Sukta 32
Sukta 6.32
Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
Triṣṭubh
This short Triṣṭubh hymn of Bharadvāja praises Indra with freshly fashioned speech, celebrating his irresistible strength as vajrin (wielder of the thunderbolt) and purandara (breaker of strongholds). It recalls Indra’s victory achieved with inspired seers and flame-bearing priests, and culminates in the release/winning of the waters—symbol of life, fertility, and unobstructed attainment.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
अपूर्व्या पुरुतमान्यस्मै महे वीराय तवसे तुराय । विरप्शिने वज्रिणे शंतमानि वचांस्यासा स्थविराय तक्षम् ॥
हम इंद्र के लिए नए गीत बना रहे हैं। बहुत सारे शब्द जोड़े हैं। वो महा वीर है, बलवान है, तेज़ है। वज्र उसके हाथ में है, वो बड़े काम करता है। जो शब्द हम बोलते हैं वो शांति और खुशी से भरे हैं, और हमेशा के लिए बने हैं।
Mantra 2
स मातरा सूर्येणा कवीनामवासयद्रुजदद्रिं गृणानः । स्वाधीभिॠक्वभिर्वावशान उदुस्रियाणामसृजन्निदानम् ॥
इंद्र ने दोनों माँ को सूरज के पास सही जगह बिठा दिया। वो रिशियों की रोशनी थे। फिर उसने पहाड़ का पत्थर तोड़ दिया। अपने गाना वाले लोगों के साथ, अपने खुद के विचारों से, उसने उन चमकदार गायों को ऊपर निकाला। वो छुपी हुई जगह से बाहर आ गई।
Mantra 3
स वह्निभिॠक्वभिर्गोषु शश्वन्मितज्ञुभिः पुरुकृत्वा जिगाय । पुरः पुरोहा सखिभिः सखीयन्दृळ्हा रुरोज कविभिः कविः सन् ॥
अग्नि के साथ जो लोग आग ले कर चलते हैं, और जो लोग गाते हैं, उनके साथ वो जीता। वो बहुत तरह से काम करता है। वो किले तोड़ने वाला है। दोस्तों के साथ मिल कर चलता है। मज़बूत रुकावटों को तोड़ देता है। रिशि लोगों के साथ रिशि बन के, वो अंदर आ गया।
Mantra 4
स नीव्याभिर्जरितारमच्छा महो वाजेभिर्महद्भिश्च शुष्मैः । पुरुवीराभिर्वृषभ क्षितीनामा गिर्वणः सुविताय प्र याहि ॥
गाने वाले के पास आओ, अपनी ताकत ले कर। बड़ी शक्ति और ज़ोर के साथ आओ। लोगों के बीच में तुम तो एक बैल हो, बहुत सारे वीरों के साथ। वाणी के स्वामी, हमारे लिए सही रास्ता बनाओ और आगे बढ़ो।
Mantra 5
स सर्गेण शवसा तक्तो अत्यैरप इन्द्रो दक्षिणतस्तुराषाट् । इत्था सृजाना अनपावृदर्थं दिवेदिवे विविषुरप्रमृष्यम् ॥
इंद्र ज़ोर से आगे बढ़ता है, तेज़ घोड़ों के साथ। उसने पानी जीता, सही तरफ से। इस तरह एक मक़सद बनाया जो कभी पीछे नहीं हटा। रोज़-रोज़ वो लोग उस ताकत को पाना चाहते हैं जो किसी की नहीं सुनती।
Inside Sukta 32
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens by ‘fashioning’ unprecedented, abundant words for Indra—the great, enduring hero—emphasizing the sacred power of crafted praise.
- Development
Indra’s victories are narrated as achieved in concert with flame-bearers and chanters; he breaks firm resistances and becomes ‘seer with seers,’ aligning force with inspired insight.
- Climax
Indra, driven by surging power and swift steeds, wins/releases the waters—an emblematic breakthrough where obstruction yields to flow and attainment.
- Where it settles
The hymn settles into the assurance of an unwavering aim and daily approach to an inviolable goal, framing Indra’s act as a repeatable principle for human striving.
The deity: Indra
- Cosmic functionHe breaks obstruction (vṛtra/‘enclosure’), releases the life-giving waters and light, and restores the flow of ṛta by decisive force and victorious initiative.
- Inner significanceIndra represents the awakened power of will and clarity that shatters inner ‘strongholds’—fear, inertia, and confusion—so that the blocked energies (waters) and true aims (anapāvṛd artha) can flow unobstructed day by day.
The seer
- Bharadvāja BārhaspatyaBharadvāja gotra; Bārhaspatya (of the lineage/affiliation of Bṛhaspati) · A प्रमुख ऋषि of Maṇḍala 6, celebrated for powerful Indra hymns that blend martial myth (fort-breaking, winning of waters/cows) with refined poetic craftsmanship (takṣ- ‘to fashion’ speech).
Famous verses
apūrvyā purutamāni
puraḥ purohā
anapāvṛd arthaṃ
Attributes of the deity
- Vajrin (wielder of the thunderbolt)
- Turāṣāṭ (overcomer, irresistible conqueror)
- Purahā (breaker of strongholds)
- Leader of victories with inspired speech and rite
- Releaser/winner of the waters (āpah)
Also by this seer
- Primary seer for much of Rigveda Maṇḍala 6 (Bharadvāja family collection)
- Numerous hymns to Indra, Agni, and allied deities within RV 6
- Associated in later tradition with the Bharadvāja lineage of Vedic transmission and ritual expertise
The rite, step by step
- Saṃkalpa: state the intention—strength, victory, removal of obstacles, and abundance.
- Āvāhana: invoke Indra as vīra, vajrin, purahā with Triṣṭubh recitation.
- Stuti: praise with ‘newly fashioned’ speech, recalling Indra’s mythic victories (fort-breaking, winning of waters).
- Yajña-upacāra: offer Soma/oblations while reaffirming companionship with ṛṣi-kavis and the ordered rite.
- Prārthanā: request inviolable attainment (apramṛṣyam) and steady daily progress (dive-dive).
- Śānti/niṣkṛti: conclude with a settling recitation for well-being and right joy.
Offerings
- Soma (where applicable)
- Ghṛta (ghee) oblations into Agni
- Puroḍāśa (rice cake) or anna offering in domestic adaptations
- Water libation as symbolic affirmation of ‘āpah’ released
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a compact hymn praising Indra’s power—how he breaks strong resistances and wins/releases the waters, symbolizing the return of life, abundance, and free movement.
Because Vedic praise is treated as a deliberate offering: well-crafted words are believed to strengthen the connection with the deity and make the desired power and order present in the rite.
Beyond rainfall or rivers, it points to removing inner blockages so energy, clarity, and purpose can flow—supporting steady progress toward a goal that is not easily disturbed.
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