Sukta 171
Sukta 10.171
Indra
এই সংক্ষিপ্ত ইন্দ্র-সূক্তে বারবার দেবতাকে সেই রূপে সম্বোধন করা হয়েছে, যিনি থেমে থাকা বা গোপন বিষয়কে সামনে আনেন—রথ, সংকল্প, এমনকি সূর্যকেও। কবি ইন্দ্রের প্রশংসা করেন যে তিনি সোম-অর্পণকারীর আহ্বান শোনেন, মর্ত্যকে বাঁধনস্বরূপ নিয়ন্ত্রণ থেকে মুক্ত করেন, এবং সীমাবদ্ধকারী শক্তির ঊর্ধ্বে আলোককে অগ্রসর করেন।
Mantras
Mantra 1
त्वं त्यमिटतो रथमिन्द्र प्रावः सुतावतः । अशृणोः सोमिनो हवम् ॥
হে ইন্দ্র! তুমি সোম-পেষকের সেই দ্রুতগামী রথকে অগ্রসর করেছ ও রক্ষা করেছ; তুমি সোমিনের আহ্বান শুনেছ।
Mantra 2
त्वं मखस्य दोधतः शिरोऽव त्वचो भरः । अगच्छः सोमिनो गृहम् ॥
তুমি মখের মস্তক বহন করে নিয়ে গেলে, আবরণ-চর্ম অপসারিত করে; এবং তুমি সোমিনের গৃহে এলে।
Mantra 3
त्वं त्यमिन्द्र मर्त्यमास्त्रबुध्नाय वेन्यम् । मुहुः श्रथ्ना मनस्यवे ॥
হে ইন্দ্র, তুমি সেই মর্ত্যকে—যে অস্ত্রের দৃঢ় ভিত্তি পর্যন্ত জাগ্রত হবার যোগ্য, এবং মনসাধকের কাছে কাম্য—বারংবার শিথিল করে মুক্ত করেছ; মনস্বীর জন্য তার বন্ধন খুলে দিয়েছ।
Mantra 4
त्वं त्यमिन्द्र सूर्यं पश्चा सन्तं पुरस्कृधि । देवानां चित्तिरो वशम् ॥
হে ইন্দ্র, যে সূর্য পিছনে আছে তাকে তুমি সামনে স্থাপন কর; দেবতাদেরও সীমাবদ্ধ বশের ঊর্ধ্বে—আলোকে আমাদের দর্শনের অগ্রভাগে নিয়ে এসো।
Inside Sukta 171
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Indra is praised as the protector who advances the eager chariot of the Soma-presser and hears the call.
- Development
The hymn turns from outer aid (protection and movement) to inner release—Indra repeatedly loosens the mortal for right intention and awakened power.
- Climax
Indra is asked to place the Sun that is ‘behind’ in front—an image of reversing obscurity and making illumination lead.
- Where it settles
The praise rests in confidence that Indra’s power exceeds ordinary constraints, even ‘beyond the control’ (vaśam) that limits other forces.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is the foremost heroic deity of the Ṛgveda: the wielder of the vajra, drinker of Soma, hearer of prayers, and breaker of obstacles who wins space, light, and freedom for gods and humans.
- Cosmic functionHe restores order by overcoming obstructing forces, releases the waters/light, and enables movement—of chariots, rites, and the Sun’s course—so that life and vision can proceed.
- Inner significanceIndra symbolizes the awakened will and victorious energy that breaks inner bondage (fear, inertia, confusion), strengthens resolve, and brings hidden insight into conscious prominence.
Famous verses
त्वं त्यमिटतो रथमिन्द्र प्रावः सुतावतः । अशृणोः सोमिनो हवम् ॥त्वं त्यमिन्द्र मर्त्यमास्त्रबुध्नाय वेन्यम् । मुहुः श्रथ्ना मनस्यवे ॥puraḥ kṛdhi
Attributes of the deity
- Vajra-bearer (thunderbolt power)
- Soma-pleased and invoked by pressing
- Protector and advancer of the sacrificer
- Liberator/loosener of bonds
- Bringer-forward of light (Sūrya)
- Responsive to the call (havam)
Also by this seer
- Ascription uncertain; no stable additional hymns can be safely attributed to a single named rṣi for RV 10.171 in common recensions.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the rite with purification and kindling of Agni (as customary setting for Indra-stotra).
- Press Soma (or offer Soma-substitute where applicable) while reciting the verses as an Indra-invocation.
- State the petition: protection of the ‘moving chariot’ (progress of the sacrifice and patron), loosening of bonds, and emergence of light/clarity.
- Conclude with oblations and a brief śānti-style intention: may illumination be placed ‘in front’ for right action.
Offerings
- Soma juice (primary, where Soma-rite is performed)
- Ghee/clarified butter into fire
- Grain-cakes or simple food-offerings (optional, context-dependent)
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Indra for advancing what is stuck—protecting the sacrificer’s progress, freeing a person from constraints, and bringing hidden light (like the Sun) into the lead.
It is a poetic way of asking Indra to reverse obscurity: to make illumination, clarity, and right vision come forward and guide action.
Yes. The first verse explicitly speaks of the Soma-presser and Indra hearing the call, so it fits naturally within Soma offerings or Indra praise during fire-ritual contexts.
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