Sukta 46
Sukta 3.46
Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional, Mandala 3)
Indra
Triṣṭubh (very likely)
This short Indra-hymn magnifies the thunderbolt-bearing Lord as a self-sovereign, ever-youthful yet unaging Bull whose heroic deeds are vast and widely renowned. It portrays Indra as overflowing all measures—surpassing heaven, earth, and midspace—while the rite culminates in Soma prepared and offered so he may drink and empower protection and victory.
Mantras
Mantra 1
युध्मस्य ते वृषभस्य स्वराज उग्रस्य यूनः स्थविरस्य घृष्वेः । अजूर्यतो वज्रिणो वीर्याणीन्द्र श्रुतस्य महतो महानि ॥
Thine are the hero-powers, O Indra—of the battling Bull, self-sovereign, fierce, youthful yet firm, impetuous in onset; of the unaging wielder of the thunder-force—great are the great deeds of the far-famed Mighty.
Mantra 2
महाँ असि महिष वृष्ण्येभिर्धनस्पृदुग्र सहमानो अन्यान् । एको विश्वस्य भुवनस्य राजा स योधया च क्षयया च जनान् ॥
Great art thou, O mighty one, with thy manly powers—fierce, winning the riches, overpowering the others. Thou alone art king of all becoming; thou canst drive men to battle and also establish them in a secure dwelling.
Mantra 3
प्र मात्राभी रिरिचे रोचमानः प्र देवेभिर्विश्वतो अप्रतीतः । प्र मज्मना दिव इन्द्रः पृथिव्याः प्रोरोर्महो अन्तरिक्षादृजीषी ॥
He overflows in his measures, shining; he advances beyond the gods from every side, irresistible. Indra, the straight-striving, grows by vastness beyond heaven and earth, beyond the wide greatness of the mid-world.
Mantra 4
उरुं गभीरं जनुषाभ्युग्रं विश्वव्यचसमवतं मतीनाम् । इन्द्रं सोमासः प्रदिवि सुतासः समुद्रं न स्रवत आ विशन्ति ॥
Wide and deep, fierce by his very birth, all-pervading, the helper of the thoughts—into Indra the pressed Soma-streams enter, as running waters enter the ocean.
Mantra 5
यं सोममिन्द्र पृथिवीद्यावा गर्भं न माता बिभृतस्त्वाया । तं ते हिन्वन्ति तमु ते मृजन्त्यध्वर्यवो वृषभ पातवा उ ॥
The Soma that Earth and Heaven uphold for thee as a mother bears her child—this they set in motion for thee, this they cleanse for thee, O Bull, that thou mayest drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
It proclaims Indra’s unmatched, immeasurable power—he overflows all limits—and it directs that praise into the Soma offering so Indra may drink and empower the sacrificer.
It is a poetic way of saying Indra cannot be contained by ordinary limits: his might and radiance surpass even the cosmic domains of heaven, earth, and the midspace.
Soma is the purified offering prepared by the priests; it is upheld by Heaven and Earth and then pressed and cleansed so Indra, the Bull, may drink and become fully invigorated.