Sukta 116
Sukta 10.116
Indra (with Soma as offering-power)
This hymn is an urgent invocation to Indra to drink Soma and rise into his fullest victorious power, so he may shatter obstructing forces (Vṛtra-like resistance) and protect the worshippers’ prosperity. It blends martial imagery—cutting down hostile, sorcerous powers—with a ritual-poetic act: the seer’s speech is launched like a boat, carrying praise to the gods for wealth, opening, and safe passage.
Mantras
Mantra 1
पिबा सोमं महत इन्द्रियाय पिबा वृत्राय हन्तवे शविष्ठ । पिब राये शवसे हूयमानः पिब मध्वस्तृपदिन्द्रा वृषस्व ॥
इंद्र, सोम रस पियो, बहुत बड़ी ताकत के लिए। पियो ताकि वृत्र को मार सको, तुम तो सबसे तेज़ हो। जब बुलाया जाए तब ताकत के लिए पियो। शहद जैसा मीठा रस पियो, खुश हो जाओ और अपनी ताकत और बढ़ाओ।
Mantra 2
अस्य पिब क्षुमतः प्रस्थितस्येन्द्र सोमस्य वरमा सुतस्य । स्वस्तिदा मनसा मादयस्वार्वाचीनो रेवते सौभगाय ॥
इंद्र, इस सोम रस को पियो, यह बहुत रस वाला है और तैयार है। सबसे अच्छा हिस्सा पियो जो निचोड़ा गया है। तुम अच्छा देते हो, अपने मन से खुश हो जाओ। हमारी तरफ मुड़ के देखो, चमक और अच्छी किस्मत के लिए।
Mantra 3
ममत्तु त्वा दिव्यः सोम इन्द्र ममत्तु यः सूयते पार्थिवेषु । ममत्तु येन वरिवश्चकर्थ ममत्तु येन निरिणासि शत्रून् ॥
इंद्र, आसमान वाला सोम रस तुम्हे नशा दे। जो सोम रस ज़मीन पे निचोड़ा जाता है वो भी तुम्हे नशा दे। जिस रस से तुमने हमारे लिए जगह बनाई वो तुम्हे नशा दे। जिस रस से तुमने दुश्मन को भगाया वो भी तुम्हे नशा दे।
Mantra 4
आ द्विबर्हा अमिनो यात्विन्द्रो वृषा हरिभ्यां परिषिक्तमन्धः । गव्या सुतस्य प्रभृतस्य मध्वः सत्रा खेदामरुशहा वृषस्व ॥
इन्द्र को बुला रहे हैं, वो दो गुना बड़े हैं, जैसे बैल स्ट्रॉन्ग होता है। उसके दो पीले घोड़े हैं। सोम का पानी सब तरफ बहा दिया है, वो मीठा है गाय के दूध जैसा। हे इन्द्र, तू ताकत पकड़। बुरी ताकत को मार, और थकावट दूर कर।
Mantra 5
नि तिग्मानि भ्राशयन्भ्राश्यान्यव स्थिरा तनुहि यातुजूनाम् । उग्राय ते सहो बलं ददामि प्रतीत्या शत्रून्विगदेषु वृश्च ॥
तेज़ हथियार तोड़ के फेंक दे। जादू करने वाले लोगों की ताकत को ज़मीन पे गिरा दे। मैं तुझे ताकत और बल देता हूँ, क्योंकि तू बहुत स्ट्रॉन्ग है। आगे बढ़ के दुश्मनों को उनके फंदे में ही काट दे।
Mantra 7
इदं हविर्मघवन्तुभ्यं रातं प्रति सम्राळहृणानो गृभाय । तुभ्यं सुतो मघवन्तुभ्यं पक्वोऽद्धीन्द्र पिब च प्रस्थितस्य ॥
यह भोग तेरे लिए है, इन्द्र। राजा बन के इसे ले ले, हाथ में पकड़ ले। सोम का पानी तेरे लिए निचोड़ा है, पकाया है। इन्द्र, इसे खा और पी भी, यह सब तेरे लिए रेडी है।
Mantra 8
अद्धीदिन्द्र प्रस्थितेमा हवींषि चनो दधिष्व पचतोत सोमम् । प्रयस्वन्तः प्रति हर्यामसि त्वा सत्याः सन्तु यजमानस्य कामाः ॥
इन्द्र, यह सब चीज़ें तेरे लिए रखी हैं, खा ले। सोम भी पक रहा है, वो भी ले ले। हम दिल से तुझे बुला रहे हैं। जो यज्ञ कर रहा है, उसकी इच्छा पूरी हो जाए।
Mantra 9
प्रेन्द्राग्निभ्यां सुवचस्यामियर्मि सिन्धाविव प्रेरयं नावमर्कैः । अया इव परि चरन्ति देवा ये अस्मभ्यं धनदा उद्भिदश्च ॥
मैं इन्द्र और अग्नि के लिए अपनी बात साफ-साफ बोल रहा हूँ। जैसे नाव नदी में चलती है, वैसे ही मेरे शब्द चल रहे हैं। देवता हमारे आस-पास हैं, वो धन देते हैं और बंद दरवाज़े खोलते हैं।
Inside Sukta 116
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct summons to Indra: drink Soma for great indriya (power), for Vṛtra’s defeat, and for the worshippers’ prosperity.
- Development
The hymn intensifies into a battle-prayer: hostile forces, sorcerous attackers, and entangling ‘knots’ are named and targeted; Indra is armed through praise and offering.
- Climax
Indra’s destructive-creative act peaks in the image of cutting down enemy powers and breaking firm-set strengths—obstruction is not merely resisted but dismantled at its joints.
- Where it settles
The seer’s speech is set in motion like a boat on a river, concluding with an appeal to Indra-Agni and to wealth-giving, ‘opening’ gods who clear the way and secure abundance.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is praised as the vehement, bull-like hero who drinks Soma, expands in might, and breaks the powers of obstruction; he is called upon to destroy enemies and unravel hostile knots and entanglements.
- Cosmic functionHe releases blocked energies—waters, light, and fortune—by breaking the ‘encloser’ principle (Vṛtra), restoring movement, order, and victory for the righteous allies of ṛta.
- Inner significanceIndra represents awakened will-force and courageous clarity strengthened by Soma (ecstatic inspiration/energizing offering), cutting through inner inertia, fear, and deceptive impulses that bind the mind.
Famous verses
pibā somam… vṛtrāya hantave
नि तिग्मानि भ्राशयन्भ्राश्यान्यव स्थिरा तनुहि यातुजूनाम् । उग्राय ते सहो बलं ददामि प्रतीत्या शत्रून्विगदेषु वृश्च ॥sindhāv iva… nāvam arkaiḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Soma-drinker (somapā) who grows in strength through offering
- Vṛtra-slayer and remover of obstruction
- Ugra (fierce, formidable) protector in conflict
- Breaker of bonds/knots; disruptor of sorcery and hostile intent
- Bestower of rāyī (plenitude/wealth) and bala (strength)
- Allied with Agni as a dual power of ignition and victory
Also by this seer
- Ascription uncertain; no dependable set of additional hymns can be attributed to this rishi on internal evidence alone.
- The diction and themes align broadly with Maṇḍala 10 Indra and Indra-Agni praise-hymns used in Soma-pressing contexts.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish protective boundaries (rakṣā) through recitation.
- Press Soma and filter it; consecrate the offering with Indra-directed stotra.
- Recite the hymn with strong imperatives (pibā…) at the moment of offering, inviting Indra to ‘drink’ and increase in might.
- Offer Soma into the ritual sequence (libation/oblation as prescribed by the rite), asking for Vṛtra-slaying power and the cutting of hostile bonds.
- Conclude with a stabilizing praise that aligns speech and rite—‘launching’ the hymn like a boat—invoking Indra-Agni for wealth and ‘opening’ (udbhid) of closed places.
Offerings
- Soma (primary)
- Ghee/clarified butter (supporting oblation)
- Fire offerings through Agni (as carrier)
- Optional protective offerings in anti-hostile contexts (per śrauta/gr̥hya adaptation)
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Indra to drink Soma, grow in power, destroy obstructing forces like Vṛtra, and protect the worshippers by granting strength and prosperity.
Soma is treated as the offering that energizes and enlarges Indra’s might; by ‘drinking’ it, Indra becomes able to break obstacles and secure victory and wealth.
It is a vivid way to say that hostile powers—outer enemies or inner confusions—bind and trap us; Indra is invoked to sever those bindings at their points of connection so the obstruction collapses.
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