Sukta 157
Sukta 10.157
Indra with the Viśve Devāḥ (All Gods)
This short hymn invokes Indra together with the Viśve Devāḥ to “set the worlds in right order,” establishing harmony across the planes of existence and human life. It asks that Indra, accompanied by the Ādityas and Maruts, become a protector of our embodied vitality, and it culminates in an inward turning of the sacred ray-song (arká) that restores svadhā—one’s innate law and sustaining power.
Mantras
Mantra 1
इमा नु कं भुवना सीषधामेन्द्रश्च विश्वे च देवाः ॥
Now may Indra and all the gods set these worlds in right order for us—establishing the planes of our being in harmony.
Mantra 2
यज्ञं च नस्तन्वं च प्रजां चादित्यैरिन्द्रः सह चीकॢपाति ॥
Indra, together with the Ādityas, shapes for us the sacrifice, the body, and the offspring—he sets our outer and inner instruments into a law-filled perfection.
Mantra 3
आदित्यैरिन्द्रः सगणो मरुद्भिरस्माकं भूत्वविता तनूनाम् ॥
May Indra, with the Ādityas as his company and with the Maruts, become our protector—guardian of our embodied being and its right energies.
Mantra 4
हत्वाय देवा असुरान्यदायन्देवा देवत्वमभिरक्षमाणाः ॥
When the gods went forth to slay the Asuras, the gods moved guarding and preserving their godhead—keeping intact the luminous law of their own divine being.
Mantra 5
प्रत्यञ्चमर्कमनयञ्छचीभिरादित्स्वधामिषिरां पर्यपश्यन् ॥
With their effective powers they led the returning ray-song (arká) inward; then indeed they beheld all around the self-law (svadhā), swift and impelling—its native force restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Indra and the collective gods (Viśve Devāḥ) to set the worlds and our life-conditions in right order—bringing harmony, protection, and stability.
The Ādityas represent law, truth, and right order, while the Maruts represent energizing force and courage. Together with Indra they symbolize protected, well-directed vitality.
In this hymn, svadhā points to an innate, self-sustaining law or native power—your built-in capacity to function rightly. The hymn suggests it can be restored by aligning with divine order and effective power (śacī).