Rig Veda Sukta 76
Mandala 8Sukta 7611 Mantras

Sukta 76

Sukta 8.76

Dieser Hymnus ruft Indra „mit den Maruts“ als den unbezwingbaren Herrn der Macht an und drängt ihn, zum Opfer zu kommen, Soma zu trinken und den Verehrern Sieg und Mehrung zu sichern. Neben dem kriegerischen und rituellen Ruf enthält er auch einen nachdenklichen Ton: die inspirierte Rede (Vāc) entsteht durch Indra und verbindet äußere Eroberung mit innerer Formung durch ṛta, die Wahrheitsordnung.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.76

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Indrawith Maruts

    Indra is hailed as īśāna (sovereign) in ojas (might), a master of māyā in the Vedic sense of formative skill and effective power, and as marutvant, attended by the storm-gods who amplify his force.

Mantras

Mantra 1

इमं नु मायिनं हुव इन्द्रमीशानमोजसा । मरुत्वन्तं न वृञ्जसे ॥

Nun rufe ich diesen Māyin an, Indra, den Herrn der Macht, den Gebieter durch Kraft; mit den Maruts verbunden, nicht vom Kampf abzubringen.

Mantra 2

अयमिन्द्रो मरुत्सखा वि वृत्रस्याभिनच्छिरः । वज्रेण शतपर्वणा ॥

Dieser Indra, der Freund der Maruts, spaltete Vṛtras Haupt entzwei — mit dem hundertgliedrigen Vajra.

Mantra 4

अयं ह येन वा इदं स्वर्मरुत्वता जितम् । इन्द्रेण सोमपीतये ॥

Dies ist Er, durch den, mit den Maruts, die lichtvolle Welt (svar) errungen ward: Indra, der zum Trank des Soma kommt.

Mantra 5

मरुत्वन्तमृजीषिणमोजस्वन्तं विरप्शिनम् । इन्द्रं गीर्भिर्हवामहे ॥

Indra rufen wir mit inspirierten Liedern — Indra, von den Maruts begleitet, geradlaufend auf seiner Bahn, kraftvoll, weit in wirksamem Tun.

Mantra 6

इन्द्रं प्रत्नेन मन्मना मरुत्वन्तं हवामहे । अस्य सोमस्य पीतये ॥

Indra — den von den Maruts begleiteten — rufen wir mit dem uralten, strebenden Sinn, zum Trank dieses Soma.

Mantra 7

मरुत्वाँ इन्द्र मीढ्वः पिबा सोमं शतक्रतो । अस्मिन्यज्ञे पुरुष्टुत ॥

O Indra mit den Maruts, du freigebiger Spender, trink den Soma, o Hundertkräftiger; in diesem Opfer, o weithin Gepriesener.

Mantra 8

तुभ्येदिन्द्र मरुत्वते सुताः सोमासो अद्रिवः । हृदा हूयन्त उक्थिनः ॥

Dir allein, o Indra mit den Maruts, sind diese Soma‑Tränke ausgepresst, o Steinführer; aus dem Herzen rufen dich die Ukthin‑Sänger mit dem Hymnus.

Mantra 9

पिबेदिन्द्र मरुत्सखा सुतं सोमं दिविष्टिषु । वज्रं शिशान ओजसा ॥

Trink, o Indra, Freund der Maruts, diesen ausgepressten Soma in den Höhen des lichtvollen Ringens; den Vajra mit Kraft schärfend, komm als geschärfte Macht, die die Hemmnisse zerschlägt.

Mantra 10

उत्तिष्ठन्नोजसा सह पीत्वी शिप्रे अवेपयः । सोममिन्द्र चमू सुतम् ॥

Aufstehend in Kraft, zugleich (mit ihr), nachdem du getrunken hattest, ließest du deine Lippen beben; o Indra, trink den Soma, der in der Schale gepresst ist.

Mantra 11

अनु त्वा रोदसी उभे क्रक्षमाणमकृपेताम् । इन्द्र यद्दस्युहाभवः ॥

Dir folgten die beiden, Himmel und Erde, rufend, und sie verließen dich nicht, o Indra, als du zum Bezwinger der Dasyu wurdest.

Mantra 12

वाचमष्टापदीमहं नवस्रक्तिमृतस्पृशम् । इन्द्रात्परि तन्वं ममे ॥

Das Wort mit acht Schritten forme ich in mir — mit neun Kränzen geschmückt, die Ṛta berührend; von Indra her umfasse und baue ich mein eigenes Wesen.

Inside Sukta 76

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct, urgent summons: the poet calls Indra, master of might and effective power, attended by the Maruts and unstoppable in the struggle for light.

  2. Development

    The hymn intensifies the invitation into the ritual sphere—Indra is praised and requested to accept Soma in this very sacrifice, bringing victorious increase and protection.

  3. Climax

    The invocation peaks in the explicit Soma-call to Indra-with-Maruts (Śatakratu) and the assurance that his presence makes the yajña a field of triumph and growth.

  4. Where it settles

    A contemplative closure: the poet speaks of shaping Vāc—eight-stepped, nine-garlanded, touching ṛta—suggesting that Indra’s gift culminates as inner formation and truth-aligned expression.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaHe is invited to the yajña to drink Soma and to be unwavering in the struggle that yields light and prosperity.
  • Cosmic functionChampion of cosmic order by breaking obstructions, releasing light and abundance, and empowering the community through victory, rain, and expansive force; with the Maruts he embodies the storm-driven dynamic that clears the way for renewal.
  • Inner significanceIndra represents the awakened will and luminous intelligence that breaks inner resistance; the Maruts are the surging energies (prāṇic and emotional forces) that accompany and intensify this breakthrough. The Vāc passage suggests inspired speech and self-formation arise when this Indric power aligns the person with ṛta.

Famous verses

marutvantaṃ na vṛñjase
Verse 8.76.1Sets the hymn’s keynote: Indra as sovereign in might and formative power (māyā), explicitly marutvant and unturnable from the battle for light—an archetypal Indra-Marut invocation.Read verse 8.76.1 →
pibā somaṃ śatakrato
Verse 8.76.7Central liturgical request: Indra-with-Maruts is asked to drink Soma in the present yajña, linking praise, offering, and the expected boon of victorious increase.Read verse 8.76.7 →
vācam aṣṭāpadīm
Verse 8.76.12A standout mystical-psychological verse on inspired speech: Vāc as ‘eight-stepped’ and ‘nine-garlanded’ touching ṛta, with the poet’s very being formed ‘from Indra’.Read verse 8.76.12 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Śatakratu (hundred-powered, of many effective acts)
  • Ojasvin (mighty, forceful)
  • Marutvant (accompanied by the Maruts)
  • Soma-priya (delighting in Soma)
  • Vṛtra-han archetype (breaker of obstruction)
  • Giver of increase and victory
  • Source/awakener of inspired Vāc connected to ṛta

Also by this seer

  • General association with Mandala 8’s mixed/variegated poet-collections (often connected with Kāṇva and allied singer-lines), though this specific sūkta’s seer is not securely identified in the supplied tradition.
  • Related Indra-with-Maruts praise typical of Mandala 8’s Soma-liturgical repertoire.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the Soma and the ritual ground; establish the fire and seats for the deities.
  • Recite the opening call to Indra as sovereign in might, explicitly invoking his Marut-companionship (marutvant).
  • Offer and press Soma; invite Indra to drink in the present yajña, praising him as Śatakratu and puruṣṭuta (widely praised).
  • Accompany with supportive Marut-invocations (as attendants/strengtheners of Indra’s action).
  • Conclude with a sealing intention: victory, increase, and right-ordered speech (Vāc) for the sacrificer and community.

Offerings

  • Soma (primary libation)
  • Ghee/clarified butter into the fire (supporting oblation)
  • Optional: simple food offerings as per household rite (anna), when Soma is substituted in later practice

Frequently Asked Questions

Because the Maruts are Indra’s storm-like companions who intensify his power. Together they represent unstoppable force that clears obstacles and brings victory, rain, and increase.

The hymn repeatedly invites Indra to come to the sacrifice and drink the Soma. Accepting Soma signifies his active presence and his readiness to grant strength and success to the worshippers.

It says the poet forms an inspired, truth-touching speech within himself—structured and powerful—and that this inner capacity comes through Indra. In other words, Indra’s gift is not only outer victory but also inner clarity and right expression.

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