Sukta 5
Sukta 1.5
Madhucchandas Vaiśvāmitra (traditional attribution for RV 1.1-1.11; RV 1.5 commonly within this attribution)
Gāyatrī (3 pādas of 8 syllables typical for this Indra hymn section)
RV 1.5 is an invitation to Indra to come, take his seat in the sacrifice, and drink the freshly pressed Soma while the companions raise the stoma (hymn of praise). It celebrates Indra’s immediate, full-grown might—born for Soma and for supremacy—and ends with a protective prayer that hostile mortal forces not harm the worshippers, while Indra drives away the blow of destruction.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
आ त्वेता नि षीदतेन्द्रमभि प्र गायत । सखायः स्तोमवाहसः ॥
आओ, यहाँ बैठो। इंद्र के लिए गाना शुरू करो। तुम लोग जो यह भजन गाते हो, उसकी ताकत लाओ। इंद्र हमारे पास आके बैठ जाएँ।
Mantra 2
पुरूतमं पुरूणामीशानं वार्याणाम् । इन्द्रं सोमे सचा सुते ॥
इंद्र सबसे बड़ा है, बहुत लोगों में भी। वो सब अच्छी चीज़ों का मालिक है। हम उसे बुला रहे हैं जब सोम का पानी निकल रहा है। वो हमारे साथ हो।
Mantra 3
स घा नो योग आ भुवत्स राये स पुरंध्याम् । गमद्वाजेभिरा स नः ॥
वो हमारे लिए ताकत बन जाए, जैसे गाड़ी में बैल जुड़ें। वो हमारे लिए धन दे और समझ दे। वो ताकत लेकर हमारे पास आए।
Mantra 4
यस्य संस्थे न वृण्वते हरी समत्सु शत्रवः । तस्मा इन्द्राय गायत ॥
उस इंद्र के लिए गाओ जिसके पास दो घोड़े हैं। दुश्मन लोग लड़ाई में भी उन घोड़ों को पकड़ नहीं पाते। वो घोड़े रुकते नहीं हैं।
Mantra 5
सुतपाव्ने सुता इमे शुचयो यन्ति वीतये । सोमासो दध्याशिरः ॥
हे सोम, तुम जो पानी साफ करते हो, यह सोम पानी तुम्हारे लिए है। यह चमकता हुआ आगे बढ़ रहा है। दही मिला हुआ सोम पानी है, ऊपर वाले के लिए।
Mantra 6
त्वं सुतस्य पीतये सद्यो वृद्धो अजायथाः । इन्द्र ज्यैष्ठ्याय सुक्रतो ॥
इन्द्र, तुम सोम पीने के लिए पैदा हुए थे। तुम एकदम से बड़े और ताकतवर बन गए। तुम्हारा काम सबसे ऊपर जाना है, सबसे बड़ा होना है। तुम्हारा मन चमकदार है।
Mantra 7
आ त्वा विशन्त्वाशवः सोमास इन्द्र गिर्वणः । शं ते सन्तु प्रचेतसे ॥
इन्द्र, तेज़ सोम की ताकत तुम में घुस जाए। तुम भजन सुनते हो, तुम उनका जवाब देते हो। यह ताकत तुम्हे शांति दे और तुम्हारा दिमाग साफ रखे।
Mantra 8
त्वां स्तोमा अवीवृधन्त्वामुक्था शतक्रतो । त्वां वर्धन्तु नो गिरः ॥
इन्द्र, तुम्हारा काम करनी में सौ तरह की ताकत है। हमारे भजन तुम्हे बड़ा रहे हैं। हमारे बोल तुम्हे और मज़बूत बना रहे हैं। हमारी बातें तुम्हे और ऊपर ले जा रही हैं।
Mantra 9
अक्षितोतिः सनेदिमं वाजमिन्द्रः सहस्रिणम् । यस्मिन्विश्वानि पौंस्या ॥
इन्द्र की ताकत कभी खत्म नहीं होती। वो हमें ताकत दे, जिस में हज़ार तरह की एनर्जी हो। उस में मर्दाना ताकत का पूरा खज़ाना है।
Mantra 10
मा नो मर्ता अभि द्रुहन्तनूनामिन्द्र गिर्वणः । ईशानो यवया वधम् ॥
मरते हुए इंसान की इच्छा हमारे ऊपर भारी न पड़ जाए। इन्द्र, तुम भजन सुनते हो, तुम्हारा राज है। तुम विनाश के मारे को दूर भाग जाने दो।
Inside Sukta 5
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct call: companions are urged to sing forth to Indra and seat him in the rite (invitation and enthronement).
- Development
Indra is praised as the one who comes for Soma and is ‘born full-grown’—his power is immediate, luminous, and oriented toward highest mastery.
- Climax
The hymn’s central affirmation: Indra’s sovereignty and readiness for Soma are inseparable from his supreme strength and leadership (jyaiṣṭhya).
- Where it settles
A closing safeguard: the worshippers ask that hostile mortal impulses not harm their embodied life, and that Indra, as lord of hymns, repel destruction.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaHe is praised as masterful, swift to aid, and responsive to well-formed stoma and pressing of Soma.
- Cosmic functionHe upholds ṛta by overcoming obstructive forces, releasing vitality and prosperity, and ensuring victory, rain, and well-being through his sovereign might.
- Inner significanceIndra represents awakened force of will and courage—an inner sovereignty that is ‘born full-grown’ when the right energy (Soma/joy/ardor) is pressed and offered through disciplined speech and intention.
The seer
- Madhucchandas VaiśvāmitraVaiśvāmitra (Viśvāmitra-gotra) · Traditionally regarded as the seer of the opening hymns of the Rig Veda (RV 1.1–1.11), shaping the early Vedic idiom of invitation (āvāhana), praise (stuti), and boon-seeking (āśis), especially in Indra-centered Gāyatrī hymns.
Famous verses
ni ṣīdata indram
sadyo vṛddho ajāyathāḥ
īśāno yavayā vadham
Attributes of the deity
- Soma-drinker (somapā)
- Gīrvāṇaḥ (lover of hymns)
- Īśāna (sovereign/master)
- Vṛtra-slayer archetype (obstacle-breaker)
- Protector of the sacrificer and community
- Bestower of strength, victory, and abundance
Also by this seer
- RV 1.1–1.11 (traditional attribution, including early Agni and Indra hymns)
- Foundational exemplars of Gāyatrī-style praise and Soma-invocation poetry in early Mandala 1
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the ritual space and seat (āsana) for the deity; establish intention and purity.
- Press Soma (or symbolically prepare the Soma offering) and ready the libation for Indra.
- Invite Indra to ‘sit down here’ (ni ṣīdata) through Gāyatrī stomas sung by the companions (sakhāyaḥ).
- Offer the Soma to Indra for drinking (pītaye), accompanied by praise of his immediate, full-grown power.
- Conclude with a protective petition: may hostile mortal forces not injure our bodies; may Indra drive away the blow (vadha).
Offerings
- Soma libation (pressed Soma)
- Stoma/chant (hymns of praise)
- Optional ancillary offerings: ghee in the fire, water for purification
Frequently Asked Questions
It invites Indra to come and sit in the sacrifice, praises his power, offers him Soma to drink, and asks him to protect the worshippers from harm.
In Vedic ritual Soma is the energizing offering; the hymn says Indra is born for Soma-drinking and becomes fully manifest in strength through it, so Soma and Indra’s power are linked.
It asks that hostile mortal forces not injure our embodied life, and that Indra, as sovereign and lover of hymns, drive far away the blow of destruction.
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