Rig Veda Sukta 11
Mandala 2Sukta 1121 Mantras

Sukta 11

Sukta 2.11

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (common for Indra hymns in Mandala 2; verse-level confirmation requires scan)

Rishi Gritsamad is calling Indra in this mantra. He is asking Indra to listen to their prayers and come to the yagya. They want Indra to drink the Soma juice that gives him power. The rishi is praising Indra as a brave protector who gives gifts. He is asking Indra for wealth and success in battles. They want their share of good fortune to stay safe and not get destroyed. The prayer is also asking for strong children and helpful friends. With these blessings, they can speak with confidence in the sabha.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.11

Mantras

Mantra 1

श्रुधी हवमिन्द्र मा रिषण्यः स्याम ते दावने वसूनाम् । इमा हि त्वामूर्जो वर्धयन्ति वसूयवः सिन्धवो न क्षरन्तः ॥

Indra, humari pukar sun. Humein nuksan mat pahuncha. Hum tere layak hon, jo tu deta hai. Yeh shaktiyan tujhe badhaati hain, sachcha dhan maangti hain. Jaise nadiyan behti rehti hain, rukti nahi.

Mantra 2

सृजो महीरिन्द्र या अपिन्वः परिष्ठिता अहिना शूर पूर्वीः । अमर्त्यं चिद्दासं मन्यमानमवाभिनदुक्थैर्वावृधानः ॥

Indra ne woh badi shaktiyan chhodi jo pehle se band thin. Saanp ne unhe ghera hua tha, tu ne tod diya. Ek daas khud ko amar samajhta tha, tu ne use gira diya. Stuti se tujhe taakat milti hai, tu rasta banata hai.

Mantra 3

उक्थेष्विन्नु शूर येषु चाकन्त्स्तोमेष्विन्द्र रुद्रियेषु च । तुभ्येदेता यासु मन्दसानः प्र वायवे सिस्रते न शुभ्राः ॥

Jin stutiyon mein tu khush hota hai, Indra, unmein yeh dhaarein tujhpar aati hain. Rudra jaisi taakat wali stutiyon mein bhi. Tu khush ho ke unhe aage badhaata hai, jaise chamakdar dhaarein hawa ke liye beh rahi hon.

Mantra 4

शुभ्रं नु ते शुष्मं वर्धयन्तः शुभ्रं वज्रं बाह्वोर्दधानाः । शुभ्रस्त्वमिन्द्र वावृधानो अस्मे दासीर्विशः सूर्येण सह्याः ॥

Hum Indra ki taakat badha rahe hain. Uske haath mein chamakta vajra hai. Indra khud bhi chamak raha hai, uski taakat badh rahi hai. Woh andhere mein rehne wale logon ko humare liye jeet de. Sach ke sooraj ki tarah woh unpe jeet paaye.

Mantra 5

गुहा हितं गुह्यं गूळ्हमप्स्वपीवृतं मायिनं क्षियन्तम् । उतो अपो द्यां तस्तभ्वांसमहन्नहिं शूर वीर्येण ॥

Ek jaadu ki taakat paani mein chhupi thi, gupt thi. Indra ne use dhoondh liya. Usne us saanp ko maara apni taakat se. Phir paani aazaad ho gaya aur aasmaan sahi ho gaya.

Mantra 6

स्तवा नु त इन्द्र पूर्व्या महान्युत स्तवाम नूतना कृतानि । स्तवा वज्रं बाह्वोरुशन्तं स्तवा हरी सूर्यस्य केतू ॥

Hum Indra ki purani mahanta gaate hain. Uske naye kaam bhi gaate hain. Uske haath ka vajra kitna achha lagta hai. Uske do ghode sooraj ki tarah chamakte hain.

Mantra 7

हरी नु त इन्द्र वाजयन्ता घृतश्चुतं स्वारमस्वार्ष्टाम् । वि समना भूमिरप्रथिष्टारंस्त पर्वतश्चित्सरिष्यन् ॥

Indra ki taakat jab chalti hai toh chamak failti hai. Zameen phail gayi. Pahad bhi hilne laga jaise beh raha ho. Uski taakat ne poora jagah hila diya.

Mantra 8

नि पर्वतः साद्यप्रयुच्छन्त्सं मातृभिर्वावशानो अक्रान् । दूरे पारे वाणीं वर्धयन्त इन्द्रेषितां धमनिं पप्रथन्नि ॥

Pahad baith gaya, ab nahi roka. Woh maon ke saath chala. Door kinare par shabd badha. Indra ki wajah se woh dhaara fail gayi aur jam gayi.

Mantra 9

इन्द्रो महां सिन्धुमाशयानं मायाविनं वृत्रमस्फुरन्निः । अरेजेतां रोदसी भियाने कनिक्रदतो वृष्णो अस्य वज्रात् ॥

Indra ne us bade paani ko tod diya jo daba hua tha. Vritra naam ka ek rakshas tha jo jaadu-jadoo kar raha tha, Indra ne use bahar nikal ke maara. Aasmaan aur dharti dono darr gaye. Jab Indra ki bijli chamki, toh gooraj jaisi awaaz aayi.

Mantra 10

अरोरवीद्वृष्णो अस्य वज्रोऽमानुषं यन्मानुषो निजूर्वात् । नि मायिनो दानवस्य माया अपादयत्पपिवान्त्सुतस्य ॥

Indra ki bijli ki chamak ekdam zor se goonji. Yeh koi aam insaan ki taakat nahi thi. Jab hum thak jaate hain tab bhi yeh taakat kaam karti hai. Indra ne Somras piya, aur us jaadugarni shakti ko barbaad kar diya jo logon ko dhoka deti thi.

Mantra 11

पिबापिबेदिन्द्र शूर सोमं मन्दन्तु त्वा मन्दिनः सुतासः । पृणन्तस्ते कुक्षी वर्धयन्त्वित्था सुतः पौर इन्द्रमाव ॥

Indra, tum Somras piyo. Yeh ras tumhe khush karega aur tumhari taakat badhaega. Jab tumhara pet bharega, tum aur strong ho jaoge. Isliye Somras Indra ko bulata hai ki woh hamare paas aayein.

Mantra 12

त्वे इन्द्राप्यभूम विप्रा धियं वनेम ऋतया सपन्तः । अवस्यवो धीमहि प्रशस्तिं सद्यस्ते रायो दावने स्याम ॥

Indra, humne tumhe apna sahara maana hai. Tumhari raah par chal ke humein acchi soch milti hai. Hum tumhari prashansa karte hain aur madad maangte hain. Tum humein itni daulat do ki humara kaam ban jaaye.

Mantra 13

स्याम ते त इन्द्र ये त ऊती अवस्यव ऊर्जं वर्धयन्तः । शुष्मिन्तमं यं चाकनाम देवास्मे रयिं रासि वीरवन्तम् ॥

Indra, hum tumhare ho jaana chahte hain. Tumhari madad se humari taakat badhti hai. Tum sabse bade balwan ho, hum tumhe khush karna chahte hain. Bhagwan, humein itni daulat aur taakat do ki hum bade ban jaayein.

Mantra 14

रासि क्षयं रासि मित्रमस्मे रासि शर्ध इन्द्र मारुतं नः । सजोषसो ये च मन्दसानाः प्र वायवः पान्त्यग्रणीतिम् ॥

Indra se dua hai ki woh humein ek accha ghar de. Woh humein apne paas rakh ke saath chalaye. Indra, Marut sena ko bhi humare liye bhej de. Jo log khush hain aur milkar kaam karte hain, unki rakhwali kare. Woh aage badhne wali shakti humare netritva ki hifazat kare.

Mantra 15

व्यन्त्विन्नु येषु मन्दसानस्तृपत्सोमं पाहि द्रह्यदिन्द्र । अस्मान्त्सु पृत्स्वा तरुत्रावर्धयो द्यां बृहद्भिरर्कैः ॥

Indra, dushmanon ko abhi bhaag jaane de. Woh log jinko tum hara rahe ho. Tum Soma piyo aur aage badho. Jab hum ladai mein phanse hain, tum humein paar utaaro. Tum hi rakshak ho. Tumne apne gana se aasmaan ko itna bada bana diya.

Mantra 16

बृहन्त इन्नु ये ते तरुत्रोक्थेभिर्वा सुम्नमाविवासान् । स्तृणानासो बर्हिः पस्त्यावत्त्वोता इदिन्द्र वाजमग्मन् ॥

Woh log bahut taakatwar hain jo tumhare gun gate hain. Tum unki sun leta hai, Indra. Yeh log apna sthapana banaate hain jaise apna hi ghar ho. Tum unki hifazat karte ho. Isliye woh jeet aur shakti paate hain.

Mantra 17

उग्रेष्विन्नु शूर मन्दसानस्त्रिकद्रुकेषु पाहि सोममिन्द्र । प्रदोधुवच्छ्मश्रुषु प्रीणानो याहि हरिभ्यां सुतस्य पीतिम् ॥

Indra, tum bahut bahadur ho. Tum Soma piyo aur khush raho. Tum teen pyaalon mein se piyo. Tumhara daadhi par jhaag lagta hai. Tum apne do ghodon ke saath aao. Soma peene ke liye taiyaar ho ke aao.

Mantra 18

धिष्वा शवः शूर येन वृत्रमवाभिनद्दानुमौर्णवाभम् । अपावृणोर्ज्योतिरार्याय नि सव्यतः सादि दस्युरिन्द्र ॥

Indra, tum apni taakat ka istemaal karo. Usi se tumne Vritra ko tod diya. Woh rasta rokne wala tha. Tumne achche logon ke liye roshni nikali. Bure log peeche hat gaye. Tumne unko side kar diya.

Mantra 19

सनेम ये त ऊतिभिस्तरन्तो विश्वाः स्पृध आर्येण दस्यून् । अस्मभ्यं तत्त्वाष्ट्रं विश्वरूपमरन्धयः साख्यस्य त्रिताय ॥

Indra ki shakti se hum jeet te hain. Woh sab ladaiyon se paar le jaata hai. Woh buri taakaton ko achhi roshni se hara deta hai. Indra ne ek badi shakti ko humare liye kaam mein laya. Yeh dosti ke liye kiya, taaki hum andar ki roshni paa sakein.

Mantra 20

अस्य सुवानस्य मन्दिनस्त्रितस्य न्यर्बुदं वावृधानो अस्तः । अवर्तयत्सूर्यो न चक्रं भिनद्वलमिन्द्रो अङ्गिरस्वान् ॥

Indra ki taakat badh gayi. Usne ek bada dushman, Arbuda, ko gira diya. Woh chakra chalane laga, jaise sooraj chalta hai. Usne pahad tod diya aur andar chupi roshni bahar la di. Indra apne saathiyon ke saath tha.

Mantra 21

नूनं सा ते प्रति वरं जरित्रे दुहीयदिन्द्र दक्षिणा मघोनी । शिक्षा स्तोतृभ्यो माति धग्भगो नो बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

Indra, jo gaana gaane wale hain, unki sun le. Unki dua poori kar de. Inko sikh aur inko de. Humein mat jalana, humara hissa mat khatam kar. Hum sabke saamne badi baat bolein, taaki hum shakti se bharein.

Inside Sukta 11

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct plea: Indra, hear our call and do not harm us; make us fit recipients of your riches, as the nourishing streams continually increase you.

  2. Development

    The hymn intensifies the invitation through Soma: repeated urging to drink, and the idea that the pressed Soma gladdens and enlarges Indra’s power, making him ready to act for the worshippers.

  3. Climax

    The ritual peak is Indra’s Soma-drinking and empowerment—his ‘belly’ filled by the pressings—followed by the expectation of immediate, tangible boons and protection for the human settlement.

  4. Where it settles

    It ends with a measured request for dakṣiṇā/fortune to answer the singer’s chosen boon, protection of one’s rightful share, and the blessing to speak great words in the assembly, rich in heroic energies.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is celebrated as the soma-drinking, thunder-wielding hero (śūra) who grows in power through pressed libations and who answers the singer with gifts, protection, and victory.
  • Cosmic functionHe upholds ṛta by breaking obstructive powers, releasing and directing life-giving waters/energies, and ensuring the flow of prosperity and strength to the community that performs yajña.
  • Inner significanceIndra signifies awakened force of will and victorious clarity—courage that breaks inner inertia, restores the ‘flow’ of energy, and turns inspired speech and offering into effective power.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family within Mandala 2) · Principal seer of Rig Veda Mandala 2, renowned for powerful Indra hymns that combine intimate invocation (hávam) with ritual precision around Soma and dakṣiṇā (priestly gift).

Famous verses

śrudhī havam indra mā riṣaṇyaḥ
Verse 2.11.1Sets the tone of the whole sūkta: an urgent yet intimate invocation—Indra must hear, not harm, and bestow riches; Indra is strengthened by ‘nourishing pressures’ that flow like unceasing rivers.Read verse 2.11.1 →
pibā-pibed indra śūra somam
Verse 2.11.11Ritual centerpiece: the repeated command to drink Soma (pibā-piba), presenting Soma as the gladness that empowers Indra and draws him to the human dwelling.Read verse 2.11.11 →
bṛhad vadema vidathe suvīrāḥ
Verse 2.11.21Concluding boon-request: dakṣiṇā is envisioned as a milch-cow responding to the poet; it asks that the community’s ‘share’ not be burned away and ends with the aspiration to proclaim the Vast in the assembly.Read verse 2.11.21 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Śūra (heroic champion)
  • Soma-priya (delighted by Soma)
  • Maghavan (bounteous giver)
  • Vṛtra-han motif implied: breaker of obstruction
  • Protector of worshippers; responsive to havis and stotra
  • Bestower of vasu (riches), vīra (heroic offspring), and bhaga (share/fortune)

Also by this seer

  • Primary authorship of most of Rig Veda Mandala 2 (notably many Indra-focused sūktas)
  • Associated Bhārgava poetic style emphasizing Soma-empowerment, protection, and generous giving
  • Hymnic articulation of the yajña economy: praise → Indra’s arrival → Soma drinking → boon/wealth → communal proclamation in the vidatha

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the ritual ground and establish the fires; seat the priests and patron (yajamāna).
  • Press Soma (suta), filter and mix according to the rite; accompany with stotra/śastra.
  • Invite Indra explicitly to ‘hear the call’ and to come unharming (anugraha, not riṣa).
  • Offer Soma libations repeatedly (pibā-piba), praising Indra’s might as the Soma ‘increases’ him.
  • Request boons: riches (vasūni), protection of one’s allotted share (bhaga), and strength/heroic offspring (suvīra).
  • Conclude with a communal aspiration: to speak the ‘Bṛhat’ in the assembly (vidatha) and to receive dakṣiṇā in response to the hymn.

Offerings

  • Soma (pressed libations)
  • Ghee/clarified butter (as ancillary offering in the soma rite)
  • Dakṣiṇā (priestly gift, requested as Indra’s ‘bounteous cow’ to be milked out)

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn asks Indra to hear the worshippers, come to the Soma sacrifice, become strong through the libations, and grant wealth, protection, and a secure share of fortune.

In Vedic ritual language, Soma is the power that ‘gladdens’ and increases Indra’s strength, so his drinking marks the moment he becomes ready to help and to give boons.

It is a closing blessing: “May we speak great, uplifting words in the assembly, and may we be rich in heroic strength (good offspring, courage, and capable allies).”

Ask anything about Sukta 11 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