Rig Veda Sukta 35
Mandala 3Sukta 3511 Mantras

Sukta 35

Sukta 3.35

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (Maṇḍala 3 general attribution; Sukta 35 also in Viśvāmitra collection)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Este himno es una apremiante invitación de soma a Indra: sus corceles leonados son llamados al carro, y se le pide que venga con presteza y beba el soma exprimido, dispuesto sobre el barhis. El poeta alaba a Indra como el más varonil vencedor de botín, que aplasta obstáculos semejantes a Vṛtra, y le ruega victoria, protección en las contiendas y la reunión de riquezas.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.35

Mantras

Mantra 1

तिष्ठा हरी रथ आ युज्यमाना याहि वायुर्न नियुतो नो अच्छ । पिबास्यन्धो अभिसृष्टो अस्मे इन्द्र स्वाहा ररिमा ते मदाय ॥

Manteneos firmes, oh dos alazanes (Harī), uncidos al carro; venid a nosotros como Vāyu con sus yuntas. Bebed el soma, la esencia exprimida para nosotros; Indra, svāhā: esto te lo damos para tu deleite y tu embriaguez de poder.

Mantra 2

उपाजिरा पुरुहूताय सप्ती हरी रथस्य धूर्ष्वा युनज्मि । द्रवद्यथा सम्भृतं विश्वतश्चिदुपेमं यज्ञमा वहात इन्द्रम् ॥

Cercanos, veloces — para el muy invocado— a estos dos alazanes (Harī) los unzo a las varas del carro. Corriendo como hacia una reunión preparada desde todas partes, traed aquí a Indra a este sacrificio.

Mantra 3

उपो नयस्व वृषणा तपुष्पोतेमव त्वं वृषभ स्वधावः । ग्रसेतामश्वा वि मुचेह शोणा दिवेदिवे सदृशीरद्धि धानाः ॥

Acércanos, oh dos fuertes, bebedores de la fuerza ardiente; y tú también, oh Toro, protege, por tu propio poder. Que los caballos pasten; desuncid aquí la pareja rojiza. Día tras día come los granos que te corresponden.

Mantra 4

ब्रह्मणा ते ब्रह्मयुजा युनज्मि हरी सखाया सधमाद आशू । स्थिरं रथं सुखमिन्द्राधितिष्ठन्प्रजानन्विद्वाँ उप याहि सोमम् ॥

Con el brahman —la fuerza de la Palabra sagrada— te unzo los dos corceles leonados, unidos por el yugo del brahman, veloces compañeros para el éxtasis común del Soma. Sube con firmeza al carro estable y propicio, oh Indra; conociendo y discerniendo, acércate al Soma.

Mantra 5

मा ते हरी वृषणा वीतपृष्ठा नि रीरमन्यजमानासो अन्ये । अत्यायाहि शश्वतो वयं तेऽरं सुतेभिः कृणवाम सोमैः ॥

Que otros sacrificadores no detengan a tus dos leonados poderosos, de anchas espaldas en su carrera. Pásalos de largo y ven sin cesar hacia nosotros; para ti preparamos la justa abundancia con los Soma prensados.

Mantra 6

तवायं सोमस्त्वमेह्यर्वाङ्छश्वत्तमं सुमना अस्य पाहि । अस्मिन्यज्ञे बर्हिष्या निषद्या दधिष्वेमं जठर इन्दुमिन्द्र ॥

Tuyo es este Soma; ven aquí hacia nosotros, una y otra vez, con mente benévola, y bébelo. En este sacrificio, sentado sobre el barhis, la hierba sagrada, coloca en tu vientre esta gota de luz, el indu, oh Indra.

Mantra 7

स्तीर्णं ते बर्हिः सुत इन्द्र सोमः कृता धाना अत्तवे ते हरिभ्याम् । तदोकसे पुरुशाकाय वृष्णे मरुत्वते तुभ्यं राता हवींषि ॥

Para ti está tendido el sagrado barhis; el Soma ha sido prensado, oh Indra; los granos están preparados para que tus dos leonados (Hari) los gusten. A ti, que moras en esa morada, oh fuerte de muchas potencias, unido a los Maruts, se entregan estas ofrendas (havis).

Mantra 8

इमं नरः पर्वतास्तुभ्यमापः समिन्द्र गोभिर्मधुमन्तमक्रन् । तस्यागत्या सुमना ऋष्व पाहि प्रजानन्विद्वान्पथ्या अनु स्वाः ॥

Este (Soma), para ti, oh Indra, lo han hecho juntos los fuertes —las montañas y las aguas—, meloso, con los rayos/las vacas. Llegando a él con mente gozosa, bebe, oh excelso; conociendo, sigue los caminos rectos que son tuyos.

Mantra 9

याँ आभजो मरुत इन्द्र सोमे ये त्वामवर्धन्नभवन्गणस्ते । तेभिरेतं सजोषा वावशानोऽग्नेः पिब जिह्वया सोममिन्द्र ॥

Esos Maruts con quienes compartiste el Soma, oh Indra —los que te acrecentaron y llegaron a ser tu hueste—, con ellos, en un mismo acuerdo y anhelante, bebe este Soma con la lengua de Agni, oh Indra.

Mantra 10

इन्द्र पिब स्वधया चित्सुतस्याग्नेर्वा पाहि जिह्वया यजत्र । अध्वर्योर्वा प्रयतं शक्र हस्ताद्धोतुर्वा यज्ञं हविषो जुषस्व ॥

Oh Indra, bebe el Soma exprimido por tu propio poder y derecho (svadhā); o bébelo con la lengua de Agni, oh digno de adoración. O acepta, oh Śakra, lo que el Adhvaryu ha dispuesto y ofrecido desde su mano; o recibe del Hotṛ el sacrificio y complácete en la ofrenda (havis).

Mantra 11

शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥

Para nuestro bien invocamos al Indra munificente en esta carga de la lucha, el más varonil en la conquista de la plenitud. Oyéndonos, fiero para nuestro auxilio en las batallas, matando a los Vṛtra, vencedor que reúne las riquezas.

Inside Sukta 35

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A brisk summons: Indra’s tawny horses are urged to stand ready and the god is called to come like Vāyu with his teams to drink Soma.

  2. Development

    The hymn reiterates that the Soma is Indra’s rightful portion, inviting him to the barhis and praising his readiness to hear and help in struggle.

  3. Climax

    Indra is envisioned receiving the luminous drop (indu) into his belly—Soma as the energizing power that fuels his victorious might against obstructions.

  4. Where it settles

    It closes with a welfare-prayer: the community calls Indra, fierce and responsive, to slay the Vṛtras and to secure the gathered riches of victory.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is celebrated as Maghavan (the bounteous giver), the thunder-wielding hero who drinks Soma, rides with tawny horses, hears the singer’s call, and destroys Vṛtra and other obstructing powers.
  • Cosmic functionHe releases the blocked waters/light, restores movement and order by breaking obstruction, and secures victory and abundance for the community through divine force allied with ritual speech and Soma.
  • Inner significanceIndra represents the awakened will and courageous intelligence that breaks inner inertia, fear, and limitation; Soma becomes the clarifying rapture that empowers decisive action and victorious growth.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthin (Viśvāmitra gotra) · A royal-turned-seer and central composer of Maṇḍala 3; renowned for Indra-centered victory hymns and for shaping the Viśvāmitra poetic-sacrificial voice in the Rigveda.

Famous verses

indra svāhā
Verse 3.35.1Sets the ritual scene and the hymn’s core action—yoking the tawny steeds, summoning Indra swiftly, and offering Soma with svāhā for his empowering ecstasy.Read verse 3.35.1 →
तवायं सोमस्त्वमेह्यर्वाङ्छश्वत्तमं सुमना अस्य पाहि । अस्मिन्यज्ञे बर्हिष्या निषद्या दधिष्वेमं जठर इन्दुमिन्द्र ॥
Verse 3.35.6A clear Soma-entitlement and seating formula: ‘This Soma is yours’; Indra is asked to sit on the barhis and take the indu into his belly—classic Soma-invitation theology.Read verse 3.35.6 →
vājāsātau
Verse 3.35.11Concluding battle-prayer: Indra is invoked for well-being in the ‘bearing of the struggle’, as the fiercest helper who slays obstructers and wins riches.Read verse 3.35.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Maghavan (bountiful bestower)
  • Vṛtrahan (slayer of obstruction)
  • Soma-drinker
  • Swift chariot with tawny steeds (harī)
  • Protector in battles (samatsu)
  • Giver of vāja (winning power and plenitude)

Also by this seer

  • Primary authorship of much of Rigveda Maṇḍala 3 (Viśvāmitra collection)
  • Indra hymns emphasizing Soma-invitation, martial protection, and vāja (victorious plenitude)
  • Tradition associates the Viśvāmitra lineage with later Vedic lore and śrauta transmission of praise-poetry (stotra/śastra) styles

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the ritual space and seat of grass (barhis) for the deity’s arrival.
  • Press and clarify Soma; announce the offering as ‘for Indra’.
  • Invite Indra to come swiftly with his tawny steeds and chariot; request attentive hearing.
  • Offer Soma with svāhā and praise-tokens (stoma), asking Indra to ‘place the drop’ within his belly.
  • Petition for protection in contests, the slaying of obstacles, and the winning of wealth; conclude with a final call for well-being and victory.

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma (andu/indu)
  • Ghee/oblations accompanying svāhā (as customary supports)
  • Barhis (grass seat) and praise (stotra) as honor-offerings

Frequently Asked Questions

It invites Indra to the Soma sacrifice, asks him to drink the pressed Soma, and requests his help for victory, protection in conflicts, and prosperity.

The tawny steeds (harī) are a standard sign of Indra’s swift arrival; calling them emphasizes speed, readiness, and the god’s immediate response to the ritual summons.

On the outer level it refers to Indra defeating hostile powers that block success; inwardly it symbolizes breaking inner resistance—fear, inertia, and limitation—so strength and clarity can flow.

Ask anything about Sukta 35 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