Rig Veda Sukta 42
Mandala 10Sukta 4210 Mantras

Sukta 42

Sukta 10.42

Devata

Indra (with Soma as supporting power)

Dieser Hymnus ist eine belebende Anrufung Indras, durch Soma gestärkt: Die Sänger sollen eine machtvolle stoma (Lobpreisung) „vorantragen“, wie einen entschiedenen Wurf, der besseren Gewinn erringt. Indra wird gebeten, die Feinde weit fortzutreiben, Überfluss an Vieh und Korn zu schenken und inspirierte Einsicht (dhī) zu gewähren, die zum Schatz der Kraft (vāja) wird. Die abschließende Schutzformel weitet den Kreis der Sicherheit: Bṛhaspati soll von allen Seiten wachen, während Indra die Front und die innere Mitte behütet und so varivas schafft — freien Raum und ungehinderte Bewegung für Verbündete und innere Kräfte.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.42

Mantras

Mantra 1

अस्तेव सु प्रतरं लायमस्यन्भूषन्निव प्र भरा स्तोममस्मै । वाचा विप्रास्तरत वाचमर्यो नि रामय जरितः सोम इन्द्रम् ॥

Wie einer, der die Würfel wirft für einen besseren Wurf, schleudre voran einen stärkeren Gewinn; wie schmückend bring ihm den Hymnus hervor. O Seher, setzt mit dem Wort hinüber; o Edler, erfreue den Sänger: im Soma gewähre Indra in uns Erleichterung und Wonne.

Mantra 3

किमङ्ग त्वा मघवन्भोजमाहुः शिशीहि मा शिशयं त्वा शृणोमि । अप्नस्वती मम धीरस्तु शक्र वसुविदं भगमिन्द्रा भरा नः ॥

Warum nennt man dich denn, o Maghavan, den „Spender des Genusses“? Schärfe mich; ich höre dich, den Erwecker. Voll wirksamer Kraft sei mein Denken, o Śakra; bring uns, o Indra, den Anteil, der Reichtum findet — das Los, das die wahren Füllen erschließt.

Mantra 4

त्वां जना ममसत्येष्विन्द्र संतस्थाना वि ह्वयन्ते समीके । अत्रा युजं कृणुते यो हविष्मान्नासुन्वता सख्यं वष्टि शूरः ॥

Dich, o Indra, rufen die Menschen in den Versammlungen, wo die Wahrheit sich bewährt; im Kampfgetümmel. Hier wird dir der zum Joch Gefügte, wer Havis, die Opfergabe, darbringt; doch der Held (Śūra) erwählt keine Freundschaft mit dem, der Soma nicht presst, der nicht auspresst.

Mantra 5

धनं न स्यन्द्रं बहुलं यो अस्मै तीव्रान्त्सोमाँ आसुनोति प्रयस्वान् । तस्मै शत्रून्त्सुतुकान्प्रातरह्नो नि स्वष्ट्रान्युवति हन्ति वृत्रम् ॥

Wie reiches Gut, das in Strömen hervorquillt: wer ihm, mit rechtem Streben, den scharfen Soma presst, der Gabenreiche. Dem lässt Indra beim Tagesanbruch die wohlgetroffenen Feinde niederfallen; die jugendliche Kraft erschlägt Vṛtra, die Sperre, und bahnt den Weg.

Mantra 6

यस्मिन्वयं दधिमा शंसमिन्द्रे यः शिश्राय मघवा काममस्मे । आराच्चित्सन्भयतामस्य शत्रुर्न्यस्मै द्युम्ना जन्या नमन्ताम् ॥

In den wir unser Bekenntnis zu Indra setzen — er, Maghavan, der sich zu unserem Verlangen geneigt hat — vor ihm soll selbst der ferne Feind erzittern; und die menschlichen Kräfte des Glanzes sollen sich ihm beugen und sich für ihn ordnen.

Mantra 7

आराच्छत्रुमप बाधस्व दूरमुग्रो यः शम्बः पुरुहूत तेन । अस्मे धेहि यवमद्गोमदिन्द्र कृधी धियं जरित्रे वाजरत्नाम् ॥

Treibe den Feind fort, fern von uns; o Gewaltiger, o Vielangerufener, vollbringe es durch jene Macht deiner Huld. Lege in uns Fülle — mit Gerste und mit Kühen, o Indra; bereite dem Sänger die inspirierte Einsicht, einen Schatz der Vāja, reich an Gaben.

Mantra 8

प्र यमन्तर्वृषसवासो अग्मन्तीव्राः सोमा बहुलान्तास इन्द्रम् । नाह दामानं मघवा नि यंसन्नि सुन्वते वहति भूरि वामम् ॥

Wenn die starken Soma-Pressungen, scharf und reichlich, nach innen zu Indra gelangen, dann hält Maghavan die Gabe nicht zurück; dem Presser trägt er herab reiches, begehrtes Gut — überströmende Fülle.

Mantra 9

उत प्रहामतिदीव्या जयाति कृतं यच्छ्वघ्नी विचिनोति काले । यो देवकामो न धना रुणद्धि समित्तं राया सृजति स्वधावान् ॥

Und selbst wer den Wurf überreizt hat, kann wieder siegen, wenn zur rechten Zeit die unterscheidende Kraft das wahrhaft Gewirkte zusammenliest. Wer die Götter begehrt, sperrt die Reichtümer nicht; der Selbstgesetzte entlässt ihn in die Fülle des Seins, ihn mitsamt dem Überfluss freigebend.

Mantra 10

गोभिष्टरेमामतिं दुरेवां यवेन क्षुधं पुरुहूत विश्वाम् । वयं राजभिः प्रथमा धनान्यस्माकेन वृजनेना जयेम ॥

Mit den strahlenden Lichtern (go) mögen wir die böse, irreführende Gesinnung überschreiten; mit der nährenden Kraft (yava) mögen wir jeden Hunger überwinden, o Indra, du Vielangerufener. Mögen wir, mit königlichen Mächten (rāja) als Verbündeten, die vordersten Reichtümer des Seins gewinnen; mögen wir durch unsere eigene Ordnung (vṛjana) siegen.

Mantra 11

बृहस्पतिर्नः परि पातु पश्चादुतोत्तरस्मादधरादघायोः । इन्द्रः पुरस्तादुत मध्यतो नः सखा सखिभ्यो वरिवः कृणोतु ॥

Bṛhaspati möge uns ringsum behüten — von hinten, von oben und von unten — gegen die Mächte, die Unheil wollen. Indra, unser Gefährte, möge uns von vorn und aus der Mitte unseres Wesens schützen; er schaffe unseren verbündeten Kräften weiten Raum (varivas).

Inside Sukta 42

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A rousing call to project a stronger, winning praise—likened to casting dice for a better throw—and to cross beyond with the power of the Word (vāc).

  2. Development

    Petitions intensify: Indra is invoked as fierce benefactor to repel enemies and to install abundance (grain, cattle/light) and inspired thought (dhī) in the singer.

  3. Climax

    The direct command-prayer to drive the enemy far away and to grant yavamad-gomad prosperity, culminating in the request for dhī that is vājaratnā—‘a treasure of strength.’

  4. Where it settles

    A protective closing expands the shield in all directions: Bṛhaspati guards from behind/above/below, while Indra, as companion, protects from the front and the inner middle, creating varivas (free, safe space).

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is the much-invoked (puruhūta) heroic god of victorious force, breaker of obstacles, giver of wealth, and protector of the community; Soma is the exhilarant that intensifies his might and joy. In the hymn, Indra is asked to repel foes, grant yavamad and gomad abundance (grain and cattle), and open varivas—wide, safe space for the worshippers and their allies.
  • Cosmic functionHe upholds ṛta through victory over disorder, clears paths for life and prosperity, and releases resources (food, cattle, strength) for the human and divine alliance; Soma functions as the empowering current that amplifies divine action.
  • Inner significanceIndra represents decisive will, courage, and the capacity to overcome inner hostility (fear, inertia, harmful impulses); Soma signifies uplifted consciousness and inspired delight that fuels right action and clear speech. Varivas becomes the felt inner spaciousness where supportive faculties can cooperate without obstruction.

The seer

  • Anukramanī tradition uncertain (Ṛṣi not securely identified for RV 10.42)This sukta is transmitted without a firmly agreed seer attribution in common summary traditions; it is valued more for its forceful Indra-prayer (enemy-aversion and prosperity) than for a named ṛṣi profile.

Famous verses

अस्तेव सु प्रतरं लायमस्यन्भूषन्निव प्र भरा स्तोममस्मै । वाचा विप्रास्तरत वाचमर्यो नि रामय जरितः सोम इन्द्रम् ॥
Verse 10.42.1Sets the hymn’s tone: forceful stoma as a ‘better throw’ and the motif of vāc (the Word) as a means of crossing beyond, while Soma is invoked to gladden/steady Indra within the worshippers’ field.Read verse 10.42.1 →
आराच्छत्रुमप बाधस्व दूरमुग्रो यः शम्बः पुरुहूत तेन । अस्मे धेहि यवमद्गोमदिन्द्र कृधी धियं जरित्रे वाजरत्नाम् ॥
Verse 10.42.7Core apotropaic and prosperity verse: it commands the enemy’s removal and asks Indra to place grain-and-cattle abundance and to shape inspired intelligence (dhī) as a vāja-treasure for the singer.Read verse 10.42.7 →
varivaḥ kṛṇotu
Verse 10.42.10Concluding protection formula (often cited for ‘all-around guarding’): Bṛhaspati’s encircling defense and Indra’s friendly protection create varivas—wide room and unhindered safety for allies and inner powers.Read verse 10.42.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Puruhūta (much-invoked)
  • Ugra (fierce, formidable)
  • Protector and obstacle-remover
  • Bestower of cattle, grain, and strength (vāja)
  • Enemy-repeller and boundary-maker of safety
  • Soma-empowered exhilaration
  • Giver of dhī (inspired intelligence)
  • Opener of varivas (wide room, freedom)

Also by this seer

  • Attribution varies across recensional/anukramaṇī notes; a stable, widely cited corpus of additional hymns under the same named ṛṣi cannot be stated with confidence for RV 10.42.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fire and establish ritual purity; seat the singers/priests.
  • Kindle Agni and introduce the intention: protection, victory, and abundance.
  • Recite the hymn as stoma to Indra, explicitly linking Indra’s power with Soma’s exhilaration.
  • Accompany key petitions (enemy-aversion, wealth, dhī) with appropriate oblations and affirmations.
  • Conclude with the protective enclosure: invoke Bṛhaspati’s all-around guarding and Indra’s frontal/inner protection; seal with a final offering and śānti-like intent (varivas).

Offerings

  • Soma libation (where applicable)
  • Ghee/clarified butter into Agni
  • Optional grains (yava/barley) as symbolic of the hymn’s request
  • Dākṣiṇā (gift) according to rite

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks Indra (strengthened by Soma) to repel enemies, grant prosperity in grain and cattle, and give the singer inspired thought (dhī) that becomes a treasure of strength (vāja).

Soma is the sacred exhilarant that ‘charges’ Indra’s power and joy; invoking Soma signals that Indra’s victorious force is awakened and made effective for protection and success.

Varivas means “wide room” or free, unhindered space—both outer safety (no obstruction from foes) and inner spaciousness where supportive forces can work together.

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