Sukta 32
Rishi: Rigvedic provenance (Indra-stotra tradition; AV 20 is a collection of RV-derived hymns)
Devata: Indra (with solar witness/splendour invoked)
Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like cadence (RV-style; AV 20 generally preserves RV meters)
অথর্ববেদ ২০-এ ঋগ্বৈদিক যজ্ঞ-পরম্পরা থেকে সংরক্ষিত এই তিন-ঋচা ইন্দ্র-স্তোত্র ইন্দ্রকে দুই লোক থেকে টেনে এনে বর্তমান সোম-নিষ্পেষণে আহ্বান করে এবং স্তবের দ্বারা তাঁর উল্লাস নবীকৃত করে। ইন্দ্রকে “প্রসন্ন” ও এই আহুতিতে সম্পূর্ণ মনোযোগী করে এই সূক্ত প্রত্যক্ষ সমৃদ্ধির লক্ষণ কামনা করে—নিরাপদ গৃহস্থালি, গবাদি-পশুর বৃদ্ধি, এবং সূর্য-সাক্ষী বিজয়ী দীপ্তি।
Kind of charm
Mantras
Mantra 1
आ रोद॑सी॒ हर्य॑माणो महि॒त्वा नव्यं॑नव्यं हर्यसि॒ मन्म॒ नु प्रि॒यम्। प्र प॒स्त्यमसुर हर्य॒तं गोरा॒विष्कृ॑धि॒ हर॑ये॒ सूर्या॑य
হে (ইন্দ্র), দুই রোদসী (দ্যৌ-পৃথিবী) জুড়ে তুমি তোমার মহিমায় দ্রুত ধাবিত হয়ে আস; প্রিয় মন্ত্র/স্তোত্রে তুমি এখনও নিত্য-নবীন আনন্দ পাও। হে অসুর (প্রভু), অগ্রসর হয়ে গৃহ-আশ্রয়ের আকাঙ্ক্ষিত শক্তি প্রকাশ কর; হরি (তাম্রবর্ণ) তথা সূর্যের জন্য গাভীদের ডাক উন্মোচিত কর।
Mantra 2
आ त्वा॑ ह॒र्यन्तं॑ प्र॒युजो॒ जना॑नां॒ रथे॑ वहन्तु॒ हरि॑शिप्रमिन्द्र । पिबा॒ यथा॒ प्रति॑भृतस्य॒ मध्वो॒ हर्य॑न् य॒ज्ञं स॑ध॒मादे॒ दशो॑णिम्
হে হরিশিপ্র ইন্দ্র, মানুষের যোজিত (জোতা) শক্তিসমূহ উৎসুক হয়ে রথে করে তোমাকে এখানে নিয়ে আসুক। অর্পিত মধু (মধুর সোমরস) এমনভাবে পান কর—যাতে আনন্দিত হয়ে তুমি সধমাদ (সামূহিক ভোজ)-এ দশোণি (দশগুণ পূর্ণ) যজ্ঞ উপভোগ করতে পার।
Mantra 3
अपाः॒ पूर्वे॑षां हरिवः सु॒ताना॒मथो॑ इ॒दं सव॑नं॒ केव॑लं ते । म॒म॒द्धि सोमं॒ मधु॑मन्तमिन्द्र स॒त्रा वृ॑षं ज॒ठर॒ आ वृ॑षस्व
হে হরিবঃ (হরি-অশ্বধারী), তুমি পূর্ববর্তী সু-নিষ্পেষিত সোমরস পান করেছ; আর এখন এই সবন (যজ্ঞ-প্রেসিং) সম্পূর্ণই তোমার। হে ইন্দ্র, মধুময় সোমে উল্লসিত হও; এবং বৃষভের ন্যায়, অবিচ্ছিন্ন ধারায়, তোমার উদরে বল বৃদ্ধি করো।
Inside Sukta 32
How it unfolds
- How it opens
Indra is hailed as rushing in greatness across both worlds, gladdened again and again by the beloved hymn.
- What it asks
Come on the chariot; drink the set-out honeyed Soma; make the homestead’s might and cattle-prosperity manifest under solar splendour.
- Where its power lies
The rite is framed as ‘tenfold’ in fullness and as a direct cause of Indra’s exhilaration and strengthening (bull-like growth).
- How it closes
Indra is urged to be fully exhilarated and to wax strong continuously within the belly—securing uninterrupted efficacy for the sacrificer.
Famous verses
ā roda̍sī̱ harya̍māṇo mahi̱tvā
pibā yathā prati̍bhṛtasya madhvo
idaṃ sava̍naṃ keva̍laṃ te
Kind of hymn
Paustika (Prosperity) / Indra-Soma liturgical import (Rigvedic reprise in AV 20)
What it is for
Indra’s exclusive attention to the present offering, heightened potency through Soma, and resulting prosperity: cattle increase, homestead security, and victory/fame.
Who it is for
Soma-offering priests and householders seeking prosperity and victory through RV-style Indra liturgy (as preserved in AV 20).
Also used as
- Saumya (Soma-liturgical)
- Indra-stotra (victory/strengthening)
- Shantika (household stability, by extension)
The deity
Indra is invoked as the rushing, world-spanning, Soma-loving lord whose bull-like strength is kindled by sweet pressing; the Sun functions as the public witness of his shining manifestation and the hymn’s success.
Powers of the deity
- Swift approach on the chariot with tawny steeds
- Exhilaration (mada) from Soma that amplifies strength
- Bestowal of cattle, household prosperity, and victorious ‘roar’
- Protection and stabilization of the sacrificer’s homestead
- Public manifestation of success under solar splendour
Why the deity is called
To bring Indra quickly to the current pressing, make him drink the honeyed Soma, and thereby convert the rite into tenfold abundance—cattle-wealth, secure dwelling, and victorious force made visible ‘for the Sun.’
The seer
- Rigvedic provenance (Indra-stotra lineage; RV-derived in AV 20)Angiras. Saumya-Indra praise used to quicken the deity’s arrival, intensify Soma-exhilaration, and secure victory/prosperity (cattle, household stability, fame).
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 20.31 (adjacent Indra-stotra, RV reprise)
- AV 20.33 (adjacent Indra-stotra, RV reprise)
- AV 20.34 (Indra praise in RV style; same liturgical stream)
Preparing for the rite
- Arrange the Soma-pressing space (savana) and set the offered Soma (pratibhṛta) in readiness.
- Seat the reciter facing the offering and mentally ‘yoke’ Indra’s chariot/Harīs as the hymn visualizes swift arrival.
- Keep a clear intention: prosperity in cattle and firmness of the homestead, with success made manifest (solar witness).
The rite
- Recite 20.32.1 to ‘span the two worlds’ and invite Indra; frame the aim as household/cattle manifestation.
- Recite 20.32.2 while presenting Soma: invite Indra on the chariot and urge him to drink at the common feast (sadhāmāda).
- Recite 20.32.3 to claim continuity with earlier pressings and to make this pressing ‘wholly his,’ urging bull-like strengthening in the belly.
What it needs
- Soma (or Soma-substitute in later practice)
- Offering vessel(s) for the honeyed draught (madhu/madhumat)
- Pressing implements implied by the rite (pressing-stones, strainer)
When
During a Soma-pressing session (savana), especially at the moment of presentation and urging the drink.
The main substance
Soma (madhu/madhumat, the honeyed pressing)
How it is prepared
Prepare and present the pressed Soma for the savana; offer the set-out draught (pratibhṛta) while reciting, emphasizing sweetness and exhilaration to ‘strengthen Indra’ and secure prosperity.
Frequently Asked Questions
To bring Indra swiftly to the current Soma-offering, make him drink and rejoice, and thereby produce prosperity-signs such as cattle increase, household security, and victory.
The Sun functions as a witness and emblem of visible splendour—success is asked to be ‘made manifest’ publicly, under solar light, while Indra is the active giver of power and wealth.
Traditionally it belongs to Soma-liturgy, but later practice may substitute an appropriate offering (sweet drink/oblations) and keep the core intent: invite Indra, offer, and pray for strength, prosperity, and victory.
Ask anything about Sukta 32 of the Atharva 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 Atharva 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.
