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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

Rigveda Maṇḍala 1, Sūkta 30: The Invocation of Indra, the Aśvins, and Uṣas

📜 22 Verses

Act 1

Act I: Invoking the Hundred-Gifted Indra

Verses 1, 2, 3

Verse 1

आ व॒ इंद्रं॒ क्रिविं॑ यथा वाज॒यंतः॑ श॒तक्र॑तुं । मंहि॑ष्ठं सिंच॒ इंदु॑भिः ॥

ā́ va índram krívim yathā vājayántaḥ śatákratum ǀ máṃhiṣṭham siñca índubhiḥ ǁ

Verse 2

श॒तं वा॒ यः शुची॑नां स॒हस्रं॑ वा॒ समा॑शिरां । एदु॑ नि॒म्नं न री॑यते ॥

śatám vā yáḥ śúcīnām sahásram vā sámāśirām ǀ édu nimnám ná rīyate ǁ

Verse 3

सं यन्मदा॑य शु॒ष्मिण॑ ए॒ना ह्य॑स्यो॒दरे॑ । स॒मु॒द्रो न व्यचो॑ द॒धे ॥

sám yánmádāya śuṣmíṇa enā́ hyásyodáre ǀ samudró ná vyáco dadhé ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi summons Indra, the master of a hundred powers (śatakratu), likening the outpouring of soma libations to a rushing river. Just as tributaries merge into a mighty ocean, the offerings of the devoted flood into Indra's divine belly, satisfying his dynamic, invigorating force. The imagery is visceral and grand: the divine energy is not static but active, roaring like a torrent of pure consciousness into the cosmic vessel of the deity.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: As those who strive for abundance, pour out the flowing soma for Indra, the hundred-gifted, the most munificent.

Verse 2: Whether a hundred or a thousand pure mixtures are pressed, they flow swiftly down like rivers to a low place.

Verse 3: When these offerings enter his vigorous belly for the sake of exhilaration, they hold vastness like the ocean.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets these verses purely through the lens of ritual sacrifice, where the soma juice is poured into the fire or consumed by priests. Mystical commentators like Sri Aurobindo see the 'soma' as the flowing ecstasy of divine delight, and Indra's belly as the vast, receptive consciousness capable of holding universal bliss.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
इन्द्रम्	indram	Indra, the king of deities and lord of divine power
शतक्रतुम्	śatakratum	possessing a hundred powers or wisdoms
मंहिष्ठम्	maṃhiṣṭham	most bountiful or generous

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
शुचीनाम्	śucīnām	of pure, bright offerings
निम्नम्	nimnam	downward slope or low ground
रीयते	rīyate	flows or streams forth

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
शुष्मिणे	śuṣmiṇe	to the vigorous, strong one
उदरे	udare	in the belly or receptacle
समुद्रः	samudraḥ	ocean, gathering of waters

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a mountain stream rushing irresistibly downward into a vast, deep ocean — that is how the streams of soma pour directly into Indra's boundless inner vessel.

Act 2

Act II: The Companionable Bond of Prayer

Verses 4, 5, 6, 7

Verse 4

अ॒यमु॑ ते॒ सम॑तसि क॒पोत॑ इव गर्भ॒धिं । वच॒स्तच्चि॑न्न ओहसे ॥

ayámu te sámatasi kapóta iva garbhadhím ǀ vácastáccinna ohase ǁ

Verse 5

स्तो॒त्रं रा॑धानां पते॒ गिर्वा॑हो वीर॒ यस्य॑ ते । विभू॑तिरस्तु सू॒नृता॑ ॥

stotrám rādhānām pate gírvāho vīra yásya te ǀ víbhūtirastu sūnṛ́tā ǁ

Verse 6

ऊ॒र्ध्वस्ति॑ष्ठा न ऊ॒तये॒ऽस्मिन्वाजे॑ शतक्रतो । सम॒न्येषु॑ ब्रवावहै ॥

ūrdhvástiṣṭhā na ūtáye’smínvā́je śatakrato ǀ sámanyéṣu bravāvahai ǁ

Verse 7

योगे॑योगे त॒वस्त॑रं॒ वाजे॑वाजे हवामहे । सखा॑य॒ इंद्र॑मू॒तये॑ ॥

yógeyoge tavástaram vā́jevāje havāmahe ǀ sákhāya índramūtáye ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Here, the relationship between the mortal sage and the divine shifts from awe-struck reverence to intimate companionship. The Ṛṣi addresses Indra as a dear friend, invoking him at every single juncture of life—'in yoga and yoga, in vāja and vāja' (in every striving and every battle for attainment). Indra is depicted not as a distant monarch, but as a reliable ally who stands tall and attentive when called upon.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 4: This prayer embraces you like a dove covering its nest, and you accept this our word.

Verse 5: O lord of bounty, bearer of the lauds, O hero, may your expanding presence and true utterance be ours.

Verse 6: Stand tall, O hundred-gifted one, for our help in this prize-winning contest, and let us converse on other matters.

Verse 7: In every single striving, in every prize-contest, we invoke Indra as friends for our protection.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The phrase 'yoge-yoge' later became foundational in the Bhagavad Gītā ("yogasthā kuru karmāṇi"). While Sāyaṇa explains it as sacrificial rites, spiritual commentators see it as the application of spiritual discipline in all life situations.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
कपोतः	kapotaḥ	dove or pigeon
गर्भधिम्	garbhadhim	nest or receptacle for offspring
ओहसे	ohase	you welcome or accept

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
गिर्वाहः	girvāhaḥ	conveyed or praised by hymns
विभूतिः	vibhūtiḥ	manifestation, expanding power
सूनृता	sūnṛtā	truthful speech, joyful utterance

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
ऊर्ध्वः	ūrdhvaḥ	upright, standing tall
ऊतये	ūtaye	for protection or help
ब्रवावहै	bravāvahai	let us speak or confer together

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
योगेयोगे	yoge-yoge	in every application, endeavor, or yoga
तवस्तमम्	tavaḥ-taram	most strong or powerful
सखायः	sakhāyaḥ	friends, companions

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine a loyal comrade standing shoulder to shoulder with you in every challenge of life — that is the intimate friendship the Ṛṣi claims with Indra in every 'yoge-yoge'.

Act 3

Act III: The Ancient Lineage of Praise

Verses 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Verse 8

आ घा॑ गम॒द्यदि॒ श्रव॑त्सह॒स्रिणी॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । वाजे॑भि॒रुप॑ नो॒ हवं॑ ॥

ā́ ghā gamadyádi śrávatsahasríṇībhirūtíbhiḥ ǀ vā́jebhirúpa no hávam ǁ

Verse 9

अनु॑ प्र॒त्नस्यौक॑सो हु॒वे तु॑विप्र॒तिं नरं॑ । यं ते॒ पूर्वं॑ पि॒ता हु॒वे ॥

ánu pratnásyáukaso huvé tuvipratím náram ǀ yám te pū́rvam pitā́ huvé ǁ

Verse 10

तं त्वा॑ व॒यं वि॑श्ववा॒रा शा॑स्महे पुरुहूत । सखे॑ वसो जरि॒तृभ्यः॑ ॥

tám tvā vayám viśvavārā́ śāsmahe puruhūta ǀ sákhe vaso jaritṛ́bhyaḥ ǁ

Verse 11

अ॒स्माकं॑ शि॒प्रिणी॑नां॒ सोम॑पाः सोम॒पाव्नां॑ । सखे॑ वज्रि॒न्त्सखी॑नां ॥

asmā́kam śipríṇīnām sómapāḥ somapā́vnām ǀ sákhe vajrintsákhīnām ǁ

Verse 12

तथा॒ तद॑स्तु सोमपाः॒ सखे॑ वज्रि॒न्तथा॑ कृणु । यथा॑ त उ॒श्मसी॒ष्टये॑ ॥

táthā tádastu somapāḥ sákhe vajrintáthā kṛṇu ǀ yáthā ta uśmásīṣṭáye ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Ṛṣi connects his current invocation to an ancestral lineage of devotion, recalling how his fathers before him called upon the same fierce protector. He pleads with Indra to come swiftly with thousands of helpful energies. Addressing him as 'Vajrin' (wielder of the thunderbolt) and 'Sakhe' (friend), the poet establishes a familial and generational covenant between humanity and the divine.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 8: May he come hither, hearing our call, with thousands of protective aids and bounties.

Verse 9: Following the ancient home, I invoke the mighty-adversary hero whom your father of old invoked.

Verse 10: Him, you all-desirable one, do we entreat, O much-invoked friend and treasure-lord, on behalf of the singers.

Verse 11: O friend with handsome jaws, drinker of soma among soma-drinkers, O wielder of the bolt, friend of friends.

Verse 12: O soma-drinking friend, wielder of the bolt, let it be so, and so fashion it that we may attain our desire.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The mention of the 'ancient home' and the 'father' reflects the deep oral tradition of the Ṛṣis, who viewed their mantras as eternal truths rediscovered across generations.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
श्रवत्	śravat	hearing or giving ear
सहस्रिणीभिः	sahasriṇībhiḥ	accompanied by thousands
हवम्	havam	call, invocation

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
प्रत्नस्य	pratnasya	ancient, primordial
ओकसः	okasaḥ	abode, home
तुविप्रतिम्	tuvi-pratim	resisting many foes, mighty adversary

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
विश्ववार	viśva-vāra	chosen by all, all-desirable
पुरुहूत	puru-hūta	invoked by many
जरितृभ्यः	jaritṛbhyaḥ	for the chanters or singers

Verse 11

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
शिप्रीणिनाम्	śipriṇīnām	possessing prominent cheeks or visors
सोमपाः	somapāḥ	drinker of soma
वज्रिन्	vajrin	armed with the thunderbolt

Verse 12

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
तथा	tathā	thus, so
कृणु	kṛṇu	make, fashion, bring about
इष्टये	iṣṭaye	for the attainment of our desire

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture an heirloom passed down through generations — an ancient family amulet that still unlocks the exact same ancestral power today.

Act 4

Act IV: The Wheel of Abundance and Victory

Verses 13, 14, 15, 16

Verse 13

रे॒वती॑र्नः सध॒माद॒ इंद्रे॑ संतु तु॒विवा॑जाः । क्षु॒मंतो॒ याभि॒र्मदे॑म ॥

revátīrnaḥ sadhamā́da índre santu tuvívājāḥ ǀ kṣumánto yā́bhirmádema ǁ

Verse 14

आ घ॒ त्वावा॒न्त्मना॒प्तः स्तो॒तृभ्यो॑ धृष्णविया॒नः । ऋ॒णोरक्षं॒ न च॒क्र्योः॑ ॥

ā́ gha tvā́vāntmánāptáḥ stotṛ́bhyo dhṛṣṇaviyānáḥ ǀ ṛṇórákṣam ná cakryóḥ ǁ

Verse 15

आ यद्दुवः॑ शतक्रत॒वा कामं॑ जरितॄ॒णां । ऋ॒णोरक्षं॒ न शची॑भिः ॥

ā́ yáddúvaḥ śatakratavā́ kā́mam jaritṝṇā́m ǀ ṛṇórákṣam ná śácībhiḥ ǁ

Verse 16

शश्व॒दिंद्रः॒ पोप्रु॑थद्भिर्जिगाय॒ नान॑दद्भिः॒ शाश्व॑सद्भि॒र्धना॑नि । स नो॑ हिरण्यर॒थं दं॒सना॑वा॒न्त्स नः॑ सनि॒ता स॒नये॒ स नो॑ऽदात् ॥

śáśvadíndraḥ pópruthadbhirjigāya nā́nadadbhiḥ śā́śvasadbhirdhánāni ǀ sá no hiraṇyarathám daṃsánāvāntsá naḥ sanitā́ sanáye sá no’dāt ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Ṛṣi prays for wealth that is rich in sustenance and abundant in vigor. Using a striking mechanical metaphor, he describes Indra fulfilling the desires of the singers just as a skilled craftsman fits an axle smoothly into the two wheels of a chariot. Indra's triumphs are celebrated with charging, snorting war-horses that constantly win riches for the devoted.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 13: May those who share our joy in Indra be wealthy and rich in vigorous energy, so that we may rejoice.

Verse 14: Approaching with your own might for the chanters, you set the axle into the two chariot wheels.

Verse 15: When you fulfill the service and the desire of the chanters, O hundred-gifted one, you fix the axle like a craftsman.

Verse 16: Ever has Indra won riches with his snorting, neighing, panting war-horses; may he, the powerful one, grant us a golden chariot and win for us in the winning.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The axle-and-wheel metaphor is a favorite in the Ṛgveda, symbolizing cosmic order (ṛta) and the smooth functioning of divine grace in human life.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 13

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
रेवतीः	revatīḥ	wealthy, opulent
सधमादे	sadhamāde	sharing the same rapture or celebration
तुविवाजाः	tuvi-vājāḥ	possessing abundant strength/prizes

Verse 14

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
त्मना	tmanā	by oneself, of one's own accord
अक्षम्	akṣam	axle of a chariot
चक्र्योः	cakryoḥ	between the two wheels

Verse 15

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
दुवः	duvaḥ	service, worship, offering
कामम्	kāmam	desire, longing
शचीभिः	śacībhiḥ	by your powers or skills

Verse 16

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पोप्रुथद्भिः	popruthatbhiḥ	snorting, blowing
हिरण्यरथम्	hiraṇya-ratham	golden chariot
सनिता	sanitā	winner, bestower of gains

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a master carpenter seamlessly sliding a polished axle into spinning chariot wheels — that is how precisely and effortlessly Indra aligns our desires with divine fulfillment.

Act 5

Act V: The Golden Chariot of the Aśvins

Verses 17, 18, 19

Verse 17

आश्वि॑ना॒वश्वा॑वत्ये॒षा या॑तं॒ शवी॑रया । गोम॑द्दस्रा॒ हिर॑ण्यवत् ॥

ā́śvināváśvāvatyeṣā́ yātam śávīrayā ǀ gómaddasrā híraṇyavat ǁ

Verse 18

स॒मा॒नयो॑जनो॒ हि वाँ॒ रथो॑ दस्रा॒वम॑र्त्यः । स॒मु॒द्रे अ॑श्वि॒नेय॑ते ॥

samānáyojano hí vām rátho dasrāvámartyaḥ ǀ samudré aśvinéyate ǁ

Verse 19

न्य१॒॑घ्न्यस्य॑ मू॒र्धनि॑ च॒क्रं रथ॑स्य येमथुः । परि॒ द्याम॒न्यदी॑यते ॥

nyághnyásya mūrdháni cakrám ráthasya yemathuḥ ǀ pári dyā́manyádīyate ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The focus now shifts seamlessly to the Aśvins, the divine twin horsemen of dawn and healing. The Ṛṣi invites them forward with an abundance of horses, cattle, and gold. Their immortal chariot, yoked by a single principle, traverses both the earthly ocean and the vast expanse of the sky, placing its wheels even upon the head of the mysterious mountain.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 17: O Aśvins, come hither with a powerful refreshment rich in horses, cattle, and gold, O Dasras.

Verse 18: Immortal is your chariot, O Dasras, sharing a single yoke, moving across the cosmic ocean.

Verse 19: You place the wheel of your chariot upon the head of the mountain, while the other moves around the sky.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The 'aghnya' here is traditionally explained as the cloud or a symbolic mountain representing earthly obstacles over which the divine healing energies of the Aśvins triumph.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 17

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अश्विनौ	aśvinau	the two horsemen, the Aśvins
शवीरया	śavīrayā	powerful, strong
हिरण्यवत्	hiraṇya-vat	rich in gold

Verse 18

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
समानयोजनः	samāna-yojanaḥ	having a common yoking or principle
अमर्त्यः	amartyaḥ	immortal, deathless
समुद्रे	samudre	in the ocean or cosmic waters

Verse 19

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अघ्न्यस्य	aghnyasya	of the inviolate cloud/mountain
मूर्धनि	mūrdhani	on the head or summit
येमथुः	yemathuḥ	you hold, direct, or place

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture twin riders galloping across the horizon at twilight, one wheel touching the earth's highest peak while the other circles the starry sky.

Act 6

Act VI: The Awakening of Uṣas and the Gift of Light

Verses 20, 21, 22

Verse 20

कस्त॑ उषः कधप्रिये भु॒जे मर्तो॑ अमर्त्ये । कं न॑क्षसे विभावरि ॥

kásta uṣaḥ kadhapriye bhujé márto amartye ǀ kám nakṣase vibhāvari ǁ

Verse 21

व॒यं हि ते॒ अम॑न्म॒ह्यांता॒दा प॑रा॒कात् । अश्वे॒ न चि॑त्रे अरुषि ॥

vayám hí te ámanmahyā́ntādā́ parākā́t ǀ áśve ná citre aruṣi ǁ

Verse 22

त्वं त्येभि॒रा ग॑हि॒ वाजे॑भिर्दुहितर्दिवः । अ॒स्मे र॒यिं नि धा॑रय ॥

tvám tyébhirā́ gahi vā́jebhirduhitardivaḥ ǀ asmé rayím ní dhāraya ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Sūkta culminates with a hymn to Uṣas, the radiant Dawn. The Ṛṣi asks what mortal is privileged to enjoy her immortal radiance, expressing how deeply humanity has perceived her coming from near and far. Finally, he begs the daughter of heaven to bring her blazing, horse-drawn treasures and establish lasting wealth among the mortal worshippers.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 20: O Uṣas, lover of songs, immortal dawn, what mortal enjoys you, and whom do you visit, O radiant one?

Verse 21: We have indeed perceived you from near and from afar, like a flashing, ruddy mare.

Verse 22: O daughter of heaven, come hither with those same splendors, and establish lasting wealth among us.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Uṣas is consistently addressed as the 'daughter of heaven' (duhitā divaḥ) in the Ṛgveda, representing the first awakening of spiritual illumination in the human heart before the full sun of higher consciousness arises.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 20

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
उषः	uṣaḥ	O Dawn
कधप्रिये	kadha-priye	fond of hymns or praise
विभावरि	vibhāvari	radiant, shining brightly

Verse 21

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अमन्महि	amanmahi	we have known or perceived
पराकात्	parākāt	from afar
अरुषि	aruṣi	ruddy, reddish (referring to the dawn mare)

Verse 22

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
दुहितः दिवः	duhitaḥ divaḥ	O daughter of heaven
रयिम्	rayim	wealth, treasure
नि धारय	ni dhāraya	hold fast, establish firmly

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a magnificent red mare galloping out of the starry night, her mane scattering golden light across the waking world — that is Uṣas bringing divine wealth.