A) What is the inner meaning in Rudra's obtaining strength and Vishnu's birth from SOMA?
Rig Veda does not say anything in that manner, in view of the facts that
- Rig Veda does not mention Shiva as the name of BRAHMAN. Shiva indicates the auspiciousness.
- The names VISHNU, RUDRA, INDRA, SARASWATI, etc, are the epithets of the same FORMLESS ENERGY/DIVINITY - BRAHMAN.
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Vaishnavaites and Shaivaites interpret the following Riks, which mention Rudra obtaining strength and the birth of Vishnu, according to their understanding and requirement.
Considerable time has elapsed between the original composition of the Riks in Rig Veda and to our times. So, the terminology/ideas used in Rig Veda are many a time will be misleading, due to misunderstanding.
I do not want to comment upon their understanding. My understanding is as follows:
अस्य देवस्य मीळ्हुषो वया विष्णोरेषस्य प्रभृथे हविर्भिः । विदे हि रुद्रो रुद्रियं महित्वं यासिष्टं वर्तिरश्विनाविरावत् ॥
asya devasya mīḻhuṣo vayā viṣṇor eṣasya prabhṛthe havirbhiḥ | vide hi rudro rudriyam mahitvaṃ yāsiṣṭaṃ vartir aśvināv irāvat ||
Translation
There is propitiation for this god who grants rewards, at the ritual offering to quick Viṣṇu, with oblations, for Rudra knows his own Rudrian might. Aśvins, drive your circuit of refreshment.
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Devatā (deity) of this Rik is viśvedevā.
Viśvedevā was interpreted by many as a group of Gods. However, the rishi mentioned the god in singular - devasya. Hence, the Viśvedevā might not indicate multiple gods, but the SINGLE FORMLESS ENERGY, ie, BRAHMAN.
If literal meaning is taken, it gives the meaning that the BRAHMAN give rewards to Viṣṇu, might to Rudra and Aśvins their due.
If understood esoterically, it is about the spiritual practitioner receiving rewards after attainment of SELF-REALISATION. It indicates that the Viṣṇu (the pervasive energy of the BRAHMAN) gives all pervasiveness , ALL CONQUERING POWER in the form of RUDRA and agility in the form of Aśvins, to the spiritual practitioner
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Rig Veda 9.96.5 - Devatā (deity): pavamānaḥ somaḥ
सोमः पवते जनिता मतीनां जनिता दिवो जनिता पृथिव्याः । जनिताग्नेर्जनिता सूर्यस्य जनितेन्द्रस्य जनितोत विष्णोः ॥
somaḥ pavate janitā matīnāṃ janitā divo janitā pṛthivyāḥ | janitāgner janitā sūryasya janitendrasya janitota viṣṇoḥ ||
Translation
Soma purifies himself—the begetter of poetic thoughts (rishi), begetter of heaven, begetter of earth, begetter of Agni, begetter of the sun, begetter of Indra, and begetter of Viṣṇu.
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It is about Soma or the never ending BLISS that the spiritual practitioner attains and consequently, attainment of all pervasiveness (Viṣṇu - Heaven and Earth), strength (Indra), DIVINE KNOWLEDGE (SUN/AGNI).
---------B) Why is Rig Veda so complex?
Coming to the question, we have to remember that there is a difference between (i) memorising the Riks of Rig Veda, and (ii) understanding the concepts of Rig Veda.
(i) Memorising the Riks of Rig Veda
Many Vedic schools dedicated for this purpose will make one undergo rigorous training of memorising the Riks of Rig Veda. It may take many years one to memorise all the Riks of Rig Veda (10,500 +). One has to start very early in age to accomplish this task.
(ii) Understanding the concepts of Rig Veda
Basically, Rig Veda is all about spiritual concepts, majority of Riks being composed in an esoteric sense. Unless one has an inclination towards SPIRITUALITY and understood the basic nuances of SPIRITUALITY, one is bound to get baffled with riddles of RIG VEDA, even if one has mastered all the Riks of Rig Veda by heart.
So, the complexity does not lie in learning the Riks of Rig veda by heart, but lies in understanding the meaning of those Riks, composed in esoteric sense.
