Vede · Rigveda · 01
Željko Žic
Author & Translator
The Rigveda, a timeless testament to the roots of Indo-European thought, finds new life in this groundbreaking Croatian translation. A fusion of poetic beauty and scholarly depth, this work unveils the sacred hymns of ancient India in a language as rich and profound as the original. Rediscover the cosmos, the gods, and the ritual world of the Vedas in a way you’ve never experienced before.
The Author
Scholar of the
Ancient Word
Željko Žic is an author and translator whose work bridges the abyss between ancient Sanskrit poetry and contemporary European languages. His scholarship is rooted in Indo-European linguistic heritage, tracing the deep currents that connect Vedic cosmology and Slavic mythology.
In Vede Rigveda-01, Žic accomplishes something no Croatian translator has achieved before a complete, faithful, and poetically rhythmic rendering of the first Mandala of the Rigveda, accompanied by rigorous philological commentary and comparative cultural analysis.
His approach honors both the scholar and the reader: every hymn is explored with precision, every deity given their historical and mythological context, every verse made accessible without sacrificing its sacred power.
Željko Žic
Author · Translator · Scholar
121
Hymns
5
Languages
300+
Pages
The Work
Vede Rigveda
Mandala I
Far more than a translation, this volume is a guided journey into the ritual world of Agni, Indra, Soma, and the cosmic order (ṛta). Each of the 121 hymns of Mandala I is explored with clarity and respect for both philological precision and poetic rhythm, making the text accessible to scholars, students, and serious readers alike.
The work bridges ancient Sanskrit poetry with Slavic linguistic heritage, revealing deep connections between Vedic cosmology and Indo-European mythological structures. Žic’s translation is accompanied by detailed commentary, cultural context, and comparative analysis the first complete Croatian translation of any Vedic mandala.
Whether you are drawn by mythology, ancient philosophy, comparative religion, or linguistic history, this work opens a doorway to humanity’s earliest spiritual imagination.
Rigveda · Mandala I · Hymn 1.1
"I praise Agni, the household priest,
the divine minister of the sacrifice,
the invoker, greatest bestower of treasure."
Rigveda 1.1.1 — The opening verse, addressed to Agni,
god of fire and mediator between gods and men
From the Manuscript
The Vedic Pantheon
The Rigveda’s hymns are addressed to personifications of natural forces and cosmic principles. Žic’s translation provides detailed commentary on each deity, tracing their Indo-European roots and mythological significance.
Indra
King of Gods · Thunder
God of thunder, war, and rain. Slayer of the serpent Vṛtra; wielder of the vajra. Closest to the Norse Thor and Slavic Perun.
Agni
God of Fire · Mediator
The sacred flame that carries offerings to the gods. Priest, messenger, and mediator between the mortal and the divine.
Soma
God of Inspiration · Moon
God of thunder, war, and rain. Slayer of the serpent Vṛtra; wielder of the vajra. Closest to the Norse Thor and Slavic Perun.
Varuna
God of Order · Cosmic Law
Overseer of the universe, guardian of ṛta (cosmic order). A thousand eyes for surveillance; he forgives the penitent.
Vayu
God of Wind · Intelligence
The first to drink Soma. In the Upanishads he becomes prana — the vital breath. Father of Hanuman in later tradition.
Rudra
God of Storm · Precursor to Shiva
Terrifying yet healing. Father of the Maruts. His ambiguous nature — destroyer and physician — prefigures the great god Shiva.
Surya
God of the Sun · Healer
Overseer of the universe, guardian of ṛta (cosmic order). A thousand eyes for surveillance; he forgives the penitent.
Vishnu
Preserver of the Universe
In the Rigveda a lesser god, whose three cosmic steps cover earth, sky, and living beings. In the Puranas he rises to supreme status.
Global Reach
Available in
Five Languages
The Rigveda’s sacred hymns deserve to reach the widest possible audience. Žic’s work beginning with Croatian is being made available across the major European languages, each edition preserving the poetic rhythm and scholarly depth of the original translation.
🇭🇷
Croatian
Available Now
🇮🇹
Italian
Available Now
🇫🇷
French
Available Now
🇩🇪
German
Available Now
🇺🇸
English
Available Now
Voices of Readers
What Readers Think
About The Book
"Reading Žic's translation felt like hearing the universe speak for the first time in my own tongue. The hymns of Agni and Indra rose from the page with a sacred fire I had never encountered in any other text. This is not a book it is an initiation."
"As a scholar of Indo-European linguistics, I have read many Rigveda translations none have achieved what Žic has done here. His poetic precision captures both the meter and the meaning, while the commentary illuminates connections to Slavic myth that will astonish even seasoned researchers."
"I came to this book knowing nothing of the Vedas and left knowing I had touched something ancient and alive. Žic writes with the care of a poet and the knowledge of a historian. Every page opened a new world I did not know existed inside language itself."
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