Rig Veda Sukta 81
Mandala 8Sukta 819 Mantras

Sukta 81

Sukta 8.81

Devata

Indra

Dieser neunstrophige Hymnus ist ein unmittelbares, einladendes Loblied an Indra: Er wird gebeten, nahe heranzukommen und für die Verehrer einen leuchtenden, reichen Anteil an Macht, Reichtum und sieghafter Kraft zu „ergreifen“. Hervorgehoben werden die Wirksamkeit des rechtshändigen Handelns (dakṣiṇā), das gesungene Sāman, das Indra hören soll, sowie das schnelle Eintreffen seiner strahlenden Vāja-s (Füllen, Überfülle), die Wachstum und Gelingen zur Reife bringen.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.81

Mantras

Mantra 1

आ तू न इन्द्र क्षुमन्तं चित्रं ग्राभं सं गृभाय । महाहस्ती दक्षिणेन ॥

Komm zu uns, o Indra; ergreife uns gemeinsam den leuchtenden, reichen Griff der Macht — du Großhändiger — mit deiner rechten Hand wirksamen Tuns.

Mantra 2

विद्मा हि त्वा तुविकूर्मिं तुविदेष्णं तुवीमघम् । तुविमात्रमवोभिः ॥

Denn wir kennen dich: weit in deinen Bewegungen, groß in deinem Geben, mächtig in deiner Freigebigkeit — unermesslich in deinen Maßen — durch deine vielen Schutze, die uns tragen.

Mantra 3

नहि त्वा शूर देवा न मर्तासो दित्सन्तम् । भीमं न गां वारयन्ते ॥

Denn dich, o Held, halten weder Götter noch Sterbliche zurück, wenn du zu geben entschlossen bist; wie man auch einen furchtbaren Stier in seinem Ansturm nicht aufhalten kann.

Mantra 4

एतो न्विन्द्रं स्तवामेशानं वस्वः स्वराजम् । न राधसा मर्धिषन्नः ॥

Wohlan, lasst uns Indra im Gesang preisen, den Herrn der Schätze, den Selbstkönig in eigener Hoheit; möge er uns nicht durch seine Gabe niederdrücken, sondern sie uns rechtmäßig zuwenden.

Mantra 5

प्र स्तोषदुप गासिषच्छ्रवत्साम गीयमानम् । अभि राधसा जुगुरत् ॥

Möge das Lob hervorströmen; möge der Gesang herannahen — möge er den Sāman hören, wie er gesungen wird. Mögen sie mit der Gabe zu ihm erwachen, sich eng zusammenschließend in der Freude der Opfergabe.

Mantra 6

आ नो भर दक्षिणेनाभि सव्येन प्र मृश । इन्द्र मा नो वसोर्निर्भाक् ॥

Bring uns her mit deiner rechten Hand; auch mit der linken berühre es und strecke es uns entgegen. O Indra, schneide uns nicht ab von der Fülle des Seins, entziehe uns nicht unseren Anteil am Schatz der Vasus.

Mantra 7

उप क्रमस्वा भर धृषता धृष्णो जनानाम् । अदाशूष्टरस्य वेदः ॥

Tritt näher und bring es her, o Kühner, mit kühner Kraft — du Kühnster unter den Menschen. Du kennst die Veda dessen, der nicht darbringt: das Geheimnis des Nicht-Opfernden und wie man dieses Hindernis bezwingt.

Mantra 8

इन्द्र य उ नु ते अस्ति वाजो विप्रेभिः सनित्वः । अस्माभिः सु तं सनुहि ॥

O Indra, welche Fülle an Kraft (vāja) auch immer die deine ist, die mit den Sehern im Sieg des Gewinnens zu erringen ist — lass uns sie gut erringen, mit uns zusammen; mach sie rechtmäßig zu der unsrigen.

Mantra 9

सद्योजुवस्ते वाजा अस्मभ्यं विश्वश्चन्द्राः । वशैश्च मक्षू जरन्ते ॥

Deine schnell dahinstürmenden Kräfte der Fülle, allleuchtend, drängen zu uns vor; und durch ihre gebietenden Energien lassen sie rasch unser Wachstum zur Reife gelangen.

Inside Sukta 81

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A forceful invitation: Indra is summoned to “seize together” an abundant, radiant share for the worshippers by his effective right-handed power.

  2. Development

    Praise intensifies through the medium of song—especially the sāman—stressing that Indra must hear and respond, and that worshippers draw near to him with offerings and expectation of bounty.

  3. Climax

    The hymn reaches its peak in the vision of Indra’s swiftly moving, all-luminous vāja-s surging toward the sacrificer, empowered by mastery (vaśa) to bring quick fruition.

  4. Where it settles

    It settles into assurance: Indra’s energies do not merely arrive, they “ripen” growth—turning invocation into increase, stability, and realized gain.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is celebrated as the mighty wielder of strength and victory, the hearer of hymns and sāman-chants, and the giver of rādhas (bounty) who can be summoned to seize and bestow a “bright, abundant grasp” of power.
  • Cosmic functionHe upholds order by overcoming obstructive forces, releasing vitality and prosperity, and empowering human endeavor with victorious energy and increase.
  • Inner significanceIndra signifies awakened will-force and courageous clarity that breaks inner resistance, gathers scattered energies, and converts aspiration (song, praise) into tangible growth and accomplishment.

Famous verses

mahāhastī dakṣiṇena
Verse 8.81.1Sets the hymn’s core request: Indra is asked to come and actively ‘grasp’ a bright, abundant power-share for the worshippers, highlighting his mighty hand and effective action (dakṣiṇā).Read verse 8.81.1 →
प्र स्तोषदुप गासिषच्छ्रवत्साम गीयमानम् । अभि राधसा जुगुरत् ॥
Verse 8.81.5Highlights the ritual technology of sound: praise and sāman-chant are presented as the means by which Indra is drawn near and made to hear, leading to the release of bounty (rādhas).Read verse 8.81.5 →
vājā asmabhyaṃ viśvaścandrāḥ
Verse 8.81.9Concludes with the promise of swift, luminous plenitudes (vājāḥ viśvaścandrāḥ) pressing toward the worshippers to bring quick ripening—an emblem of Indra’s responsive increase.Read verse 8.81.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vajra-bearing power and victory
  • Swift responsiveness to invocation
  • Giver of rādhas (bounty) and vāja (plenitude)
  • Listener to sāman and praise
  • Mighty-handed efficacy (dakṣiṇā as effective action)

Also by this seer

  • Mandala 8 contains many Indra-focused hymns in a similar pragmatic, ritual-invitatory register; RV 8.81 participates in that Indra-stotra stream.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the sacred space and kindled fire (Agni) as the carrier of offerings.
  • Open with an āvāhana-style call: invite Indra to come near and take his seat among the worshippers.
  • Recite/sing the hymn with emphasis on audibility: “may he hear the sāman as it is being sung.”
  • Make offerings while voicing requests for rādhas (bounty), vāja (plenitude), and victorious force.
  • Conclude with a reaffirmation that Indra’s swift powers press toward the sacrificer, bringing ripening and increase.

Offerings

  • Soma (where applicable in the broader rite)
  • Ghee/clarified butter into the fire
  • Grain-cakes or simple food offerings (anna) as customary adjuncts
  • Libations (water/milk) according to household practice

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks Indra to come near and actively secure for the worshippers a bright, abundant share of power, prosperity, and victorious strength.

Because the hymn treats sung praise as a key way to draw Indra close—he is urged to hear the sāman, and that hearing is linked to granting bounty (rādhas).

It describes Indra’s quickly moving forces of increase—energies that arrive fast, shine with fullness, and make the worshippers’ aims mature and succeed.

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