Sukta 99
Rishi: RV provenance (requires RV hymn concordance for ṛṣi).
Devata: Indra
Chandas: Triṣṭubh-type (to be confirmed from RV source).
Mantras
Mantra 1
अभि त्वा पूर्वपीतय इन्द्र स्तोमेभिरायवः । समीचीनास ऋभवः समस्वरन् रुद्रा गृणन्त पूर्व्यम्
Unto thee, O Indra, the erst-drinkers, the Āyavas, with praises press; in seemly order the Ṛbhus sounded forth together; the Rudras hymn thy ancient glory.
Mantra 2
अस्येदिन्द्रो वावृधे वृष्ण्यं शवो मदे सुतस्य विष्णवि । अद्या तमस्य महिमानमायवोऽनु ष्टुवन्ति पूर्वथा
Hereby, indeed, hath Indra waxed—his bull-like might—in the rapture of the pressed draught, O Viṣṇu. To-day the Āyavas, as erst they did, in due succession laud that majesty of his.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to invoke Indra’s favor for strength, victory, and protection by praising him in the traditional way and recalling how Soma increases his might.
They function as exemplary ancient praisers; invoking them places the reciter in an authorized, ‘properly ordered’ lineage of worship that stabilizes and empowers the rite.
In the Vedic logic of the verses, Soma is the power-source that exhilarates Indra; in later practice a symbolic substitute or simple libation can be used with the same intention of strengthening and invoking protection.