Sukta 41
Sukta 4.41
Vāmadeva Gautama (Maṇḍala 4 context)
Indra-Varuṇa (paired powers: forceful victory + vast law/purity)
Triṣṭubh (probable)
This hymn invokes the paired powers Indra and Varuṇa to receive the poet’s reverent offering and to establish victorious strength guided by ṛta (cosmic order). It asks the two to crush inner and outer harms—ill-will, predatory hostility, and deceiving fear—and to grant stable prosperity expressed as horse-power, chariot-power, and enduring increase.
Mantras
Mantra 1
इन्द्रा को वां वरुणा सुम्नमाप स्तोमो हविष्माँ अमृतो न होता । यो वां हृदि क्रतुमाँ अस्मदुक्तः पस्पर्शदिन्द्रावरुणा नमस्वान् ॥
हे इंद्र और वरुण, हमारी स्तुति और हवन तुम तक पहुँचा है। बिल्कुल ऐसे जैसे कोई अमर पुरोहित आके हवन करे। हमारे दिल की बात, जो इच्छा के साथ है, तुम तक पहुँची है। हम झुक के नमस्ते करते हैं।
Mantra 2
इन्द्रा ह यो वरुणा चक्र आपी देवौ मर्तः सख्याय प्रयस्वान् । स हन्ति वृत्रा समिथेषु शत्रूनवोभिर्वा महद्भिः स प्र शृण्वे ॥
जो इंसान इंद्र और वरुण को अपना दोस्त बना लेता है, भगवान उसपे खुश हो जाते हैं। वो इंसान दुश्मनों को हरा देता है, रास्ते में जो रुकावटें आती हैं उनको तोड़ देता है। भगवान की मदद से, या उनकी बड़ी ताकत से, वो आगे बढ़ जाता है और सब सुनते हैं उसकी बात।
Mantra 3
इन्द्रा ह रत्नं वरुणा धेष्ठेत्था नृभ्यः शशमानेभ्यस्ता । यदी सखाया सख्याय सोमैः सुतेभिः सुप्रयसा मादयैते ॥
इंद्र और वरुण मेहनत करने वाले लोगों को धन देते हैं। जब यह दोनों दोस्त अपनी दोस्ती निभाते हैं, सोम रस पीते हैं, और अच्छी भावना से खुश होते हैं, तब वो लोगों को देंगे।
Mantra 4
इन्द्रा युवं वरुणा दिद्युमस्मिन्नोजिष्ठमुग्रा नि वधिष्टं वज्रम् । यो नो दुरेवो वृकतिर्दभीतिस्तस्मिन्मिमाथामभिभूत्योजः ॥
इंद्र और वरुण, तुम दोनों बहुत ताकतवर हो। इस इंसान के अंदर अपना सबसे तेज़ वज्र रख दो। जो भी हम में बुरी बात है, जो डर हमें परेशान करता है, उसपे अपनी ताकत से मार दो। उसे कुचल के रख दो।
Mantra 5
इन्द्रा युवं वरुणा भूतमस्या धियः प्रेतारा वृषभेव धेनोः । सा नो दुहीयद्यवसेव गत्वी सहस्रधारा पयसा मही गौः ॥
इंद्र और वरुण, इस सोच का मार्ग दिखाओ। जैसे दो बैल गाय को ले जाते हैं, वैसे ही इस सोच को आगे बढ़ाओ। यह सोच हमें दूध दे, जैसे गाय चराने जाती है। यह बड़ी गाय है, हज़ारों धारा से दूध देती है।
Mantra 8
ता वां धियोऽवसे वाजयन्तीराजिं न जग्मुर्युवयूः सुदानू । श्रिये न गाव उप सोममस्थुरिन्द्रं गिरो वरुणं मे मनीषाः ॥
यह सब अच्छी सोचें तुम्हारे पास मदद के लिए आई हैं, जैसे कोई दौड़ में प्रतिपक्षी के पास जाता है। जैसे गाय अपनी शान के लिए सोम के पास खड़ी होती है, वैसे ही यह सोचें आई हैं। मेरी बातें इंद्र के पास जाती हैं, और मेरे ख़याल वरुण के पास जाते हैं।
Mantra 10
अश्व्यस्य त्मना रथ्यस्य पुष्टेर्नित्यस्य रायः पतयः स्याम । ता चक्राणा ऊतिभिर्नव्यसीभिरस्मत्रा रायो नियुतः सचन्ताम् ॥
हम हमेशा चलने वाली धन के मालिक बनें। घोड़े की ताकत, रथ की ताकत, और जो बढ़ता है उसकी ताकत। इंद्र और वरुण हमें नई-नई मदद देते रहें। वो हमारे लिए धन की युक्ति यहाँ जोड़ दें।
Inside Sukta 41
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A reverent question and invocation: what hymn-offering reaches the grace of Indra and Varuṇa, like an immortal priest bearing oblation (4.41.1).
- Development
The poet establishes heartfelt intention (kratu) and asks the deities to actively place victorious force within the worshipper/community while maintaining right order.
- Climax
A direct protective command: set down the flashing, strongest vajra and crush ill-will, predatory hostility, and deceiving fear with conquering power (4.41.4).
- Where it settles
The hymn turns to durable prosperity—mastery of horse- and chariot-force and nourishing increase—asking the two to yoke ‘ordered’ riches to the worshipper through ever-new helps (4.41.10).
The deity: Indra-Varuṇa
- In the VedaIndra appears as the thunder-wielding victor who breaks obstacles and protects the worshipper; Varuṇa appears as the vast sovereign upholding ṛta, binding falsehood, and purifying through truth and law. Together they are invoked as complementary guardians—force and sovereignty acting in harmony.
- Cosmic functionTo secure the world through both decisive power (Indra’s vajra, conquest over threats) and stabilizing order (Varuṇa’s ṛta, moral governance), ensuring protection, lawful prosperity, and fearless movement for the community.
- Inner significanceIndra-Varuṇa symbolize the integration of will and conscience: courageous energy that can act (Indra) guided by clarity, restraint, and truth (Varuṇa). Spiritually, they represent power purified by law—strength that defeats fear and hostility without falling into disorder.
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra · A major seer of Maṇḍala 4, celebrated for powerful, psychologically acute praise-hymns that unite martial force with moral order; also remembered in later tradition as the Vāmadeva associated with profound insight and inspired speech.
Famous verses
इन्द्रा को वां वरुणा सुम्नमाप स्तोमो हविष्माँ अमृतो न होता । यो वां हृदि क्रतुमाँ अस्मदुक्तः पस्पर्शदिन्द्रावरुणा नमस्वान् ॥इन्द्रा युवं वरुणा दिद्युमस्मिन्नोजिष्ठमुग्रा नि वधिष्टं वज्रम् । यो नो दुरेवो वृकतिर्दभीतिस्तस्मिन्मिमाथामभिभूत्योजः ॥अश्व्यस्य त्मना रथ्यस्य पुष्टेर्नित्यस्य रायः पतयः स्याम । ता चक्राणा ऊतिभिर्नव्यसीभिरस्मत्रा रायो नियुतः सचन्ताम् ॥Attributes of the deity
- Dual deity (paired sovereignty and might)
- Vajra/flash of force (Indra)
- Ṛta, truth, and moral binding (Varuṇa)
- Protection from hostility, deception, and fear
- Bestowers of ordered wealth and effective help (ūtī)
Also by this seer
- Primary author of many hymns in Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 (Vāmadeva’s family collection)
- Hymns to Indra, the Aśvins, Agni, and allied deities within Maṇḍala 4 attributed to the Vāmadeva-Gautama tradition
- Noted for distinctive stotra-style compositions emphasizing protection, victory, and right order (ṛta)
The rite, step by step
- Establish the sacred fire (Agni) and seat the officiants; perform ācamana and intention (saṅkalpa) for protection and prosperity.
- Offer preliminary oblations (āghāra) and invite Indra-Varuṇa with respectful namas (reverence).
- Recite the hymn in Triṣṭubh cadence, emphasizing the ‘hymn-offering’ as a living hotṛ-like act (as in 4.41.1).
- During the protective petition portion, mentally ‘set down the vajra’ and negate harms (as in 4.41.4), aligning speech with ṛta.
- Conclude with prosperity and yoking imagery—requesting ‘ordered harnessings of riches’ and stable increase (as in 4.41.10).
- Seal with final oblation and a short śānti-style prayer for fearlessness and right order.
Offerings
- Soma (where applicable)
- Ghee (ghṛta) oblations into Agni
- Grain cakes/oblations (puroḍāśa) as customary
- Water for purification and truth-alignment (Varuṇa)
Frequently Asked Questions
They represent complementary powers: Indra gives decisive victory and protection, while Varuṇa upholds ṛta (truth and moral order). Together, strength becomes lawful and steady rather than chaotic.
It asks them to crush harmful forces like ill-will, predatory aggression, and deceiving fear—both from outside opponents and from inner anxiety or confusion.
It seeks enduring, well-ordered prosperity: strength like horses, effective movement like chariots, steady nourishment, and “ever-new helps” that keep wealth and success aligned with ṛta.
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