Verses 1, 2
मा नो॑ अ॒स्मिन्म॑घवन्पृ॒त्स्वंह॑सि न॒हि ते॒ अंतः॒ शव॑सः परी॒णशे॑ । अक्रं॑दयो न॒द्यो॒३॒॑ रोरु॑व॒द्वना॑ क॒था न क्षो॒णीर्भि॒यसा॒ समा॑रत ॥
mā́ no asmínmaghavanpṛtsváṃhasi nahí te ántaḥ śávasaḥ parīṇáśe ǀ ákrandayo nadyó róruvadvánā kathā́ ná kṣoṇī́rbhiyásā sámārata ǁ
अर्चा॑ श॒क्राय॑ शा॒किने॒ शची॑वते शृ॒ण्वंत॒मिंद्रं॑ म॒हय॑न्न॒भि ष्टु॑हि । यो धृ॒ष्णुना॒ शव॑सा॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे वृषा॑ वृष॒त्वा वृ॑ष॒भो न्यृं॒जते॑ ॥
árcā śakrā́ya śākíne śácīvate śṛṇvántamíndram maháyannabhí ṣṭuhi ǀ yó dhṛṣṇúnā śávasā ródasī ubhé vṛ́ṣā vṛṣatvā́ vṛṣabhó nyṛñjáte ǁ
In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi invokes Indra, the bountiful Maghavan, painting a picture of supreme power that shakes the very earth and heavens. The poet pleads for protection in tight places and battles, reminding us that Indra's vast energy has no known boundary or limit. The imagery is wild and elemental: rivers crying out, forests resounding, and the firm earth trembling in awe of the divine warrior's stride. We are then urged to chant praises to Śakra—the mighty, dynamic, and radiant hero. Indra is portrayed not merely as a localized deity, but as the cosmic bull whose virility and unshakeable strength span both worlds, holding and shaping them with sheer divine force.
Verse 1: Protect us, O Bountiful One, in our trials and narrow straits; truly, the limit of your power can never be measured. The rivers cry out, the forests roar, and the solid earth shakes in mortal awe before your might.
Verse 2: Chant praise to Śakra, the energetic, the master of spiritual might, and laud Indra who listens to his worshippers. With bold strength he encompasses both realms, the cosmic bull whose dynamic power fills the universe.
Sāyaṇa interprets 'aṃhasi' as distress or narrow straits in battle, whereas Sri Aurobindo sees it as the psychological obstacles and limitations on the spiritual path that the divine force shatters.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| मघवन् | maghavan | O Bountiful One, possessor of riches or munificence |
| शवसः | śavasaḥ | of might, power, or energy |
| नद्यः | nadyaḥ | rivers |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| शक्राय | śakrāya | to Śakra (the mighty one) |
| शचीवते | śacīvate | endowed with power or vital energy (śacī) |
| रोदसी | rodasī | the two worlds: heaven and earth |
Imagine a mighty thunderclap rolling across the mountains, making rivers roar and forests tremble—this is the physical echo of Indra's boundless strength.
Verses 3, 4, 5
अर्चा॑ दि॒वे बृ॑ह॒ते शू॒ष्यं१॒॑ वचः॒ स्वक्ष॑त्रं॒ यस्य॑ धृष॒तो धृ॒षन्मनः॑ । बृ॒हच्छ्र॑वा॒ असु॑रो ब॒र्हणा॑ कृ॒तः पु॒रो हरि॑भ्यां वृष॒भो रथो॒ हि षः ॥
árcā divé bṛhaté śūṣyám vácaḥ svákṣatram yásya dhṛṣató dhṛṣánmánaḥ ǀ bṛhácchravā ásuro barháṇā kṛtáḥ puró háribhyām vṛṣabhó rátho hí ṣáḥ ǁ
त्वं दि॒वो बृ॑ह॒तः सानु॑ कोप॒योऽव॒ त्मना॑ धृष॒ता शंब॑रं भिनत् । यन्मा॒यिनो॑ व्रं॒दिनो॑ मं॒दिना॑ धृ॒षच्छि॒तां गभ॑स्तिम॒शनिं॑ पृत॒न्यसि॑ ॥
tvám divó bṛhatáḥ sā́nu kopayó’va tmánā dhṛṣatā́ śámbaram bhinat ǀ yánmāyíno vrandíno mandínā dhṛṣácchitā́m gábhastimaśánim pṛtanyási ǁ
नि यद्वृ॒णक्षि॑ श्वस॒नस्य॑ मू॒र्धनि॒ शुष्ण॑स्य चिद्व्रं॒दिनो॒ रोरु॑व॒द्वना॑ । प्रा॒चीने॑न॒ मन॑सा ब॒र्हणा॑वता॒ यद॒द्या चि॑त्कृ॒णवः॒ कस्त्वा॒ परि॑ ॥
ní yádvṛṇákṣi śvasanásya mūrdháni śúṣṇasya cidvrandíno róruvadvánā ǀ prācī́nena mánasā barháṇāvatā yádadyā́ citkṛṇávaḥ kástvā pári ǁ
The Sūkta deepens into descriptions of Indra's divine status as an Asura—not in the later demonic sense, but as a mighty lord possessing supreme spiritual breath and sovereignty. His chariot, drawn by the swift Hari horses, stands ready for the conquest of darkness. The Ṛṣi recalls legendary victories, especially how Indra shook the heights of heaven to crush the obstructive demon Śambara. Śambara represents the illusions (māyā) and psychological barriers that obstruct light and freedom. With his sharp, lightning-like weapon, Indra pierces these falsehoods. His descent into the hidden lair of Śuṣṇa—the demon of drought and dryness—demonstrates how the divine power penetrates stubborn spiritual resistance and releases the life-giving waters of truth.
Verse 3: Sing an inspiring hymn to the exalted heaven; his is the true dominion, and his mind is ever bold and fearless. Famed afar, he is the great Lord by his own majesty, and his chariot with its bay steeds speeds forth.
Verse 4: You made the peak of high heaven quake, and by your own will you crushed Śambara. When the deceitful and trembling ones rise, you hurl your sharp, deadly thunderbolt with your own hand against them.
Verse 5: When you plant your foot upon the head of roaring Śuṣṇa, while the forests resound, with a resolute mind and matching grandeur you achieve today what none can prevent.
Yāska and traditional commentators treat Śambara and Śuṣṇa as historical or mythical enemies vanquished by Indra in the sky, while psychological interpreters view them as personifications of ignorance and egoistic resistance.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| बृहते | bṛhate | to the vast, great, or high |
| असुरः | asuraḥ | lord, possessing divine breath or spiritual might |
| हरिभ्याम् | haribhyām | with the two bay steeds |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| शंबरम् | śambaram | Śambara (name of a demon defeated by Indra) |
| मायिनः | māyinaḥ | full of wiles, deceitful sorcerers |
| अशनिम् | aśanim | the thunderbolt or missile |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| शुष्णस्य | śuṣṇasya | of Śuṣṇa (the drought demon) |
| मूर्धनि | mūrdhani | on the head or summit |
| प्राचीनेन | prācīnena | with forward-looking, eastward, or straight mind |
Visualize a golden chariot descending from a stormy mountain peak, with a flashing thunderbolt shattering a dark fortress of ice and stone.
Verses 6, 7, 8, 9
त्वमा॑विथ॒ नर्यं॑ तु॒र्वशं॒ यदुं॒ त्वं तु॒र्वीतिं॑ व॒य्यं॑ शतक्रतो । त्वं रथ॒मेत॑शं॒ कृत्व्ये॒ धने॒ त्वं पुरो॑ नव॒तिं दं॑भयो॒ नव॑ ॥
tvámāvitha náryam turváśam yádum tvám turvī́tim vayyám śatakrato ǀ tvám ráthamétaśam kṛ́tvye dháne tvám púro navatím dambhayo náva ǁ
स घा॒ राजा॒ सत्प॑तिः शूशुव॒ज्जनो॑ रा॒तह॑व्यः॒ प्रति॒ यः शास॒मिन्व॑ति । उ॒क्था वा॒ यो अ॑भिगृ॒णाति॒ राध॑सा॒ दानु॑रस्मा॒ उप॑रा पिन्वते दि॒वः ॥
sá ghā rā́jā sátpatiḥ śūśuvajjáno rātáhavyaḥ práti yáḥ śā́samínvati ǀ ukthā́ vā yó abhigṛṇā́ti rā́dhasā dā́nurasmā úparā pinvate diváḥ ǁ
अस॑मं क्ष॒त्रमस॑मा मनी॒षा प्र सो॑म॒पा अप॑सा संतु॒ नेमे॑ । ये त॑ इंद्र द॒दुषो॑ व॒र्धयं॑ति॒ महि॑ क्ष॒त्रं स्थवि॑रं॒ वृष्ण्यं॑ च ॥
ásamam kṣatrámásamā manīṣā́ prá somapā́ ápasā santu néme ǀ yé ta indra dadúṣo vardháyanti máhi kṣatrám stháviram vṛ́ṣṇyam ca ǁ
तुभ्येदे॒ते ब॑हु॒ला अद्रि॑दुग्धाश्चमू॒षद॑श्चम॒सा इं॑द्र॒पानाः॑ । व्य॑श्नुहि त॒र्पया॒ काम॑मेषा॒मथा॒ मनो॑ वसु॒देया॑य कृष्व ॥
túbhyédeté bahulā́ ádridugdhāścamūṣádaścamasā́ indrapā́nāḥ ǀ vyáśnuhi tarpáyā kā́mameṣāmáthā máno vasudéyāya kṛṣva ǁ
Indra is not distant; he actively helps his mortal protégés through their political and spiritual contests. The poet reminds Indra of how he aided Narya, Turvaśa, Yadu, and Turvīti, and how he propelled the chariot of Etaśa in the great contest of light. These names evoke historical or legendary alliances where divine grace tipped the scales toward victory. Because of this unfailing support, the true worshipper—one who offers oblations and hymns—shines as a king and protector of men. The Ṛṣi celebrates the unmatched dominion and wisdom of Indra, inviting him to drink deeply from the Soma bowls pressed by stones. The prayer is a warm, reciprocal exchange: 'Drink your fill, O Indra, and then turn your generous mind toward granting us wealth.'
Verse 6: You aided Narya, Turvaśa, and Yadu; you helped Turvīti and Vayya, O Śatakratu. You guided the chariot of Etaśa in the fierce contest, and you brought low ninety-nine fortresses.
Verse 7: Truly that man shines as a king, a lord of men, rich in oblations, who fosters sacred law. To him who sings praises with wealth, the rich streams of heaven flow down continuously.
Verse 8: Unmatched is his rule, unmatched his wisdom; let the Soma-drinkers forge ahead through hard work, for they are the ones who, O Indra, enlarge your vast, unshakeable majesty and manly power.
Verse 9: For you alone are these abundant cups, pressed by the stones, resting in the vats, meant for Indra's drinking. Drink your fill, satisfy your desire with them, and then set your mind upon bestowing wealth upon us.
Sāyaṇa focuses on the ritual preparation of Soma and historical alliances of Vedic clans, while Sri Aurobindo emphasizes the inner dedication of soul-powers (the Soma) to the divine consciousness in exchange for spiritual illumination.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| तुर्वशम् | turvaśam | Turvaśa (name of an ancient prince/tribe) |
| शतक्रतो | śatakrato | O Indra, possessing a hundred powers or insights |
| पुरः | puraḥ | strongholds, citadels, or cities |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| सत्पतिः | satpatiḥ | lord of the true or lord of heroes |
| रातहव्यः | rāta-havyaḥ | one who has offered oblations |
| पिन्वते | pinvate | swell, overflow, stream forth |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| असमम् | asamam | unequalled, peerless |
| सोमपाः | soma-pāḥ | drinkers of Soma |
| वृष्ण्यम् | vṛṣṇyam | virility, heroic power |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अद्रिदुग्धाः | adri-dugdhāḥ | milked by the pressing stones |
| चमसाः | camasāḥ | vessels or cups for ritual liquor |
| वसुदेयाय | vasu-deyāya | for the distribution or gift of wealth/good things |
Picture a lavish banquet table where cups of golden nectar overflow, offered by loyal allies to a king who in return pours out treasures from his royal treasury.
Verses 10, 11
अ॒पाम॑तिष्ठद्ध॒रुण॑ह्वरं॒ तमो॒ऽंतर्वृ॒त्रस्य॑ ज॒ठरे॑षु॒ पर्व॑तः । अ॒भीमिंद्रो॑ न॒द्यो॑ व॒व्रिणा॑ हि॒ता विश्वा॑ अनु॒ष्ठाः प्र॑व॒णेषु॑ जिघ्नते ॥
apā́matiṣṭhaddharúṇahvaram támo’ntárvṛtrásya jaṭháreṣu párvataḥ ǀ abhī́míndro nadyó vavríṇā hitā́ víśvā anuṣṭhā́ḥ pravaṇéṣu jighnate ǁ
स शेवृ॑ध॒मधि॑ धा द्यु॒म्नम॒स्मे महि॑ क्ष॒त्रं ज॑ना॒षाळिं॑द्र॒ तव्यं॑ । रक्षा॑ च नो म॒घोनः॑ पा॒हि सू॒रीन्रा॒ये च॑ नः स्वप॒त्या इ॒षे धाः॑ ॥
sá śévṛdhamádhi dhā dyumnámasmé máhi kṣatrám janāṣā́ḷindra távyam ǀ rákṣā ca no maghónaḥ pāhí sūrī́nrāyé ca naḥ svapatyā́ iṣé dhāḥ ǁ
The Sūkta reaches its climax by recalling the grand cosmic myth: the waters, trapped by darkness inside the belly of Vṛtra and held back by the mountain, were freed by Indra. The cloud-mountain was pierced, and all the captive rivers rushed down the slopes. This mythological event symbolizes the breaking of existential blockages and the release of divine consciousness. In the concluding verse, the Ṛṣi turns this grand cosmic vision into a personal and communal blessing. He asks Indra to establish supreme vigor and dynamic strength among the worshippers. He pleads for protection over their patrons and begs for radiant wealth, noble offspring, and enduring spiritual nourishment.
Verse 10: Darkness, hiding the waters in a crooked abyss, stood fast within the belly of Vṛtra like a mountain. But Indra smote them; the captive rivers, and all the flowing streams, burst forth and rushed down the slopes.
Verse 11: Bestow upon us that growth-giving radiance, that mighty and conquering dominion, O Indra! Protect our patrons, guard our sages, and grant us wealth coupled with noble progeny and full vitality.
Sāyaṇa interprets the waters literally as rain and rivers released for agriculture, whereas Yāska and later spiritual commentators view the 'waters' (āpaḥ) as streams of divine consciousness and grace liberated from the grip of ignorance.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| धरुणह्वरम् | dharuṇa-hvaram | holding-abyss, crooked hiding place |
| वृत्रस्य | vṛtrasya | of Vṛtra (the obstructer) |
| प्रवणेषु | pravaṇeṣu | downward slopes, declivities |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| शेवृधम् | śevṛdham | fostering welfare, growth-giving |
| जनाषाट् | janāṣāṭ | conquering foes or ruling men |
| सुअपत्यै | su-apatyai | for good offspring or spiritual descendants |
Visualize a massive dam breaking open after a long drought, sending sparkling waterfalls cascading down green mountain slopes into fertile valleys.