Vedas dictate that self contentment is not good enough, rather one should have well being of others in mind as well. All Vedic prayers are for the collective good.
Charity
अरायि काणे विकटे गिरिं गच्छ सदा¬न्वे।
शिरिम्बिठस्य सत्वभि स्तोभिष्ट्वा चातयामसि ॥ RV 10.155.1
Araayi kaane vikte giri gchchh sdaanve, Shiribimthasya satvabhi stobhishtva chaatayaamasi. RV 10.155.1
Meaning: Give up miserliness and selfishness of not giving to charity. Misers being blind to the suffering & deprivation of fellow beings bring misery upon society. The resulting deluge caused by famines and social misery drowns the whole society (including misers).
Destroy Wicked Elements
इन्द्रासोमा तपतं रक्ष उब्जतं न्यर्पयतं वृषणा तमोवृध: । परा शृणीतमचितो न्योषतं हतं नुदेथां नि शिशीतमत्रिण: ।। RV 7.104.1, AV8.4.1
Indraasomaa tapatm raksha ubjatm nyarpayatm vrishna tamovridhah, praa shreeneetamachito nyoshtm htm nudethaam ni shisheetmtrinah. RV 7.104.1, AV 8.4.1
Meaning: Motivated with selfless intellect and strength of your valour, destroy and render ineffective, the heartless, lecherous, selfish, wicked elements from society that prosper by usurping the entire wealth of others.
Do Not Cheat
अद्या मुरीय यदि यातुधानो अस्मि यदि वायुस्ततप पूरुषस्य । अधा स वीरैर्दशभिर्वि यूया यो मा मोघं यातुधानेत्याह ।। RV7.104.15, AV8.4.15
Adyaa muriya ydi yaatudhaano asmi ydi vaayustatap puurushasya, Adhaa sa veererdshbhirvi yuuyaa yo maa moghm yatudhaanetyaah. RV7.104.15, AV8.4.15
Meaning: If I have caused harm by sorcery/cheating in my self- interest to life / health/property/ environments, I deserve to be dead.
Purify Your Life
यस्ते शोकाय तन्वंरिरेच क्षरद्धिरण्यं शुचयोSनु स्वा: !
अत्रादधेते अमृतानि नामास्ते वस्त्राणिविश एरयन्ताम!! AV 5.1.3
Yaste shokaaya tnvmrirech kshrddhiranyam shuchyonu svaah,
Atraaddhete amreetaani naamaaste vastraanivish eryantaam. Ath 5.1.3
Meaning: O God, whosoever the person that cleanses his personality of material opaqueness to realize your light divine, his crystalline pure faculties turned inward concentrating on the golden light at the heart core, the heaven and earth for sure bear here itself immortal robes of light for him while all his seventeen faculties of sense, mind and energy inspire him (see subtle body in Atma chapter).
Be Vigilant Of Crooks
वि पथो वाजसातये चिनुहि वि मृधो जहि | साधन्तामुग्र नो धियः || RV 6.53.4
Vi patho vaajsaatye chinuhi vi mreedho jhi, saadhntaamugra no dhiyah. RV 6.53.4
Meaning: You should be vigilant to track and identify thieves, robbers, cheaters, hoarders and finish them off. Efforts, information and actions of the public at large should help in pursuing this goal.
Politicians/Rulers
Tear Down Who Cheat Public
ष्ठां शतापा नि गिरति तां न शक्नोति नि:खिदन् ! अन्नं यो ब्रह्मणां मल्व: स्वाद्वद्मीति मन्यते !! अथर्व 5.18.7
Shthaan shtaapaa ni girti taan na shkroti nihkhidana,
Annm yo brhmnaam mlvah svaadvdmeeti mnyate. AV 5.18.7
Meaning: These fools (the short sighted rulers) who feast to enjoy at the expense of public interests, do not realize that what they swallow down are not sweets but poisons with hundreds of barbs, which will tear him down.
Distribute Wealth Fairly
त्वां विशो वृणतां राज्याय त्वामिमाः प्रदिशः पञ्च देवीः !
वर्ष्मन् राष्ट्रस्य ककुदि श्रवस्य ततो न उग्रो विभ्जा वसूनि !! AV 3.4.2
Tvmaa visho vreentaam raajyaaya tvaamimaah pradishah panch devih, vashrman raashtrsya kakudi shrvasya tato na ugro vibhjaa vsuuni. AV 3.4.2
Meaning: People have entrusted you to the top position as the most competent. Take total control of all the sides – east, west, north, south, above and below land — to provide deterrent protection from enemies and for equal-distribution of bounties among the people.
Prayer for Protection from Evil Rulers
रक्षा माकिर्नो अघशंस ईशत मा नो दुःशंस ईशत | मा नो अद्य गवां स्तेनो मावीनां वृक ईशत || AV 19.47.6
Rakshaa maakirno aghashamsa ishata maa no duhshnsa ishata, Maa no adya gavaam steno maaveenaam vreeka ishata.AV 19.47.6
Meaning: O Night, pray protect us. Let no sinner rule over us. Let no notorious scandalous power rule over us. Let there be no thief who may rule to steal our cows, let no wolf master and devour our sheep.
Rehab the wicked
पिशङ्गे सूत्रे खृगलं तदा बध्नन्ति वेधसः ।
श्रवस्युं शुष्मं काबवं वध्रिं कृण्वन्तु बन्धुरः । AV 3.9.3
Pishngage suutre khreegalm tdaa bdhanti vedhasah, shrvasyum shusmm kaabvm vdhi kreenvntu bndhurah. AV 3.9.3
Meaning: Let intelligent people joined together for positive purposes, bind vociferous force into strong bonds to restrict their movement, then castrate their pride and procreativity, and then channelize their energy for positive purposes.
Job of Secret Service
वि तिष्ठध्वं मरुतो विक्ष्विच्छत गृभायत रक्षस: सं पिनष्टन ।
वयो ये भूत्वी पतयन्ति नक्तभिर्ये वा रिपो दधिरे देवे अध्वरे ।।
RV7.104.18, AV 8.4.18
Vi tishthdhvam maruto vikshvichchhata gribhaayata
rakshasah sam pinashtana. Vayo ye bhµutvi patayanti
naktabhirye vaa ripo dadhire deve adhvare.
RV7.104.18, AV 8.4.18
Meaning: It is the function of secret services to look for those culprits who conceal their wrong actions, by flying like birds in darkness of night, and in their daily activities resort to violent activities.
प्र वर्तय दिवो अश्मानमिन्द्र सोमशितं मघवन् त्सं शिशाधि ।
प्राक्तादपाक्तादधरादुदक्तादभि जहि रक्षस: पर्वतेन ।। RV7.104.19, AV 8.4.19
Pr vartaya divo ashmaanmindr somashitam
maghavantsam shishaadhi. Praaktaadapaaktaadadharaa-
dudaktaadabhi jahi rakshasah parvatena. RV7.104.19, AV 8.4.19
Meaning: By intelligent innovative methods and adequate financial support, smart sharp weapons like thunder bolts from sky (drone strikes) and all sides may rain on them to destroy them.
Family and Community
सहृदयं सांमनस्यमविद्वेषं कृणोमि व: । अन्यो: अन्यमसि हर्यत वत्सं जातमिवाघ्न्या॥ AV 3.30.1
Sahrdayma saanmansymvidveshma kreenomi vh, anyoh anymsi hryata vatsam jaatmivaadhnya. AV 3.30.1
Meaning: I create you as a community with love at heart,
unity of mind and freedom from hate and jealousy. Let
everyone love everyone and all others as the sacred, inviolable mother cow loves and caresses the new born baby calf.
अनुव्रत: पितु: मात्रा भवतु संमना । जाया पत्ये मधुमती वाचं वदतु श न्तिवाम् ॥ AV 3.30.2
Anuvrtah pituh maatraa bhavtu snmnaa, jaayaa ptye mdhumti vaacham vdtu sha tinvaam. AV 3.30.2
Meaning: Let son be dedicated to father, one at heart and
in mind, and with mother, in love and loyalty to family
values and tradition. Let wife speak to husband in words
sweet as honey conducive to love and peace in the family.
मा भ्राताभ्रातरं द्विक्षन्मा स्वसारमुत स्वसा । सम्यञ्च: सव्रताभूत्वा वाचं वदत भद्रया ॥ AV 3.30.3
Maa bhraataabhraatram dvikshnmaa svasaarmut svasaa, samyanchah sabrtaabhuutvaa vaacham vadata bhadryaa. AV 3.30.3
Meaning: Let not brother hate brother nor sister hate sister. Let all, united in love and cooperation, dedicated to common values and like ideals, speak with language conducive to the realization of common and universal good.
समानी प्रपा सह वोsन्नभागा समाने योक्त्रेसह वो युनज्मि ।
सम्यञ्चो sग्निं सपर्तारा नाभिमिवाभित: ॥ AV3.30.6
Samaani prpaa saha vonnbhaagaa samaane yokthresaha vo yunajmi, samyancho gnim sapartaaraa naabhimivaabhitah. AV 3.30.6
Meaning: Let your water center be one in common, let your food be one in common and shared. I bind you all together in one common, comprehensive bond of spirit. Serve only one fire, the same one in yajna (holy fire) together like the spokes wheeling round one hub at the center.
In matters which affect the general social well being one ought to discard all differences and not allow his individuality to interfere but in strictly personal matters every one may have his own way.” “स्वस्ति पन्थामनुचरेम सूर्यचन्द्रमसाविव”— Rig Veda.
