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INDICA   TIMES

16 September 2026
Lore · Wit · Respect
Issue 1

Local Arrested; Gambling Debts Uncovered

Wife refuses to comment; creditors furious

News Desk · Rig Veda

Police picked up a man who was seen bawling and wandering around the alleys deep in the night. On being interrogated, the man, who gave his name as Samvahak, reportedly got maudlin, "I've lost my money, my cattle, and my wife's trust. My family has thrown me out of the house. And yet, and yet, and yet, I still want one more chance. Oh, those shining cold balls of dice that gallop across the board! Oh, to see but one throw, to feel but one moment of hope!"

Our reporter gained access to Samvahak. He seemed proud of his mastery of all rules and strictures applied to the 150 pieces of dice, and remained convinced that he would be freed of their allure if only he could transfer his addiction to a willing volunteer.

Police has recorded a case, and transferred the matter to the central de-addiction centre. It is understood that Samvahak will be put to work on the fields and in the horse stable 1.

Your RPG Character This Week

You are a pariveshtri 6, living in a vasati 7.

You wear tush 8 and kurir 9, and your hair in kshur 10. You are an expert in vishavidya 11 and stotr 12.

A varan 13 is your constant companion, and it carries a vahya 14 and an amatr 15 for you.

Get ready, for the games begin in another 21 madhyamdin 16.

Hymn of the Week

हिरण्यगर्भः समवर्तताग्रे भूतस्य जातः पतिरेक आसीत् ।

स दाधार पृथिवीं द्यामुतेमां कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम ॥ 17

"In the beginning arose the golden source, born as the one lord of all existence. It is he who has held up that sky and this earth. Is it to That, the god, that we should offer our sacrifice?"

Indica Helpline

Your ritual is important to us.

Please select the nature of your complaint.

  • Press ① if you have accidentally sacrificed the wrong thing. Backlog
  • Press ② if the fire refuses to cooperate. Backlog
  • Press ③ if you have forgotten which god you were addressing. Backlog
  • Press ④ if the god has not responded to your offering. Backlog
  • Press ⑤ if your soma has gone missing. Backlog
  • Press ⑥ if your priests have started arguing about grammar. Backlog
  • Press ⑦ if you are a poet and want to lodge a complaint about your patron. Backlog
  • Press ⑧ if you have been offered a bribe. Backlog
  • Press ⑨ to hear these options again.

Estimated wait time: 4638 muhurt 18

Notes

  1. Inspired by the Gambler's Lament in Rig Veda 10.34. The poet is Kavash Ailush. The verses are in the Trishtup and Jagati meters. Read the hymn. ↩

  2. syal (स्याल): wife's brother. ↩

  3. skandhya (स्कन्ध्या): a disease of the shoulders, probably tumours of some kind. ↩

  4. abhratarah (अभ्रातराः): brotherless maidens, considered undesirable because they might become prostitutes or because they might be made a putrika by her father (so her son belongs to the father's family rather than the husband's). ↩

  5. vidradh (विद्रध): abscesses. ↩

  6. pariveshtri (परिवेष्टृ): an attendant who serves food. ↩

  7. vasati (वसति): abode, house. ↩

  8. tush (तूष): the fringe or trimming of a garment. ↩

  9. kurir (कुरीर): ornament used by women for hair. ↩

  10. kshur (क्षुर): blade or razor. ↩

  11. vishavidya (विषविद्या): poison science. ↩

  12. stotr (स्तोतृ): panegyrist. ↩

  13. varan (वरण): elephant. ↩

  14. vahya (वह्या): couch or bed. ↩

  15. amatr (अमत्र): soma vessel. ↩

  16. madhyamdin (मध्यमदिन): midday. ↩

  17. The Hiranyagarbh Sukta in Rig Veda 10.121. The poet is Hiranyagarbh Prajapatya. The verses are in the Trishtup meter. The hymn does not specifically name a god; instead, it asks which god should be worshipped, and describes the god as a radiant, golden being. Read the hymn. ↩

  18. muhurt (मुहूर्त): a division of time, one-thirtieth of a day or an hour of forty-eight minutes. ↩