Sukta 46
Sukta 3.46
Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional, Mandala 3)
Indra
Triṣṭubh (very likely)
This short Indra-hymn magnifies the thunderbolt-bearing Lord as a self-sovereign, ever-youthful yet unaging Bull whose heroic deeds are vast and widely renowned. It portrays Indra as overflowing all measures—surpassing heaven, earth, and midspace—while the rite culminates in Soma prepared and offered so he may drink and empower protection and victory.
Mantras
Mantra 1
युध्मस्य ते वृषभस्य स्वराज उग्रस्य यूनः स्थविरस्य घृष्वेः । अजूर्यतो वज्रिणो वीर्याणीन्द्र श्रुतस्य महतो महानि ॥
इंद्र, यह तेरी बहादुरी की ताकत है। तू जैसे एक बलवान बैल है, खुद का राजा। तू तेज़ है, जवान है, पक्का है। तू कभी थोड़ा नहीं। तेरे हाथ में वज्र है। तेरे बड़े काम हैं, तेरे बड़े नाम हैं।
Mantra 2
महाँ असि महिष वृष्ण्येभिर्धनस्पृदुग्र सहमानो अन्यान् । एको विश्वस्य भुवनस्य राजा स योधया च क्षयया च जनान् ॥
इंद्र, तू बहुत बड़ा है। तेरी ताकत है, धन है। तू दूसरों को हराता है। तू अकेला पूरी दुनिया का राजा है। तू लोगों को लड़ने भेज सकता है और उन्हें ठीक जगह बिठा सकता है।
Mantra 3
प्र मात्राभी रिरिचे रोचमानः प्र देवेभिर्विश्वतो अप्रतीतः । प्र मज्मना दिव इन्द्रः पृथिव्याः प्रोरोर्महो अन्तरिक्षादृजीषी ॥
इंद्र की ताकत बहुत फैली है, चमक रही है। वो देवताओं से भी आगे निकल गया है, कोई उससे नहीं रोक सकता। वो आसमान और धरती से भी बड़ा हो गया। वो पूरी दुनिया में फैल गया है।
Mantra 4
उरुं गभीरं जनुषाभ्युग्रं विश्वव्यचसमवतं मतीनाम् । इन्द्रं सोमासः प्रदिवि सुतासः समुद्रं न स्रवत आ विशन्ति ॥
इंद्र बड़े और गहरे हैं, जनम से ही तेज़। वो हर जगह फैलते हैं और लोगों के खयालों में मदद करते हैं। सोम रस की धारें इंद्र में गिरती हैं, जैसे नदियाँ समुंदर में जा मिलते हैं।
Mantra 5
यं सोममिन्द्र पृथिवीद्यावा गर्भं न माता बिभृतस्त्वाया । तं ते हिन्वन्ति तमु ते मृजन्त्यध्वर्यवो वृषभ पातवा उ ॥
धरती और आसमान उस सोम को संभालते हैं, जैसे माँ अपना बच्चा धारती है। यह वो सोम है जो इंद्र के लिए है। पंडित लोग उसे हिलाते हैं और साफ करते हैं ताकि इंद्र पी सकें। इंद्र बैल जैसी ताकत वाले हैं।
Inside Sukta 46
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Indra’s heroic powers are proclaimed—battle-ready, self-ruling, fierce, and unaging in might (vajrin).
- Development
His radiance and force are described as overflowing all measures; he advances irresistibly and surpasses cosmic bounds (heaven, earth, and midspace).
- Climax
Indra’s immeasurable greatness is affirmed—his expansion and supremacy are set as the hymn’s revelation of divine magnitude.
- Where it settles
The ritual returns to the offering: Soma, upheld by Heaven and Earth like a mother’s child, is pressed and cleansed for Indra to drink—sealing praise into sacrificial action.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is praised as the vajrin (wielder of the thunderbolt), the battling Bull, self-sovereign (svarāj), fierce yet radiant, whose great deeds are ‘great’ and far-famed. He is depicted as overflowing all measures and advancing irresistibly, exceeding even the gods in might.
- Cosmic functionChampion of ṛta through victory over obstructive forces; releaser of waters/light, giver of strength, protection, and success in conflict; recipient of Soma that fuels divine power.
- Inner significanceThe awakened force of courage and decisive will that breaks inner obstruction, expands consciousness beyond limiting ‘measures,’ and channels purified vitality (Soma) into clear, victorious action.
The seer
- Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthina (Kauśika/Viśvāmitra lineage; traditionally associated with the Bharadvāja–Viśvāmitra mandala complex) · A royal-turned-seer celebrated for powerful Indra hymns and for shaping the spiritual authority of the Viśvāmitra tradition within the Rig Veda.
Famous verses
svarāja (self-sovereign) / vajriṇo vīryāṇi (heroic powers of the thunderbolt-bearer)
प्र मात्राभी रिरिचे रोचमानः प्र देवेभिर्विश्वतो अप्रतीतः । प्र मज्मना दिव इन्द्रः पृथिव्याः प्रोरोर्महो अन्तरिक्षादृजीषी ॥garbhaṃ na mātā bibhṛtaḥ (borne like a child by its mother)
Attributes of the deity
- Vajra-bearer (vajrin)
- Bull-like strength (vṛṣabha)
- Self-sovereign (svarāj)
- Irresistible and expansive beyond measure
- Unaging power; youthful vigor with firm steadiness
- Protector and victory-giver
- Soma-drinker, energized by the offering
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (many Indra- and Agni-sūktas) are traditionally ascribed to the Viśvāmitra family.
- Hymnic themes of Indra’s cosmic vastness, victory, and Soma-invocation recur across RV 3 in the Viśvāmitra corpus.
- Later tradition strongly associates Viśvāmitra with the Gāyatrī mantra (RV 3.62.10), though this sukta is specifically an Indra praise-hymn.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare Soma (pressing/expressing) and purify it (straining/cleansing).
- Recite the hymn to invoke Indra as vajrin and vṛṣabha, recalling his famed heroic deeds.
- Offer the purified Soma with appropriate libations, inviting Indra to drink.
- Conclude with petitions for empowerment—victory, protection, and expansive strength for the sacrificer and community.
Offerings
- Soma juice (pressed, strained, and offered)
- Ghee/libations (as customary accompaniments in Indra rites)
Frequently Asked Questions
It proclaims Indra’s unmatched, immeasurable power—he overflows all limits—and it directs that praise into the Soma offering so Indra may drink and empower the sacrificer.
It is a poetic way of saying Indra cannot be contained by ordinary limits: his might and radiance surpass even the cosmic domains of heaven, earth, and the midspace.
Soma is the purified offering prepared by the priests; it is upheld by Heaven and Earth and then pressed and cleansed so Indra, the Bull, may drink and become fully invigorated.
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