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[[Nirukti]] : Maharshi Yaska in his Nirukti (10.8) explains the meaning of Indra as follows

[[Nirukti]] : Maharshi Yaska in his Nirukti (10.8) explains the meaning of Indra as follows

1. इरां दृणातीति वा   

1. इरां दृणातीति वा ॥ irāṁ dr̥ṇātīti vā ॥  

2. इरां ददातीति वा  

2. इरां ददातीति वा ॥ irāṁ dadātīti vā ॥

3. इरां दधातीति वा  

3. इरां दधातीति वा ॥ irāṁ dadhātīti vā ॥

4. इरां दारयतीति वा  

4. इरां दारयतीति वा ॥ irāṁ dārayatīti vā ॥

5. इरां धारयतीति वा  

5. इरां धारयतीति वा ॥ irāṁ dhārayatīti vā ॥

6. इन्दवे द्रवतीति वा  

6. इन्दवे द्रवतीति वा ॥ indave dravatīti vā ॥

7. इन्दौ रमत इति वा  

7. इन्दौ रमत इति वा ॥ indau ramata iti vā ॥

8. इन्धे भूतानीति वा  

8. इन्धे भूतानीति वा ॥ indhe bhūtānīti vā ॥

9. तद्यदेनं प्राणैः समैन्धंस्तदिन्द्रस्येन्द्रत्वम्  

9. तद्यदेनं प्राणैः समैन्धंस्तदिन्द्रस्येन्द्रत्वम् ॥ tadyadenaṁ prāṇaiḥ samaindhaṁstadindrasyendratvam ॥

10. इदं करणादित्याग्रयणः  

10. इदं करणादित्याग्रयणः ॥ idaṁ karaṇādityāgrayaṇaḥ ॥

11. इदं दर्शनादित्यौपमन्यवः  

11. इदं दर्शनादित्यौपमन्यवः ॥ idaṁ darśanādityaupamanyavaḥ ॥

12. इन्दतेर्वौश्वर्यकर्मणः  

12. इन्दतेर्वौश्वर्यकर्मणः ॥ indatervauśvaryakarmaṇaḥ ॥

13. इन्दञ्छत्रूणां दारयिता वा द्रावयिता वा अादरयिता च यज्वनाम्  

13. इन्दञ्छत्रूणां दारयिता वा द्रावयिता वा अादरयिता च यज्वनाम् ॥ indañchatrūṇāṁ dārayitā vā drāvayitā vā aādarayitā ca yajvanām ॥

Root word of dhra means to pierce or crack. Ira means grain or rice. It means one who pierces the clouds and supplies water for the growth of plants. In another sense the word Indra means one who makes prithvi (earth) pierce and make crops grow thus providing grains. Megha or clouds are the secret place for nourishment of the plants. Thus Indra is the power which can cut through the clouds and provide rain for the sake of loka kalyana, for the loka sangraha. 

Root word of dhra means to pierce or crack. Ira means grain or rice. It means one who pierces the clouds and supplies water for the growth of plants. In another sense the word Indra means one who makes prithvi (earth) pierce and make crops grow thus providing grains. Megha or clouds are the secret place for nourishment of the plants. Thus Indra is the power which can cut through the clouds and provide rain for the sake of loka kalyana, for the loka sangraha.