Rig Veda Sukta 29
Mandala 1Sukta 297 Mantras

Sukta 29

Sukta 1.29

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (traditional for RV 1.29; confirm per Anukramaṇī)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Jagatī (refrain-like extension; verify by syllable count across pādas)

Este himno a Indra (con un estribillo recurrente) pide al héroe bebedor de soma, portador de la verdad, que haga eficaz la alabanza de los poetas y conceda prosperidad tangible: ganado, caballos y una abundancia «resplandeciente mil veces». También suplica a Indra que quiebre las fuerzas obstructivas y el clamor hostil, para que los dones y la palabra recta despierten y prevalezcan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.29

Mantras

Mantra 1

यच्चिद्धि सत्य सोमपा अनाशस्ता इव स्मसि । आ तू न इन्द्र शंसय गोष्वश्वेषु शुभ्रिषु सहस्रेषु तुवीमघ ॥

Aunque, oh bebedor veraz del Soma, seamos como no alabados y como insuficientes, ven aun así, oh Indra, y haznos dignos de la verdadera aclamación: entre las vacas y los caballos, en los resplandores, en las plenitudes mil veces brillantes, oh Tuvīmagha, el de amplia dádiva.

Mantra 2

शिप्रिन्वाजानां पते शचीवस्तव दंसना । आ तू न इन्द्र शंसय गोष्वश्वेषु शुभ्रिषु सहस्रेषु तुवीमघ ॥

Oh Śiprin, señor de las dádivas, oh Śacīvan, dueño de los actos de poder, manifiesta para nosotros tus obras eficaces. Ven, Indra, y establece nuestra justa aclamación entre las vacas y los caballos, en lo resplandeciente, en la abundancia mil veces brillante, oh Tuvīmagha.

Mantra 3

नि ष्वापया मिथूदृशा सस्तामबुध्यमाने । आ तू न इन्द्र शंसय गोष्वश्वेषु शुभ्रिषु सहस्रेषु तुवीमघ ॥

Adormece a los dos que miran torcido — la doble distorsión; que permanezcan sin despertar. Entonces ven, Indra, y haz eficaz nuestra verdadera aclamación entre las vacas y los caballos, en los resplandores, en las plenitudes mil veces luminosas, oh Tuvīmagha.

Mantra 4

ससन्तु त्या अरातयो बोधन्तु शूर रातयः । आ तू न इन्द्र शंसय गोष्वश्वेषु शुभ्रिषु सहस्रेषु तुवीमघ ॥

Que mengüen los que retienen y estorban; que despierten los dones, oh héroe. Ven, Indra, y haz eficaz nuestra alabanza verdadera — en las vacas y en los caballos, en los resplandores, en las plenitudes mil veces luminosas, oh de abundantes dádivas.

Mantra 5

समिन्द्र गर्दभं मृण नुवन्तं पापयामुया । आ तू न इन्द्र शंसय गोष्वश्वेषु शुभ्रिषु सहस्रेषु तुवीमघ ॥

Oh Indra, aplasta al asno rebuznante — ese impulso maligno y ruidoso— con ese poder funesto. Luego ven, Indra, y haz eficaz nuestra alabanza verdadera — en las vacas y en los caballos, en los resplandores, en las plenitudes mil veces luminosas, oh de abundantes dádivas.

Mantra 6

पताति कुण्डृणाच्या दूरं वातो वनादधि । आ तू न इन्द्र शंसय गोष्वश्वेषु शुभ्रिषु सहस्रेषु तुवीमघ ॥

Lejos vuela — como el viento que barre desde el bosque— la fuerza de la hechicera torcida. Luego ven, Indra, y haz eficaz nuestra alabanza verdadera — en las vacas y en los caballos, en los resplandores, en las plenitudes mil veces luminosas, oh de abundantes dádivas.

Mantra 7

सर्वं परिक्रोशं जहि जम्भया कृकदाश्वम् । आ तू न इन्द्र शंसय गोष्वश्वेषु शुभ्रिषु सहस्रेषु तुवीमघ ॥

Mata todo clamor que resuena alrededor; aplasta al aullador Kṛkadāśva. Y ven a nosotros, oh Indra, y haz eficaz nuestra alabanza — entre vacas y caballos, en los resplandores, en las plenitudes mil veces brillantes, tú, de gran largueza.

Inside Sukta 29

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn begins with humility—acknowledging the singers may be ‘unpraised’ or inadequate—yet confidently calls Indra, the truthful Soma-drinker, to empower their utterance.

  2. Development

    Repeated refrain intensifies the request: let praise become effective in ‘cows and horses,’ in shining forces and thousandfold plenitudes; simultaneously, obstacles and withholding powers are targeted for removal.

  3. Climax

    A sharp protective turn: the poet asks Indra to slay surrounding outcry and crush the hostile figure Kṛkadāśva—symbolizing disruptive, predatory obstruction to the rite and its fruits.

  4. Where it settles

    The refrain reasserts the central aim: Indra’s arrival, the success of true acclaim, and the stabilization of prosperity and luminous strength for the community.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is the mighty, Soma-strengthened slayer of obstructors, the champion who answers the hymn with gifts, protection, and victory; he is invoked as satya (true) and as the one who makes praise succeed.
  • Cosmic functionHe breaks restraints and releases the life-supporting plenitudes—light, waters, and wealth—so that order, fertility, and human thriving can manifest.
  • Inner significanceIndra signifies the awakened force of will and courageous clarity that overcomes inner obstruction (doubt, inertia, hostile impulses) and makes one’s ‘true word’ effective in life.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Āṅgirasa-associated priestly lineage in Vedic tradition) · One of the foremost Rigvedic seers, paradigmatic brahman-priest (purohita) whose hymns combine spiritual authority with practical prayer for victory, protection, and right speech.

Famous verses

ā tū na indra śaṃsaya
Verse 1.29.1Sets the tone of humble self-assessment and the core petition: Indra should make the hymn’s ‘true utterance’ effective, granting cattle, horses, and radiant plenitude.Read verse 1.29.1 →
sasantu tyā arātayaḥ
Verse 1.29.4Contrasts obstructors with awakened gifts—an explicit request that withholding forces diminish while generosity and prosperity arise through Indra’s power.Read verse 1.29.4 →
sarvam parikrośaṃ jahi
Verse 1.29.7The protective climax: asks Indra to destroy surrounding hostile clamour and crush Kṛkadāśva, clearing the field for the refrain’s promise of abundance.Read verse 1.29.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Soma-drinker (somapā)
  • Heroic and victorious (śūra)
  • Destroyer of obstructors and hostile noise
  • Bestower of cattle, horses, and abundance
  • Powerful, wide-giving (tuvīmagha)
  • Makes the hymn/praise efficacious (śaṃsaya)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Maṇḍala 7 of the Rig Veda are attributed to Vasiṣṭha and his family line (Vasiṣṭhas).
  • Traditionally linked with royal priesthood and the articulation of brahman (sacred formulation) that makes the sacrifice effective.
  • Later Vedic-Itihāsa tradition associates Vasiṣṭha with dharma instruction and exemplary rishihood (though these are post-Rigvedic developments).

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and fires; establish ritual purity and intention for prosperity and protection.
  • Press/offer Soma (or symbolically offer Soma in later adaptations) while reciting the verses with the recurring refrain.
  • Invite Indra to ‘make the praise effective’ (śaṃsaya), linking spoken brahman with desired results.
  • Petition for the awakening of gifts and the diminution of withholding forces; conclude with a protective request against hostile clamour.
  • Seal with final oblations and a closing dedication of merit/fruit to Indra’s guardianship.

Offerings

  • Soma libation (primary)
  • Ghee/clarified butter into the fire
  • Optional: milk, barley preparations as ancillary offerings

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn asks Indra to come and make the singers’ praise effective, granting visible prosperity—especially cattle, horses, and abundant, shining wealth—while removing obstacles.

The repeated refrain works like a ritual anchor: it reinforces the central petition and is suited to steady, emphatic recitation during offering, especially in Soma contexts.

In the hymn, Kṛkadāśva appears as a hostile, disruptive force to be crushed by Indra; it can be read both as an external adversary and as a symbol of inner or ritual obstruction.

Ask anything about Sukta 29 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play