Sukta 17
Sukta 1.17
Medhātithi Kāṇva (trad.)
Gāyatrī
This hymn invokes Indra and Varuṇa together as dual “sovereigns” who protect, bless, and set human life in right order. It seeks their grace for strength (Indra) harmonized with truth and law (Varuṇa), so that the worshipper’s will (kratu) becomes fit for inspired praise and effective ritual. The closing verses emphasize that well-formed stuti (praise) should reach the two gods and be made to prosper as a shared, communal hymn.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
इन्द्रावरुणयोरहं सम्राजोरव आ वृणे । ता नो मृळात ईदृशे ॥
मैं इंद्र और वरुण दोनों से मदद माँगता हूँ। दोनों बड़े हैं, दोनों की अपनी ताकत है। मैं उनकी मदद चाहता हूँ। वो मुझ पर दया करें और मुझे सही रास्ता दिखाएँ।
Mantra 2
गन्तारा हि स्थोऽवसे हवं विप्रस्य मावतः । धर्तारा चर्षणीनाम् ॥
जब भी कोई पुकारता है, तुम दोनों मदद के लिए आते हो। रिशि लोग तुम्हे पुकारते हैं और तुम सुनते हो। तुम लोगों को संभालते हो और उनका साथ देते हो।
Mantra 3
अनुकामं तर्पयेथामिन्द्रावरुण राय आ । ता वां नेदिष्ठमीमहे ॥
इंद्र और वरुण, हमारे दिल की बात सुनो। जो हम चाहते हैं वो हमें दो। तुम दोनों हमारे पास हो, तुमसे ही हम उम्मीद रखते हैं। तुम हमारे काम करने वाले हो।
Mantra 4
युवाकु हि शचीनां युवाकु सुमतीनाम् । भूयाम वाजदाव्नाम् ॥
तुम वो नए जोश वाली शक्ति हो जो काम करके दिखाता है। तुम वो नए जोश वाली सोच हो जो सही रास्ता दिखाता है। हमें भी ऐसा बना दो जो हमेशा आगे बढ़ता रहे और शक्ति पाता रहे।
Mantra 5
इन्द्रः सहस्रदाव्नां वरुणः शंस्यानाम् । क्रतुर्भवत्युक्थ्यः ॥
इंद्र वो है जो हज़ारों गुना देता है। वरुण वो है जिसका नाम लोग अच्छे से लेते हैं। जब हम उन्हे बुलाते हैं, हमारी सोच सही हो जाती है।
Mantra 6
तयोरिदवसा वयं सनेम नि च धीमहि । स्यादुत प्ररेचनम् ॥
इन दोनों की मदद से हम जीत लेते हैं। हमारा मन उनमे ही लगा रहे। और आगे भी बरकत होती रहे, ज़िन्दगी भरती रहे।
Mantra 7
इन्द्रावरुण वामहं हुवे चित्राय राधसे । अस्मान्त्सु जिग्युषस्कृतम् ॥
हे इंद्र और वरुण, मैं तुम्हे बुलाता हूँ। बहुत सारी चीज़ें देने के लिए। हमें ऐसा बना दो जो जीता है, अन्दर की लड़ाई में जीतने वाला।
Mantra 8
इन्द्रावरुण नू नु वां सिषासन्तीषु धीष्वा । अस्मभ्यं शर्म यच्छतम् ॥
हे इंद्र और वरुण, अभी के अभी आओ। हमारी सोच में आओ। हमें सुखो दे दो, जहाँ हम सेफ रहें और आगे बढ़ें।
Mantra 9
प्र वामश्नोतु सुष्टुतिरिन्द्रावरुण यां हुवे । यामृधाथे सधस्तुतिम् ॥
मैं इंद्र और वरुण को पुकार रहा हूँ। मेरी यह स्तुति तुम तक पहुँचे। मैं जो बोल रहा हूँ वो सीधा तुम्हारे पास जाए। तुम इस स्तुति को ऐसा बनाओ कि सब लोग मिलकर गाएँ।
Inside Sukta 17
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The poet chooses the protective help of Indra–Varuṇa, explicitly naming them as the two sovereign powers and asking for their mercy.
- Development
The hymn develops their complementary gifts—Indra’s thousandfold giving and Varuṇa’s praiseworthiness in inspired speech—linking divine support to the refinement of human kratu (will/discernment) for true invocation.
- Climax
The central movement is the transformation of intention: kratu becomes ukthya—fit for hymn and effective calling—when aligned with both power and order.
- Where it settles
It concludes by sending forth a well-shaped praise to reach the two gods, asking that they make it prosper as a communal, shared stuti.
The deity: Indra–Varuṇa
- In the VedaTogether they are addressed as samrājau—two sovereigns—whose protection and mercy are sought by the worshipper.
- Cosmic functionTheir duality integrates force and order: Indra breaks obstacles and releases vitality, while Varuṇa stabilizes the world through law, truth, and moral-cosmic restraint; jointly they safeguard prosperity and right governance in the human and divine realms.
- Inner significancePsychologically, Indra represents courage, initiative, and the power to overcome inner resistance; Varuṇa represents conscience, integrity, and alignment with truth. Their union signifies disciplined strength—power guided by ethical order—so that one’s intention (kratu) becomes luminous and effective.
The seer
- Medhātithi Kāṇva (trad.)Kāṇva (Kanva-gotra) · A prominent Kāṇva seer of the early Rigvedic layer, known for hymns of clear ritual address and for pairing divine powers to show complementary cosmic governance.
Famous verses
samrājor ava ā vṛṇe
kratur bhavaty ukthyaḥ
pra vām aśnotu suṣṭutiḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Samrājau (dual sovereigns)
- Protection and grace (avaḥ, mṛḷātaḥ)
- Abundance and victory (Indra)
- Ṛta, truth, and moral order (Varuṇa)
- Hymn-responsive and invocation-friendly
- Guardianship of communal well-being
Also by this seer
- Rigvedic Kāṇva hymns in Mandala 1 (especially early Indra-centered and allied-deity praises)
- Tradition associates the Kāṇvas with preserving and transmitting many 1st-maṇḍala sūktas used in Soma and fire offerings
The rite, step by step
- Āvāhana (invocation) of Indra–Varuṇa as dual sovereigns and protectors
- Stuti/uktha: recitation of gāyatrī verses with clear articulation and intent (kratu)
- Offering into Agni as carrier, with special orientation to Soma-related praise
- Petition for mṛḷa (grace/mercy) and for prosperity of the hymn and the sacrificer
- Concluding affirmation that the well-made praise reaches the gods and becomes successful as sadhastuti (shared hymn)
Offerings
- Soma (where applicable in the rite)
- Ghee (ājya) into the fire
- Oblation-cakes or simple food offerings (as per household adaptation)
- Water/libation (symbolically aligned with Varuṇa)
Frequently Asked Questions
Because they represent complementary rule: Indra gives strength and victory, while Varuṇa upholds truth and cosmic order (ṛta). The hymn asks for a life guided by both power and rightness.
Kratu is will and discerning intention. The verse says that when one aligns with Indra’s force and Varuṇa’s order, the mind becomes capable of true, effective prayer and ritual speech.
It can be recited in the morning before a small fire or lamp, offering a little ghee or water with a clear intention: seek courage to act (Indra) and honesty and self-restraint (Varuṇa), and ask that your words and efforts bear good results.
Ask anything about Sukta 17 of the Rig Veda
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.
