Rig Veda Sukta 73
Mandala 10Sukta 7311 Mantras

Sukta 73

Sukta 10.73

Rishi

Likely Gaurivīti Śāktya (traditional Anukramaṇī attribution for RV 10.73; verify against specific śākhā lists)

Devata

Indra (with Maruts as auxiliaries)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Is mantra mein Indra ki janam aur badhai ki baat hai. Marut log Indra ke saath milke uski taakat badhate hain. Indra apne dushmanon ko harake jeet leta hai. Rishi log Indra se andhera hatane ka kahte hain. Wo kehte hain ki Indra unki aankhon mein ujala bhar de. Indra unko bandhan se aazaad kare jaise khazaana milta hai.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.73

Mantras

Mantra 1

जनिष्ठा उग्रः सहसे तुराय मन्द्र ओजिष्ठो बहुलाभिमानः । अवर्धन्निन्द्रं मरुतश्चिदत्र माता यद्वीरं दधनद्धनिष्ठा ॥

Indra paida hua, bahut taqatwala tha. Jaldi jeetne ke liye aur zor dikhane ke liye. Woh khush tha, bahut strong tha, har kaam mein confident tha. Marut deviyon ne bhi Indra ki taqat badha di. Jab Maa ne us hero ko sahi jagah lagaya, tab uske andar taqat ka khazana beth gaya.

Mantra 2

द्रुहो निषत्ता पृशनी चिदेवैः पुरू शंसेन वावृधुष्ट इन्द्रम् । अभीवृतेव ता महापदेन ध्वान्तात्प्रपित्वादुदरन्त गर्भाः ॥

Druha bhi andhere mein betha tha, Prishani bhi thi. Un sabne Indra ki taqat badha di, bahut saare logon ne sath diya. Jaise koi chupa hua khazana andhere se bahar aata hai, waise hi woh sab upar aane lage. Bade kadam se woh andhere se bahar nikle.

Mantra 3

ऋष्वा ते पादा प्र यज्जिगास्यवर्धन्वाजा उत ये चिदत्र । त्वमिन्द्र सालावृकान्त्सहस्रमासन्दधिषे अश्विना ववृत्याः ॥

Jab Indra ke bade kadam aage badhte hain jeetne ke liye, tab taqat aur bhi badh jaati hai. Jo bhi wahin hai woh bhi strong hota hai. Indra ne hazaar logon ko sahi jagah betha diya. Ashwin dev bhi uski taraf mud gaye the, uske saath chale.

Mantra 4

समना तूर्णिरुप यासि यज्ञमा नासत्या सख्याय वक्षि । वसाव्यामिन्द्र धारयः सहस्राश्विना शूर ददतुर्मघानि ॥

Jaldi-jaldi sab milkar yagya ke paas aate hain. Nasatya, woh dono bhai, dosti ke liye saath chalte hain. Indra, tum dono taraf se dhan pakde ho. Ashwin, woh hazaaron ghode wale, woh shakti dete hain. Yeh sab milke bade kaam karte hain.

Mantra 5

मन्दमान ऋतादधि प्रजायै सखिभिरिन्द्र इषिरेभिरर्थम् । आभिर्हि माया उप दस्युमागान्मिहः प्र तम्रा अवपत्तमांसि ॥

Indra khush hoke satya se upar utha. Woh apne doston ke saath aaya, kuch bada kaam karne ke liye. Uski shakti itni badi thi ki dushman pe chha gaya. Andhera door ho gaya, dikhne laga sab saaf.

Mantra 6

सनामाना चिद्ध्वसयो न्यस्मा अवाहन्निन्द्र उषसो यथानः । ऋष्वैरगच्छः सखिभिर्निकामैः साकं प्रतिष्ठा हृद्या जघन्थ ॥

Purane-purane bade dushman bhi Indra ke saamne nahi tik paaye. Jaise subah ki roshni aati hai, waise hi woh aage badhta gaya. Apne doston ke saath milke rasta banaya. Dil mein jo dard tha, usko maar diya.

Mantra 7

त्वं जघन्थ नमुचिं मखस्युं दासं कृण्वान ऋषये विमायम् । त्वं चकर्थ मनवे स्योनान्पथो देवत्राञ्जसेव यानान् ॥

Indra ne Namuci ko maar gira diya. Yeh woh shakti thi jo yagya mein rasta rokta thi. Rishi ke liye rasta saaf kar diya. Manu ke liye aise raste banaye jaise seedhe bhagwan ki taraf jaate hain.

Mantra 8

त्वमेतानि पप्रिषे वि नामेशान इन्द्र दधिषे गभस्तौ । अनु त्वा देवाः शवसा मदन्त्युपरिबुध्नान्वनिनश्चकर्थ ॥

Indra, tumne yeh sab shaktiyan apne naam se bhari hain. Tumne sabko apne haath mein liya hai. Devata tumhare peeche chal ke khush hain. Tumne unko upar uthaya aur jeetne wali shakti di hai.

Mantra 9

चक्रं यदस्याप्स्वा निषत्तमुतो तदस्मै मध्विच्चच्छद्यात् । पृथिव्यामतिषितं यदूधः पयो गोष्वदधा ओषधीषु ॥

Jab uska chakra paani mein lagta hai, toh uspar shahad daal ke dhak dena chahiye. Jab dharti par koi bada bojh padta hai, toh bhagwan doodh gaayon mein aur jadi-bootiyon mein daal deta hai.

Mantra 10

अश्वादियायेति यद्वदन्त्योजसो जातमुत मन्य एनम् । मन्योरियाय हर्म्येषु तस्थौ यतः प्रजज्ञ इन्द्रो अस्य वेद ॥

Log kehte hain woh ghode se aaya hai. Main samajhta hoon woh taqat se paida hua. Woh ichcha ki taqat se aaya aur andar ke kamron mein khada hua. Indra jaanta hai woh asli jagah kahan hai jahan se woh paida hua.

Mantra 11

वयः सुपर्णा उप सेदुरिन्द्रं प्रियमेधा ऋषयो नाधमानाः । अप ध्वान्तमूर्णुहि पूर्धि चक्षुर्मुमुग्ध्यस्मान्निधयेव बद्धान् ॥

Hum parindon ki tarah Indra ke paas baithe hain. Hum rishi hain jo upar jaane ki koshish kar rahe hain. Andhera hata do aur humein raasta dikhao. Humein chhod do, jaise koi khazana band karke rakha ho usse khol do.

Inside Sukta 73

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Indra’s potent birth and the amplification of his might—Maruts themselves ‘increase’ him as the hero is established.

  2. Development

    The hymn moves through images of driving down ancient destructive forces and clearing a firm standing-place, with comradeship and shared desire (nikāma) as the engine of victory.

  3. Climax

    A decisive turning to illumination: darkness is to be unrolled and the inner eye filled—victory becomes vision.

  4. Where it settles

    The seers, like winged birds, sit near Indra and ask to be released from binding constraints, concluding in a prayer for freedom and awakened sight.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is the ugra and ojiṣṭha—formidable and most powerful—delighting in strength, conquering hostile powers, and opening the way for light and right order. He is repeatedly invoked with the Maruts, whose storm-force and fellowship magnify his victorious energy.
  • Cosmic functionBreaker of obstructions and renewer of the world’s pathways: he drives down ancient destructive forces, clears the standing-place (pratiṣṭhā), and enables the emergence of light, dawn, and expansive life.
  • Inner significanceThe force of awakened will and luminous intelligence that dispels inner darkness, strengthens resolve, and releases consciousness from binding limitations—so vision (cakṣus) becomes full and unobstructed.

The seer

  • Gaurivīti Śāktya (traditional Anukramaṇī attribution; some verse-level attributions vary in later lists)Śāktya lineage (as indicated by patronymic; gotra details are not consistently preserved in all recensions) · A late Ṛgvedic seer associated with Mandala 10 hymns that blend heroic Indra praise with reflective, inward petitions for light and liberation.

Famous verses

जनिष्ठा उग्रः सहसे तुराय मन्द्र ओजिष्ठो बहुलाभिमानः । अवर्धन्निन्द्रं मरुतश्चिदत्र माता यद्वीरं दधनद्धनिष्ठा ॥
Verse 10.73.1Sets the hymn’s frame: Indra’s birth as concentrated power and the Maruts’ role in augmenting his strength—linking cosmic origin with victorious capacity.Read verse 10.73.1 →
सनामाना चिद्ध्वसयो न्यस्मा अवाहन्निन्द्र उषसो यथानः । ऋष्वैरगच्छः सखिभिर्निकामैः साकं प्रतिष्ठा हृद्या जघन्थ ॥
Verse 10.73.6Articulates Indra’s function as obstruction-slayer who drives down ancient ruinous powers and establishes the ‘standing-place’—a key Vedic image for secured order and progress.Read verse 10.73.6 →
apa dhvāntam ūrṇuhi pūrdhi cakṣuḥ
Verse 10.73.11The culminating inner petition: remove darkness, fill vision, and release the bound—showing how Indra’s outer victory becomes inner liberation.Read verse 10.73.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Might (ojas), victory, and swiftness
  • Obstruction-slayer and path-opener
  • Companioned by the Maruts (collective power and ardor)
  • Giver of light/vision and liberation from bonds
  • Protector of the standing-place (pratiṣṭhā) and right order

Also by this seer

  • Attributed in traditional indices to portions of Mandala 10 Indra-hymns (recension-dependent)
  • Connected in later catalogues with hymns where Indra is invoked for both victory and inner awakening

The rite, step by step

  • Saṅkalpa: state the aim—strength, victory over impediments, and clarity of vision
  • Āvāhana: invite Indra together with the Maruts as supportive companions
  • Stuti: recite the hymn emphasizing Indra’s birth, growth, and heroic acts
  • Nivāraṇa: explicitly pray for the driving down of ‘ancient ruinous powers’ and inner resistances
  • Prasāda: conclude with petitions for light—removal of darkness, fullness of vision, and release from bonds
  • Śānti/Avabhṛtha intention: dedicate the gained force to dharma, protection, and well-being

Offerings

  • Soma (where applicable in Soma-yajña contexts)
  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni
  • Oblations with Indra/Marut formulas (as per śrauta/gṛhya adaptation)
  • Optional: stotra-śastra recitation as the primary ‘offering’ in non-Soma settings

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Indra’s power and victories—especially with the Maruts as his companions—and then turns that victory inward, asking Indra to remove darkness, strengthen vision, and free the worshippers from bondage.

The Maruts represent a collective storm-force and comradeship that intensifies Indra’s strength; the hymn portrays them as helpers who ‘increase’ Indra and support the overcoming of obstacles.

Along with a request for outer protection, it is a spiritual request for inner clarity: to dispel ignorance and fear, awaken insight, and regain freedom—like being released from a binding that kept one’s treasure hidden.

Ask anything about Sukta 73 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