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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

Indra, the Mighty Vṛtra-Slayer: Lord of Might and Abundant Riches

📜 9 Verses

Act 1

Act I: The Growing Might of the Vṛtra-Slayer

Verses 1, 2

Verse 1

इंद्रो॒ मदा॑य वावृधे॒ शव॑से वृत्र॒हा नृभिः॑ । तमिन्म॒हत्स्वा॒जिषू॒तेमर्भे॑ हवामहे॒ स वाजे॑षु॒ प्र नो॑ऽविषत् ॥

índro mádāya vāvṛdhe śávase vṛtrahā́ nṛ́bhiḥ ǀ támínmahátsvājíṣūtémárbhe havāmahe sá vā́jeṣu prá no’viṣat ǁ

Verse 2

असि॒ हि वी॑र॒ सेन्योऽसि॒ भूरि॑ पराद॒दिः । असि॑ द॒भ्रस्य॑ चिद्वृ॒धो यज॑मानाय शिक्षसि सुन्व॒ते भूरि॑ ते॒ वसु॑ ॥

ási hí vīra sényó’si bhū́ri parādadíḥ ǀ ási dabhrásya cidvṛdhó yájamānāya śikṣasi sunvaté bhū́ri te vásu ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi introduces us to Indra in his supreme capacity as the Vṛtra-slayer, one who grows in strength through the invocations and offerings of devoted mortals. Indra is not a distant, static deity; rather, his power swells dynamically in response to human aspiration, especially in the great contests and battles of life. Whether in massive gatherings or small, intimate moments of striving, the worshippers call upon him, knowing he is the ultimate protector and the dispenser of immense wealth. Expanding on this intimate connection, the Ṛṣi addresses Indra directly as a hero and a natural leader of hosts. He is the great giver who distributes boundless treasures, showing particular grace to the humble and the one who presses the Soma juice. Through these verses, we witness a profound theological bridge between human devotion and divine generosity: as man invokes with sincerity, Indra's capacity to shower abundance expands manifold.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: Indra has grown for intoxication and for might, the slayer of Vṛtra, together with men; him we invoke in great battles and indeed also in small, that he may further us in our winning of boons.

Verse 2: You are indeed, O hero, a leader in battle and a lavish giver; you are the increaser of even the lowly one, you grant bounty to the sacrificer who presses the Soma, and abundant is your wealth.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets 'madāya' strictly as the exhilaration derived from the drinking of Soma, while psychological commentators like Sri Aurobindo view 'mada' as the spiritual ecstasy and divine joy that strengthens the inner faculties against inner obscurations.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
इन्द्रः	indraḥ	Indra, the supreme leader of the gods
मदाय	madāya	for exhilaration or the intoxicating Soma
ववृधे	vāvṛdhe	has grown or waxed strong
वृत्रऽहा	vṛtra-hā	slayer of Vṛtra, the obstacle
नृऽभिः	nṛ-bhiḥ	by or with men

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
असि	asi	you are
वीर	vīra	O hero
सेन्यः	senyaḥ	fitting for an army or leader in battle
पराऽददिः	parā-dadiḥ	bountiful giver, one who hands over completely
वसु	vasu	wealth, treasure, good

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a towering warrior whose stature grows larger and more radiant every time his people cheer for him in the arena — that is Indra's might swelling through human prayer.

Act 2

Act II: The Unmatched Majesty and Cosmic Scale of Indra

Verses 3, 4, 5

Verse 3

यदु॒दीर॑त आ॒जयो॑ धृ॒ष्णवे॑ धीयते॒ धना॑ । यु॒क्ष्वा म॑द॒च्युता॒ हरी॒ कं हनः॒ कं वसौ॑ दधो॒ऽस्माँ इं॑द्र॒ वसौ॑ दधः ॥

yádudī́rata ājáyo dhṛṣṇáve dhīyate dhánā ǀ yukṣvā́ madacyútā hárī kám hánaḥ kám vásau dadho’smā́m̐ indra vásau dadhaḥ ǁ

Verse 4

क्रत्वा॑ म॒हाँ अ॑नुष्व॒धं भी॒म आ वा॑वृधे॒ शवः॑ । श्रि॒य ऋ॒ष्व उ॑पा॒कयो॒र्नि शि॒प्री हरि॑वांदधे॒ हस्त॑यो॒र्वज्र॑माय॒सं ॥

krátvā mahā́m̐ anuṣvadhám bhīmá ā́ vāvṛdhe śávaḥ ǀ śriyá ṛṣvá upākáyorní śiprī́ hárivāndadhe hástayorvájramāyasám ǁ

Verse 5

आ प॑प्रौ॒ पार्थि॑वं॒ रजो॑ बद्ब॒धे रो॑च॒ना दि॒वि । न त्वावाँ॑ इंद्र॒ कश्च॒न न जा॒तो न ज॑निष्य॒तेऽति॒ विश्वं॑ ववक्षिथ ॥

ā́ paprau pā́rthivam rájo badbadhé rocanā́ diví ǀ ná tvā́vām̐ indra káścaná ná jātó ná janiṣyaté’ti víśvam vavakṣitha ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

When the great contests of life arise and prizes are set before the fearless seeker, Indra must be swiftly equipped. The Ṛṣi urges him to yoke his two golden, intoxication-shaking steeds and direct his blows to where they are most needed, securing wealth and safety for the worshippers. This is an active partnership where divine speed meets human resolve. The poetry then elevates into grand cosmic imagery. Indra is described as vast through his own inherent truth and dynamic energy, self-sustained by his own laws. He places his brilliant cheek-pieces (siprī) near his jaw and grasps the flashing iron thunderbolt in his hands. He is the master of dynamic force, fully armored and ready to uphold cosmic order. Culminating this sequence, verse five paints a breathtaking picture of Indra's omnipresence. He fills the earthly realm entirely, and his radiance is fixed immovably in the high heavens. The Ṛṣi declares with absolute confidence that neither has anyone like Indra been born in the past, nor will anyone ever be born in the future; he exceeds and encompasses the entire universe.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 3: When the contests rush forth for the fearless one and prizes are assigned, yoke your two intoxication-shaking steeds; whom will you strike, on whom bestow wealth? Grant wealth to us, O Indra, grant wealth to us!

Verse 4: By his inherent power, great, self-governing, and awe-inspiring, his might has grown; for glory the exalted one holds his cheek-guards near his cheeks, and grasps the iron thunderbolt in his hands.

Verse 5: He has filled the earthly realm, and his lights are firmly fixed in heaven; no one like you, O Indra, has ever been born, nor will be born — you surpass the entire universe.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The translation of 'anu-svadham' as 'according to his own law' highlights the Vedic concept of svadhā — intrinsic self-law. Sāyaṇa views it as acting according to his own inherent vigor without needing outside prompting.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
आजयः	ājayaḥ	battles, races, contests
धृष्णवे	dhṛṣṇave	for the bold or fearless one
मदऽच्युता	mada-cyutā	shaking or dropping exhilaration/Soma
हरी	harī	Indra's two tawny/golden horses
अस्मान्	asmān	us

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
क्रत्वा	kratvā	by will, mental power, or ritual action
अनुऽस्वधम्	anu-svadham	according to his own nature or law
भीमः	bhīmaḥ	formidable, awe-inspiring
वज्रम्	vajram	the thunderbolt
आयसम्	āyasam	made of iron or celestial metal

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पार्थिवम्	pārthivam	pertaining to the earth, terrestrial
रजः	rajaḥ	space, atmosphere, realm
रोचना	rocanā	luminous spheres, lights of heaven
त्वाऽवान्	tvā-vān	equal to you
ववक्षिथ	vavakṣitha	you have grown beyond, you excel or encompass

🧠

Memory Hook

Visualize a cosmic giant whose feet touch the lowest bedrock of the earth while his crown touches the brilliant stars, holding a lightning bolt that commands all of creation.

Act 3

Act III: The Shower of Abundance and the Pleading of the Sincere Heart

Verses 6, 7, 8, 9

Verse 6

यो अ॒र्यो म॑र्त॒भोज॑नं परा॒ददा॑ति दा॒शुषे॑ । इंद्रो॑ अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ शिक्षतु॒ वि भ॑जा॒ भूरि॑ ते॒ वसु॑ भक्षी॒य तव॒ राध॑सः ॥

yó aryó martabhójanam parādádāti dāśúṣe ǀ índro asmábhyam śikṣatu ví bhajā bhū́ri te vásu bhakṣīyá táva rā́dhasaḥ ǁ

Verse 7

मदे॑मदे॒ हि नो॑ द॒दिर्यू॒था गवा॑मृजु॒क्रतुः॑ । सं गृ॑भाय पु॒रू श॒तोभ॑याह॒स्त्या वसु॑ शिशी॒हि रा॒य आ भ॑र ॥

mádemade hí no dadíryūthā́ gávāmṛjukrátuḥ ǀ sám gṛbhāya purū́ śatóbhayāhastyā́ vásu śiśīhí rāyá ā́ bhara ǁ

Verse 8

मा॒दय॑स्व सु॒ते सचा॒ शव॑से शूर॒ राध॑से । वि॒द्मा हि त्वा॑ पुरू॒वसु॒मुप॒ कामा॑न्त्ससृ॒ज्महेऽथा॑ नोऽवि॒ता भ॑व ॥

mādáyasva suté sácā śávase śūra rā́dhase ǀ vidmā́ hí tvā purūvásumúpa kā́māntsasṛjmáhé’thā no’vitā́ bhava ǁ

Verse 9

ए॒ते त॑ इंद्र जं॒तवो॒ विश्वं॑ पुष्यंति॒ वार्यं॑ । अं॒तर्हि ख्यो जना॑नाम॒र्यो वेदो॒ अदा॑शुषां॒ तेषां॑ नो॒ वेद॒ आ भ॑र ॥

eté ta indra jantávo víśvam puṣyanti vā́ryam ǀ antárhí khyó jánānāmaryó védo ádāśuṣām téṣām no véda ā́ bhara ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The final movement of the Sūkta shifts into an urgent, affectionate plea for material and spiritual sustenance. The Ṛṣi notes that Indra takes the wealth reserved for the ungenerous or alien and bestows it upon the devout giver. He asks Indra to teach this generosity to the community, distributing abundant treasures so that the worshippers may partake of his radiant bounty. In verse seven, the imagery becomes pastoral and intensely practical. Indra is celebrated as 'ṛjukratu' — straight-willed and upright in his methods. In every single act of exhilaration, he is the giver who brings herds of cattle. The Ṛṣi asks him to grasp wealth with both hands and sharpen, or bring forth, abundant streams of prosperity. The relationship culminates in an affectionate surrender. The worshippers declare that they know Indra as the possessor of many riches, and they unleash all their deepest desires toward him, begging him to be their constant protector. The Sūkta concludes with a profound realization: while ordinary mortals nourish ephemeral things, Indra looks into the hearts of men, discerning the wealth of the generous from the withholding of the niggardly. The Ṛṣi prays that this divine vision may turn toward them, bringing the true treasure home.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 6: He who hands over the wealth of the reluctant to the liberal giver, may Indra teach this to us; distribute your abundant wealth, may we enjoy your radiance.

Verse 7: In every rapture you are indeed our giver, herds of cattle are yours, your will is straight; grasp with both hands hundreds of plentiful treasures, sharpen our fortune and bring it to us.

Verse 8: Exhilarate yourself along with the Soma pressing for might and bounty; for we know you as the possessor of manifold riches, and we release our desires toward you — therefore be our protector.

Verse 9: These creatures of yours, O Indra, nourish all desirable things; look deep within the wealth of men, both the generous and the non-giving — and bring that wealth to us.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The term 'adāśuṣām' refers literally to those who do not offer the Soma or give gifts in sacrifice. Commentators note that Indra's redistribution of their wealth symbolizes how divine grace redirects energy away from hoarding egos toward those with open, receptive hearts.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अर्यः	aryaḥ	of the hostile, niggardly, or stranger
मर्तऽभोजनम्	marta-bhojanam	nourishment or wealth meant for mortals
दाशुषे	dāśuṣe	to the giver of offerings, the devout
शिक्षतु	śikṣatu	let him grant, teach, or impart
राधसः	rādhasaḥ	of bounty or liberality

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मदेऽमदे	made-made	in every ecstasy or Soma-draught
ददिः	dadiḥ	the giver
यूथा	yūthā	herds
ऋजुऽक्रतुः	ṛju-kratuḥ	of straight, upright resolve or action
उभयाहस्त्या	ubhayāhastyā	held in both hands

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मादयस्व	mādayasva	rejoice, take delight, intoxicate yourself
सुते	sute	in the pressed Soma juice
पुरुऽवसुम्	puru-vasum	possessor of abundant wealth
कामान्	kāmān	desires, yearnings
अविता	avitā	protector, helper

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
जन्तवः	jantavaḥ	creatures, living beings, men
पुष्यन्ति	puṣyanti	thrive, nourish, prosper
वार्यम्	vāryam	desirable, choicest good
अदाशुषाम्	adāśuṣām	of the non-givers, the miserly
वेदः	vedaḥ	wealth, property, possession

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine a loyal child tugging at a generous father's cloak with both hands outstretched, fully trusting that the father knows every hidden treasure in the house and will gladly share it.