Sukta 49
Sukta 3.49
Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional)
Indra
Triṣṭubh (probable)
يُعلن هذا النشيد التريشْتُبْهي القصير أنَّ إندرا هو الإله الذي تشتهيه وتدعوه جميع الشعوب الشاربة للسُّوما—وُلد لعمل كسر العوائق (فِرِترا) وتأمين الظَّفَر. ويصوِّره عابرَ المعركة الذي يوسِّع العالَمَين ويصبُّ وفرةً مثمرة، ثم يختتم بدعاءٍ مباشر أن يُصغي ويُعين في الصراع الحاضر ولأجل الظفر بالغنى.
Mantras
Mantra 1
शंसा महामिन्द्रं यस्मिन्विश्वा आ कृष्टयः सोमपाः काममव्यन् । यं सुक्रतुं धिषणे विभ्वतष्टं घनं वृत्राणां जनयन्त देवाः ॥
أُنشِدُ إندرا العظيم، الذي فيه نسجتْ جميعُ الشعوبِ الشاربةُ للسُّوما رغبتَها؛ ذاك ذو العزمِ القويّ (śukratu)، المصوغُ في الإلهامين (dhiṣaṇā)، ضاربُ العوائق (vṛtra)—قد أنشأه الآلهةُ ولادةً.
Mantra 2
यं नु नकिः पृतनासु स्वराजं द्विता तरति नृतमं हरिष्ठाम् । इनतमः सत्वभिर्यो ह शूषैः पृथुज्रया अमिनादायुर्दस्योः ॥
هو الذي لا يسبقه أحدٌ في المعارك—ذو السيادةِ الذاتية (svarāj)، خيرُ الرجال، الجالسُ على الجيادِ الشقراء. هو الأشدُّ اندفاعًا بقواه؛ الذي بقوّته المندفعة وبوثبته العريضة أنقصَ عمرَ الداسيو (Dasyu).
Mantra 3
सहावा पृत्सु तरणिर्नार्वा व्यानशी रोदसी मेहनावान् । भगो न कारे हव्यो मतीनां पितेव चारुः सुहवो वयोधाः ॥
قويٌّ في صدامِ القتال، هو العابرُ كجوادٍ سريع؛ يوسّعُ العالَمَين ويكونُ صبّابًا جبارًا للمياهِ المُثمِرة. وكبهاگا (Bhaga) في فعلِ العطاء، يُستدعى بأفكارِنا المُلهَمة؛ وكأبٍ هو جميلٌ سهلُ النداء، واهبُ القُوَى.
Mantra 4
धर्ता दिवो रजसस्पृष्ट ऊर्ध्वो रथो न वायुर्वसुभिर्नियुत्वान् । क्षपां वस्ता जनिता सूर्यस्य विभक्ता भागं धिषणेव वाजम् ॥
هو مُقيمُ السماء، مُستندٌ على ظهرِ الفضاءِ الأوسط؛ يعلو صاعدًا كالعربة، كفايو (Vāyu) المقرونِ بالڤاسو (Vasus) في نِيُوتٍ (niyutvān). هو ناسِجُ الليالي ومُولِّدُ سُوريا (Sūrya)؛ يُقسِّمُ النصيبَ، ومثلَ دهيصَنا (Dhīṣaṇā) يوزِّعُ وفرةَ القوّة (vāja) لأجلِ صيرورتِنا.
Mantra 5
शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥
لأجلِ عافيتِنا ندعو إندرا (Indra) السخيَّ، الأشدَّ رجولةً في هذا الصراعِ عند العصر، في نيلِ الوفرة (vāja). لِنَظفَرْ بهِ السامعِ، العنيفِ، عونًا لنا في المعارك؛ قاتلِ فِرترا (Vṛtra) أي العوائق، والظافرِ بالغنى، بكنوزٍ كثيرة.
Inside Sukta 49
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A proclamation of the ‘great Indra’ desired by all Soma-drinking peoples, presented as divinely fashioned for decisive action (RV 3.49.1).
- Development
Indra’s capacities are unfolded: he crosses battles, widens the two worlds, pours fruitful waters, and is invoked by inspired thoughts like a generous giver and fatherly support (cf. RV 3.49.3).
- Climax
A focused invocation for immediate help—Indra as the fierce, listening power in the thick of conflict, actively slaying Vṛtras and securing victory.
- Where it settles
The hymn settles into confident petition: may Indra be present in ‘this struggle’ and grant the conquest of riches and well-being (RV 3.49.5).
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is praised as mahān (great), sukratu (strong-willed, effective in action), ugra (fierce), and as the ghana of Vṛtras—the smiter of obstructing powers—who listens to inspired thoughts and responds to invocation.
- Cosmic functionHe breaks the forces of confinement, releases the waters and wideness, and grants victory, strength, and wealth to the sacrificer and the community.
- Inner significanceIndra symbolizes the awakened will and luminous force that crosses inner conflict, shatters psychological blockages, and establishes expansive life-force (vayas) and effective power (kratu) in the seeker.
The seer
- Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthina (Kauśika lineage, traditionally associated with the Viśvāmitra family) · A royal-turned-seer celebrated for powerful Indra hymns and for the Viśvāmitra corpus of Maṇḍala 3, often linked with the visionary articulation of divine power aiding human striving.
Famous verses
शंसा महामिन्द्रं यस्मिन्विश्वा आ कृष्टयः सोमपाः काममव्यन् । यं सुक्रतुं धिषणे विभ्वतष्टं घनं वृत्राणां जनयन्त देवाः ॥सहावा पृत्सु तरणिर्नार्वा व्यानशी रोदसी मेहनावान् । भगो न कारे हव्यो मतीनां पितेव चारुः सुहवो वयोधाः ॥शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥Attributes of the deity
- Vṛtra-slayer (obstruction-breaker)
- Listener to prayer (śṛṇvant)
- Bestower of wealth and victory (maghavān, vājasāti)
- Mighty, fierce protector in battle (ugra, pṛtsu sahāvā)
- Widening power of the two worlds (rodasī vi-ānaśī)
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (many sūktas attributed to the Viśvāmitra family)
- Tradition also associates the Gāyatrī/ Sāvitrī mantra (RV 3.62.10) with Viśvāmitra in later reception
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the sacred space and kindle Agni; establish intention for protection and victory.
- Press Soma (or symbolically offer Soma) and recite the hymn as stuti (praise) to awaken Indra’s presence.
- Invite Indra as the Vṛtra-slayer and ‘listener’ to come to the offering; affirm his birth/manifestation for the work of removing obstacles.
- Conclude with a direct petition for aid in the present ‘bhara’ (pressing struggle) and for the winning of wealth and plenitude.
Offerings
- Soma libation (primary)
- Ghee/clarified butter into the fire
- Oblations accompanying Indra invocations (standard havis)
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Indra to come to the Soma offering, help in the present struggle, break inner and outer obstacles (Vṛtras), and grant victory and riches.
It praises Indra as a power that expands both realms—outer life and inner consciousness—so there is more space for strength, clarity, and fruitful action.
It can be recited as a prayer for courage and breakthrough during difficult efforts—especially when seeking to remove obstacles, strengthen will, and regain momentum.
Ask anything about Sukta 49 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
