Opening the text

Sukta 4.28
Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional for RV 4.28)
Indra-Soma (Indra empowered by Soma)
Triṣṭubh (probable)
Is mantra mein Indra aur Soma ka sath hai. Dono milke Vritra ko maarte hain. Phir saat nadiyan aazad ho jaati hain. Yeh paani Manu aur insaniyat ke liye hai. Soma taakat deta hai, Indra todta hai. Rasta saaf ho jaata hai. Abhi bhi yahi taakat maangi ja rahi hai.
Mantra 1
त्वा युजा तव तत्सोम सख्य इन्द्रो अपो मनवे सस्रुतस्कः । अहन्नहिमरिणात्सप्त सिन्धूनपावृणोदपिहितेव खानि ॥
Indra ne Soma ko apna dost bana ke paani bahane laga. Usne Manu ke liye paani chala diya. Usne us bade saanp ko maara jo sab ko rokta tha. Saat nadiyon ko aazaad kiya. Jo raaste band the, unhe khol diya jaise koi band darwaza khole. Ab paani aur gyaan dono sahi raaste se beh sakte hain.
Mantra 2
त्वा युजा नि खिदत्सूर्यस्येन्द्रश्चक्रं सहसा सद्य इन्दो । अधि ष्णुना बृहता वर्तमानं महो द्रुहो अप विश्वायु धायि ॥
Indra ne Soma ko saath liya aur zor laga ke Surya ka chakka utaar diya. Woh purana chakr jo chalta aa raha tha, use rok diya. Phir woh badi unchai par chadha aur jhooth aur dushmani ko door kar diya. Ab sahi roshni sab jagah phail gayi hai.
Mantra 3
अहन्निन्द्रो अदहदग्निरिन्दो पुरा दस्यून्मध्यंदिनादभीके । दुर्गे दुरोणे क्रत्वा न यातां पुरू सहस्रा शर्वा नि बर्हीत् ॥
Indra ne maara aur Agni ne aag laga di. Woh purane dushman the jo sachai ke raaste mein khade the. Dopahar mein hi ladai ho gayi. Mushkil raaston mein, tang jagah par, jinhone sahi raasta nahi liya, woh gir gaye. Hazaaron bade teer giraye gaye taaki aage ka raasta saaf ho jaye.
Mantra 4
विश्वस्मात्सीमधमाँ इन्द्र दस्यून्विशो दासीरकृणोरप्रशस्ताः । अबाधेथाममृणतं नि शत्रूनविन्देथामपचितिं वधत्रैः ॥
Indra, tune charon taraf se dushmanon ko dabaya. Un logon ko gira diya jo sachai ko nahi maante the. Tune apni taakat se andar ke dushmanon ko kuchal diya. Jo sahi samajh chhin li gayi thi, use wapas la liya. Ab phir se sab sahi lagne laga hai.
Mantra 5
एवा सत्यं मघवाना युवं तदिन्द्रश्च सोमोर्वमश्व्यं गोः । आदर्दृतमपिहितान्यश्ना रिरिचथुः क्षाश्चित्ततृदाना ॥
Yeh sach hai, Indra aur Soma dono bade hain. Tumne gyaan ka bada khet khol diya jo band pada tha. Jo bhi sakht tha, use tod diya. Jo dhaka hua tha, use hataya. Zameen ki bhi saari bandishein tod di aur jo andar band tha, use bahar nikal diya.
The hymn primarily invokes Indra together with Soma (Indu). Soma is the empowering, inspiring force, and Indra is the heroic power that breaks obstacles and releases the waters.
On the mythic level it recalls Indra’s victory that frees the world’s waters. Symbolically it means restoring blocked life-currents—health, prosperity, and the flow of truth and knowledge—by removing constriction.
It fits naturally in Soma offerings, especially when seeking strength, victory, and the removal of obstacles. Reciting it with Soma libations (and ghee into Agni) aligns the rite with the archetype of opening sealed channels and widening abundance.
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
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.