Sukta 178
Sukta 1.178
Trishtubh (probable; requires metrical verification)
This short Indra hymn is a direct appeal to the god’s “ready hearing” (śruṣṭi): the poet asks Indra not to neglect the worshipper’s growing aspiration and to grant encompassing wealth and strength. Indra is praised as battle-victor and attentive hearer of the singer’s call, who advances the chariot for the generous patron and protects his devotees against proud enemies. The hymn’s purpose is practical and devotional—securing protection, victory, and enduring bounty through praise and offering.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
यद्ध स्या त इन्द्र श्रुष्टिरस्ति यया बभूथ जरितृभ्य ऊती । मा नः कामं महयन्तमा धग्विश्वा ते अश्यां पर्याप आयोः ॥
इंद्र, अगर तुम सच में सुनते हो जो लोग तुम्हे बुलाते हैं, तो हमारी इच्छा मत ठुकराओ। हम तुम्हारे पास आए हैं, हमारे मन की बात सुनो। तुम्हारी सारी दौलत मुझे मिल जाए, मैं उसे अपने पास रखूँ। तू है ही ऐसा शक्तिशाली।
Mantra 2
न घा राजेन्द्र आ दभन्नो या नु स्वसारा कृणवन्त योनौ । आपश्चिदस्मै सुतुका अवेषन्गमन्न इन्द्रः सख्या वयश्च ॥
राजा इंद्र कभी धोखा नहीं देता। जो शक्तियाँ हैं उनको एक जगह ला देता है। पानी भी उसके लिए खुश है। इंद्र हमारे पास आए, दोस्ती से और ताकत के साथ।
Mantra 3
जेता नृभिरिन्द्रः पृत्सु शूरः श्रोता हवं नाधमानस्य कारोः । प्रभर्ता रथं दाशुष उपाक उद्यन्ता गिरो यदि च त्मना भूत् ॥
इंद्र लड़ाई में जीता है, यह वीर है। जो लोग उसे पुकारते हैं उनकी आवाज़ सुनता है। जो कुछ देते हैं उनके लिए रथ लाता है, पास ही खड़ा है। जब लोग मंतर बोलते हैं, तब अपनी शक्ति से काम करता है।
Mantra 4
एवा नृभिरिन्द्रः सुश्रवस्या प्रखादः पृक्षो अभि मित्रिणो भूत् । समर्य इषः स्तवते विवाचि सत्राकरो यजमानस्य शंसः ॥
इंद्र इंसान की ताकत से आगे बढ़ता है। वो सुनने वाली बात तोड़ देता है और नाम चमका देता है। दोस्ती वाली ताकतें उसके पास आती हैं। जंग में ताकत का काम होता है और अलग-अलग बातें होती हैं। यज्ञ करने वाले की तारीफ सीधा काम करती है।
Mantra 5
त्वया वयं मघवन्निन्द्र शत्रूनभि ष्याम महतो मन्यमानान् । त्वं त्राता त्वमु नो वृधे भूर्विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥
इंद्र, तुम्हारे साथ हम दुश्मनों का सामना करेंगे। वो खुद को बड़ा समझते हैं पर हम उनसे ऊपर निकलेंगे। तुम हमारे रखवाले हो। तुम हमारे लिए बढ़ो। हम जीत लें और आगे बढ़ते रहें। जो देता है उसका देना चलता रहे।
Inside Sukta 178
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens by testing and invoking Indra’s famed responsiveness—his ‘ready hearing’ that makes him the helper of singers.
- Development
Praise turns to Indra’s concrete functions: hearing the caller, winning battles, and advancing the chariot for the generous patron as inspired speech rises.
- Climax
A bold petition for empowerment: with Indra, the worshippers will confront and pass beyond proud enemies who ‘think themselves great.’
- Where it settles
It closes with assurance and request—Indra as protector and increaser—seeking enduring bounty and successful advance (iṣa, vṛjana, lasting generosity).
The deity: Indra
- Cosmic functionHe upholds ṛta by breaking hostile powers, releasing and distributing life-sustaining abundance, and granting victory and safe passage to those aligned with sacrifice and truth.
- Inner significanceIndra represents awakened will-power and courageous clarity that overcomes inner ‘enemies’—fear, inertia, pride, and obstruction—so aspiration (kāma as sacred desire) can mature into strength and attainment.
The seer
- Agastya (traditional attribution)Āgastya (Agastya’s family line; often connected with the Maitrāvaruṇa/Agastya tradition in later Vedic memory) · A major Vedic seer remembered for bringing Vedic speech and ritual to the South, for hymns of intense personal address, and for reconciling cosmic powers through tapas and mantra.
Famous verses
śruṣṭir asti (ready hearing) / mā naḥ kāmam… ā dhak (do not set aside our desire)
jetā nṛbhir indraḥ pṛtsu (Indra the victor in battles)
tvaṃ trātā (you are the protector)
Attributes of the deity
- Victor in battles (jetā pṛtsu)
- Attentive hearer of invocation (śrotā havam)
- Bountiful giver (maghavan)
- Protector and increaser (trātā, vṛdhe)
- Chariot-advancer for the patron (prabhartā ratham)
Also by this seer
- Many hymns of Rig Veda Mandala 1 traditionally linked with Agastya (including several Indra and Soma praises in the Agastya cycle)
- Later Vedic-Itihasa remembrance: Agastya as a paradigmatic rishi of tapas, ritual mastery, and transmission of mantra (traditional, cross-textual)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the āhavanīya fire and seat the officiants; establish intention for victory/protection and increase.
- Recite the hymn as an Indra-stuti, emphasizing Indra’s śruṣṭi (ready hearing) and his role as śrotā (hearer of the call).
- Make the principal oblation while voicing the request: do not set aside our growing desire; grant encompassing riches and strength.
- Reaffirm Indra as battle-victor; dedicate merit to overcoming hostile forces (outer rivals and inner obstructions).
- Conclude with a protective benediction: Indra as trātā, asked to be ‘for our increase’ and to secure enduring bounty.
Offerings
- Soma (where applicable)
- Ghee (ājya) oblations
- Grain-cakes or simple havis according to rite
- Praise (stuti) as the primary ‘offering’ in the hymn’s own frame
Frequently Asked Questions
The poet asks Indra to listen quickly, not to disregard the worshipper’s growing aspiration, and to grant protection, victory over enemies, and wide, lasting prosperity.
Because Indra is portrayed as responding to sincere invocation—he hears the singer’s cry in need and turns that praise into practical help such as strength, victory, and support.
It can be recited as a focused prayer before difficult tasks or conflicts, asking for courage, clarity, and protection—symbolically ‘overcoming proud enemies’ both outside and within.
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