Sukta 30
Rishi: Traditionally aligned with RV Indra-hymn transmission (AV 20 is largely RV-derived)
Chandas: Triṣṭubh/Jagatī-type RV meter (to be verified against pada count; AV 20 preserves RV meters).
AV 20.30 is an Indra-stuti drawn from the Rigvedic hymn-stream, designed to “bring Indra near” through vivid praise of his Hari (tawny) power—his bay steeds, tawny radiance, and tawny vajra. The sukta frames effective speech (giraḥ/uktha) and ghee-like oblation as the attractor that awakens Indra’s mada (invigorating force), converting it into victory, protection, and desired bounty (rādhas). Its power lies in merging color-imagery (hari-) with weapon-force (vajra) and precedent (pūrve yajvānaḥ), asserting that Indra reliably responds when praised in the ancestral way.
Kind of charm
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र ते॑ म॒हे वि॒दथे॑ शंसिषं॒ हरी॒ प्र ते॑ वन्वे व॒नुषो॑ हर्य॒तं मद॑म्। घृ॒तं न यो हरि॑भि॒श्चारु॒ सेच॑त॒ आ त्वा॑ विशन्तु॒ हरि॑वर्पसं॒ गिरः॑
मैं इंद्र की बड़ी महासभा में बात करता हूँ, तुम्हारे सुनहरे घोड़ों के लिए। मैं तुम्हे उस खुशी तक पहुँचाना चाहता हूँ जो जीतने वाले को मिलती है। जैसे घी चमकता है, वैसे ही यह रस चमकता है। इंद्र, तुम्हारी तारीफ के गाना तुम तक पहुँचें।
Mantra 2
हरिं॒ हि योनि॑म॒भि ये स॒मस्व॑रन् हि॒न्वन्तो॒ हरी॑ दि॒व्यं यथा॒ सदः॑ । आ यं पृ॒णन्ति॒ हरि॑भि॒र्न धे॒नव॒ इन्द्रा॑य शू॒षं हरि॑वन्तमर्चत
जब लोग मिलकर गाते हैं और इंद्र के घोड़ों को आगे बढ़ाते हैं, तो वो स्वर्ग जैसा लगता है। जैसे गाय दूध देती है, वैसे ही यह घोड़े उस रस को भरते हैं। इंद्र की उस ताकत की करो जो ऐसे ही घोड़ों वाली है।
Mantra 3
सो अ॑स्य॒ वज्रो॒ हरि॑तो॒ य आ॑य॒सो हरि॒र्निका॑मो॒ हरि॒रा गभ॑स्त्योः । द्यु॒म्नी सु॑शि॒प्रो हरि॑मन्युसायक॒ इन्द्रे॒ नि रू॒पा हरि॑ता मिमिक्षिरे
इंद्र की वज्र सुनहरी है और लोहे की बनी है। वो जब चाहता है तब उसका रंग सुनहरा हो जाता है, दोनों हाथों में भी सुनहरा है। इंद्र चमक में है, उनके चेहरे खूबसूरत हैं, और उनकी गुस्सा वाली शक्ति भी सुनहरी है। इंद्र के अंदर यह सब मिल गया है।
Mantra 4
दि॒वि न के॒तुरधि॑ धायि हर्य॒तो वि॒व्यच॒द् वज्रो॒ हरि॑तो॒ न रंह्या॑ । तु॒ददहिं हरि॑शिप्रो॒ य आ॑य॒सः स॒हस्र॑शोका अभवद्धरिंभ॒रः
आसमान में जैसे झंडा लगा होता है, वैसे ही इंद्र की निशान चमक रही थी। उनकी सुनहरी वज्र जैसे तेज़ घोड़ा दौड़ा रहा हो, ऐसे ही चमकी। उसने उस बड़े साँप को मारा, वो वज्र लोहे की थी और हज़ारों रोशनी वाली थी। इंद्र जो घोड़ों पे सवार है, वो बन गए।
Mantra 5
त्वंत्व॑महर्यथा॒ उप॑स्तुतः॒ पूर्वे॑भिरिन्द्र हरिकेश॒ यज्व॑भिः । त्वं ह॑र्यसि॒ तव॒ विश्व॑मु॒क्थ्य॑१मसा॑मि॒ राधो॑ हरिजात हर्य॒तम्
इन्द्र, तू पहले भी बहुत ताकतवर था जब लोग तेरे लिए यज्ञ करते थे। तेरी जैसी कोई ताकत नहीं, तू ही सबसे बड़ा है। मैं तुझे गाता हूँ और तुझसे वो चीज़ माँगता हूँ जो सबसे ज़्यादा चाहिए। तू ही वो वरदान दे जो सबको पसंद आए।
Inside Sukta 30
How it unfolds
- How it opens
The hymn opens by pushing forth praise “to the Great” Indra, explicitly calling on the Haris and inviting the songs (giraḥ) to enter him, like a fair ghee-libation being poured.
- What it asks
That Indra, stirred by tawny exhilaration (mada) and drawn by well-aimed praise, come with his Haris and grant the most desirable boon—victory-laden prosperity (rādhas, haryatam).
- Where its power lies
Indra’s power is portrayed as internally consolidated: tawny vajra, tawny hands, tawny wrath and splendor—‘hari’ forms commingled within him, making his response irresistible and decisive.
- How it closes
The sukta closes by citing ancestral precedent—Indra was unconquerable when praised by the former sacrificers—and by sealing the request: ‘I win thy bounty,’ the haryatam (most-to-be-desired) gift.
Famous verses
ā tvā viśantu harivarpa-saṃ giraḥ
indre ni rūpā haritā mimikṣire
asāmi rādho harijāta haryatam
Kind of hymn
Paustika (Prosperity) / Indra-stuti (royal power, victory)
What it is for
Attraction of Indra’s presence and favor, conversion of inspired exhilaration (mada) into tangible success—victory, protection, and wealth/bounty (rādhas) for the performer or patron.
Who it is for
Householder/patron seeking prosperity and success; leaders/warriors seeking victory; priests using Indra-praise to empower offerings and secure results.
Also used as
- Indra-stuti
- Rājya/kṣatra-vardhana (royal empowerment)
- Abhaya (protective assurance through vajra-power)
The deity
The hymn treats ‘hari’ not only as color but as a concentrated potency—radiance, wrath, speed, and striking power unified in Indra.
Powers of the deity
- Grants victory and royal success (jaya, kṣatra-bala)
- Responds to praise and sacrifice; comes swiftly with the Haris
- Bestows mada: exhilaration/energy that becomes effective power
- Wields the vajra to smash obstacles and enemies
- Gives rādhas (bounty, wealth, prosperity) to the praising patron
- Protects through weapon-force and awe (abhaya)
Why the deity is called
To draw Indra near with his Haris through potent hymn-speech and oblation, awaken his mada, and secure protective victory and desirable prosperity for the patron/ritualist.
The seer
- RV-Indra-hymn lineage seer (Likely a Rigvedic ṛṣi of an Indra-sūkta)Angiras. Indra-stuti for royal empowerment: victory-winning praise, attraction of divine support (āvāhana), and strengthening of kṣatra through mantra and offering.
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 20 (multiple RV-derived Indra hymns; specific parallel to be confirmed per Anukramaṇī)
- RV parallels for Indra-Hari praise (exact RV hymn/ṛṣi to be verified)
Preparing for the rite
- Establish a clean ritual space and seat facing east or north; compose the mind for uktha (formal praise).
- Prepare a small offering of ghṛta (ghee) or ghee-mixed oblation; if Soma is not available, intend ‘mada’ as mantra-generated vigor rather than a pressed drink.
- Optional: keep a piece of metal/iron (āyasa) symbolically present to align with vajra imagery and firmness (sthāiratva).
The rite
- Recite the sukta as an āvāhana (invitation), visualizing Indra arriving with the Haris; emphasize ‘hari’ epithets as the attracting refrain.
- At the first or central recitation, offer ghṛta into fire (or into a lamp if domestic), synchronizing offering with praise (giraḥ).
- At verses describing vajra and tawny forms, mentally ‘bind’ Indra’s protective power around the patron (saṃyojana/bandhana by intent), concluding with a request for rādhas (bounty).
What it needs
- Ghṛta (ghee)
- Fire/lamps for offering (as applicable)
- Optional: āyasa/metal token (iron/copper) as vajra-symbol
- Water for ācamana and purification
When
Preferably morning or before undertaking contests, negotiations, journeys, or royal/competitive acts; also suitable on Indra-associated days or before soma/oblation sessions.
The main substance
Ghṛta (ghee)
Amulets
- Optional āyasa (metal/iron) token as vajra-symbol for firmness and protection
How it is prepared
Warm and clarify ghee if needed; offer small portions in rhythm with recitation. If using a metal token, purify with water, hold during the vajra-verse, and set near the offering place as a stability-sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
For prosperity and success—especially victory and protection—by invoking Indra’s swift help with his Haris and requesting rādhas (bounty).
Because ‘hari’ marks Indra’s concentrated power: his bay steeds that bring him quickly, his tawny radiance, and even the tawny vajra and wrath that overcome obstacles.
No. In AV practice, ‘mada’ can be understood as mantra-born vigor and confidence; a simple ghṛta offering and focused recitation can serve the hymn’s intended aim.
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