Sukta 8
Rishi: RV-derived (as preserved in AV 20).
Devata: Indra.
Chandas: Triṣṭubh/Jagatī-type cadence in RV parallels; AV transmission here is strophic and RV-like (meter to be confirmed against pada-count in critical edition).
Yeh ek chota Indra mantra hai jo Som ka invitation hai. Isme Indra ko purane tareeke se jagaya jaata hai. Use prashansa se strong banaya jaata hai. Phir uski shakti ko apni tarf modte hain. Soorya ko saaf dikhne ka prayas hai. Dushman ko gaay aur dhan se bhagaya jaata hai. Ant mein full vessel aur svaha se rite complete hota hai.
Kind of charm
Mantras
Mantra 1
ए॒वा पा॑हि प्र॒त्नथा॒ मन्द॑तु त्वा श्रु॒धि ब्रह्म॑ वावृ॒धस्वो॒त गी॒र्भिः । आ॒विः सूर्यं॑ कृणु॒हि पी॑पि॒हीषो॑ ज॒हि शत्रूं॑र॒भि गा इ॑न्द्र तृन्धि
Indra, purane zamane ki tarah piyo. Yeh ras tumhe khush karega. Hamari suno. Hamare gaano se tum aur taakat pao. Sooraj ko chamka do. Dushmanon ko maaro aur unhe gaayon ke paas se bhaga do.
Mantra 2
अ॒र्वाङेहि॒ सोम॑कामं त्वाहुर॒यं सु॒तस्तस्य॑ पिबा॒ मदा॑य । उ॒रु॒व्यचा॑ ज॒ठर॒ आ वृ॑षस्व पि॒तेव॑ नः शृणुहि हू॒यमा॑नः
Yahan aao, Indra. Log tumhe Som-pyaar kahte hain. Yeh ras taiyaar hai, isko piyo aur mast ho jao. Jab yeh pet mein jayega, tum taakat pao. Baap ki tarah hamari suno, hum tumhe bula rahe hain.
Mantra 3
आपू॑र्णो अस्य क॒लशः॒ स्वाहा॒ सेक्ते॑व॒ कोशं॑ सिसिचे॒ पिब॑ध्यै । समु॑ प्रि॒या आव॑वृत्र॒न् मदा॑य प्रदक्षि॒णिद॒भि सोमा॑स॒ इन्द्र॑म्
Yeh bartan poora bhara hai. Jaise koi cheez daalta hai, waise hi bhara hai taaki tum pi sako. Yeh pyaara Som ras Indra ke aas-paas ghoom raha hai. Sab kuch sahi disha mein chal raha hai.
Inside Sukta 8
How it unfolds
- How it opens
Indra is urged to drink in the ancient manner; the hymn immediately couples Soma-exhilaration with attentive hearing of brahman and strengthening through song.
- What it asks
Make auspicious light visible (Sun manifest) and strike/drive away enemies—specifically from the cattle/wealth of the patron—while coming to the pressed Soma.
- Where its power lies
Indra’s strength is increased by Soma entering the belly and by praised speech; once exhilarated, he becomes a wide-spreading protector who responds paternally to invocation.
- How it closes
The rite is sealed by declaring the vessel full with svāhā and by the image of Soma encircling Indra in a rightward (auspicious) movement, ensuring favorable turning toward the sacrificer.
Famous verses
āviḥ sūryaṃ kṛṇuhi
arvāṅ ehi
āpūrṇo asya kalaśaḥ svāhā
Kind of hymn
Paustika (Prosperity) with apotropaic/victory elements
What it is for
To secure prosperity and social power by strengthening Indra through Soma and praise so he reveals auspicious light and removes hostile forces from the sacrificer’s cattle/wealth.
Who it is for
Householder or patron-sacrificer (yajamāna) and officiants seeking prosperity, protection of cattle/wealth, and victory over rivals.
Also used as
- Apotropaic
- Victory/Protection
- Yajñika (offering/invitation)
The deity
Indra is the martial, sovereign power of victorious force and life-giving release—protector of cattle and patron of the sacrificer—who is energized by Soma and responsive to well-formed praise (brahman, gīr).
Powers of the deity
- Soma-exhilaration leading to heightened strength (mada, vāvṛdh-)
- Revealing light/auspicious success (“making the Sun manifest”)
- Driving off and scattering enemies/obstacles (jahi śatrūn, tṛndhi)
- Guarding cattle and wealth; restoring what is threatened
- Hearing and protecting like a father when properly invoked
Why the deity is called
He is summoned to drink the pressed Soma, become exhilarated and strong, and then actively protect the patron’s wealth—especially cattle—by repelling foes and turning auspiciously toward the rite.
The seer
- RV-derived (Rigvedic seer(s) preserved in AV 20)Angiras. Soma-invocation and Indra-stuti used for paustika gain (strength, cattle, success) with apotropaic victory-protection against rivals
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 20.1–20.127 (RV-parallel Indra/Soma praise corpus, as transmitted in AV 20)
Preparing for the rite
- Prepare a Soma-like offering context (pressed juice in a vessel/kalaśa or its Atharvanic substitute where Soma is unavailable).
- Seat the reciter facing the offering space; establish a calm, ritually clean setting.
- Mentally frame the intention: prosperity (paustika) plus protection of cattle/wealth from hostility.
The rite
- Recite 20.8.1 inviting Indra to drink ‘as of old,’ strengthening him with brahman and songs; articulate the protective aim (enemies driven from the cattle).
- Recite 20.8.2 as a direct summons: ‘come hither’ and ‘drink for exhilaration,’ asking Indra to hear like a father.
- Recite 20.8.3 while presenting/raising the full vessel; utter svāhā and complete the offering gesture, envisioning Soma moving in auspicious rightward course around Indra.
What it needs
- Soma (or Soma-substitute per local practice)
- Kalaśa/pitcher or offering vessel (kośa)
- Offering space/fire as applicable to the rite
When
During a prosperity rite or offering session, especially when seeking victory/protection of cattle and resources; ideally at a Soma-offering moment or its liturgical equivalent.
The main substance
Soma (or Soma-substitute)
How it is prepared
Press/prepare the draught and fill a kalaśa/kośa; present it as ‘full’ at 20.8.3 with svāhā, coordinating recitation with the offering gesture.
Frequently Asked Questions
For prosperity and protection: it invites Indra to drink Soma, become strong, and then drive away hostile forces—especially those threatening cattle and wealth.
It is a request for visible auspiciousness—clarity, success, and the return of favorable conditions—symbolized by the Sun’s appearance.
In classical ritual it is a Soma-offering hymn; in later practice, communities often use an accepted substitute drink and focus on the intention of offering and strengthening Indra through praise.
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