Rig Veda Sukta 103
Mandala 10Sukta 10313 Mantras

Sukta 103

Sukta 10.103

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Trishtubh (probable for RV 10.103)

Este himno es una invocación marcial a Indra como el campeón único, veloz e incansable, que hace pedazos las huestes enemigas y abre los espacios obstruidos para la comunidad aria. Ruega por la victoria en la batalla, la protección de las propias tropas y el valor y la cohesión necesarios para avanzar y prevalecer bajo el liderazgo de Indra.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.103

Mantras

Mantra 1

आशुः शिशानो वृषभो न भीमो घनाघनः क्षोभणश्चर्षणीनाम् । संक्रन्दनोऽनिमिष एकवीरः शतं सेना अजयत्साकमिन्द्रः ॥

Veloz, encendiéndose por sí mismo, como un toro temible, quebrantador de los quebrantadores, agitador de las obras de los hombres; grito de guerra que no parpadea, héroe único — Indra — venció juntamente a cien huestes.

Mantra 2

संक्रन्दनेनानिमिषेण जिष्णुना युत्कारेण दुश्च्यवनेन धृष्णुना । तदिन्द्रेण जयत तत्सहध्वं युधो नर इषुहस्तेन वृष्णा ॥

Con el grito de reunión, con la vigilia que no parpadea, con el poder vencedor, con el clamor de batalla, con el impulso inconmovible, con la fuerza audaz — con ese Indra venced; en eso uníos, oh luchadores, con el Toro que porta las flechas.

Mantra 3

स इषुहस्तैः स निषङ्गिभिर्वशी संस्रष्टा स युध इन्द्रो गणेन । संसृष्टजित्सोमपा बाहुशर्ध्युग्रधन्वा प्रतिहिताभिरस्ता ॥

Él con los portadores de flechas, él con los portadores de espada — señor y ordenador; él, Indra, con la hueste en la lucha. Vencedor en el choque apretado, bebedor de Soma, fuerte en los brazaletes, fiero en el arco, arquero de lanzamientos bien dirigidos.

Mantra 4

बृहस्पते परि दीया रथेन रक्षोहामित्राँ अपबाधमानः । प्रभञ्जन्त्सेनाः प्रमृणो युधा जयन्नस्माकमेध्यविता रथानाम् ॥

Oh Bṛhaspati, recorre en torno en tu carro, matador de los Rakṣas, rechazando las potencias hostiles; quebrantando las huestes, aplastándolas en la batalla, victorioso: sé para nosotros acrecentador y protector de nuestros carros (de nuestros caminos y movimientos).

Mantra 5

बलविज्ञायः स्थविरः प्रवीरः सहस्वान्वाजी सहमान उग्रः । अभिवीरो अभिसत्वा सहोजा जैत्रमिन्द्र रथमा तिष्ठ गोवित् ॥

Conocedor de las fuerzas, firme e inquebrantable, rico en héroes, lleno de poder, portador de plenitud, resistente y terrible; superior en heroísmo, superior en ser, nacido de la fuerza: oh Indra, sube al carro de la victoria, hallador de los Rayos (las vacas de luz).

Mantra 6

गोत्रभिदं गोविदं वज्रबाहुं जयन्तमज्म प्रमृणन्तमोजसा । इमं सजाता अनु वीरयध्वमिन्द्रं सखायो अनु सं रभध्वम् ॥

Rompedor de los cercados, hallador de los Rayos, de brazo‑Vajra; victorioso, triturando con fuerza en el asalto: seguidlo, oh potencias afines; volveos heroicos tras él; oh compañeros, aferraos juntos a Indra.

Mantra 7

अभि गोत्राणि सहसा गाहमानोऽदयो वीरः शतमन्युरिन्द्रः । दुश्च्यवनः पृतनाषाळयुध्योऽस्माकं सेना अवतु प्र युत्सु ॥

Irrumpiendo por la fuerza en los recintos, el héroe implacable—Indra, de cien impulsos de ira y vigor; difícil de desalojar, vencedor de batallas, inconquistable—que ampare a nuestras huestes en los choques del frente.

Mantra 8

इन्द्र आसां नेता बृहस्पतिर्दक्षिणा यज्ञः पुर एतु सोमः । देवसेनानामभिभञ्जतीनां जयन्तीनां मरुतो यन्त्वग्रम् ॥

Sea Indra su caudillo, Bṛhaspati su poder rector; que Dakṣiṇā, el sacrificio (yajña), vaya delante—que Soma avance. De las huestes divinas que despedazan al adversario, victoriosas, que los Maruts marchen a la cabeza.

Mantra 9

इन्द्रस्य वृष्णो वरुणस्य राज्ञ आदित्यानां मरुतां शर्ध उग्रम् । महामनसां भुवनच्यवानां घोषो देवानां जयतामुदस्थात् ॥

De Indra el Toro, de Varuṇa el Rey, de los Āditya, de los Maruts—la hueste feroz; de los magnánimos que sacuden los mundos: el clamor victorioso de los dioses se ha alzado.

Mantra 10

उद्धर्षय मघवन्नायुधान्युत्सत्वनां मामकानां मनांसि । उद्वृत्रहन्वाजिनां वाजिनान्युद्रथानां जयतां यन्तु घोषाः ॥

Despierta, oh Maghavan, las armas; despierta los corazones de mis combatientes. Oh Vṛtrahan, alza las plenitudes de los fuertes; alza los carros — que salgan los clamores de los vencedores.

Mantra 11

अस्माकमिन्द्रः समृतेषु ध्वजेष्वस्माकं या इषवस्ता जयन्तु । अस्माकं वीरा उत्तरे भवन्त्वस्माँ उ देवा अवता हवेषु ॥

Que Indra sea nuestro en el choque trabado, bajo los estandartes alzados; que venzan las flechas que brotan de nosotros. Que nuestros héroes lleguen a ser los más altos y los más fuertes; y que los dioses nos protejan en nuestras invocaciones.

Mantra 12

अमीषां चित्तं प्रतिलोभयन्ती गृहाणाङ्गान्यप्वे परेहि । अभि प्रेहि निर्दह हृत्सु शोकैरन्धेनामित्रास्तमसा सचन्ताम् ॥

Su mente, con un contra-encanto, apodérate de ella y desvíala; toma sus miembros, oh Fuerza veloz, y pasa más allá de ellos. Avanza contra ellos; quémalos con pesares en sus corazones. Que las potencias hostiles queden uncidas a la ceguera de la tiniebla, que se junten con la oscuridad.

Mantra 13

प्रेता जयता नर इन्द्रो वः शर्म यच्छतु । उग्रा वः सन्तु बाहवोऽनाधृष्या यथासथ ॥

Avanzad y venced, oh hombres; que Indra os conceda amparo y paz bajo su protección. Que vuestros brazos sean terribles en fuerza, invencibles, para que permanezcáis como corresponde — firmes.

Inside Sukta 103

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Indra is introduced as the swift, formidable, unblinking single hero whose war-cry conquers many hosts (the paradigm of unified victory over massed resistance).

  2. Development

    The hymn intensifies with images of storming enclosures, relentless battle-might, and prayers that Indra—hard to dislodge and unconquerable—aid ‘our’ forces in forward clashes.

  3. Climax

    The direct mobilizing charge peaks in the imperative to advance and conquer, placing victory and protection explicitly under Indra’s shelter (śarma).

  4. Where it settles

    It ends by asking that the warriors’ arms be fierce and unoverpowerable, stabilizing the hymn’s energy into confident steadfastness and protected peace after victory.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is praised as āśu (swift), vṛṣabha (bull-like), ghanāghana (smasher of smashers), saṃkrandana (the war-cry), and pṛtanāṣāṭ (conqueror of battles), who pierces enclosures (gotrāṇi) and routs massed forces.
  • Cosmic functionHe upholds ṛta by defeating chaotic, obstructive powers, releasing blocked resources (waters/cattle/light) and ensuring the community’s victory, expansion, and security.
  • Inner significanceIndra symbolizes concentrated will and victorious energy: the capacity to break inner inertia, fear, and obstruction, unify one’s forces, and move forward with steadfast courage.

Famous verses

saṃkrandano 'nimiṣa ekavīraḥ
Verse 10.103.1Sets the hymn’s signature portrait of Indra as swift, self-kindled, and the singular heroic force whose war-cry secures collective victory over many hosts.Read verse 10.103.1 →
pṛtanāṣāḻ ayudhyaḥ
Verse 10.103.7A concentrated battle-prayer: Indra storms the enclosures, is ‘conqueror of battles,’ and is invoked specifically to help ‘our’ armies in the forward fight.Read verse 10.103.7 →
pretā jayatā naraḥ
Verse 10.103.13The closing exhortation functions like a rallying benediction—advance, conquer, receive Indra’s protective peace, and stand with unassailable strength.Read verse 10.103.13 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Swift and self-kindled power
  • Breaker of obstacles and enclosures
  • Leader and protector of hosts
  • Battle-conqueror, hard to dislodge
  • Giver of śarma (protective peace/shelter)
  • Embodiment of heroic courage and unified force

Also by this seer

  • Ascription is uncertain; no stable, widely-agreed set of additional hymns can be confidently assigned to this same seer beyond this hymn in common recensional listings.

The rite, step by step

  • Ācamana and saṅkalpa for protection/victory (rakṣā and jaya).
  • Kindling/attending the sacred fire (if in a śrauta/gṛhya setting) and invoking Indra with introductory praises.
  • Recite the sukta in a steady cadence, emphasizing the ‘advance and conquer’ imperatives as a communal resolve.
  • Conclude with a brief prayer for śarma (secure peace), strength of arms, and unity of the group.
  • Optional: dedicate the merit to the protection of the community and the righteous outcome of the undertaking.

Offerings

  • Soma (in śrauta context)
  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni
  • Indra-priya oblations (general havis)
  • Water and simple naivedya in later devotional adaptations

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a call to move forward with courage and unity, invoking Indra to break obstacles, defeat opposing forces, and grant protective peace after victory.

Because the hymn portrays Indra as the force that enters and breaks ‘enclosures’ (blocked spaces/resources) and as the pṛtanāṣāṭ—one who wins battles and protects the host.

Yes. Traditionally it can be applied to any struggle requiring strength and obstacle-removal—such as overcoming fear, conflict, or major challenges—by focusing on Indra as inner resolve and victorious energy.

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