Chapter (অধ্যায়): MODERN INDIA PAGE-438Page: 438 of 516
MODERN INDIA
(Translated from a Bengali contribution to the Udbodhana, March 1899)
The Vedic priests base their superior strength on the knowlege of the sacrifical Mantras.1 By the power of these Mantras, the Devas are made to come down from their heavenly abodes, accept the drink and food offerings, and grant the prayers of the Yajamanas.2 The kings as well as their subjects are, therefore, looking up to these priests for their welfare during their earthly life. Raja Soma3 is worshipped by the priest and is made to thrive by the power of his Mantras. As such, the Devas, whose favourite food is the juice of the Soma plant offered in oblation by the priest, are always kind to him and bestow his desired boons. Thus strengthened by divine grace, he defies all human opposition; for what can the power of mortals do against that of the gods? Even the king, the centre of all earthly power, is a supplicant at his door. A kind look from him is the greatest help; his mere blessing a tribute to the State, pre-eminent above everything else.
Now commanding the king to be engaged in affairs fraught with death and ruin, now standing by him as his fastest friend with kind and wise counsels, now spreading the net of subtle, diplomatic statesmanship in which the king is easily caught-the priest is seen, oftentimes, to make the royal power totally subservient to him. Above
1 Vedic hymns uttered by the priests to invoke the Devas at the time of sacrifice.
2 The men who perform sacrifices.
3 The name of the Soma plant as commonly found in the Vedas. The priests offered to the Devas the juice of this plant at the time of sacrifice.