Sukta 37
Sukta 3.37
Viśvāmitra Gāthina (opening of RV 3.37 traditionally attributed to Viśvāmitra).
Indra.
Gāyatrī (short 3-pāda structure suggests a compact meter; many such invocatory openings are in Gāyatrī).
RV 3.37 is a compact, forceful invocation to Indra as Vṛtra-slayer and battle-winner, urging him to turn toward the worshippers and empower their victories. The hymn repeatedly calls Indra from near and far, asking him to arrive swiftly, accept the offering, and break the obstructing powers that withhold light, waters, and progress.
Mantras
Mantra 1
वार्त्रहत्याय शवसे पृतनाषाह्याय च । इन्द्र त्वा वर्तयामसि ॥
इन्द्र, हम तुझे इस काम के लिए रेडी करते हैं। तू दुश्मन को मारे, तू ताकत दिखाए। तू लड़ाई में जीते, इसलिए हम तुझे पुकारते हैं।
Mantra 2
अर्वाचीनं सु ते मन उत चक्षुः शतक्रतो । इन्द्र कृण्वन्तु वाघतः ॥
इन्द्र, तेरे पास सौ तरह की शक्ति है। जो लोग तुझे भगवान मानके पुकारते हैं, उनकी बात सुन। उनकी तरफ देख, उनका काम कर। तेरा मन हमारे काम के लिए रेडी हो, तेरी नज़र हमारे ऊपर हो।
Mantra 3
नामानि ते शतक्रतो विश्वाभिर्गीर्भिरीमहे । इन्द्राभिमातिषाह्ये ॥
हे इंद्र, तुम्हारा बहुत बड़ा नाम है। हम सब गाना गाके तुम्हे पुकारते हैं। तुम्हारा हर रूप हम बुलाते हैं। आओ और दुश्मनों को हराओ जो हमें परेशान करते हैं।
Mantra 4
पुरुष्टुतस्य धामभिः शतेन महयामसि । इन्द्रस्य चर्षणीधृतः ॥
इंद्र, सब लोग तुम्हारी तारीफ करते हैं। हम सौ तरीके से तुम्हारी बड़ाई करते हैं। तुम लोगों का साथ देते हो। तुम हमारे काम में मदद करते हो।
Mantra 5
इन्द्रं वृत्राय हन्तवे पुरुहूतमुप ब्रुवे । भरेषु वाजसातये ॥
मैं इंद्र को बुलाता हूँ। बहुत लोग उसने मदद की है। वो वृत्र नाम के दुश्मन को मारेगा। यह ज़िन्दगी की लड़ाई में हमें जीता देगा।
Mantra 6
वाजेषु सासहिर्भव त्वामीमहे शतक्रतो । इन्द्र वृत्राय हन्तवे ॥
इंद्र, जब हम कुछ जीतना चाहें, तुम हमारे साथ हो। हम तुम्हे ढूंढते हैं। तुम वृत्र को हराओ। वो हमारी रोशनी और चलना बंद कर देता है।
Mantra 7
द्युम्नेषु पृतनाज्ये पृत्सुतूर्षु श्रवस्सु च । इन्द्र साक्ष्वाभिमातिषु ॥
जब हम कुछ अच्छा करें, जब लड़ाई हो, जब मुश्किल आए, और जब नाम बने, इंद्र तुम वहाँ रहो। दुश्मन जो हमारे पीछे पड़े हैं, उनको हराओ।
Mantra 8
शुष्मिन्तमं न ऊतये द्युम्निनं पाहि जागृविम् । इन्द्र सोमं शतक्रतो ॥
इंद्र, तुम जो सौ शक्तियों के मालिक हो, सोम की हिफाजत करो। यह सोम बहुत ताकतवाला है, चमकदार है, जागृत है। इसकी मदद से हमें सही रास्ता मिलता है। इसलिए इसे बचा के रखना।
Mantra 9
इन्द्रियाणि शतक्रतो या ते जनेषु पञ्चसु । इन्द्र तानि त आ वृणे ॥
इंद्र, तुम्हारी पाँच तरह की शक्तियाँ हैं जो लोगों में काम करती हैं। मैं उन शक्तियों को चुनता हूँ। मैं उन्हें अपनी तरफ खींचता हूँ ताकि मेरी आत्मा बढ़े।
Mantra 10
अगन्निन्द्र श्रवो बृहद्द्युम्नं दधिष्व दुष्टरम् । उत्ते शुष्मं तिरामसि ॥
इंद्र, आ जाओ। अपने अंदर बड़ी बड़ाई और चमकदार ताकत बनाओ जो कोई तोड़ न सके। हम तुम्हारी शक्ति से ऊपर उठेंगे। इससे मुश्किल रास्ता आसान हो जाएगा।
Mantra 11
अर्वावतो न आ गह्यथो शक्र परावतः । उ लोको यस्ते अद्रिव इन्द्रेह तत आ गहि ॥
इंद्र, पास से भी आ जाओ, दूर से भी आ जाओ। तुम्हारी अपनी दुनिया है, वहाँ से भी यहाँ आ जाओ। तुम वज्र वाले हो, बहुत शक्तिशाली हो। यहाँ हमारे पास आ जाओ।
Inside Sukta 37
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct mobilization of Indra: invoked for Vṛtra-slaying, strength, and battle-victory—‘we turn/set you in motion toward us.’
- Development
The hymn intensifies the request, portraying Indra as the overcomer in vājas and repeatedly framing the central problem as obstruction to light, movement, and success.
- Climax
Indra is explicitly sought as the one who will strike Vṛtra—heroic, many-powered, and decisive in the critical moment of contest.
- Where it settles
A sweeping final summons calls Indra from near or far, from any realm that is his, to come ‘here from there’—bringing the divine power fully into the ritual field.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is hailed as Śakra (the mighty), Śatakratu (of a hundred powers/acts), wielder of the thunderstone (adri-vat), and the heroic breaker of Vṛtra who releases the blocked currents of life. He is the foremost champion of the Arya community in conflict and the swift recipient of soma and praise.
- Cosmic functionHe shatters obstruction, releases waters/light, restores movement, and secures victory and abundance—turning chaos into ordered flow and enabling the world’s dynamism.
- Inner significanceIndra represents awakened will, courage, and decisive intelligence that breaks inner inertia (vṛtra) and reopens the streams of clarity, energy, and forward motion in the seeker.
The seer
- Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthin (Viśvāmitra lineage; traditionally connected with the Kuśika line) · A paradigmatic ṛṣi who embodies tapas and transformation, celebrated for powerful Indra hymns and for establishing expansive, world-ordering prayer-forms in the Rig Veda tradition.
Famous verses
indra tvā vartayāmasi
वाजेषु सासहिर्भव त्वामीमहे शतक्रतो । इन्द्र वृत्राय हन्तवे ॥arvāvato na ā gahi
Attributes of the deity
- Vṛtrahan (slayer of the Coverer/obstructor)
- Śakra (mighty, capable)
- Śatakratu (many-powered, many-devised)
- Swift to come when invoked
- Battle-winner and protector of the pressing (soma) and the sacrificer
- Wielder of vajra/adri (thunderstone)
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (many hymns attributed to Viśvāmitra and his line)
- Indra-focused sūktas emphasizing Vṛtra-han (slayer of obstruction) and victory in contest (pṛtanā-saha)
- Foundational Vedic prayer motifs later echoed in famous mantras associated with Viśvāmitra (e.g., the solar prayer tradition)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/fire (Agni) and establish a focused intention: victory over obstruction (vṛtra) and attainment of strength (śavas).
- Invite Indra with stotra/śastra-style recitation, explicitly ‘turning’ him toward the rite (ā-vartana/āhvāna sense).
- Offer soma (or its ritual substitute) and ghee while reciting key verses that name Indra as Vṛtrahan and Śatakratu.
- Reinforce the request: Indra as sāsahi (overcomer) in vājas (contests/energetic gains), to strike down the obstructing force.
- Conclude with the broad summons: call Indra from near and far ‘from whatever world is his’ to be present here and now, sealing the protection and victory.
Offerings
- Soma libation (primary, where applicable)
- Ghee/ājya into Agni
- Optional: oblations with milk/curds in Indra context (regional śrauta variations)
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Indra to come to the worshippers, destroy the obstructing force called Vṛtra, and grant strength and victory in conflict and effort.
Vṛtra symbolizes blockage—of waters, light, and progress. Indra as Vṛtrahan is the power that breaks the blockage and restores flow and success.
It is a poetic way of saying: wherever Indra’s power is present in the cosmos, the mantra invites that power to become present here in the ritual and in the seeker’s life.
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