Rig Veda Sukta 36
Mandala 5Sukta 366 Mantras

Sukta 36

Sukta 5.36

Rishi

Atri (Ātreya) (book 5 Atri corpus; verify exact rishi for RV 5.36 via Anukramaṇī)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Jagati (likely due to longer pādas; verify)

Cet hymne est une invocation pressante du soma, appelant Indra — connaisseur et dispensateur de trésors — à venir au pressurage et à boire le soma bien préparé. Le poète intensifie l’appel par des images rituelles vives (pierre de pressurage, soma « trait ») et demande à Indra la richesse « de gauche et de droite », pour conclure sur la puissance juvénile d’Indra et son association avec les Maruts.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 5.36

Mantras

Mantra 1

स आ गमदिन्द्रो यो वसूनां चिकेतद्दातुं दामनो रयीणाम् । धन्वचरो न वंसगस्तृषाणश्चकमानः पिबतु दुग्धमंशुम् ॥

Qu’Indra vienne — lui qui connaît les trésors et, en conscience, sait donner, dompteur et dispensateur des richesses. Tel celui qui parcourt les vastes étendues, tel l’être qui cherche son pâturage, assoiffé et désirant, qu’il boive l’essence de Soma, pressée et « traitée », l’aṃśu.

Mantra 2

आ ते हनू हरिवः शूर शिप्रे रुहत्सोमो न पर्वतस्य पृष्ठे । अनु त्वा राजन्नर्वतो न हिन्वन्गीर्भिर्मदेम पुरुहूत विश्वे ॥

Vers tes mâchoires, ô seigneur aux coursiers fauves, ô héros, que Soma monte, comme sur la crête d’une montagne. Te suivant, ô roi, comme on aiguillonne des chevaux, puissions-nous tous nous réjouir par nos hymnes, ô Très-invoqué, dans l’ivresse qui réveille ta puissance.

Mantra 3

चक्रं न वृत्तं पुरुहूत वेपते मनो भिया मे अमतेरिदद्रिवः । रथादधि त्वा जरिता सदावृध कुविन्नु स्तोषन्मघवन्पुरूवसुः ॥

Comme une roue qui tourne, ô Très-invoqué, mon esprit tremble de peur devant l’impuissance, ô Porteur de pierre. Du char le chantre t’appelle, ô Toujours-croissant : celui qui abonde en biens te louera-t-il vraiment, ô seigneur généreux ?

Mantra 4

एष ग्रावेव जरिता त इन्द्रेयर्ति वाचं बृहदाशुषाणः । प्र सव्येन मघवन्यंसि रायः प्र दक्षिणिद्धरिवो मा वि वेनः ॥

Ce chantre, tel une pierre à presser, pousse vers toi, ô Indra, une grande parole, ardent dans l’offrande. Ô généreux, étends vers nous les richesses de ta main gauche comme de ta main droite ; ô seigneur aux coursiers fauves, ne te détourne pas de nous.

Mantra 5

वृषा त्वा वृषणं वर्धतु द्यौर्वृषा वृषभ्यां वहसे हरिभ्याम् । स नो वृषा वृषरथः सुशिप्र वृषक्रतो वृषा वज्रिन्भरे धाः ॥

Que le Ciel lumineux, force de Taureau, t’accroisse, toi, Taureau de puissance, par une vigueur taurine. En Taureau tu es porté par les deux coursiers taurins, les fauves Haris. Ainsi, Taureau au char de Taureau, aux belles lèvres, Taureau par la volonté et l’acte, ô Vajrin (porteur du Vajra), établis pour nous, dans la bataille, la plénitude de l’abondance.

Mantra 6

यो रोहितौ वाजिनौ वाजिनीवान्त्रिभिः शतैः सचमानावदिष्ट । यूने समस्मै क्षितयो नमन्तां श्रुतरथाय मरुतो दुवोया ॥

Celui qui attelle les deux roux, porteurs de prix, accompagnés des trois centaines, a ordonné l’élan. Devant ce Jeune, que les peuples s’inclinent d’un même accord; ô Maruts, apportez-lui votre service nourricier — à lui dont le char est célèbre et s’entend au loin.

Inside Sukta 36

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct summons: Indra, who knows treasures and knows how to give, is invited to come and drink the ‘milked’ Soma.

  2. Development

    Ritual metaphors intensify the invitation—the poet’s voice is likened to the pressing-stone driving out a great utterance; petitions for riches are made explicitly.

  3. Climax

    A strong plea for Indra’s two-sided generosity—granting wealth ‘by left and by right’—and not turning away from the worshiper.

  4. Where it settles

    Indra’s youthful might and ordained movement are affirmed, and the Maruts are invoked to bring supportive service to Indra of famed chariot, sealing protection and success.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is praised as Maghavan (the bountiful), Harivaḥ (lord of the bay steeds), a victorious drinker of Soma who responds to strong praise and grants cattle, horses, and riches.
  • Cosmic functionChampion of ṛta through the defeat of obstructing powers; releaser of waters and wealth, and energizer of the sacrificer through Soma.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened force of will and courage that breaks inner obstruction, turns aspiration into effective power, and releases “treasures” of clarity and capacity.

The seer

  • Atri Ātreya (per Anukramaṇī for RV 5.36)Ātreya (Atri-gotra) · One of the foremost Vedic seer-families; the Atris are renowned for powerful Indra hymns and for preserving a distinct Mandala-5 family corpus.

Famous verses

pibatu dugdham aṃśum
Verse 5.36.1Sets the hymn’s core action: Indra is invited as the conscious bestower of treasures to drink the pressed, milk-mixed Soma; it frames Indra as both knower and giver.Read verse 5.36.1 →
pra savyena ... pra dakṣiṇit
Verse 5.36.4Highlights the ritual-poetic engine of the hymn: the singer’s utterance is compared to the pressing-stone; it contains the memorable request for wealth from both sides and the plea not to be rejected.Read verse 5.36.4 →
यो रोहितौ वाजिनौ वाजिनीवान्त्रिभिः शतैः सचमानावदिष्ट । यूने समस्मै क्षितयो नमन्तां श्रुतरथाय मरुतो दुवोया ॥
Verse 5.36.6Concludes with Indra’s dynamic, youthful power and explicit Marut association, implying collective force, protection, and victorious momentum.Read verse 5.36.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Soma-drinker
  • Bountiful giver of wealth (maghavan)
  • Warrior and obstacle-breaker
  • Swift with bay steeds (harivaḥ)
  • Responsive to praise and ritual pressing
  • Youthful, vigorous power

Also by this seer

  • Rigveda Mandala 5 (many hymns in the Atri family collection)
  • Later Vedic memory associates Atri with seerly insight and tapas; the Atri lineage is prominent in Vedic ritual transmission (śrauta) traditions

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the Soma plant and press it with stones (grāvan), filtering the juice.
  • Mix/‘milk’ the Soma with milk (and/or water) to make it pleasing and potent.
  • Recite the hymn as an āhvāna (invitation), urging Indra to come and drink.
  • Offer Soma into the ritual setting while continuing praises and petitions for wealth.
  • Conclude with affirmation of Indra’s power and his support with the Maruts (storm-gods), reinforcing communal protection and victory.

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma (aṃśu)
  • Soma mixed with milk (dugdha)
  • Accompanying oblations customary to Soma rites (e.g., ghee offerings in the broader sequence)

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a Soma-invitation hymn asking Indra to come to the pressing, drink the prepared Soma, and grant wealth, strength, and success to the worshiper.

These are ritual images from the Soma sacrifice: Soma is pressed with stones and mixed to make it pleasing. The poet compares his praise to the pressing-stone that powerfully brings forth the offering.

The Maruts are storm-gods who often accompany Indra. Mentioning them reinforces Indra’s battle-force and asks for their supportive, protective help alongside him.

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