Sukta 36
Sukta 6.36
Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya (Bharadvāja family)
Triṣṭubh (probable; not mechanically verified here)
This short Bharadvāja hymn praises Indra as the ever-present source of exhilaration, wealth, and victorious strength for those established on earth. It depicts all powers and hymns converging on Indra like rivers into the sea, and ends with an intimate request that he hear the offering and sustain the worshippers with ever-renewing might through the ages.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
सत्रा मदासस्तव विश्वजन्याः सत्रा रायोऽध ये पार्थिवासः । सत्रा वाजानामभवो विभक्ता यद्देवेषु धारयथा असुर्यम् ॥
तुम्हारी खुशी सब जगह फैली है। तुम दुनिया वाले लोगों को पैसा और सामान देते हो। तुम जीत की चीज़ें बाँटने वाले हो। जब देवताओं के बीच में तुमने असुरी ताकत को पकड़ा था।
Mantra 2
अनु प्र येजे जन ओजो अस्य सत्रा दधिरे अनु वीर्याय । स्यूमगृभे दुधयेऽर्वते च क्रतुं वृञ्जन्त्यपि वृत्रहत्ये ॥
लोग उसकी ताकत के पीछे लग जाते हैं। वो अपनी बहादुरी के लिए तैयार हो जाते हैं। बढ़ाने के लिए, देने के लिए, और आगे बढ़ने के लिए वो सही रास्ता चुनते हैं। दुश्मन को मारने के लिए भी।
Mantra 3
तं सध्रीचीरूतयो वृष्ण्यानि पौंस्यानि नियुतः सश्चुरिन्द्रम् । समुद्रं न सिन्धव उक्थशुष्मा उरुव्यचसं गिर आ विशन्ति ॥
इंद्र के पास सारे मददगार और ताकत एक साथ आ जाती हैं। जैसे नदियाँ समुंदर में जाके मिल जाती हैं, वैसे ही यह सब गाने और स्तुतियाँ इंद्र तक पहुँच जाती हैं। इंद्र बहुत बड़े हैं, सब उनमें समा जाते हैं।
Mantra 4
स रायस्खामुप सृजा गृणानः पुरुश्चन्द्रस्य त्वमिन्द्र वस्वः । पतिर्बभूथासमो जनानामेको विश्वस्य भुवनस्य राजा ॥
हे इंद्र, हम तुझे मानते हैं, तू हमें धन की बारिश कर दे। तू इतनी चमकदार चीज़ों का मालिक है। लोगों में तुझ जैसा कोई नहीं, तू अकेला है। सारी दुनिया का राजा तू ही है।
Mantra 5
स तु श्रुधि श्रुत्या यो दुवोयुर्द्यौर्न भूमाभि रायो अर्यः । असो यथा नः शवसा चकानो युगेयुगे वयसा चेकितानः ॥
इंद्र, हमारी सुन, हम तुझे बुला रहे हैं। आसमान और ज़मीन की तरह हमें घेर ले, धन से भरे रह। तू ताकत में खुश रह, हर वक़्त बढ़ते रह। हमारे लिए हर युग में स्ट्रॉंग बना रह।
Inside Sukta 36
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Indra’s ecstasy and gifts are proclaimed as constant and universal; he is invoked as the steadfast distributor of riches and plenitude.
- Development
The hymn gathers images of converging powers: aids, virile strengths, and hymn-forces unite around Indra, portraying him as the great receiving center of inspired speech.
- Climax
The key revelation is the convergence metaphor—chants entering Indra like rivers into the sea—presenting Indra as the wide-pervading ground where praise becomes potency.
- Where it settles
The poets turn to direct supplication: Indra is asked to hear the offering and to encompass the worshippers with wealth and ever-growing strength across successive ages.
The deity: Indra
- Cosmic functionHe secures order and life by conquering obstructive forces, releasing resources (waters, wealth, vitality), and empowering the community with victory and expansion.
- Inner significanceIndra symbolizes awakened will-power and courageous clarity: the inner force that breaks inertia, gathers scattered energies, and turns inspired speech (hymn) into effective action and attainment.
The seer
- Bharadvāja BārhaspatyaBharadvāja gotra (Bārhaspatya branch, Angirasa lineage) · Foremost seer of Mandala 6, celebrated for powerful Indra hymns and a priestly voice that blends cosmic praise with practical petitions for protection, victory, and abundance.
Famous verses
satrā madāsaḥ
samudraṃ na sindhavaḥ
yuge-yuge
Attributes of the deity
- Vṛtra-slayer and remover of obstruction
- Giver of wealth and victory (vāja, rayi)
- Wide-pervading (uruvyacasa)
- Delighting in soma-inspired ecstasy (mada)
- Protector and ally of the worshipper (ūti)
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Mandala 6 (many sūktas attributed to the Bharadvāja family)
- Prominent Indra-focused hymns within RV 6 (Bharadvāja corpus) used in Soma and victory contexts
- Associated in later tradition with priestly learning and Br̥haspati-related (Bārhaspatya) sacred speech
The rite, step by step
- Establish the fire (Agni) and prepare the ritual space with purification and intention for strength and prosperity.
- Recite RV 6.36 as Indra-stuti, emphasizing Indra’s universal ‘mada’ and his role as distributor of vāja and rayi.
- Offer soma (or a symbolic substitute) and ghee into the fire while voicing petitions for protection, abundance, and enduring power ‘age to age’.
- Conclude with a listening-invocation (śrudhi) and a final request for encompassing riches like heaven and earth.
Offerings
- Soma libation (where applicable)
- Ghee (ājya)
- Grain-cakes or cooked oblations (puroḍāśa/carū) in Indra contexts
- Water and fragrant offerings as local/customary supports
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Indra’s constant power and then asks him to hear the offering and grant encompassing riches, victory, and enduring strength for the worshippers.
It shows that all inspired chants and supportive powers naturally converge on Indra, who is portrayed as vast and wide-pervading—like an ocean receiving many rivers.
It fits Indra-focused worship, especially Soma or fire offerings done for strength, success, and protection—often in the morning or before major communal efforts.
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