Sukta 38
Sukta 10.38
Purūṣṭuta (traditional attribution for RV 10.38)
Triṣṭubh
This short Triṣṭubh hymn is a martial invocation to Indra to roar forth in the clash of battle, secure victory, and win the “cows/rays” amid flashing onsets. It asks Indra to neutralize any hostile—whether Dāsa or Ārya—who plots against the worshippers, and it ends by urging the mighty Bull to unbind himself and come swiftly to aid, away from competing ties.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
अस्मिन्न इन्द्र पृत्सुतौ यशस्वति शिमीवति क्रन्दसि प्राव सातये । यत्र गोषाता धृषितेषु खादिषु विष्वक्पतन्ति दिद्यवो नृषाह्ये ॥
हे इंद्र, इस जंग में तुम्हारी शक्ति चमके। तुम्हारी आवाज़ गूँजे, हम जीतें। जहाँ रोशनी की जीत हो, जहाँ हिम्मत वाले लड़ें, बिजली चमकती है, आग उगती है। वहाँ तुम हमारे लिए जीत लाओ।
Mantra 2
स नः क्षुमन्तं सदने व्यूर्णुहि गोअर्णसं रयिमिन्द्र श्रवाय्यम् । स्याम ते जयतः शक्र मेदिनो यथा वयमुश्मसि तद्वसो कृधि ॥
इंद्र, हमारे घर में वो खुला धन ला दे जो ताकत से भरा हो। वो धन इतना चमकदार हो कि सब सुनने लगें। तू जीतने वाला है, तू शक्तिशाली है। हमें भी अपनी जीत का हिस्सा बना। जैसे हम चाहते हैं, वैसा ही कर दे।
Mantra 3
यो नो दास आर्यो वा पुरुष्टुतादेव इन्द्र युधये चिकेतति । अस्माभिष्टे सुषहाः सन्तु शत्रवस्त्वया वयं तान्वनुयाम संगमे ॥
कोई भी हो, दुश्मन या अपना, जो हमारे खिलाफ लड़ने की सोचता है। इंद्र, तू उसकी बुरी हरकत को आसान से बर्दाश्त कर। और तेरी मदद से हम उससे जीत जाएंगे जब टकराएंगे।
Mantra 4
यो दभ्रेभिर्हव्यो यश्च भूरिभिर्यो अभीके वरिवोविन्नृषाह्ये । तं विखादे सस्निमद्य श्रुतं नरमर्वाञ्चमिन्द्रमवसे करामहे ॥
वो इंद्र जिसे छोटे से बड़े पूजा से बुलाया जाता है। वो पास ही रहता है और रास्ता जानता है जब लोग लड़ते हैं। आज भी उसकी बात सुनी जाती है। हम उसे अपने पास मदद के लिए बुला रहे हैं।
Mantra 5
स्ववृजं हि त्वामहमिन्द्र शुश्रवानानुदं वृषभ रध्रचोदनम् । प्र मुञ्चस्व परि कुत्सादिहा गहि किमु त्वावान्मुष्कयोर्बद्ध आसते ॥
मैंने सुना है इंद्र कि तू अपनी ताकत से रास्ता बना देता है। तू बिल्ली जैसा है, बुरा काम नहीं करता। तू अपने आप को आज़ाद कर। यहाँ आ जा, कुत्सा को छोड़ के। इतना बड़ा शक्तिशाली है, फिर भी कैसे बांधा है?
Inside Sukta 38
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct call to Indra to roar in the glorious clash and lead the worshippers to victory amid flying flashes (lightning) and bold onsets.
- Development
The hymn frames victory as both martial success and the winning of ‘cows/rays,’ then broadens protection: any enemy, Dāsa or Ārya, who plots conflict is to be overcome with Indra’s help.
- Climax
The decisive petition that with Indra the worshippers will win in the saṃgama, as hostility is made bearable and ultimately defeated.
- Where it settles
A final urgent summons: Indra, famed as self-opening and unyielding, should unbind himself from competing ties and come here at once to aid.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaHe is invoked as the roaring Bull in the press of combat, whose power makes the lightning fly and whose aid turns the tide in the saṃgama (encounter).
- Cosmic functionBreaker of cosmic and human obstructions; releaser of waters/light; protector of ṛta by defeating forces of chaos and hostility.
- Inner significanceThe awakened force of will and courageous intelligence that shatters inner bondage, overcomes fear and hostility, and ‘wins the rays’—clarity, energy, and right possession of one’s powers.
The seer
- PurūṣṭutaA late-Rigvedic (Maṇḍala 10) seer associated in the Anukramaṇī tradition with compact, battle-toned Indra praise that blends outer conflict with the Vedic motif of winning the ‘cows’ (rays, wealth, powers).
Famous verses
अस्मिन्न इन्द्र पृत्सुतौ यशस्वति शिमीवति क्रन्दसि प्राव सातये । यत्र गोषाता धृषितेषु खादिषु विष्वक्पतन्ति दिद्यवो नृषाह्ये ॥यो नो दास आर्यो वा पुरुष्टुतादेव इन्द्र युधये चिकेतति । अस्माभिष्टे सुषहाः सन्तु शत्रवस्त्वया वयं तान्वनुयाम संगमे ॥pra muñcasva
Attributes of the deity
- Vajrī (wielder of the thunderbolt)
- Nṛṣāhya (man-conquering, irresistible in struggle)
- Gopati/Goṣātā (winner and lord of the cows/rays)
- Vṛṣabha (the Bull, virile power)
- Obstacle-breaker and liberator
- Bestower of victory and wide space
Also by this seer
- Traditionally credited in the Sarvānukramaṇī with RV 10.38 (Indra hymn)
- Associated in later indexing traditions with brief Triṣṭubh stotras in Maṇḍala 10 (attributions vary by recension and should be verified per Anukramaṇī)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the āhavanīya fire and seat the sacrificer; establish intention for protection/victory.
- Recite RV 10.38 as an Indra-stuti, emphasizing the ‘roar’ and ‘victory’ petitions.
- Offer oblations with Indra’s name and epithets (Vajrī, Vṛṣabha, Nṛṣāhya) while praying for the defeat of hostile forces.
- Conclude with a request for Indra’s immediate approach and ‘unbinding’—removing obstacles and rival constraints.
- Seal with śānti/protection wishes and distribute remaining offerings (if in a soma-like setting, accompany with praise).
Offerings
- Ghṛta (ghee) oblations
- Puroḍāśa (rice cake) in Indra-oriented rites
- Soma (where applicable in soma-sacrifice settings)
- Optional: curds/milk as ‘cow’ symbolism for prosperity
Frequently Asked Questions
To lead the worshippers to victory in a fierce encounter, help them win prosperity and ‘rays’ (clarity/wealth), and crush hostile forces.
It emphasizes that any enemy—regardless of group or identity—who plots to fight the worshippers should be defeated with Indra’s support.
It can mean literal cattle and wealth, but also the Vedic symbol of rays of light—gains of strength, insight, and restored powers released by Indra.
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