Rig Veda Sukta 132
Mandala 1Sukta 1324 Mantras

Sukta 132

Sukta 1.132

Devata

Indra (primary), with supportive epithets invoking dawn-awakening and straight course

يستدعي هذا النشيد القصير لإندرا قوّة إندرا المستيقظة عند الفجر، السائرة في مسارٍ مستقيم، طلبًا للنصر في العالم المضيء وللفلاح في القتال والمنافسة. ويستحضر أفعاله النموذجية: فتح الحصن الشبيه بفالا للأنغيراسا، وتحطيم «الرؤوس» المتراكمة لعوائق السدّ، لكي تأتي عطاياه مباشرةً وباليُمن إلى العابد. كما يؤكّد النشيد الذبيحة القويمة (عصر السُّوما) ويسأل إندرا أن يُخضع الخارجين عن القانون الذين يعارضون الشعيرة.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.132

Mantras

Mantra 2

स्वर्जेषे भर आप्रस्य वक्मन्युषर्बुधः स्वस्मिन्नञ्जसि क्राणस्य स्वस्मिन्नञ्जसि । अहन्निन्द्रो यथा विदे शीर्ष्णाशीर्ष्णोपवाच्यः । अस्मत्रा ते सध्र्यक्सन्तु रातयो भद्रा भद्रस्य रातयः ॥

لأجل الظَّفَرِ بالعالَمِ المُضيء، عند اندفاعِ المعركة، وعند نُطقِ الداعي—يا قوّةً مُستيقظةً بالفجر—في طريقِك المستقيمِ نفسِه، في طريقِك المستقيمِ نفسِه لقوّةٍ مُتقدّمة: كما صرعَ إندرا، لنعلمَ نحن، رأساً فوقَ رأسٍ ممّا يجب أن يُسمّى ويُكشَف؛ كذلك ههنا فلتكن عطاياك مُنصَبّةً إلينا على استقامة—عطايا طيّبة، عطايا من الطيّب.

Mantra 3

तत्तु प्रयः प्रत्नथा ते शुशुक्वनं यस्मिन्यज्ञे वारमकृण्वत क्षयमृतस्य वारसि क्षयम् । वि तद्वोचेरध द्वितान्तः पश्यन्ति रश्मिभिः । स घा विदे अन्विन्द्रो गवेषणो बन्धुक्षिद्भ्यो गवेषणः ॥

ذلك هو اندفاعُك إلى الأمام، قديماً على نهجه، مُدوِّياً—وبه في اليَجْنَا (yajña) صنعوا لأنفسهم فُسحةً واسعة، ومسكناً للرِّتَا (ṛta)، وبيتاً. أعلِنْه؛ فعندئذٍ حقّاً يُبصرون في الداخل بالأشعّة. هكذا يتبعُ إندرا، طالبُ القطعانِ المُضيئة، للعارف—طالبُ القطعانِ المُضيئة من ذوي القُربى المُقيمين.

Mantra 4

नू इत्था ते पूर्वथा च प्रवाच्यं यदङ्गिरोभ्योऽवृणोरप व्रजमिन्द्र शिक्षन्नप व्रजम् । ऐभ्यः समान्या दिशास्मभ्यं जेषि योत्सि च । सुन्वद्भ्यो रन्धया कं चिदव्रतं हृणायन्तं चिदव्रतम् ॥

الآن حقًّا، وهذا أيضًا—كما في النهج الأوّل—جديرٌ بأن يُعلَن: كيف فتحتَ للأنغيراسَة الحظيرةَ؛ يا إندرا، وأنت تُعلِّم، فتحتَ السِّياجَ المُغْلَق. ومن تلك الجهةِ المشتركةِ اكسبْ لنا وقاتِلْ. ولأجلِ عاصري السُّوما، أخضِعْ كلَّ من لا يلتزمُ بالـ«فْرَتَه» (النظامِ المقدّس)—حتى من يهيجُ في اللانظام.

Mantra 5

सं यज्जनान्क्रतुभिः शूर ईक्षयद्धने हिते तरुषन्त श्रवस्यवः प्र यक्षन्त श्रवस्यवः । तस्मा आयुः प्रजावदिद्बाधे अर्चन्त्योजसा । इन्द्र ओक्यं दिधिषन्त धीतयो देवाँ अच्छा न धीतयः ॥

حين يُبصِرُ البطلُ الشعوبَ ويُحشِدُها بقوى العزم من أجل الغنيمةِ المُحصَّلةِ في القتال، يتقدّمُ طلابُ المجد فيعصرون (السُّوما) ويُقيمون اليَجْنَة. وله ينشدون بقوّةٍ—من أجل عمرٍ غنيٍّ بالذرّية—في ساعةِ دَحْرِ المقاومةِ ودفعِها. والأفكارُ المُلهَمة تُثبّتُ مقامَ إندرا؛ والأفكارُ المُلهَمة تتّجهُ نحو الآلهة.

Inside Sukta 132

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A call for victory in the ‘luminous world’ and for Indra’s power to move on its own straight path, awakened at dawn for the battle-like effort of life and rite.

  2. Development

    Mythic exempla are invoked: Indra’s striking down of layered ‘heads’ of obstruction and his opening of the enclosure for the Aṅgirasas—proof of his capacity to liberate light and wealth.

  3. Climax

    The petition intensifies into direct help: Indra is asked to win and fight for the worshipper and to subdue the lawless adversary who disrupts the Soma-pressers.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into the assurance that inspired thoughts and sacrifice ‘set Indra in the home within,’ drawing divine powers near, and ends with a request for auspicious gifts and life rich in progeny.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is the foremost heroic god of the Rigveda: soma-strengthened, wielder of the vajra, breaker of forts, opener of the hidden ‘cows’/light, and champion of the sacrificer against hostile and lawless forces.
  • Cosmic functionHe releases light and abundance by breaking enclosing darkness/obstruction, restores right order for the rite, and secures victory, rain, and worldly prosperity for those aligned with ṛta.
  • Inner significanceIndra symbolizes awakened will and courageous clarity that moves on a ‘straight course’—the inner power that breaks mental enclosures, exposes falsehood, and channels energy toward auspicious outcomes.

The seer

  • Gautama Rāhūgaṇa (traditional attribution)Gautama gotra (Rāhūgaṇa branch) · A Rigvedic seer associated with martial-ritual invocations to Indra, stressing victory, straight course (añjasi), and the removal of obstructing powers.

Famous verses

भ॒द्रा भ॒द्रस्य॑ रा॒तय॑ः (bhadrā bhadrasya rātayaḥ)
Verse 1.132.2Central victory-prayer: it links dawn-awakened Indra, the ‘straight course’ (añjasi), the crushing of obstruction, and the request that auspicious gifts come directly to the worshipper.Read verse 1.132.2 →
अप॑ व्र॒जम् (apa vrajam)
Verse 1.132.4Key mythic remembrance and practical petition: Indra opens the enclosure for the Aṅgirasas (release of hidden wealth/light) and is asked to defeat and subdue the lawless opponent of the rite.Read verse 1.132.4 →
सं यज्जनान्क्रतुभिः शूर ईक्षयद्धने हिते तरुषन्त श्रवस्यवः प्र यक्षन्त श्रवस्यवः । तस्मा आयुः प्रजावदिद्बाधे अर्चन्त्योजसा । इन्द्र ओक्यं दिधिषन्त धीतयो देवाँ अच्छा न धीतयः ॥
Verse 1.132.5Shows the hymn’s ritual psychology: the community is marshaled by will (kratu), sacrifices for battle-won good, and ‘dhī’ installs Indra inwardly, drawing the gods close for life and progeny.Read verse 1.132.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vajra-bearer and obstacle-smasher
  • Soma-empowered hero
  • Opener of the enclosure (vraja/vrajaṃ) for the Aṅgirasas
  • Protector of the sacrificer and subduer of the lawless (avrata)
  • Straight-moving, goal-directed force (añjasi)
  • Giver of auspicious gifts (bhadrā rātayaḥ)

Also by this seer

  • Several hymns in Rigveda Maṇḍala 1 traditionally linked to the Gautamas/Rāhūgaṇas, especially Indra-focused praise and victory-prayers.
  • Participation in the broader Angirasa/vala mythic complex as a transmitter of Indra’s ‘opening the pen’ motif in liturgical memory.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish ritual order (ṛta) with preliminary offerings.
  • Press Soma (or offer Soma-substitute where applicable) while reciting the hymn to invite Indra’s dawn-awakened power.
  • Recite the victory petitions: ask for gifts to come ‘straight’ and for the crushing of obstruction and lawlessness.
  • Conclude with oblations and a final request for auspicious rātis (bounties) and protection for people, cattle, and progeny.

Offerings

  • Soma libation (primary)
  • Ghee/clarified butter oblations
  • Grain-cakes or simple food offerings (contextual substitutes)
  • Praise (stuti) and inspired thought (dhī) as the inner offering

Frequently Asked Questions

For victory and success, for gifts to come directly and auspiciously, and for Indra to remove obstacles and defeat lawless opponents who resist the rite.

It recalls a famous Indra-deed: he opened the closed pen/enclosure (vraja), releasing hidden wealth/light. The hymn uses this as proof that Indra can also ‘open’ blocked conditions for the worshipper.

It suggests direct, unhindered movement of Indra’s power and gifts—both outwardly (victory and protection) and inwardly (clear will that cuts through confusion and obstruction).

Ask anything about Sukta 132 of the Rig Veda

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