Rig Veda Sukta 28
Mandala 4Sukta 285 Mantras

Sukta 28

Sukta 4.28

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional for RV 4.28)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Dieser kurze Hymnus preist Indra in inniger Verbindung mit Soma und erinnert an den klassischen Sieg, bei dem das Vṛtra-Hindernis erschlagen und die sieben Ströme (lebensspendenden Wasser) für Manu und die Menschheit freigesetzt wurden. Er verknüpft Somas belebende, begeisternde Kraft mit Indras entscheidender Gewalt: gemeinsam sprengen sie das Versiegelte, räumen feindliche Widerstände aus dem Weg und weiten das „Feld der Kuh“ (leuchtendes Wissen und Fülle). Ziel ist es, dieselbe vereinte Macht im Opfer anzurufen, damit verstopfte Kanäle — äußere wie innere — geöffnet werden und der rechte Weg gangbar wird.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.28

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Indra-SomaMantras 1-2, 5Indra empowered by Soma

    Indra is the vajra-bearing slayer of Vṛtra who frees the waters and establishes the wide path; Soma (Indu) is the pressed, exhilarating draught that strengthens gods and awakens inspired speech.

  • Indra-AgniMantra 3with Soma addressed as supporting force
  • IndraMantra 4with a dual companion implied in verbal duals, often Indra-Soma or Indra with allied powers

Mantras

Mantra 1

त्वा युजा तव तत्सोम सख्य इन्द्रो अपो मनवे सस्रुतस्कः । अहन्नहिमरिणात्सप्त सिन्धूनपावृणोदपिहितेव खानि ॥

Mit dir als Jochgefährten, in jener Freundschaft, o Soma, ließ Indra für Manu die Wasser strömen. Er erschlug Vṛtra und entließ die sieben Flüsse; er öffnete die verstopften Rinnen, als deckte er Verschlossenes auf.

Mantra 2

त्वा युजा नि खिदत्सूर्यस्येन्द्रश्चक्रं सहसा सद्य इन्दो । अधि ष्णुना बृहता वर्तमानं महो द्रुहो अप विश्वायु धायि ॥

Mit dir als angeschirrtem Gefährten, o Indu, drückte Indra mit Macht das Rad der Sonne nieder. Auf dem weiten Gipfel sich bewegend, tat er die große Lüge und Feindschaft von allem Leben hinweg, damit ein wahreres Licht über das ganze Sein herrsche.

Mantra 3

अहन्निन्द्रो अदहदग्निरिन्दो पुरा दस्यून्मध्यंदिनादभीके । दुर्गे दुरोणे क्रत्वा न यातां पुरू सहस्रा शर्वा नि बर्हीत् ॥

Indra erschlug; Agni verbrannte, o Indu, die Dasyus der Vorzeit — schon vom Mittag an, im nahen Kampf. Im schweren Pass, in der harten Wohnstatt, traf er jene, die nicht nach Krátu (wahrem Willen) gingen; viele Tausende feindlicher Geschosse ließ er niederfallen — damit der Weg der Seele zum rechten Wandern frei werde.

Mantra 4

विश्वस्मात्सीमधमाँ इन्द्र दस्यून्विशो दासीरकृणोरप्रशस्ताः । अबाधेथाममृणतं नि शत्रूनविन्देथामपचितिं वधत्रैः ॥

Von allen Seiten her, o Indra, drückst du die Dasyus nieder; die Völker machst du zu Diensten, die die Wahrheit nicht preisen. Du und deine Kraft wehrt zurück und zermalmt die Feinde im Innern; mit den Werkzeugen entschiedener Tat gewinnt ihr Apáciti wieder — die verlorene rechte Ordnung und klare Unterscheidung.

Mantra 5

एवा सत्यं मघवाना युवं तदिन्द्रश्च सोमोर्वमश्व्यं गोः । आदर्दृतमपिहितान्यश्ना रिरिचथुः क्षाश्चित्ततृदाना ॥

So ist es wahrlich — die Wahrheit, o ihr beiden Herren der Fülle: Indra und Soma. Ihr habt die weite Flur der Kuh (des lichtvollen Wissens) und ihre schnellen Gänge aufgetan. Ihr habt das Verhärtete aufgebrochen und die Bedeckungen weggenommen; selbst die Widerstände der Erde habt ihr durchstoßen und das Eingeschlossene freigesetzt.

Inside Sukta 28

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Indra, yoked with Soma in friendship, sets the waters flowing for Manu—an opening proclamation of alliance and liberation.

  2. Development

    The hymn recalls decisive combats: the constrictor is slain, channels are opened, and hostile Dasyu forces are burned/overthrown even in difficult terrain—emphasizing removal of resistance.

  3. Climax

    Indra and Soma together break hardened coverings and widen the ‘field of the Cow,’ piercing even earth-bound resistances to release what was shut in.

  4. Where it settles

    It seals the account as satya (Truth): the joint lords of plenitude have done this before and are invoked to do it again—opening paths and restoring flow.

The deity: Indra–Soma

  • In the VedaTogether they are invoked as a dual force that breaks coverings, releases streams, and grants victorious momentum.
  • Cosmic functionTo restore cosmic circulation—releasing waters/rivers, opening channels, and overcoming hostile powers that constrict the world’s order (ṛta). Soma supplies the surge of vitality and vision; Indra executes the breakthrough that re-establishes flow and space.
  • Inner significanceSoma is uplifted awareness and inspired delight; Indra is the will-force and clarity that strikes through inertia. Their union symbolizes energized consciousness that breaks psychological knots, releases blocked energies, and widens the inner ‘field’ where truth and right action can move freely.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (Vāmadeva) gotra · A prominent seer of Maṇḍala 4, celebrated for hymns that unite heroic Indra-myth with inner illumination—especially the release of the waters/cows as a symbol of truth and knowledge.

Famous verses

saptá síndhūn (seven rivers)
Verse 4.28.1States the core myth and theology of the sukta: Indra, strengthened by Soma, slays the constrictor and releases the seven rivers, opening blocked channels—an archetype for restoring flow and order.Read verse 4.28.1 →
अहन्निन्द्रो अदहदग्निरिन्दो पुरा दस्यून्मध्यंदिनादभीके । दुर्गे दुरोणे क्रत्वा न यातां पुरू सहस्रा शर्वा नि बर्हीत् ॥
Verse 4.28.3Highlights the overcoming of hostile forces in the ‘near battle,’ pairing Indra’s slaying with Agni’s burning while Soma is addressed as the empowering presence—stressing practical victory in hard passages.Read verse 4.28.3 →
evā́ satyám (thus indeed it is Truth)
Verse 4.28.5Concludes with a truth-affirmation: Indra and Soma widen the ‘field of the Cow’ and break coverings, piercing resistances to release concealed plenitude—summarizing the hymn’s spiritual intent.Read verse 4.28.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vajra-force and decisive victory (Indra)
  • Exhilaration, inspiration, and strengthening (Soma)
  • Release of waters/seven rivers
  • Breaking open sealed or hardened obstructions
  • Protection of Manu/ordered humanity
  • Expansion of the ‘field of the Cow’ (illumined abundance)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 (many hymns traditionally attributed to Vāmadeva Gautama)
  • Hymns to Indra, Agni, and allied deities emphasizing victory over obstruction and the opening of hidden plenitude

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the Soma pressing (abhisava) and purify the juice; establish the fire (Agni) and sacred space.
  • Recite the sukta as an invitation to Indra–Soma, recalling the Vṛtra-slaying and river-release as the archetype of breakthrough.
  • Offer Soma-libations into the fire and/or to the Indra–Soma cups, asking for the opening of ‘blocked channels’ and removal of hostile forces.
  • Conclude with affirmations of satya/ṛta (truth-order) and petitions for widened space, safe passage, and abundance.

Offerings

  • Soma juice (pressed and purified)
  • Ghee/clarified butter into Agni
  • Optional oblations/food offerings accompanying Soma rites

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn primarily invokes Indra together with Soma (Indu). Soma is the empowering, inspiring force, and Indra is the heroic power that breaks obstacles and releases the waters.

On the mythic level it recalls Indra’s victory that frees the world’s waters. Symbolically it means restoring blocked life-currents—health, prosperity, and the flow of truth and knowledge—by removing constriction.

It fits naturally in Soma offerings, especially when seeking strength, victory, and the removal of obstacles. Reciting it with Soma libations (and ghee into Agni) aligns the rite with the archetype of opening sealed channels and widening abundance.

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