Sukta 56
Sukta 8.56
Kāṇva / Kāṇvāyana (uncertain from excerpt)
Indra
Not securely determinable from excerpt alone
يُمجِّد هذا النشيد الكانفي القصير إندرا على وجه الخصوص بوصفه الحامي القوي «الذئبيَّ الشبه»، الذي تتجلّى عطاياه الواسعة غير المنقوصة للطالب المخلص. ويحتفي برخاءٍ ملموس (الماشية، والخدمة، والموارد) علامةً على قدرة إندرا المتسعة، ويُختَم بانعطافٍ طقسيٍّ مضيء: إذ يستيقظ أغني بوصفه حاملَ القربان العارف، فيُظهر إشراقَ الشمس—رابطًا هباتِ إندرا بانكشاف نارِ القربان.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्रति ते दस्यवे वृक राधो अदर्श्यह्रयम् । द्यौर्न प्रथिना शवः ॥
نحوَ الطالبِ الخادمِ، أيّها الذئبُ القويّ، قد تجلّت وفرتُك التي لا تنقص—وكالسّماء في سَعَةِ امتدادها، كذلك انكشفَتْ قوّةُ بأسِكَ.
Mantra 2
दश मह्यं पौतक्रतः सहस्रा दस्यवे वृकः । नित्याद्रायो अमंहत ॥
عَشْرٌ لي، وآلافٌ للطالبِ الخادم—هكذا منحَ الذئبُ، ذو الإرادةِ المُطهِّرة؛ ومن منبعِ الغِنى الأبديّ جعلَ جداولَ الوفرةِ تفيض.
Mantra 3
शतं मे गर्दभानां शतमूर्णावतीनाम् । शतं दासाँ अति स्रजः ॥
مئةٌ لي—مئةٌ من قوى الحَمْل، ومئةٌ من الامتلاءاتِ ذاتِ الصوف؛ ومئةٌ من الخَدَمِ يفوقون الأكاليل: هكذا تجتمعُ الوفوراتُ المُنظَّمة، فتغدو دَعائمَ للعمل.
Mantra 4
तत्रो अपि प्राणीयत पूतक्रतायै व्यक्ता । अश्वानामिन्न यूथ्याम् ॥
وهناك أيضًا قُودَتِ الحركةُ إلى الأمام—فأُظهِرَتْ للقوّةِ ذاتِ الإرادةِ الطاهرة—كقيادةِ الخيلِ المنظَّمةِ في قطيعِها؛ فاجتمعتِ الطاقاتُ في تشكيلٍ واحدٍ منسجم.
Mantra 5
अचेत्यग्निश्चिकितुर्हव्यवाट् स सुमद्रथः । अग्निः शुक्रेण शोचिषा बृहत्सूरो अरोचत दिवि सूर्यो अरोचत ॥
قد استيقظَ أَغْنِي—العالِمُ، حامِلُ القُربان؛ يأتي بمركبةِ الفرح. وبلهيبِه اللامع يضيءُ سُورْيَا العظيم؛ وفي السماء يتجلّى سُورْيَا إشراقًا.
Inside Sukta 56
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Indra’s undiminishing bounty becomes visible to the devoted seeker; his force is as wide as heaven.
- Development
The hymn moves from praise of Indra’s expansive power to concrete images of abundance and social supports—ordered plentitudes that sustain work and life.
- Climax
The stress on “hundreds” of resources (animals/wealth/servants) peaks as a symbolic fullness—prosperity as the outward seal of divine power.
- Where it settles
Agni awakens as the knowing carrier of offerings; through his bright flame the great Sun shines—closing the hymn in ritual illumination and confirmation.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is the mighty, wide-ranging lord of strength (śavas), a protector and giver of rādhas (bounty), who makes abundance visibly present to the worshipper and breaks obstacles for those who serve and seek.
- Cosmic functionHe upholds the expansive order of the world through victorious force—securing space, prosperity, and protection—so that life and sacrifice can flourish.
- Inner significanceIndra represents the awakened will and victorious energy that dispels inner hostility (fear, inertia, limitation) and turns aspiration into concrete capacity and resources; the hymn’s Agni/Sūrya close suggests that this power becomes steady and luminous when grounded in disciplined offering (yajña).
The seer
- Kāṇva (Kāṇvāyana tradition)Kāṇva / Kāṇvāyana (Kanva gotra) · A principal seer-family of the Eighth Maṇḍala, known for energetic Indra-stutis (praises of Indra), vivid metaphors, and hymns that connect victory and wealth with correct ritual performance.
Famous verses
प्रति ते दस्यवे वृक राधो अदर्श्यह्रयम् । द्यौर्न प्रथिना शवः ॥śatam me...
divi sūryo arocata
Attributes of the deity
- Might and victory (śavas)
- Protector of the devotee
- Giver of wealth and supports (rādhas)
- Expansive, heaven-like vastness
- Swift, forceful, obstacle-breaking
- Favors orderly plentitude and social/ritual support
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 8 are attributed to Kāṇvas (multiple sūktas to Indra, Agni, Soma, and allied deities).
- The Kāṇva name continues prominently in later Vedic tradition (e.g., Kāṇva Śākhā/lineage associations and remembered ritual expertise), though specific later-text attributions vary by recension.
The rite, step by step
- Kindle and steady Agni; establish the offering-ground and intention (saṅkalpa) for strength and prosperity.
- Recite Indra-stuti verses, inviting Indra as protector and giver of visible bounty.
- Offer oblations while naming desired supports (resources, helpers, cattle/wealth) as lawful fruits of worship.
- Conclude by affirming Agni as havyavāṭ (oblation-bearer) whose bright flame reveals the Sun’s radiance—signifying successful rite and clarified mind.
- Complete with quiet assent/thanks and distribution of any sacrificial portions according to custom.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into Agni
- Soma (where applicable in the larger rite)
- Grain-cakes or simple food offerings (puroḍāśa/anna, context-dependent)
- Water/clarified butter as accompaniment
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Indra as a powerful protector whose generous abundance becomes clearly visible to the devoted worshipper, and it links that blessing to the clarity brought by a well-kindled sacrificial fire.
The repeated “hundred” (śatam) is a Vedic way of expressing fullness and plenty—many supports and resources gathered in an ordered, sustaining way.
The closing verse functions like a ritual seal: Agni, the carrier of offerings, awakens and makes light manifest, showing that Indra’s gifts are stabilized and made luminous through the rite (yajña).
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