Rig Veda Sukta 36
Mandala 3Sukta 3611 Mantras

Sukta 36

Sukta 3.36

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (continuing Maṇḍala 3 sequence)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Dieser Hymnus ruft Indra als den stets erstarkenden Helden an, der mit jedem Soma-Pressen wächst und durch seine großen Taten «wohlbekannt, von dem man viel hört» wird. Er verknüpft Indras sich ausweitende Macht mit der füllenden Kraft des Soma und nimmt das Strömen der Flüsse zum Ozean als kosmisches Bild unwiderstehlichen Drangs. Der Sukta gipfelt in einem direkten Kampfgebet: Möge der freigebige Indra hören, die Hindernisse (vṛtrāṇi) niederschlagen und den Verehrern Schätze erringen.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.36

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Indracontextually, hymn continues Indra-Soma motif

    Indra is praised as maghavān (bountiful), ugra (fierce), nṛtama (most manly), the slayer of Vṛtra-like obstructions, and the victorious winner of wealth when invigorated by Soma.

Mantras

Mantra 1

इमामू षु प्रभृतिं सातये धाः शश्वच्छश्वदूतिभिर्यादमानः । सुतेसुते वावृधे वर्धनेभिर्यः कर्मभिर्महद्भिः सुश्रुतो भूत् ॥

Diese Darbringung setze nun zum Gewinn des Sieges ein; immer wieder schreitend mit deinen Hilfen. Bei jedem Pressen wächst er, durch Stärkungen gestärkt — er, der durch große Werke in den Welten weithin „wohlvernommen“, bezeugt geworden ist.

Mantra 2

इन्द्राय सोमाः प्रदिवो विदाना ऋभुर्येभिर्वृषपर्वा विहायाः । प्रयम्यमानान्प्रति षू गृभायेन्द्र पिब वृषधूतस्य वृष्णः ॥

Für Indra sind die Soma-Ströme, aus fernem Himmel her bekannt, die der R̥bhu, der starkgegliederte, ausgesandt hat. Ergreife sie jetzt, da man sie darreicht; trink, o Indra, den vom Stier getriebenen Soma — du, der Starke.

Mantra 3

पिबा वर्धस्व तव घा सुतास इन्द्र सोमासः प्रथमा उतेमे । यथापिबः पूर्व्याँ इन्द्र सोमाँ एवा पाहि पन्यो अद्या नवीयान् ॥

Trink und wachse in deiner Kraft: für dich, o Indra, sind diese gepressten Somas die ersten Gaben, und auch diese hier. Wie du die früheren, uralten Somas trankst, o Indra, so trink auch heute, o Verehrenswerter, diese stets neueren, wonnigen Ströme.

Mantra 4

महाँ अमत्रो वृजने विरप्श्युग्रं शवः पत्यते धृष्ण्वोजः । नाह विव्याच पृथिवी चनैनं यत्सोमासो हर्यश्वममन्दन् ॥

Groß ist er, unermessen: im Feld des Wirkens weitet er sich aus; seine grimme Macht gewinnt die Herrschaft, seine kühne Kraft. Nicht einmal die Erde vermag ihn zu umfassen, wenn die Somas den Falbenrossigen erfreut haben.

Mantra 5

महाँ उग्रो वावृधे वीर्याय समाचक्रे वृषभः काव्येन । इन्द्रो भगो वाजदा अस्य गावः प्र जायन्ते दक्षिणा अस्य पूर्वीः ॥

Groß und furchtbar ist er: zur Heldenkraft ist er angewachsen; der Stier hat alles bereitet durch die Seher‑Weisheit. Indra wird Bhaga, der Spender der Fülle; seine Strahlen‑Kühe werden hervorgeboren, und die vielen uralten Dakṣiṇās treten zur Offenbarung hervor.

Mantra 6

प्र यत्सिन्धवः प्रसवं यथायन्नापः समुद्रं रथ्येव जग्मुः । अतश्चिदिन्द्रः सदसो वरीयान्यदीं सोमः पृणति दुग्धो अंशुः ॥

Wenn die Flüsse in ihrem antreibenden Lauf hervorströmen, wie Wasser zum Ozean ziehen, gleich Wagen auf der Bahn — dann wird Indra selbst daraus weiter als die Versammlung, wenn Soma, der ausgepresste, leuchtende Stängel, ihn erfüllt.

Mantra 7

समुद्रेण सिन्धवो यादमाना इन्द्राय सोमं सुषुतं भरन्तः । अंशुं दुहन्ति हस्तिनो भरित्रैर्मध्वः पुनन्ति धारया पवित्रैः ॥

Die Flüsse, mit der Weite des Ozeans sich bewegend, bringen Indra den wohlgepressten Soma. Den hellen Saft melken sie mit Händen und Gefäßen; die honigsüße Wonne läutern sie im Strom durch die Siebe, die pavitra.

Mantra 8

ह्रदा इव कुक्षयः सोमधानाः समी विव्याच सवना पुरूणि । अन्ना यदिन्द्रः प्रथमा व्याश वृत्रं जघन्वाँ अवृणीत सोमम् ॥

Wie Seen breiteten sich die Schoße, die Soma bergen, gemeinsam aus zu vielen Pressungen. Als Indra zuerst die Speisen erschloss, da er Vṛtra erschlagen hatte, erwählte er sich Soma.

Mantra 9

आ तू भर माकिरेतत्परि ष्ठाद्विद्मा हि त्वा वसुपतिं वसूनाम् । इन्द्र यत्ते माहिनं दत्रमस्त्यस्मभ्यं तद्धर्यश्व प्र यन्धि ॥

Bring es herbei; niemand soll ringsum stehen und dies hemmen. Denn wir kennen dich als Herrn der Schätze, als Herrn der Reichtümer. Indra, welche mächtige Gabe auch die deine sei—o Falbenrossiger—die gewähre uns, spende sie hervor.

Mantra 10

अस्मे प्र यन्धि मघवन्नृजीषिन्निन्द्र रायो विश्ववारस्य भूरेः । अस्मे शतं शरदो जीवसे धा अस्मे वीराञ्छश्वत इन्द्र शिप्रिन् ॥

Uns gewähre, o Freigebiger, o Nṛjīṣin, Indra, die reichen Güter der allbegehrten Fülle. Setze in uns hundert Herbste zum Leben; setze in uns Helden auf ewig, o Indra mit starkem Kiefer.

Mantra 11

शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥

Zu unserem Heil rufen wir Indra, den Freigebigen, in diesem Kampf — den Männlichsten zum Gewinn der Fülle. Er höre uns, der Gewaltige, zur Hilfe in den Zusammenstößen, die Vṛtras erschlagend, der Sieger über die Schätze.

Inside Sukta 36

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    An urgent establishment of the offering for ‘winning’ (sātaye), affirming Indra’s repeated help and growth at every Soma pressing.

  2. Development

    Indra’s fame and power are expanded through great works; Soma is portrayed as the filling force that enlarges him, with the rivers-to-ocean image illustrating unstoppable divine momentum.

  3. Climax

    Indra becomes ‘wider than the assembly’ when Soma fills him—an apex of cosmic expansion and empowerment.

  4. Where it settles

    A final, practical prayer: call Indra for welfare in battle, to hear the worshippers, smash obstructions, and secure treasures.

The deity: Indra

  • Cosmic functionHe releases and directs life-giving powers—symbolized by waters/rivers—overcomes restraints, and secures victory, space, and abundance for gods and humans.
  • Inner significanceIndra represents awakened will and courageous clarity that, when ‘filled’ by the Soma principle (rapt attention/joyous intensity), breaks inner blockages and restores forward movement in life.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthina; traditionally connected with the Kauśika/Viśvāmitra gotra stream · A royal-turned-seer celebrated for shaping powerful Indra hymns and for the visionary authority associated with the Viśvāmitra tradition.

Famous verses

sute-sute vāvṛdhe
Verse 3.36.1Sets the hymn’s ritual and theological frame: the offering is established for victory, and Indra is portrayed as repeatedly strengthened at each Soma pressing and renowned by great deeds.Read verse 3.36.1 →
āpaḥ samudraṃ rathyeva jagmuḥ
Verse 3.36.6Provides the hymn’s most vivid cosmic simile—rivers rushing to the ocean—while stating the central idea that Soma’s fullness makes Indra surpass all bounds.Read verse 3.36.6 →
ghnantaṃ vṛtrāṇi
Verse 3.36.11The concluding battle-invocation compresses Indra’s key epithets (maghavān, nṛtama, ugra) and the practical request: hear us, slay obstacles, win treasures.Read verse 3.36.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Bountiful giver of riches (maghavān)
  • Warrior-protector in conflicts (samatsu)
  • Obstacle-smasher (vṛtra-han)
  • Strengthened by Soma pressings
  • Expansive, surpassing the assembly (varīyān)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (including many Indra and Agni hymns)
  • Tradition later associates the Viśvāmitra line with the Gāyatrī mantra (RV 3.62.10)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the sacred space and kindle the fires; seat the priests and establish the soma-pressing area.
  • Press Soma (sute-sute) and clarify/strain it; accompany with recitation in Triṣṭubh cadence.
  • Offer Soma to Indra with praise of his expanding might and his renowned deeds.
  • Add supporting offerings (ghee/oblations) and request help in contest/battle and in winning wealth.
  • Conclude with a direct call for Indra to hear, strike obstacles, and grant welfare and treasure.

Offerings

  • Soma juice (pressed and strained)
  • Ghee/clarified butter oblations
  • Optional accompanying gifts/fees (dakṣiṇā) consistent with Indra’s ‘maghavān’ aspect

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Indra as the heroic power that grows stronger at every Soma pressing and is asked to grant victory, protection, and wealth by destroying obstacles.

The rivers-to-ocean image shows irresistible movement and expansion, illustrating how Indra’s power becomes vast when Soma fills and strengthens him.

Traditionally it fits Soma-offering rites and Indra-invocations; in a simpler devotional setting it can be recited as a prayer for courage, removal of hindrances, and success in difficult efforts.

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