Sukta 177
Sukta 1.177
Trishtubh (probable; requires metrical verification)
This five-verse hymn is an urgent invitation to Indra—the bull-like king of peoples—to come swiftly in his chariot with the two Haris, drawn by praise and the pressed Soma. It emphasizes Indra’s readiness to help the singer, grant fame and strength, and lead the worshippers toward a bright, victorious state (dawn-like renewal) and successful attainment.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
आ चर्षणिप्रा वृषभो जनानां राजा कृष्टीनां पुरुहूत इन्द्रः । स्तुतः श्रवस्यन्नवसोप मद्रिग्युक्त्वा हरी वृषणा याह्यर्वाङ् ॥
आजा इंद्र, तू लोगों का लीडर है। तू सबका राजा है और लोग तुझे बहुत बुलाते हैं। हम तेरे लिए गाना गा रहे हैं, तू अपनी बड़ाई करे। अपने दो घोड़े जोड़ के यहाँ आ। हमें मदद दे।
Mantra 2
ये ते वृषणो वृषभास इन्द्र ब्रह्मयुजो वृषरथासो अत्याः । ताँ आ तिष्ठ तेभिरा याह्यर्वाङ्हवामहे त्वा सुत इन्द्र सोमे ॥
इंद्र, तेरे घोड़े बहुत ताकतवर हैं। वो गानों से जुड़ के आते हैं और तेरे रथ को खींचते हैं। इन घोड़ों पर बैठ के यहाँ आ। हम सोम निकाल के तुझे बुला रहे हैं।
Mantra 3
आ तिष्ठ रथं वृषणं वृषा ते सुतः सोमः परिषिक्ता मधूनि । युक्त्वा वृषभ्यां वृषभ क्षितीनां हरिभ्यां याहि प्रवतोप मद्रिक् ॥
अपने रथ पर बैठ। सोम तेरे लिए निकाला है और मीठा पानी भी दिया है। अपने दो ताकतवर घोड़े जोड़ के आ। तू लोगों का लीडर है, अपने घोड़ों के साथ आ और हमें मदह दे।
Mantra 4
अयं यज्ञो देवया अयं मियेध इमा ब्रह्माण्ययमिन्द्र सोमः । स्तीर्णं बर्हिरा तु शक्र प्र याहि पिबा निषद्य वि मुचा हरी इह ॥
यह यज्ञ देवियों तक ले जाता है। यह बलि का काम है। यह सब मंतर हैं और यह सोम रस है इंद्र के लिए। घास बिछा दी है आसन के लिए। आओ शक्र, इधर आओ। बैठ के पियो और अपने दो घोड़े यहीं खोल दो।
Mantra 5
ओ सुष्टुत इन्द्र याह्यर्वाङुप ब्रह्माणि मान्यस्य कारोः । विद्याम वस्तोरवसा गृणन्तो विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥
इंद्र, सब तुम्हारी तारीफ करते हैं, आओ इधर। जो लोग सच में भक्ति करते हैं उनके मंतर सुनो। हम भी तुम्हारे साथ गाते रहें। तुम्हारी मदद से हम उजाली सुबह पाएँ। हम जीत लें और तुम जो देते हो वो भी मिल जाए, जल्दी से।
Inside Sukta 177
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct summons: Indra, leader and king of peoples, is called to come near, praised for strength and responsiveness.
- Development
The hymn situates the invitation in the Soma rite—sweetnesses poured, Soma pressed—and repeatedly visualizes Indra mounting the strong chariot and yoking the Haris.
- Climax
The decisive moment is Indra’s commanded arrival ‘arvāṅ’ to the singer’s brahmāṇi, with Soma ready—an immediacy of divine presence and aid.
- Where it settles
The worshippers end with clear goals: by Indra’s help may they win a shining dawn-state and attain effective impulse and victorious plenitude/overcoming.
The deity: Indra
- Cosmic functionHe releases and directs life-giving powers (victory, rain, vital force), breaks obstacles, and secures order and prosperity for clans through heroic might.
- Inner significanceIndra symbolizes the awakened will and courageous force that breaks inner resistance, energizes aspiration, and turns inspired speech (brahmāṇi) into effective realization.
Famous verses
puruhūta indraḥ
आ तिष्ठ रथं वृषणं वृषा ते सुतः सोमः परिषिक्ता मधूनि । युक्त्वा वृषभ्यां वृषभ क्षितीनां हरिभ्यां याहि प्रवतोप मद्रिक् ॥o suṣṭuta indra yāhy arvāṅ
Attributes of the deity
- Much-invoked (puruhūta)
- Bull-like strength (vṛṣabha)
- Chariot-rider with the Haris
- Soma-drinker and giver of boons
- Protector and victor over obstacles
- Bestower of fame (śravas) and effective help (avasa)
Also by this seer
- No additional secure attributions can be stated without a specific Anukramaṇī/Śākala tradition reference for RV 1.177 beyond this hymn.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the seat/space of worship and recite invitatory praise to Indra as king and bull of peoples.
- Press/offer Soma (or symbolically present Soma) and announce it as ‘sutaḥ somaḥ’ for Indra.
- Invoke Indra’s chariot arrival: request yoking of the two Haris and his approach ‘arvāṅ’.
- Recite the central praises, asking for help (avasa), fame (śravas), and victorious force.
- Conclude with petitions for dawn-like brightness/renewal and for winning iṣ (impulsion/food/means) and vṛjana (victorious company or overcoming of hostile bands).
Offerings
- Soma (primary)
- Ghee/oblations as customary accompaniments
- Praise-hymns (brahmāṇi) as the essential offering of speech
Frequently Asked Questions
It invites Indra to come quickly to the sacrifice, especially to drink the pressed Soma, and asks him to give help, fame, strength, and victory to the worshippers.
The chariot and the two tawny steeds (Haris) are a standard Vedic image for Indra’s swift arrival. The hymn uses it to make the invitation vivid and urgent: “come here now.”
It asks that, through Indra’s support, the singers may “win the dawn” (a bright, renewed state) and also gain iṣ (effective impulse/means of success) and vṛjana (victorious overcoming or winning against opposition).
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