Verses 1, 2
दि॒वश्चि॑दस्य वरि॒मा वि प॑प्रथ॒ इंद्रं॒ न म॒ह्ना पृ॑थि॒वी च॒न प्रति॑ । भी॒मस्तुवि॑ष्मांचर्ष॒णिभ्य॑ आत॒पः शिशी॑ते॒ वज्रं॒ तेज॑से॒ न वंस॑गः ॥
diváścidasya varimā́ ví papratha índram ná mahnā́ pṛthivī́ caná práti ǀ bhīmástúviṣmāñcarṣaṇíbhya ātapáḥ śíśīte vájram téjase ná váṃsagaḥ ǁ
सो अ॑र्ण॒वो न न॒द्यः॑ समु॒द्रियः॒ प्रति॑ गृभ्णाति॒ विश्रि॑ता॒ वरी॑मभिः । इंद्रः॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ वृषायते स॒नात्स यु॒ध्म ओज॑सा पनस्यते ॥
só arṇavó ná nadyáḥ samudríyaḥ práti gṛbhṇāti víśritā várīmabhiḥ ǀ índraḥ sómasya pītáye vṛṣāyate sanā́tsá yudhmá ójasā panasyate ǁ
In these opening verses of Sūkta 55, the Ṛṣi confronts the immense, overwhelming magnitude of Indra. Even the vast earth and the expansive heavens cannot match the sheer greatness of this deity. Indra is portrayed as a formidable, blazing force among mortals, sharpening his thunderbolt like a fierce bull to demonstrate his supreme brilliance and cosmic power. He receives the flowing, surging streams of Soma just as the ocean takes in rushing rivers from all directions, awakening his primordial, energetic zeal for the divine intoxication. Here, the Ṛṣi draws upon raw natural imagery—rushing floods, scorching heat, towering skies, and sharpening weapons—to evoke a sense of awe. Indra is not merely a localized weather god; he is the embodiment of dynamic, uncontainable energy that sustains the cosmos and overwhelms every earthly limitation.
Verse 1: Even the broad sky cannot match the measure of your greatness, O Indra, nor can the wide earth; formidable and blazing among peoples, you sharpen your thunderbolt for brilliance like a fierce bull.
Verse 2: Like the ocean taking in rushing rivers with its expansive waters, Indra eagerly accepts the flowing Soma for drinking; from ancient times, this fierce lord is praised for his overwhelming might.
Sāyaṇa interprets the cosmic comparisons literally in terms of physical geography and ritual offering, while psychological commentators like Sri Aurobindo view the 'ocean' and 'rivers' as symbols of the vast, flowing consciousness of divine delight (Soma) absorbed by the illumined mind.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| वरिमा | varimā | breadth, expanse, or magnitude |
| वि पप्रथे | ví paprathe | has spread out, extended widely |
| वज्रम् | vájram | the thunderbolt, Indra's weapon of light and force |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अर्णवः | arṇavaḥ | surging flood, ocean |
| समुद्रियः | samudriyaḥ | pertaining to the sea or ocean |
| वृषायते | vṛṣāyate | acts like a bull, behaves with vigor and virility |
Picture a boundless ocean swallowing roaring rivers effortlessly, while a massive bull sharpens its horns against a boulder—this is the sheer, unstoppable scale of Indra's majesty.
Verses 3, 4
त्वं तमिं॑द्र॒ पर्व॑तं॒ न भोज॑से म॒हो नृ॒म्णस्य॒ धर्म॑णामिरज्यसि । प्र वी॒र्ये॑ण दे॒वताति॑ चेकिते॒ विश्व॑स्मा उ॒ग्रः कर्म॑णे पु॒रोहि॑तः ॥
tvám támindra párvatam ná bhójase mahó nṛmṇásya dhármaṇāmirajyasi ǀ prá vīryéṇa devátā́ti cekite víśvasmā ugráḥ kármaṇe puróhitaḥ ǁ
स इद्वने॑ नम॒स्युभि॑र्वचस्यते॒ चारु॒ जने॑षु प्रब्रुवा॒ण इं॑द्रि॒यं । वृषा॒ छंदु॑र्भवति हर्य॒तो वृषा॒ क्षेमे॑ण॒ धेनां॑ म॒घवा॒ यदिन्व॑ति ॥
sá ídváne namasyúbhirvacasyate cā́ru jáneṣu prabruvāṇá indriyám ǀ vṛ́ṣā chándurbhavati haryató vṛ́ṣā kṣémeṇa dhénām maghávā yádínvati ǁ
Moving deeper into the hymn, the Ṛṣi addresses Indra as the unshakable mountain of strength, holding up the laws of cosmic abundance and dynamic power. Indra stands at the forefront of every divine activity, a fierce protector and initiator of heroic deeds. He shines brilliantly among humankind, speaking words of grace and holding the essence of leadership. These verses highlight Indra's dual role as both a transcendent cosmic pillar and an immanent guide within human society. When the generous lord advances with the protective shelter of his grace, he nourishes the devotional prayers of his worshippers like a refreshing, life-giving rain.
Verse 3: You, O Indra, rule like an immovable mountain for our enjoyment by the law of your mighty energy; preeminent in heroic vigor among the gods, you stand forward as the fierce champion for every noble work.
Verse 4: He indeed speaks wonderfully among the peoples, proclaiming his divine power; radiant and bountiful, he becomes a sheltering protection when the generous lord fosters our devotional prayer.
Traditional commentary links 'purohita' directly to the ritual fire-priest, while esoteric readings see it as the divine intelligence placed at the 'front' of human consciousness to lead it through spiritual battles.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| पर्वतम् | párvatam | mountain, rock (symbol of stability and firmness) |
| नृम्णस्य | nṛmṇasya | of heroic might or manly strength |
| पुरोहितः | purohitaḥ | placed in front, leader, foremost priest or champion |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| इन्द्रियम् | indriyam | the quality, power, or domain of Indra |
| मघवा | maghavā | the bountiful one, possessor of riches |
| धेनाम् | dhenām | milch cow, nourishing stream or prayer |
Imagine a towering, unshakeable mountain that also speaks warm, encouraging words to travelers at its base—representing Indra's perfect balance of transcendent stability and intimate guidance.
Verses 5, 6
स इन्म॒हानि॑ समि॒थानि॑ म॒ज्मना॑ कृ॒णोति॑ यु॒ध्म ओज॑सा॒ जने॑भ्यः । अधा॑ च॒न श्रद्द॑धति॒ त्विषी॑मत॒ इंद्रा॑य॒ वज्रं॑ नि॒घनि॑घ्नते व॒धं ॥
sá ínmahā́ni samithā́ni majmánā kṛṇóti yudhmá ójasā jánebhyaḥ ǀ ádhā caná śráddadhati tvíṣīmata índrāya vájram nighánighnate vadhám ǁ
स हि श्र॑व॒स्युः सद॑नानि कृ॒त्रिमा॑ क्ष्म॒या वृ॑धा॒न ओज॑सा विना॒शय॑न् । ज्योतीं॑षि कृ॒ण्वन्न॑वृ॒काणि॒ यज्य॒वेऽव॑ सु॒क्रतुः॒ सर्त॒वा अ॒पः सृ॑जत् ॥
sá hí śravasyúḥ sádanāni kṛtrímā kṣmayā́ vṛdhāná ójasā vināśáyan ǀ jyótīṃṣi kṛṇvánnavṛkā́ṇi yájyavé’va sukrátuḥ sártavā́ apáḥ sṛjat ǁ
Here, Indra steps into the thick of battle, forging immense victories through his sheer spiritual and physical force. Even when opponents doubt his brilliance, he relentlessly strikes down resistance with his vajra. He is the master of encounters who shatters artificial dwellings of darkness and liberates the trapped waters of light and consciousness for the seeker of truth. The Ṛṣi emphasizes that Indra's work is ultimately redemptive: by breaking down false structures, he releases unblemished radiances and flowing rivers of grace, ensuring that the sincere sacrificer (yajyus) walks in divine illumination.
Verse 5: He alone creates vast encounters with his mighty force for the peoples; yet even then, some scarcely place their trust in radiant Indra as he strikes down the foe with his weapon.
Verse 6: Desirous of glory, growing by the earth with his might, destroying false dwellings, and creating unhurt lights for the sacrificer, the wise one released the flowing waters.
Sāyaṇa identifies the 'artificial dwellings' as strongholds of earthly demons (asuras), whereas esoteric commentators interpret them as false mental constructs and egoistic limitations that cage the inner light.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| समिथानि | samithāni | clashes, battles, encounters |
| मज्मना | majmanā | by might, greatness, or vigor |
| निघनिघ्नते | nighanighnate | striking down repeatedly, crushing |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| कृत्रिमा | kṛtrimā | artificially constructed, false |
| अवृकाणि | avṛkāṇi | free from wolves or harm, safe, uninjured |
| सुकतुः | sukratuḥ | well-willed, wise, resourceful |
Picture a master sculptor chiseling away false stone to reveal a shining jewel, while simultaneously unlocking a dam to let clear waters rush across parched fields.
Verses 7, 8
दा॒नाय॒ मनः॑ सोमपावन्नस्तु ते॒ऽर्वांचा॒ हरी॑ वंदनश्रु॒दा कृ॑धि । यमि॑ष्ठासः॒ सार॑थयो॒ य इं॑द्र ते॒ न त्वा॒ केता॒ आ द॑भ्नुवंति॒ भूर्ण॑यः ॥
dānā́ya mánaḥ somapāvannastu te’rvā́ñcā hárī vandanaśrudā́ kṛdhi ǀ yámiṣṭhāsaḥ sā́rathayo yá indra te ná tvā kétā ā́ dabhnuvanti bhū́rṇayaḥ ǁ
अप्र॑क्षितं॒ वसु॑ बिभर्षि॒ हस्त॑यो॒रषा॑ळ्हं॒ सह॑स्त॒न्वि॑ श्रु॒तो द॑धे । आवृ॑तासोऽव॒तासो॒ न क॒र्तृभि॑स्त॒नूषु॑ ते॒ क्रत॑व इंद्र॒ भूर॑यः ॥
áprakṣitam vásu bibharṣi hástayoráṣāḷham sáhastanví śrutó dadhe ǀ ā́vṛtāso’vatā́so ná kartṛ́bhistanū́ṣu te krátava indra bhū́rayaḥ ǁ
In the concluding verses, the Ṛṣi makes a deeply personal appeal to the Soma-drinker, asking him to turn his swift, golden steeds toward the worshipper and listen to the song of praise. Indra's mind must be bent toward generous giving. He holds unexhausted, imperishable wealth in his hands and possesses an unconquerable, self-existent vigor. The Sūkta ends with a striking metaphor: Indra's divine impulses and energies (kratavas) are like bubbling, inexhaustible underground springs tapped by devoted workers, welling up endlessly within the seeker's spiritual core.
Verse 7: O drinker of Soma, let your mind be bent upon giving! Turn your two bay steeds hither, O listener to our praise, and grant our wish; your charioteers are ever swift, and no turbulent forces can ever overpower your guiding intents, O Indra.
Verse 8: You hold inexhaustible wealth in your hands, O renowned one, and you wear unconquerable might upon your body; like perennial springs opened by diggers, O Indra, your manifold powers well up within our very bodies.
While Sāyaṇa focuses on the ritual request for physical riches and cattle, Sri Aurobindo highlights the psychological depth of 'avatāsaḥ' as inexhaustible spiritual streams welling up directly in the human consciousness (tanūṣu).
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| सोमपावन् | somapāvan | O drinker of Soma |
| हरী | harī | the two bay horses of Indra |
| भूर्णयः | bhūrṇayaḥ | turbulent, restless, raging |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अप्रक्षितम् | aprakṣitam | undiminished, unexhausted, inexhaustible |
| अवतासः | avatāsaḥ | springs, wells |
| क्रतवः | kratavaḥ | powers, wills, inspired energies |
Visualize a series of fresh, underground water springs tapped by master well-diggers, bubbling up cold and clear without ever running dry—symbolizing Indra's endless inner energies.