Rig Veda Sukta 132
Mandala 1Sukta 1324 Mantras

Sukta 132

Sukta 1.132

Devata

Indra (primary), with supportive epithets invoking dawn-awakening and straight course

Dieser kurze Indra-Hymnus ruft Indras, vom Morgenrot erweckte und geradlinig schreitende Kraft an, um Sieg in der lichtvollen Welt sowie Erfolg in Kampf und Wettstreit zu erlangen. Er erinnert an Indras urbildliche Taten — das Öffnen des valaartigen Verschlusses für die Aṅgirasas und das Niederschlagen aufgeschichteter „Häupter“ der Hemmung —, damit seine Gaben dem Verehrer unmittelbar und glückverheißend zukommen. Zugleich betont der Hymnus das rechte Opfer (Soma-Pressung) und bittet Indra, die Gesetzlosen zu bezwingen, die dem Ritus widerstehen.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.132

Mantras

Mantra 2

स्वर्जेषे भर आप्रस्य वक्मन्युषर्बुधः स्वस्मिन्नञ्जसि क्राणस्य स्वस्मिन्नञ्जसि । अहन्निन्द्रो यथा विदे शीर्ष्णाशीर्ष्णोपवाच्यः । अस्मत्रा ते सध्र्यक्सन्तु रातयो भद्रा भद्रस्य रातयः ॥

Zum Gewinn der leuchtenden Welt, im Ansturm der Schlacht, beim Ruf des Anrufers — o von der Morgenröte erweckte Macht — auf deinem eigenen geraden Pfad, auf deinem eigenen geraden Pfad der vordringenden Kraft: wie Indra, zu unserem Erkennen, Haupt auf Haupt erschlug, das zu benennen und offenzulegen ist — so mögen hier bei uns deine Gaben geradlinig kommen, heilsam: Gaben des Heilsamen.

Mantra 3

तत्तु प्रयः प्रत्नथा ते शुशुक्वनं यस्मिन्यज्ञे वारमकृण्वत क्षयमृतस्य वारसि क्षयम् । वि तद्वोचेरध द्वितान्तः पश्यन्ति रश्मिभिः । स घा विदे अन्विन्द्रो गवेषणो बन्धुक्षिद्भ्यो गवेषणः ॥

Jener Vorstoß von dir, uralt in seiner Weise, widerhallend — durch ihn schufen sie sich im Opfer eine weite Öffnung, eine Wohnstatt des ṛta, ein Heim. Sprich es aus; dann sehen sie wahrlich innen durch die Strahlen. So folgt Indra, der Sucher der leuchtenden Herden, dem Wissenden nach — Sucher der leuchtenden Herden, für die verwandten Ansiedler: Sucher der leuchtenden Herden.

Mantra 4

नू इत्था ते पूर्वथा च प्रवाच्यं यदङ्गिरोभ्योऽवृणोरप व्रजमिन्द्र शिक्षन्नप व्रजम् । ऐभ्यः समान्या दिशास्मभ्यं जेषि योत्सि च । सुन्वद्भ्यो रन्धया कं चिदव्रतं हृणायन्तं चिदव्रतम् ॥

Nun auch dies, wie zuvor, ist zu verkünden: wie du für die Aṅgiras den Pferch öffnetest — o Indra, lehrend, öffnetest du die Umzäunung. Aus jener gemeinsamen Richtung erringe uns den Sieg und kämpfe. Und für die Soma-Presser bezwinge jeden Gesetzlosen — selbst den, der im Unrecht wütet.

Mantra 5

सं यज्जनान्क्रतुभिः शूर ईक्षयद्धने हिते तरुषन्त श्रवस्यवः प्र यक्षन्त श्रवस्यवः । तस्मा आयुः प्रजावदिद्बाधे अर्चन्त्योजसा । इन्द्र ओक्यं दिधिषन्त धीतयो देवाँ अच्छा न धीतयः ॥

Wenn der Held die Völker mit Kräften des Willens überschaut und ordnet zum Heil des im Kampf errungenen Gutes, dann drängen die Ruhmsucher vor und opfern, vorwärts drängen die Ruhmsucher. Ihm singen sie, in der Stunde des Zurückdrängens des Widerstands, mit Macht für ein Leben, reich an Nachkommenschaft. Die inspirierten Gedanken bereiten Indra die Heimstatt; die inspirierten Gedanken gehen zu den Göttern.

Inside Sukta 132

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A call for victory in the ‘luminous world’ and for Indra’s power to move on its own straight path, awakened at dawn for the battle-like effort of life and rite.

  2. Development

    Mythic exempla are invoked: Indra’s striking down of layered ‘heads’ of obstruction and his opening of the enclosure for the Aṅgirasas—proof of his capacity to liberate light and wealth.

  3. Climax

    The petition intensifies into direct help: Indra is asked to win and fight for the worshipper and to subdue the lawless adversary who disrupts the Soma-pressers.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into the assurance that inspired thoughts and sacrifice ‘set Indra in the home within,’ drawing divine powers near, and ends with a request for auspicious gifts and life rich in progeny.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is the foremost heroic god of the Rigveda: soma-strengthened, wielder of the vajra, breaker of forts, opener of the hidden ‘cows’/light, and champion of the sacrificer against hostile and lawless forces.
  • Cosmic functionHe releases light and abundance by breaking enclosing darkness/obstruction, restores right order for the rite, and secures victory, rain, and worldly prosperity for those aligned with ṛta.
  • Inner significanceIndra symbolizes awakened will and courageous clarity that moves on a ‘straight course’—the inner power that breaks mental enclosures, exposes falsehood, and channels energy toward auspicious outcomes.

The seer

  • Gautama Rāhūgaṇa (traditional attribution)Gautama gotra (Rāhūgaṇa branch) · A Rigvedic seer associated with martial-ritual invocations to Indra, stressing victory, straight course (añjasi), and the removal of obstructing powers.

Famous verses

भ॒द्रा भ॒द्रस्य॑ रा॒तय॑ः (bhadrā bhadrasya rātayaḥ)
Verse 1.132.2Central victory-prayer: it links dawn-awakened Indra, the ‘straight course’ (añjasi), the crushing of obstruction, and the request that auspicious gifts come directly to the worshipper.Read verse 1.132.2 →
अप॑ व्र॒जम् (apa vrajam)
Verse 1.132.4Key mythic remembrance and practical petition: Indra opens the enclosure for the Aṅgirasas (release of hidden wealth/light) and is asked to defeat and subdue the lawless opponent of the rite.Read verse 1.132.4 →
सं यज्जनान्क्रतुभिः शूर ईक्षयद्धने हिते तरुषन्त श्रवस्यवः प्र यक्षन्त श्रवस्यवः । तस्मा आयुः प्रजावदिद्बाधे अर्चन्त्योजसा । इन्द्र ओक्यं दिधिषन्त धीतयो देवाँ अच्छा न धीतयः ॥
Verse 1.132.5Shows the hymn’s ritual psychology: the community is marshaled by will (kratu), sacrifices for battle-won good, and ‘dhī’ installs Indra inwardly, drawing the gods close for life and progeny.Read verse 1.132.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vajra-bearer and obstacle-smasher
  • Soma-empowered hero
  • Opener of the enclosure (vraja/vrajaṃ) for the Aṅgirasas
  • Protector of the sacrificer and subduer of the lawless (avrata)
  • Straight-moving, goal-directed force (añjasi)
  • Giver of auspicious gifts (bhadrā rātayaḥ)

Also by this seer

  • Several hymns in Rigveda Maṇḍala 1 traditionally linked to the Gautamas/Rāhūgaṇas, especially Indra-focused praise and victory-prayers.
  • Participation in the broader Angirasa/vala mythic complex as a transmitter of Indra’s ‘opening the pen’ motif in liturgical memory.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish ritual order (ṛta) with preliminary offerings.
  • Press Soma (or offer Soma-substitute where applicable) while reciting the hymn to invite Indra’s dawn-awakened power.
  • Recite the victory petitions: ask for gifts to come ‘straight’ and for the crushing of obstruction and lawlessness.
  • Conclude with oblations and a final request for auspicious rātis (bounties) and protection for people, cattle, and progeny.

Offerings

  • Soma libation (primary)
  • Ghee/clarified butter oblations
  • Grain-cakes or simple food offerings (contextual substitutes)
  • Praise (stuti) and inspired thought (dhī) as the inner offering

Frequently Asked Questions

For victory and success, for gifts to come directly and auspiciously, and for Indra to remove obstacles and defeat lawless opponents who resist the rite.

It recalls a famous Indra-deed: he opened the closed pen/enclosure (vraja), releasing hidden wealth/light. The hymn uses this as proof that Indra can also ‘open’ blocked conditions for the worshipper.

It suggests direct, unhindered movement of Indra’s power and gifts—both outwardly (victory and protection) and inwardly (clear will that cuts through confusion and obstruction).

Ask anything about Sukta 132 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

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.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play