus (Arya Samajis) on internet distort Vedas so much that they are even including words like electricity, cosmic, plasma etc, You can Google the following verses for source,
Rig Veda 1.119.10 “With the help of bipolar forces (Asvins), you should employ telegraphic apparatus made of good conductor of electricity. It is necessary for efficient military operations but should be used with caution.”
Hindus are translating verses like that. In the future they may even include Apple Iphone and Higg’s and Boson’s theory in the latest translation of the Vedas. Arya Samajis new translation is not actually a new translation but in reality it’s a completely new Vedas, Arya Samajis shouldn’t be writing “Translated by” on cover of their translations but they should be writing “Written by” as every translation of their is different than those translated by other scholars.
