Rig Veda Sukta 21
Mandala 4Sukta 2111 Mantras

Sukta 21

Sukta 4.21

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Diese Hymne ist eine Anrufung Indras, nahe heranzukommen, sich mit den Verehrern im gemeinsamen Ritus (sadhamāda) niederzusetzen und ihre Kraft, Herrschaft und siegreiche Meisterschaft zu mehren. Sie verwebt äußere Yajña-Bilder — das Pressen (des Soma), die Wege und die Hotṛ-Flamme — mit der inneren Psychologie der dhiṣā (inspirierten Einsicht), die „go“ (Licht/Kühe) entdeckt und Indras stürmischen Antrieb empfängt wie anschwellende Flüsse.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.21

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Indra

    Indra is the praised Śūra (hero), wielder of irresistible force (taviṣī), victorious in abhibhūti (overmastering), and the great giver who swells the singer’s impulse like rivers.

Mantras

Mantra 1

आ यात्विन्द्रोऽवस उप न इह स्तुतः सधमादस्तु शूरः । वावृधानस्तविषीर्यस्य पूर्वीर्द्यौर्न क्षत्रमभिभूति पुष्यात् ॥

Indra komme zu uns her, zum Beistand, und trete nahe; gepriesen sei der Held in der gemeinsamen Sitzung. Der an taviṣīḥ, an Kraftenergien, stets Zunehmende, dessen viele Mächte die Herrschaft nähren wie der Himmel selbst — möge seine sieghafte Übermacht in uns wachsen.

Mantra 2

तस्येदिह स्तवथ वृष्ण्यानि तुविद्युम्नस्य तुविराधसो नॄन् । यस्य क्रतुर्विदथ्यो न सम्राट् साह्वान्तरुत्रो अभ्यस्ति कृष्टीः ॥

Hier preist die mannhaften Kräfte dessen, der von weiter Strahlkraft und weiter Fülle ist, des Führers unter den Menschen; dessen Wille (kratu) in den Versammlungen wie der eines Kaisers ist: überwindend, weittragend steht er über den Völkern (kṛṣṭīḥ) und lenkt sie zur rechten Ordnung (ṛta).

Mantra 3

आ यात्विन्द्रो दिव आ पृथिव्या मक्षू समुद्रादुत वा पुरीषात् । स्वर्णरादवसे नो मरुत्वान्परावतो वा सदनादृतस्य ॥

Es komme Indra vom Himmel, es komme von der Erde, schnell — aus der Meerestiefe oder aus der reichen Fülle (purīṣa). Aus der leuchtenden Manneskraft (svar-narā) zu unserem Schutz komme er mit den Maruts — sei es aus der fernen Ferne oder vom Sitz der Wahrheit, des ṛta.

Mantra 4

स्थूरस्य रायो बृहतो य ईशे तमु ष्टवाम विदथेष्विन्द्रम् । यो वायुना जयति गोमतीषु प्र धृष्णुया नयति वस्यो अच्छ ॥

Indra, der über den massigen Reichtum, über die große Fülle gebietet — ihn wollen wir in den Versammlungen preisen. Er, der mit dem Hauch-Wind (vāyu) in lichtreichen Fluren (gomatī) siegt und uns mit kühner Kraft voranführt zum Besseren, zum Begehrenswerten.

Mantra 5

उप यो नमो नमसि स्तभायन्नियर्ति वाचं जनयन्यजध्यै । ऋञ्जसानः पुरुवार उक्थैरेन्द्रं कृण्वीत सदनेषु होता ॥

Der, der in Ehrfurcht herannaht, festigt die Huldigung durch Huldigung, setzt das Wort in Bewegung und gebiert es zum Opferakt; sich aufrichtend, reich an vielen Öffnungen/Weisen, macht er mit Hymnen Indra in den Sitzen gegenwärtig – als Hotṛ, den Opferpriester.

Mantra 6

धिषा यदि धिषण्यन्तः सरण्यान्त्सदन्तो अद्रिमौशिजस्य गोहे । आ दुरोषाः पास्त्यस्य होता यो नो महान्त्संवरणेषु वह्निः ॥

Wenn durch dhiṣā, die inspirierte Einsicht, die Suchenden tüchtig werden, sich auf die schnell dahinströmenden Bahnen setzend, pressen sie den Stein des Auśija zum Finden des Lichts (go). Dann naht der Hotṛ des Hauses, weit in seiner Wohnstatt – für uns der große Träger-Brand, vahni, in den Umhegungen.

Mantra 7

सत्रा यदीं भार्वरस्य वृष्णः सिषक्ति शुष्मः स्तुवते भराय । गुहा यदीमौशिजस्य गोहे प्र यद्धिये प्रायसे मदाय ॥

Wenn unablässig die stürmische Kraft des Stiers (Indra) für Bhārvara angeschirrt wird, für den Träger, der preist – dann, obgleich er in der Höhle des Auśijas Kuhpferchs verborgen ist, tritt er hervor: für den Gedanken, für den vorandrängenden Antrieb, für die Trunkenheit der Erfüllung.

Mantra 8

वि यद्वरांसि पर्वतस्य वृण्वे पयोभिर्जिन्वे अपां जवांसि । विदद्गौरस्य गवयस्य गोहे यदी वाजाय सुध्यो वहन्ति ॥

Wenn er die Tore des Berges öffnet und mit Strömen der Fülle den Ansturm der Wasser belebt, dann findet er im Kuhstall das leuchtende Licht und die ihm verwandten Lichter – wenn die Kräfte rechter Einsicht die Fülle der Macht zum Ziel tragen.

Mantra 9

भद्रा ते हस्ता सुकृतोत पाणी प्रयन्तारा स्तुवते राध इन्द्र । का ते निषत्तिः किमु नो ममत्सि किं नोदुदु हर्षसे दातवा उ ॥

Heilvoll sind deine Hände, kunstfertig deine Handflächen, o Indra – die dem Lobpreisenden Freude schenken. Wo ist dein Sitz? Wie wirst du an uns Gefallen finden? Durch welche Erhebung jauchzt du, um uns zu geben?

Mantra 10

एवा वस्व इन्द्रः सत्यः सम्राड्ढन्ता वृत्रं वरिवः पूरवे कः । पुरुष्टुत क्रत्वा नः शग्धि रायो भक्षीय तेऽवसो दैव्यस्य ॥

So ist Indra, o der Gute: wahrhaftig, der souveräne König, der Vṛtra erschlägt, der Pūru weiten Raum schafft; o Vielgepriesener: hilf uns durch deinen Willen und deine Macht, damit wir an deinem göttlichen Schutz und an der Fülle des Seins teilhaben.

Mantra 11

नू ष्टुत इन्द्र नू गृणान इषं जरित्रे नद्यो न पीपेः । अकारि ते हरिवो ब्रह्म नव्यं धिया स्याम रथ्यः सदासाः ॥

Nun gepriesen, o Indra, nun besungen, lässt du dem Sänger den Strom der Antriebskraft anschwellen, wie Flüsse anschwellen. Für dich, o Harivas (Herr der Falben), ist ein neues Brahman, ein neues Machtwort, bereitet; durch inspirierte Einsicht mögen wir tauglich sein für den Wagenpfad, beständige Gefährten.

Inside Sukta 21

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct call: Indra is invited to come near for protection and to be present in the common rite, praised as the ever-growing hero of many powers (RV 4.21.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn expands Indra’s might into ritual-psychological imagery: through dhiṣā the seekers take their seats on swift paths, press toward the finding of light (go), and the Hotṛ/Vahni principle becomes active within the enclosed field of life (RV 4.21.6).

  3. Climax

    Indra’s response is pictured as a flooding increase—he swells the singer’s iṣ (impulse/nourishment) like rivers in spate, confirming the efficacy of praise and offering.

  4. Where it settles

    A ‘new brahman’ is fashioned for Indra; the singers ask to remain fit for the chariot-path and to be constant companions under his guidance (RV 4.21.11).

The deity: Indra

  • Cosmic functionHe upholds kṣatra (sovereign power), breaks obstructions, releases the waters/light, and grants victory, expansion, and protection to the sacrificer and the clan.
  • Inner significanceIndra symbolizes the awakened will and conquering clarity that breaks inner resistance, releases pent-up energies, and turns inspired thought (dhiṣā) into effective power and progress on the ‘chariot-path’ of right action.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (gotra); traditionally linked with the Vāmadeva seer-family in Mandala 4 · A principal seer of the Fourth Maṇḍala, renowned for powerful Indra hymns and for a style that often bridges ritual action with inner illumination (dhiṣā, go/light imagery).

Famous verses

ā yātv indro 'vase upa na iha stutaḥ
Verse 4.21.1Sets the hymn’s purpose: invitation to Indra for protection and presence in the sadhamāda; highlights his ever-increasing powers and nourishing sovereignty (kṣatra).Read verse 4.21.1 →
धिषा यदि धिषण्यन्तः सरण्यान्त्सदन्तो अद्रिमौशिजस्य गोहे । आ दुरोषाः पास्त्यस्य होता यो नो महान्त्संवरणेषु वह्निः ॥
Verse 4.21.6Key for the hymn’s inner-ritual symbolism: dhiṣā (inspired intelligence), pressing toward go (light/cows), and the Hotṛ/Vahni imagery that links outer fire with inner flame of action.Read verse 4.21.6 →
nadyo na pīpeḥ
Verse 4.21.11Concluding seal: Indra’s praise causes the flow of iṣ like rivers; the poet offers a ‘new brahman’ and asks for steady, chariot-worthy companionship—an enduring devotional closure.Read verse 4.21.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Śūra (heroic protector)
  • Taviṣī (mighty force/powers)
  • Abhibhūti (victorious mastery)
  • Bestower of iṣ (impulse, nourishment)
  • Friend of the singer and the rite (sadhamāda)
  • Breaker of obstacles and opener of the ‘light/cows’ (go)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 are attributed to Vāmadeva Gautama (including multiple Indra sūktas).
  • Vāmadeva is later remembered in Vedic tradition as an exemplary ṛṣi associated with inspired speech (brahman) and victorious divine aid.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the ritual ground and seat the priests; establish the sacred session (sadhamāda).
  • Kindle/affirm the bearer-flame (vahni/Hotṛ function) and begin the praises to invite Indra near (ā yātu).
  • Press/prepare the Soma (or its ritual equivalent) with focused dhiṣā (inspired intelligence) and recite the Triṣṭubh verses.
  • Offer oblations while requesting kṣatra (sovereignty), protection, and the release of ‘go’ (light, increase).
  • Conclude with renewed praise and the ‘new brahman’ (fresh formulation of power), asking for steady companionship and right movement (rathyaḥ).

Offerings

  • Soma libation (or Soma-related offering where applicable)
  • Ghee (ājya) into the fire
  • Grains/cakes (puroḍāśa) in Indra rites (contextual)
  • Dākṣiṇā (priestly gift), as customary in larger rites

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn asks Indra to come near, sit with the worshippers in the ritual gathering, and grant protection, victory, and the increase of strength and sovereign power.

Dhiṣā means inspired intelligence. The hymn says that when seekers act with dhiṣā, they reach the swift paths of the rite and find “go,” a Vedic symbol for light, increase, and the recovered riches of truth.

It ends by saying Indra swells the singer’s impulse like rivers and that a “new brahman” has been fashioned—meaning a fresh, potent formulation of sacred speech offered to Indra for continued guidance and companionship.

Ask anything about Sukta 21 of the Rig Veda

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