Sukta 40
Sukta 3.40
Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional attribution for RV 3)
Indra
Gāyatrī
This hymn calls Indra, the bull of strength, to the freshly pressed Soma and asks him to drink, protect, and increase the sweet essence (madhu/andhas) that empowers the sacrificer. It repeatedly urges Indra to come from the far and the near, to enter the “middle space” and make it a channel for victory, light, and nourishing force.
Mantras
Mantra 1
इन्द्र त्वा वृषभं वयं सुते सोमे हवामहे । स पाहि मध्वो अन्धसः ॥
इंद्र, हम तुम्हे बुलाते हैं। तुम बैल की तरह बलवान हो। यह सोमा रस पीस के निकला है, इसको पियो। हमे मीठा रस दो, हमारे अंदर शक्ति बना के रखो।
Mantra 2
इन्द्र क्रतुविदं सुतं सोमं हर्य पुरुष्टुत । पिबा वृषस्व तातृपिम् ॥
इंद्र, तुम जानते हो क्या सही है और कैसे करना है। यह सोमा ले लो, पियो। बहुत लोग तुम्हारी तारीफ करते हैं। तुम्हारी शक्ति बढ़ो, दिल खुश हो जाए, पूरा सैटिस्फैक्शन मिले।
Mantra 3
इन्द्र प्र णो धितावानं यज्ञं विश्वेभिर्देवेभिः । तिर स्तवान विश्पते ॥
इन्द्र को पुकारो और कहना कि हमारी पूजा को आगे ले चलो। सारे देवी-देवता उसके साथ हों। रास्ते में जो रुकावटें आएँ, उनको पार करके ले जाओ। इन्द्र सबका मालिक है, वोही इस काम को पूरा करेगा।
Mantra 4
इन्द्र सोमाः सुता इमे तव प्र यन्ति सत्पते । क्षयं चन्द्रास इन्दवः ॥
इन्द्र, यह सोम रस तेरे लिए निकाला है। यह सब तेरे पास आ रहे हैं। यह चमकदार बूंदें तेरे घर की तरफ जा रही हैं। जैसे चाँदनी रात में रोशनी होती है, वैसे ही यह रस तुझे खुशी देंगे।
Mantra 5
दधिष्वा जठरे सुतं सोममिन्द्र वरेण्यम् । तव द्युक्षास इन्दवः ॥
इन्द्र, यह सोम रस को अपने पेट में रख ले। यह बहुत अच्छा रस है, इसको चूस करके पी ले। यह बूंदें रोशनी देती हैं और तुझे ताकत देती हैं। इससे तेरा दिमाग और तेज़ चलेगा।
Mantra 6
गिर्वणः पाहि नः सुतं मधोर्धाराभिरज्यसे । इन्द्र त्वादातमिद्यशः ॥
इन्द्र, हमारी बातें सुनता है ना, तू इस सोम रस की हिफाज़त कर। तेरे ऊपर मीठा रस बहा रहे हैं, जैसे तेल मालिश करते हैं। तू ही बधाई देता है, तू ही नाम कमाता है। यह सब तेरी देन है।
Mantra 7
अभि द्युम्नानि वनिन इन्द्रं सचन्ते अक्षिता । पीत्वी सोमस्य वावृधे ॥
इन्द्र के आस-पास सारी ताकतें इकट्ठी हो रही हैं। यह कभी खत्म नहीं होती। सोम रस पी के इन्द्र और बड़ा हो गया। अब वो और ज़्यादा चमक रहा है, और ज़्यादा ताकतवाला बन गया है।
Mantra 8
अर्वावतो न आ गहि परावतश्च वृत्रहन् । इमा जुषस्व नो गिरः ॥
इंद्र, पास से भी आ, दूर से भी आ। तू वोह है जो रास्ते के बंधन तोड़ता है। हमारी यह बातें सुन ले। तू आके अंधेरा हटा दे।
Mantra 9
यदन्तरा परावतमर्वावतं च हूयसे । इन्द्रेह तत आ गहि ॥
जब हम तुम्हे पुकारते हैं, तुम बीच में से सुनते हो। दूर भी हो, पास भी हो, तब भी आ जाओ। इंद्र, यहाँ आ। हमारे बीच आ के रोशनी ला।
Inside Sukta 40
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Indra is invoked as the bull of power at the pressed Soma; the worshippers ask him to guard and foster the sweet vital essence.
- Development
The hymn intensifies the invitation: Soma is presented as choice-worthy; Indra is urged to drink and convert the shining drops into energizing, luminous power.
- Climax
The call reaches its peak in the summons from the ‘far and near’—Indra is asked to come through the in-between region and enter the central field of the rite (and of the self).
- Where it settles
The hymn settles into assurance through continued invitation and offering: Indra’s arrival and Soma-drinking are expected to yield protection, strength, and victorious increase.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is hailed as vṛṣabha (bull), the mighty drinker of Soma, wielder of the vajra, helper of the singer, and victorious breaker of obstacles who brings wealth, strength, and illumination.
- Cosmic functionHe releases and directs life-power—winning the “cattle” of light and abundance, breaking confinements, and establishing victorious order for the sacrificer and the clan.
- Inner significanceIndra represents the awakened will and heroic intelligence that drinks the delight of practice (Soma), converts it into power, and opens the inner passages so clarity and courage can prevail.
The seer
- Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthin / Kauśika (Viśvāmitra line) · A royal-turned-seer famed for forging powerful Indra hymns and for the vision of the Gāyatrī mantra; emblematic of tapas, transformation, and mantra-śakti.
Famous verses
indra tvā vṛṣabhaṃ vayam
दधिष्वा जठरे सुतं सोममिन्द्र वरेण्यम् । तव द्युक्षास इन्दवः ॥indreha tata ā gahi
Attributes of the deity
- Vṛṣabha (bull-like strength)
- Soma-priya (delights in Soma)
- Vajra-bearer (force that breaks obstacles)
- Vṛtra-slayer (victory over constriction)
- Giver of rayi (wealth/abundance)
- Swift responder to invocation (ā gahi)
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (many sūktas attributed to Viśvāmitra and his line)
- The celebrated Gāyatrī mantra (RV 3.62.10) in traditional attribution
- Indra-Agni and related hymns in Maṇḍala 3 associated with the Viśvāmitra family tradition
The rite, step by step
- Soma is pressed (suta) and filtered; the sweet essence (andhas/madhu) is prepared.
- Hotṛ recites Gāyatrī praises inviting Indra as vṛṣabha to the offering.
- Indra is urged to come “from far and near” and take his seat at the rite.
- Soma is offered; the hymn asks Indra to drink and to ‘place it in the belly’—assimilate the offering as power.
- Blessings are requested: protection of the sweet essence, strengthening of the worshipper, and victorious passage for light and force.
Offerings
- Pressed Soma (soma, andhas, madhu)
- Associated oblations customary to Soma rites (e.g., ghee/clarified butter, as contextually paired though Soma is primary)
Frequently Asked Questions
It invites Indra to the freshly pressed Soma and asks him to drink it, protect the hymn’s “sweet essence,” and grant strength, victory, and thriving power to the worshippers.
“Bull” is a Vedic image for overflowing strength, virility, and victorious force—Indra is praised as the one whose power can break obstacles and increase abundance.
It is a poetic way of summoning Indra from every direction and distance, urging him to cross the in-between space and arrive effectively “here”—at the rite and within the worshipper’s inner field.
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