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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

Rigveda Maṇḍala 1, Sūkta 9: The Invocation of Indra for Abundance and Splendor

📜 10 Verses

Act 1

Act I: The Divine Summons at the Soma Pressing

Verses 1, 2, 3

Verse 1

इंद्रेहि॒ मत्स्यंध॑सो॒ विश्वे॑भिः सोम॒पर्व॑भिः । म॒हाँ अ॑भि॒ष्टिरोज॑सा ॥

índréhi mátsyándhaso víśvebhiḥ somapárvabhiḥ ǀ mahā́m̐ abhiṣṭírójasā ǁ

Verse 2

एमे॑नं सृजता सु॒ते मं॒दिमिंद्रा॑य मं॒दिने॑ । चक्रिं॒ विश्वा॑नि॒ चक्र॑ये ॥

émenam sṛjatā suté mandímíndrāya mandíne ǀ cákrim víśvāni cákraye ǁ

Verse 3

मत्स्वा॑ सुशिप्र मं॒दिभिः॒ स्तोमे॑भिर्विश्वचर्षणे । सचै॒षु सव॑ने॒ष्वा ॥

mátsvā suśipra mandíbhiḥ stómebhirviśvacarṣaṇe ǀ sácaiṣú sávaneṣvā́ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi sounds a clarion call to Indra, inviting the mighty deity to come and partake in the freshly pressed Soma juice. Indra is addressed as one who delights in the offering (matsyandhaso), accompanied by all the various pressings and manifestations of the divine draught. The imagery is tactile and immediate: the crushing stones rhythmically pound, the golden liquid flows, and the poet urges the assembly to release and prepare this exhilarating draught specifically for Indra, the great transformer and maker of all things. The Ṛṣi calls upon Indra with intimate epithets such as 'suśipra' (having handsome, prominent jaws or cheeks, symbolizing his vigor and capability to consume the sacred drink) and 'viśvacarṣaṇe' (beholder of all men). The underlying spiritual motif here is the deliberate elevation of human consciousness. Just as the physical plant is crushed and filtered to yield its potent essence, the human mind must be refined through devotion and focused prayer so that the divine power (Indra) can descend and invigorate our innermost faculties.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: Come, O Indra, rejoice in the Soma-draught alongside all its forms, you who are great and mighty by your sheer dynamic force.

Verse 2: Thus prepare the exhilarating drink for Indra who loves exhilaration, you makers of all things for the universal Maker.

Verse 3: Take delight, O handsome-jawed guardian of all peoples, in these exhilarating hymns and pressings right here.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The translation adopts Sāyaṇa's traditional liturgical grounding where 'Soma' refers directly to the physical pressed plant juice used in Vedic rituals, combined with Sri Aurobindo's psychological lens, where Soma represents the delight of existence (ānanda) and Indra represents the divine mind (svar) illuminating the mortal consciousness.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
इन्द्र	indra	O Indra, the supreme leader and god of divine force
आ इहि	ā ihi	come hither, approach
मत्सि	matsi	rejoice, take delight
अन्धसः	andhasaḥ	of the Soma juice or food
विश्वेभिः	viśvebhiḥ	with all
सोमपर्वभिः	somaparvabhiḥ	with the joints or parts of the Soma
महान्	mahān	great, vast
अभिष्टिः	abhiṣṭiḥ	helper, protector, or victor
ओजसा	ojasā	by strength, energy, or ojas

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
आ	ā	hither, towards
ईम्	īm	indeed, particle of emphasis
एनम्	enam	this (Soma/Indra)
सृजत	sṛjata	pour forth, release, create
सुते	sute	at the pressing of Soma
मन्दिम्	mandim	exhilarating, joyous
इन्द्राय	indrāya	for Indra
मन्दिने	mandine	for the gladdened/exhilarated one
चक्रिम्	cakrim	active, performing acts
विश्वानि	viśvāni	all things
चक्रये	cakraye	for the creator or doer

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मत्स्व	matsva	rejoice, be exhilarated
सुशिप्र	su-śipra	having beautiful cheeks or helm/jaw
मन्दिभिः	mandibhiḥ	with gladdening drops/hymns
स्तोमेभिः	stomebhiḥ	with praises or hymns of adoration
विश्वचर्षणे	viśva-carṣaṇe	beholder or ruler of all active men
सचा	sacā	together with, accompanying
एषु	eṣu	in these
सवनेषु	savaneṣu	at the Soma libations/pressings
आ	ā	towards, fully

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a jubilant marketplace festival where musicians beat heavy drums and singers lift their voices in unison, while golden nectar flows freely into crystal cups to welcome a victorious king.

Act 2

Act II: The Surge of Prayers and the Outpouring of Grace

Verses 4, 5

Verse 4

असृ॑ग्रमिंद्र ते॒ गिरः॒ प्रति॒ त्वामुद॑हासत । अजो॑षा वृष॒भं पतिं॑ ॥

ásṛgramindra te gíraḥ práti tvā́múdahāsata ǀ ájoṣā vṛṣabhám pátim ǁ

Verse 5

सं चो॑दय चि॒त्रम॒र्वाग्राध॑ इंद्र॒ वरे॑ण्यं । अस॒दित्ते॑ वि॒भु प्र॒भु ॥

sám codaya citrámarvā́grā́dha indra váreṇyam ǀ ásadítte vibhú prabhú ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

With the sacred atmosphere thoroughly charged, the Ṛṣi observes how the songs of praise spontaneously stream forth toward Indra. The verses flow like rushing rivers (asṛgram giriḥ), leaping upward in joyful resonance to meet their Lord. Indra is greeted as a supreme refuge, a dynamic protector, and a bull among leaders (vṛṣabham patim)—a classic Rigvedic metaphor for overflowing generative power and strength. In the fifth verse, the poet explicitly asks Indra to set in motion and bring near his wondrous, highly coveted bounty (citram rādhaḥ). This is no ordinary request for material comfort; it is a plea for the manifestation of the all-pervading (vibhu) and all-surpassing (prabhu) power of the divine within human life. The Ṛṣi reminds us that when prayer rises with genuine intensity, the response from the divine is immediate, tangible, and overwhelmingly abundant.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 4: Your songs, O Indra, have streamed forth, they have risen up to meet you on every side, longing for the bull, the protector.

Verse 5: Urge forth, O Indra, your wondrous, highly desired bounty close to us; let your grace be all-pervading and supreme.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The translation captures Yāska's etymological interpretation of 'citra' as that which is brilliant and variegated, while the rendering of 'vibhū' and 'prabhū' follows traditional commentators who see these as attributes of divine omnipresence and omnipotence.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
असृग्रम्	asṛgram	have streamed forth, have been let loose
इन्द्र	indra	O Indra
ते	te	your
गिरः	giraḥ	songs, words of praise, prayers
प्रति	prati	towards, in response
त्वाम्	tvām	you
उदहासत	udahāsata	have risen up, sounded forth joyfully
अजोषाः	ajoṣāḥ	well-pleased, desirous, rejoicing
वृषभम्	vṛṣabham	the bull, the showerer of benefits
पतिम्	patim	the lord, master, husband

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सम् चोदय	sam codaya	impel strongly, set in motion, urge forth
चित्रम्	citram	wondrous, bright, varied
अर्वाक्	arvāk	hitherward, close at hand
राधः	rādhaḥ	bounty, gift, reward
इन्द्र	indra	O Indra
वरेण्यम्	vareṇyam	most excellent, worthy of choice
असत्	asat	may it be
इत्	it	indeed, certainly
ते	te	your
विभु	vibhu	all-pervading, extensive
प्रभु	prabhu	supreme, lordly, mighty

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine water fountains in a palace courtyard suddenly springing upward all at once because the main valve has been opened by a master hand, showering cool mist and glistening droplets everywhere.

Act 3

Act III: The Cry for Wealth, Radiance, and Vast Illumination

Verses 6, 7, 8

Verse 6

अ॒स्मान्त्सु तत्र॑ चोद॒येंद्र॑ रा॒ये रभ॑स्वतः । तुवि॑द्युम्न॒ यश॑स्वतः ॥

asmā́ntsú tátra codayéndra rāyé rábhasvataḥ ǀ túvidyumna yáśasvataḥ ǁ

Verse 7

सं गोम॑दिंद्र॒ वाज॑वद॒स्मे पृ॒थु श्रवो॑ बृ॒हत् । वि॒श्वायु॑र्धे॒ह्यक्षि॑तं ॥

sám gómadindra vā́javadasmé pṛthú śrávo bṛhát ǀ viśvā́yurdhehyákṣitam ǁ

Verse 8

अ॒स्मे धे॑हि॒ श्रवो॑ बृ॒हद्द्यु॒म्नं स॑हस्र॒सात॑मं । इंद्र॒ ता र॒थिनी॒रिषः॑ ॥

asmé dhehi śrávo bṛháddyumnám sahasrasā́tamam ǀ índra tā́ rathínīríṣaḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Moving deeper into the petitions, the Ṛṣi addresses Indra with magnificent epithets: 'Tuvidyumna' (possessing vast, manifold splendor) and 'Yaśasvat' (famed, glorious). The worshipper asks to be impelled toward true riches (rāye)—not just physical gold or cattle, but the vigor of spirit and dynamic energy (rabhasvataḥ) required to navigate life's challenges. In verses seven and eight, the prayer reaches a magnificent crescendo. The Ṛṣi repeats the powerful invocation for 'pṛthu śravo bṛhat' (broad and great renown / hearing) and 'sahasrasātamam dyumnam' (splendor that wins a thousandfold). This is the hallmark of Rigvedic prayer: a demand for an expansive, unyielding abundance of spiritual and material light, complete with 'gomad vājavad' (rich in cattle/rays of light and full of dynamic vigor) and 'rathīnīr iṣaḥ' (refreshments laden with chariots, ready for spiritual battle).

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 6: Impel us now toward wealth, O Indra—us who are energetic, O possessor of manifold radiance and great renown.

Verse 7: Bestow upon us, O Indra, broad and great renown accompanied by cattle and vigor, and grant us an unyielding, all-encompassing life.

Verse 8: Bestow upon us that great and vast renown, O Indra, and thousand-winning splendor, along with chariot-laden refreshments.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Here, 'go' is interpreted dual-purposely: in the outer ritual, literal cattle and wealth; in the inner esoteric interpretation by Sri Aurobindo, 'go' signifies rays of the inner Sun of Truth (Illumination), while 'śravas' signifies divine inspiration.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अस्मान्	asmān	us
सु	su	now, well, truly
तत्र	tatra	there, therein
चोदय	codaya	urge on, inspire, impel
इन्द्र	indra	O Indra
राये	rāye	for wealth or treasure
रभस्वतः	rabhasvataḥ	energetic, vehement, zealous
तुविद्युम्न	tuvi-dyumna	possessing manifold splendor or light
यशस्वतः	yaśasvataḥ	glorious, famous

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सम्	sam	together with, completely
गोमत्	go-mat	rich in cows / rays of light
इन्द्र	indra	O Indra
वाजवत्	vāja-vat	rich in vāja (vitality, prize, speed)
अस्मे	asme	upon us
पृथु	pṛthu	broad, wide, expansive
श्रवः	śravaḥ	renown, hearing, divine knowledge
बृहत्	bṛhat	great, vast, lofty
विश्वआयुः	viśva-āyuḥ	all-embracing life, universal duration
धेहि	dhehi	establish, place, bestow
अक्षितम्	akṣitam	undecaying, inexhaustible

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अस्मे	asme	upon us
धेहि	dhehi	bestow, place
श्रवः	śravaḥ	renown, glory
बृहत्	bṛhat	vast, great
द्युम्नम्	dyumnam	splendor, light, wealth
सहस्रसातमम्	sahasra-sātamam	winning a thousandfold, most prolific
इन्द्र	indra	O Indra
ताः	tāḥ	those
रथिनीः	rathīnīḥ	possessing chariots, well-equipped
इषः	iṣaḥ	refreshments, nourishment, streams of grace

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a triumphant chariot procession returning from a victorious expedition, laden with treasures, cattle, and banners fluttering in the wind under a vast, golden sunrise.

Act 4

Act IV: The Final Hymn of Praise and Eternal Abode

Verses 9, 10

Verse 9

वसो॒रिंद्रं॒ वसु॑पतिं गी॒र्भिर्गृ॒णंत॑ ऋ॒ग्मियं॑ । होम॒ गंता॑रमू॒तये॑ ॥

vásoríndram vásupatim gīrbhírgṛṇánta ṛgmíyam ǀ hóma gántāramūtáye ǁ

Verse 10

सु॒तेसु॑ते॒ न्यो॑कसे बृ॒हद्बृ॑ह॒त एद॒रिः । इंद्रा॑य शू॒षम॑र्चति ॥

sutésute nyókase bṛhádbṛhatá édaríḥ ǀ índrāya śūṣámarcati ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Sūkta draws to a close with the worshippers reaffirming their devotion. They sing praises to Indra as 'vasupati' (lord of treasures) and 'ṛgmiya' (worthy of hymns), describing him as the ultimate destination and leader of every invocation (gantāram ūtaye). He is the one who comes readily to every single pressing. In the final verse, the Ṛṣi notes how the devoted mortal ('ariḥ') constantly offers streams of praise and invigorating power ('śūṣam') to Indra, who dwells securely in his own sublime home ('nyokase'). The dialogue between human aspiration and divine grace is thus complete: the worshipper offers the distilled essence of devotion at every pressing, and Indra responds by anchoring his immense, unshakeable presence in the heart of the seeker.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 9: Praising Indra, the lord of wealth and treasures, with our songs—the one worthy of hymns, the go-to guide for our protection.

Verse 10: At every pressing of Soma, the faithful mortal offers his invigorating praise to Indra, who is seated in his own vast home.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The translation reflects traditional commentary on 'sute-sute' as marking the recurring rhythm of daily spiritual practices, while 'niokase' highlights Indra's supreme, unshakeable divine station.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वसोः	vasoḥ	of the good one / lord of wealth
इन्द्रम्	indram	Indra
वसुपतिम्	vasu-patim	lord of treasures or good things
गीर्भिः	gīrbhiḥ	with songs, hymns of speech
गृणन्तः	gṛṇantaḥ	praising, lauding
ऋग्मियम्	ṛgmiyam	worthy of rig/praise
होम	homa	in the oblation/calling (or vocative)
गन्तारम्	gantāram	the approacher, one who comes readily
ऊतये	ūtaye	for help, aid, protection

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सुतेसुते	sute-sute	at every single pressing of Soma
निओकसे	ni-okase	whose home is set within, well-housed
बृहत्	bṛhat	vastly, greatly
बृहते	bṛhate	for the vast/great one
आ इत्	ā it	indeed, precisely
अरिः	ariḥ	the pious mortal, the devoted worshipper
इन्द्राय	indrāya	to Indra
शूषम्	śūṣam	vigor, dynamic strength, dynamic praise
अर्चति	arcati	sings, hymns, offers worship

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture an eternal flame burning steadily inside a secure, magnificent hearth in the center of a grand temple, tended daily by a devoted keeper who never lets the fire fade.