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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

Dual Sovereignty and Divine Grace: Invoking Indra and Varuṇa

📜 9 Verses

Act 1

The Dual Invocation of Supreme Sovereigns

Verses 1, 2

Verse 1

इंद्रा॒वरु॑णयोर॒हं स॒म्राजो॒रव॒ आ वृ॑णे । ता नो॑ मृळात ई॒दृशे॑ ॥

índrāváruṇayorahám samrā́joráva ā́ vṛṇe ǀ tā́ no mṛḷāta īdṛ́śe ǁ

Verse 2

गंता॑रा॒ हि स्थोऽव॑से॒ हवं॒ विप्र॑स्य॒ माव॑तः । ध॒र्तारा॑ चर्षणी॒नां ॥

gántārā hí sthó’vase hávam víprasya mā́vataḥ ǀ dhartā́rā carṣaṇīnā́m ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In these opening verses of Sūkta 17, the Ṛṣi approaches two towering figures of the Vedic pantheon—Indra, the dynamic force of divine power and victory, and Varuṇa, the cosmic upholder of Ṛta (moral and cosmic order). By addressing them as 'samrājaḥ' (universal sovereigns), the poet acknowledges their combined mastery over both physical might and moral law. He declares that he actively seeks their protection and grace, knowing full well that they are ever ready to answer the call of a devoted worshipper (vipra). The imagery here is intimate yet grand. The Ṛṣi presents himself as one who relies entirely on these cosmic pillars. They are described as 'gantārā' (swift to come) to the invocation of the humble chanter, and 'dhartārā carṣaṇīnām' (the upholders of all humanity). This establishes a foundational Vedic truth: the divine powers are not distant or indifferent; they rush to the aid of those who invoke them with sincerity and clarity of purpose.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: I invoke the protection of the two universal sovereigns, Indra and Varuṇa; may both of you show grace unto one like me.

Verse 2: Verily, you both are swift to come to the call of the inspired singer like me, and you are the sustainers of all human settlements.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets 'carṣaṇīnām' as mankind in general, while Yāska emphasizes their role as upholders of all moving creation. The direct translation highlights the immediate accessibility of great sovereign deities to the humble seeker.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
इन्द्रावरुणयोः	indrāvaruṇayoḥ	of Indra and Varuṇa (dual genitive)
अहम्	aham	I
सम्राजोः	samrājoḥ	of the two universal sovereigns
अवः	avaḥ	favor, protection
आ वृणे	ā vṛṇe	I choose, I invoke
ता	tā	those two
नः	naḥ	to us
मृळातः	mṛḷātaḥ	be gracious, show mercy (dual)
ईदृशे	īdṛśe	to one such as this (me)

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
गन्तारा	gantārā	the two who go/come swiftly
हि	hi	verily, indeed
स्थः	sthaḥ	you two are
अवसे	avase	for help or protection
हवम्	havam	call, invocation
विप्रस्य	viprasya	of the inspired sage/poet
मावतः	māvataḥ	of one like me
धर्तारा	dhartārā	the two upholders/sustainers
चर्षणीनाम्	carṣaṇīnām	of active men or human settlements

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture two massive mountain peaks—one representing raw thunderous power (Indra) and the other vast, starry law (Varuṇa)—instantly bending down to listen to a tiny singer in the valley.

Act 2

The Exchange of Abundance and Divine Delight

Verses 3, 4, 5

Verse 3

अ॒नु॒का॒मं त॑र्पयेथा॒मिंद्रा॑वरुण रा॒य आ । ता वां॒ नेदि॑ष्ठमीमहे ॥

anukāmám tarpayethāmíndrāvaruṇa rāyá ā́ ǀ tā́ vām nédiṣṭhamīmahe ǁ

Verse 4

यु॒वाकु॒ हि शची॑नां यु॒वाकु॑ सुमती॒नां । भू॒याम॑ वाज॒दाव्नां॑ ॥

yuvā́ku hí śácīnām yuvā́ku sumatīnā́m ǀ bhūyā́ma vājadā́vnām ǁ

Verse 5

इंद्रः॑ सहस्र॒दाव्नां॒ वरु॑णः॒ शंस्या॑नां । क्रतु॑र्भवत्यु॒क्थ्यः॑ ॥

índraḥ sahasradā́vnām váruṇaḥ śáṃsyānām ǀ kráturbhavatyukthyáḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Moving deeper into the hymn, the Ṛṣi explores the dynamic relationship between divine satisfaction and human flourishing. In verse 3, he invites Indra and Varuṇa to be satiated according to their desire with the offerings of wealth and praise, approaching them with the closest possible intimacy ('nediṣṭham'). The hymn suggests a sacred reciprocity: when the seeker honors the gods, the gods in turn shower down spiritual and material riches. Verses 4 and 5 expand upon this by highlighting the divine qualities that align with the seeker. The poet prays that they may become fully imbued with 'śacī' (effective power) and 'sumati' (right-mindedness or benevolent thought) belonging to these two deities. Indra is specifically linked to those who bestow thousands of gifts, while Varuṇa is connected to hymns of praise, demonstrating how both dynamic expansion (Indra) and static truth (Varuṇa) culminate in supreme spiritual attainment ('kratuḥ').

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 3: O Indra and Varuṇa, according to your desire, be gladdened with our wealth of offerings; we approach you both with our closest prayer.

Verse 4: May we be truly aligned with your dynamic powers and your benevolent thoughts, and may we become recipients of your bounty of boons.

Verse 5: Indra is the master of thousand-fold givers, Varuṇa of those worthy of praise; their divine will becomes the supreme object of our hymns.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sri Aurobindo views 'kratu' here not merely as sacrifice, but as the higher divine will or effective intelligence that bridges human aspiration with cosmic realization.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अनुकामम्	anukāmam	according to desire/pleasure
तर्पयेथाम्	tarpayethām	be satisfied/gladdened (dual)
इन्द्रावरुणा	indrāvaruṇā	O Indra and Varuṇa
रायः	rāyaḥ	of wealth, bounty
आ	ā	particle enhancing the action
ता	tā	you two
वाम्	vām	to you two
नेदिष्ठम्	nediṣṭham	nearest, closest
ईमहे	īmahe	we ask, we entreat

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
युवाकु	yuvāku	inclined towards you two, sharing with you
हि	hi	verily
शचीनाम्	śacīnām	of powers/might
सुमतीनाम्	sumatīnām	of good/benevolent thoughts
भूयाम	bhūyāma	may we become
वाजदाव्नाम्	vāja-dāvnām	of those who grant vigour/wealth

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
इन्द्रः	indraḥ	Indra
सहस्रदाव्नाम्	sahasra-dāvnām	of those who give in thousands
वरुणः	varuṇaḥ	Varuṇa
शंस्यानाम्	śaṃsyānām	of those worthy of praise/laudation
क्रतुः	kratuḥ	will, resolve, divine purpose
भवति	bhavati	becomes
उक्थ्यः	ukthyaḥ	worthy of hymns/recitation

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine a great river of pure water (Varuṇa) meeting a blazing sun of dynamic energy (Indra), creating a lush valley where prayers effortlessly turn into tangible blessings.

Act 3

Securing Victory and Eternal Shelter

Verses 6, 7, 8, 9

Verse 6

तयो॒रिदव॑सा व॒यं स॒नेम॒ नि च॑ धीमहि । स्यादु॒त प्र॒रेच॑नं ॥

táyorídávasā vayám sanéma ní ca dhīmahi ǀ syā́dutá prarécanam ǁ

Verse 7

इंद्रा॑वरुण वाम॒हं हु॒वे चि॒त्राय॒ राध॑से । अ॒स्मान्त्सु जि॒ग्युष॑स्कृतं ॥

índrāvaruṇa vāmahám huvé citrā́ya rā́dhase ǀ asmā́ntsú jigyúṣaskṛtam ǁ

Verse 8

इंद्रा॑वरुण॒ नू नु वां॒ सिषा॑संतीषु धी॒ष्वा । अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतं ॥

índrāvaruṇa nū́ nú vām síṣāsantīṣu dhīṣvā́ ǀ asmábhyam śárma yacchatam ǁ

Verse 9

प्र वा॑मश्नोतु सुष्टु॒तिरिंद्रा॑वरुण॒ यां हु॒वे । यामृ॒धाथे॑ स॒धस्तु॑तिं ॥

prá vāmaśnotu suṣṭutíríndrāvaruṇa yā́m huvé ǀ yā́mṛdhā́the sadhástutim ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In the final movement of the Sūkta, the Ṛṣi consolidates the fruits of his invocation. He affirms that through the protection of Indra and Varuṇa, humanity can successfully acquire divine treasures and establish them firmly within their hearts. The prayer takes on an urgent, triumphant tone in verse 7: 'Make us conquerors!' The poet recognizes that spiritual and material battles require divine alignment to achieve ultimate victory ('jigyuṣaskṛtam'). The concluding verses weave together the themes of eager prayers ('sisāsantīṣu dhīṣu') and the ultimate petition for 'śarma'—a term denoting ultimate shelter, peace, and safety. The Ṛṣi closes with a profound wish that his well-crafted hymn ('suṣṭutiḥ') may fully reach the deities, creating an unbroken loop of praise, divine reception, and overflowing grace.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 6: Through their protection may we attain and firmly hold wealth, and may there be an abundant surplus of grace.

Verse 7: O Indra and Varuṇa, I invoke you both for wondrous bounty; make us truly victorious!

Verse 8: O Indra and Varuṇa, again and again in our eager prayers, grant unto us ultimate shelter and peace.

Verse 9: May our well-crafted hymn of praise reach you both, O Indra and Varuṇa, which I invoke—the shared praise which you have ever prospered.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Traditional commentators highlight 'śarma' not merely as physical shelter, but as an all-encompassing divine sanctuary of peace and happiness. Yāska notes that 'sadhastuti' points to the unified invocation of dual deities in a single ritual space.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
तयोः	tayoḥ	of those two
इत्	it	indeed, precisely
अवसा	avasā	with the help/protection
वयम्	vayam	we
सनेम	sanema	may we win/gain
नि च धीमहि	ni ca dhīmahi	and may we lay hold of/establish within
स्यात्	syāt	may there be
उत	uta	and also
प्ररेचनम्	prarecanam	surplus, overflowing abundance

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
इन्द्रावरुणा	indrāvaruṇā	O Indra and Varuṇa
वाम्	vām	you two
अहम्	aham	I
हुवे	huve	I invoke
चित्राय	citrāya	for wondrous, variegated
राधसे	rādhase	for bounty/gift
अस्मान्	asmān	us
सु	su	well, truly
जिग्युषः	jigyuṣaḥ	victorious ones
कृतम्	kṛtam	make, render (dual)

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
इन्द्रावरुणा	indrāvaruṇā	O Indra and Varuṇa
नु नु	nu nu	now and again, repeatedly
वाम्	vām	to you two
सिसासन्तीषु	sisāsantīṣu	in those desirous of gaining/winning
धीषु	dhīṣu	in prayers/thoughts
आ	ā	directional prefix
अस्मभ्यम्	asmabhyam	to us
शर्म	śarma	shelter, refuge, bliss
यच्छतम्	yacchatam	bestow, grant (dual)

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
प्र	pra	forth, forward
वाम्	vām	to you two
अश्नोतु	aśnotu	may it reach
सुस्तुतिः	su-stutiḥ	the well-composed hymn of praise
इन्द्रावरुणा	indrāvaruṇā	O Indra and Varuṇa
याम्	yām	which
हुवे	huve	I invoke/recite
ऋधाथे	ṛdhāthe	you two make prosperous/grow
सधस्तुतिम्	sadha-stutim	joint praise, collective laudation

🧠

Memory Hook

Visualize a triumphant archer whose arrow (the hymn) flies straight and true into the heart of heaven, returning instantly laden with shields of protection ('śarma') and crowns of victory ('jigyuṣaskṛtam').