Rig Veda Sukta 19
Mandala 4Sukta 1911 Mantras

Sukta 19

Sukta 4.19

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (Mandala 4 core attribution)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Trishtubh

Este himno a Indra lo exalta como el campeón único, elegido entre los dioses para la muerte de Vṛtra, aquel que ensancha el Cielo y la Tierra y devuelve al mundo el libre movimiento. Recuerda sus obras cósmicas—apaciguar las aguas impetuosas, hacer vadeables los ríos y permitir un paso rápido y amplio—y exhorta a una alabanza renovada que acrecienta el impulso inspirado del poeta. El sūkta culmina en un «brahman» nuevo (formulación sagrada) ofrecido a Indra, para que los cantores participen de su victorioso avance.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.19

Mantras

Mantra 1

एवा त्वामिन्द्र वज्रिन्नत्र विश्वे देवासः सुहवास ऊमाः । महामुभे रोदसी वृद्धमृष्वं निरेकमिद्वृणते वृत्रहत्ये ॥

Así, oh Indra del vajra, aquí todos los dioses, de buena invocación y ansiosos, te eligen a ti solo. Grande eres: ensanchas a ambos, Cielo y Tierra, elevado en tu crecimiento; a ti solo te señalan para la muerte de Vṛtra, el Obstructor.

Mantra 2

अवासृजन्त जिव्रयो न देवा भुवः सम्राळिन्द्र सत्ययोनिः । अहन्नहिं परिशयानमर्णः प्र वर्तनीररदो विश्वधेनाः ॥

Como los dioses, cual campeones impetuosos, soltaron los mundos, así tú, oh Indra, samrāj soberano de lo universal, cuyo seno es la Verdad, heriste a la Serpiente, tendida y enroscada en torno a la corriente. Abriste de par en par los caminos, sustentadores de todo, para el amplio curso de las aguas y de las potencias.

Mantra 3

अतृप्णुवन्तं वियतमबुध्यमबुध्यमानं सुषुपाणमिन्द्र । सप्त प्रति प्रवत आशयानमहिं वज्रेण वि रिणा अपर्वन् ॥

Oh Indra, con el rayo despedazaste a la Serpiente, jamás saciada, tendida, no despierta, hundida en torpe sueño; yaciendo a través de las siete laderas y corrientes, sin coyunturas la rasgaste en dos.

Mantra 4

अक्षोदयच्छवसा क्षाम बुध्नं वार्ण वातस्तविषीभिरिन्द्रः । दृळ्हान्यौभ्नादुशमान ओजोऽवाभिनत्ककुभः पर्वतानाम् ॥

Indra, con su fuerza, puso en movimiento el cimiento de la tierra, como el viento impulsa con sus potencias; anhelante de vigor, quebró los firmes apoyos y derribó las cumbres de las montañas que cerraban el paso.

Mantra 5

अभि प्र दद्रुर्जनयो न गर्भं रथा इव प्र ययुः साकमद्रयः । अतर्पयो विसृत उब्ज ऊर्मीन्त्वं वृताँ अरिणा इन्द्र सिन्धून् ॥

Se precipitaron como madres hacia el hijo; como carros, las piedras avanzaron juntas. Tú soltaste las olas que se alzaban, desatadas y elevadas; tú liberaste los ríos que estaban retenidos, oh Indra.

Mantra 6

त्वं महीमवनिं विश्वधेनां तुर्वीतये वय्याय क्षरन्तीम् । अरमयो नमसैजदर्णः सुतरणाँ अकृणोरिन्द्र सिन्धून् ॥

Tú asentaste la gran Tierra, rica en todas las plenitudes, fluyente para el avance veloz y el amplio movimiento. Con reverente homenaje apaciguaste la crecida impetuosa; y volviste los ríos fáciles de vadear, oh Indra.

Mantra 7

प्राग्रुवो नभन्वो न वक्वा ध्वस्रा अपिन्वद्युवतीॠतज्ञाः । धन्वान्यज्राँ अपृणक्तृषाणाँ अधोगिन्द्रः स्तर्यो दंसुपत्नीः ॥

Hacia delante avanzaron los portadores de nubes, sin tartamudear; los oscuros colmaron las jóvenes potencias que conocen Ṛta. Los yermos sedientos y las extensiones estériles él las llenó; Indra, el sabio artífice, ordeñó las corrientes, esposas-potencias de la morada del arte.

Mantra 8

पूर्वीरुषसः शरदश्च गूर्ता वृत्रं जघन्वाँ असृजद्वि सिन्धून् । परिष्ठिता अतृणद्बद्बधानाः सीरा इन्द्रः स्रवितवे पृथिव्या ॥

Muchas auroras y estaciones fueron retenidas; mas cuando Indra hubo abatido a Vṛtra, soltó los ríos. En torno, las obstruidas fueron desatadas y puestas a fluir; Indra hizo correr las corrientes sobre la tierra.

Mantra 9

वम्रीभिः पुत्रमग्रुवो अदानं निवेशनाद्धरिव आ जभर्थ । व्यन्धो अख्यदहिमाददानो निर्भूदुखच्छित्समरन्त पर्व ॥

Con ayuda de las hormigas, oh Hariva, sacaste de su morada al hijo retenido y no entregado. El ciego vio con claridad; asiendo a la Serpiente (Ahi), salió afuera — y aun las hendiduras de la roca, como abiertas a cuchillo, se juntaron cuando el obstáculo fue quebrado.

Mantra 10

प्र ते पूर्वाणि करणानि विप्राविद्वाँ आह विदुषे करांसि । यथायथा वृष्ण्यानि स्वगूर्तापांसि राजन्नर्याविवेषीः ॥

Te expongo tus hechos antiguos; el inspirado conocedor declara al conocedor las obras que has realizado: cómo, oh Rey, una y otra vez entraste y lo impregnaste todo, los trabajos varoniles, rectamente guiados por tu fuerza victoriosa.

Mantra 11

नू ष्टुत इन्द्र नू गृणान इषं जरित्रे नद्यो न पीपेः । अकारि ते हरिवो ब्रह्म नव्यं धिया स्याम रथ्यः सदासाः ॥

Ahora alabado, oh Indra, ahora cantado, haces crecer para el cantor la corriente del impulso, como los ríos llenan sus cauces. Para ti, oh Hariva, se ha forjado un brahman nuevo, una palabra de poder; por el pensamiento despierto seamos siempre aptos para el avance y para el camino del carro de tu victoria.

Inside Sukta 19

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Indra is uniquely chosen by all the gods for the decisive work of vṛtra-slaying; his greatness expands Heaven and Earth (RV 4.19.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn rehearses Indra’s world-ordering deeds—stilling turbulent floods and making rivers easy to cross—linking mythic action to human needs for movement, safety, and success (e.g., RV 4.19.6).

  3. Climax

    Praise itself becomes a force: Indra, when sung, swells the singer’s impulse like rivers filling their courses; the poet offers a newly forged brahman (RV 4.19.11).

  4. Where it settles

    The sukta closes with a request for enduring aptitude for Indra’s victorious ‘chariot-way’—steady participation in forward movement and triumph through awakened thought.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is the vajrin (wielder of the thunderbolt), vṛtrahan (slayer of Vṛtra), the foremost among the gods in battle, invoked to break obstruction, release waters, and grant expansive might. He is praised as great and ever-growing, singled out by the gods for decisive action and victory.
  • Cosmic functionHe restores ṛta-like order by defeating obstructive forces, opening the pathways of waters and space, stabilizing the world’s domains (Heaven and Earth), and enabling movement, fertility, and victorious progress.
  • Inner significanceIndra represents the awakened force of will and courageous clarity that breaks inner obstruction (fear, inertia, confusion), releases the ‘streams’ of inspiration and energy, and makes the difficult crossing of life’s floods possible.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva of the Gautamas) · A principal seer of Maṇḍala 4, renowned for powerful Indra-stutis that blend cosmic myth (Vṛtra-slaying, release of waters) with the crafting of new brahman (inspired sacred speech).

Famous verses

vṛtrahatye (for the slaying of Vṛtra/the Obstructor)
Verse 4.19.1Sets the hymn’s frame: all gods select Indra alone for vṛtra-hatya, portraying him as the supreme world-expanding champion.Read verse 4.19.1 →
sutarāṇām akṛṇor indra sindhūn (you made the rivers easy to cross)
Verse 4.19.6Highlights Indra’s ordering of earth and waters—stilling the surging flood and making rivers fordable—connecting cosmic myth to practical well-being and safe passage.Read verse 4.19.6 →
brahma navyam (a new sacred formulation)
Verse 4.19.11Culminates in the theology of praise: sung Indra increases the poet’s iṣ; a ‘new brahman’ is fashioned, seeking lasting readiness for victorious progress.Read verse 4.19.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vajrin (thunderbolt-bearer)
  • Vṛtrahan (obstruction-slayer)
  • World-expander (enlarger of Heaven and Earth)
  • Liberator and calmer of waters
  • Giver of iṣ (impulse, inspiration, refreshment)
  • Harivān (lord of tawny steeds)
  • Protector of the singer and patron of victorious movement

Also by this seer

  • Core authorship of much of Rigveda Maṇḍala 4 (Vāmadeva hymns)
  • Notable Indra hymns in Maṇḍala 4 emphasizing vṛtrahan and the release/ordering of waters
  • Hymns to other deities within Maṇḍala 4 tradition (e.g., Agni and allied deities) attributed to the Vāmadeva-Gautama lineage

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish purity and intention for vṛtra-hatya (removal of obstruction).
  • Press/prepare Soma (where applicable) and set offerings; begin Indra-stuti with Trishtubh recitation.
  • Recite verses recalling Indra’s cosmic deeds (expansion of Heaven-Earth, release/ordering of waters) to ‘call’ that power into the rite.
  • Offer oblations with Indra’s names/epithets (vajrin, vṛtrahan, harivān), requesting victory, safe crossings, and energetic increase (iṣ).
  • Conclude with the ‘new brahman’—a freshly fashioned formulation—seeking sustained fitness for onward movement and success.

Offerings

  • Soma libation (where Soma-rite is performed)
  • Ghee (ājya) oblations into Agni
  • Grain/cakes (puroḍāśa) in Indra-focused offerings (context-dependent)
  • Water libations/aspersions as symbolic support for the ‘released waters’ theme

Frequently Asked Questions

It declares Indra as the uniquely chosen power who defeats obstruction (Vṛtra), restores free movement in the world, and strengthens the singer with renewed inspiration and victory.

The rivers symbolize released life-force and unobstructed movement. Indra’s calming of turbulent waters and making rivers ‘easy to cross’ expresses protection, safe passage, and the return of order and fertility.

It means a “new brahman,” i.e., a freshly crafted sacred formulation or inspired hymn. The poet offers it to Indra so the worshippers gain lasting strength and readiness for successful forward progress.

Ask anything about Sukta 19 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