Sukta 29
Sukta 4.29
Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional for Mandala 4); specific hymn attribution not provided in input
Indra
Trishtubh (probable; requires scan)
هذا النشيد القصير لإندرا هو دعوةٌ مُلحّةٌ للإله أن يُقبل—ولو من بعيد—إلى مواطن عصر السُّوما الكثيرة، مسرورًا بخيوله الشُّقر وبمدائح المُنشدين الموحاة. ويتضرّع الشاعر أن يُجعل إندرا «يسمع» النداء، ثم ينهض بقوةٍ فائضة ليمنح تمامَ المراد: قوةَ الظفر (vāja)، ومَعبرًا آمنًا (su-tīrtha)، ولا خوف. ويُختَم بتمنٍّ جماعي: تحت حماية إندرا ليصِرِ المُنشدون رُؤاةً حقًّا، وليتقاسموا سَعةَ غِنى السماء بعطائه السخي.
Mantras
Mantra 1
आ नः स्तुत उप वाजेभिरूती इन्द्र याहि हरिभिर्मन्दसानः । तिरश्चिदर्यः सवना पुरूण्याङ्गूषेभिर्गृणानः सत्यराधाः ॥
أقبل إلينا، يا إندرا الممدوح—اقترب بعونك الذي يجلب وفرةَ القوّة؛ تعالِ مبتهجًا بقواك الشقراء/الذهبية. وحتى من بعيد، أيها النبيل، أقبل إلى المعاصر الكثيرة (سَوْمَة)، وأنت تُنشَد بكلماتنا المُلهَمة—يا من إنجازُه أمينٌ للسَّتْيَا (الحقّ).
Mantra 2
आ हि ष्मा याति नर्यश्चिकित्वान्हूयमानः सोतृभिरुप यज्ञम् । स्वश्वो यो अभीरुर्मन्यमानः सुष्वाणेभिर्मदति सं ह वीरैः ॥
فإنه حقًّا يأتي—قوّةُ الرجولة، العارفُ—مدعوًّا من عاصري السَّوْمَة إلى اليَجْنَا (القربان المقدّس). هو ذو الخيل الحسنة، لا يهاب في اعتداده بنفسه؛ ويسكر (بسوما) مع الذين يُحسنون العصر، متّحدًا مع الـvīra (الأبطال؛ الطاقات القوية).
Mantra 3
श्रावयेदस्य कर्णा वाजयध्यै जुष्टामनु प्र दिशं मन्दयध्यै । उद्वावृषाणो राधसे तुविष्मान्करन्न इन्द्रः सुतीर्थाभयं च ॥
أَسْمِعُوا أُذُنَيْهِ لِيَجْلِبَ فُيُوضَ القُوَّةِ؛ وَأَطْلِقُوا النِّدَاءَ المَحْبُوبَ فِي كُلِّ جِهَةٍ لِيَبْتَهِجَ. نَاهِضًا بِبَأْسِهِ الفَائِضِ لِتَمَامِنَا، فَلْيُقِمْ لَنَا إِنْدْرَا الجَبَّارُ مَعْبَرًا حَسَنًا وَأَمْنًا مِنَ الخَوْفِ.
Mantra 4
अच्छा यो गन्ता नाधमानमूती इत्था विप्रं हवमानं गृणन्तम् । उप त्मनि दधानो धुर्याशून्त्सहस्राणि शतानि वज्रबाहुः ॥
هُوَ الَّذِي يَأْتِي مُبَاشَرَةً إِلَى المُحْتَاجِ بِعَوْنِهِ—هَكَذَا إِلَى الرَّائِي المُوحَى إِلَيْهِ الَّذِي يَدْعُو وَيُسَبِّحُ—هُوَ، ذُو ذِرَاعِ الفَجْرَا (فَجْرَا-بَاهُو)، يَضَعُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ نِيرَ فِرَقِ القُوَى السَّرِيعَةِ، أُلُوفًا وَمِئَاتٍ، لِيَحْمِلَنَا قُدُمًا.
Mantra 5
त्वोतासो मघवन्निन्द्र विप्रा वयं ते स्याम सूरयो गृणन्तः । भेजानासो बृहद्दिवस्य राय आकाय्यस्य दावने पुरुक्षोः ॥
يَا مَغْهَفَانَ إِنْدْرَا، بِحِمَايَتِكَ لَنَا، فَلْنَكُنْ رُؤَاةً مُلْهَمِينَ—مُشِعِّينَ فِي الفَهْمِ—دَائِمِي التَّسْبِيحِ لَكَ. وَإِذْ نَشْتَرِكُ فِي غِنَى السَّمَاءِ العَظِيمَةِ، فَلْنَكُنْ أَهْلًا لِتَلَقِّي عَطَائِكَ السَّخِيِّ مِنْ فَيْضِكَ الغَزِيرِ.
Inside Sukta 29
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct summons: Indra is praised and invited to come near with aid and plenitude, even if he is far away.
- Development
The hymn intensifies the call—make him hear, send the beloved summons in every direction—so he may rejoice and arrive empowered.
- Climax
Indra rises in overflowing might to establish ‘su-tīrtha’ (a good crossing) and ‘abhaya’ (fearlessness) for the worshippers.
- Where it settles
A closing prayer for lasting relationship: protected by Indra, may the poets become luminous seers and partake of the vast heavenly wealth through his generous giving.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is hailed as Maghavan (the bountiful), the mighty hero who comes to Soma, is strengthened by praise, and answers the inspired call with gifts of force and protection.
- Cosmic functionBreaker of obstacles and winner of divine power (vāja); he secures space for life and order by overcoming hostile forces and by releasing prosperity, safe passage, and courage.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and victorious energy in the seeker—courage that hears the soul’s call, surges upward, and creates an inner ‘good crossing’ beyond fear and limitation.
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (Gautama-gotra) · A major seer of the Rig Veda’s 4th Maṇḍala, famed for powerful Indra hymns and for visionary self-identifications that later tradition links with high realization (e.g., the celebrated “I was Manu and the Sun” motif).
Famous verses
आ नः स्तुत उप वाजेभिरूती इन्द्र याहि हरिभिर्मन्दसानः । तिरश्चिदर्यः सवना पुरूण्याङ्गूषेभिर्गृणानः सत्यराधाः ॥sutīrthābhayaṃ
त्वोतासो मघवन्निन्द्र विप्रा वयं ते स्याम सूरयो गृणन्तः । भेजानासो बृहद्दिवस्य राय आकाय्यस्य दावने पुरुक्षोः ॥Attributes of the deity
- Maghavan (generous giver)
- Tuviṣmān (mighty, overflowing in power)
- Soma-delighted
- Harivān (linked with tawny steeds)
- Protector who grants fearlessness
- Bestower of vāja (victorious force)
Also by this seer
- Primary rishi associated with much of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 (numerous Indra- and allied deva-sūktas)
- Tradition associates him with the Vāmadeva lineage and with later Upaniṣadic remembrance (Vāmadeva-vidyā motif)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the yajña space and kindle the fire; arrange Soma and vessels.
- At the Soma pressing(s), recite the invitation verses calling Indra ‘praised’ to come with help and with the haris.
- Project the call in all directions so that Indra ‘hears’ (a ritualized summons), sustaining the chant with inspired speech (āṅgūṣa).
- Make the offering into the fire/into the Soma rite while requesting vāja, a ‘good crossing’ (su-tīrtha), and abhaya (fearlessness).
- Conclude with the benediction: under Indra’s protection may the singers become vipra-s and share in the ‘wide heaven’ riches.
Offerings
- Soma (libation/pressing)
- Ghee (ājya)
- Optional cakes/oblations customary to Indra in Soma contexts
Frequently Asked Questions
It calls Indra to the Soma pressings and asks for victorious strength (vāja), a safe passage or “good crossing” (su-tīrtha), and fearlessness (abhaya).
It is a poetic way of intensifying the ritual summons—urging that Indra truly heed the chant and respond quickly with help and gifts.
It can be recited as an invocation for courage and protection, especially in a fire offering or devotional setting, focusing on the themes of strength, safe passage, and freedom from fear.
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