Sukta 69
Sukta 6.69
Bharadvāja (traditional for Mandala 6).
Triṣṭubh.
This hymn invokes the paired divinities Indra and Viṣṇu as inseparable allies who jointly carry the sacrificer across the “far shore” of arduous work and conflict. It asks them to delight in the yajña, hear the poet’s brahman (formulative speech), grant wealth and protection, and affirm their unconquered, world-ordering power.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
सं वां कर्मणा समिषा हिनोमीन्द्राविष्णू अपसस्पारे अस्य । जुषेथां यज्ञं द्रविणं च धत्तमरिष्टैर्नः पथिभिः पारयन्ता ॥
मैं अपनी मेहनत और दिल की इच्छा से इंद्र और विष्णु दोनों को बुला रहा हूं। यह काम के किनारे पर खड़े हैं। तुम दोनों यज्ञ में खुश रहो और हमें दौलत दो। हमें ऐसे रास्ते से ले जाओ जहां कोई तकलीफ न हो।
Mantra 2
या विश्वासां जनितारा मतीनामिन्द्राविष्णू कलशा सोमधाना । प्र वां गिरः शस्यमाना अवन्तु प्र स्तोमासो गीयमानासो अर्कैः ॥
इंद्र और विष्णु, तुम दोनों सब आइडियाज के सोर्स हो। तुम्हारे पास सोम है, जैसे कोई खाली बर्तन भरा हो। हमारी बातें तुम्हे प्रोटेक्ट करें। हमारे गाने, जो रिशियों के थ्रू बने हैं, तुम्हे स्ट्रांग करें।
Mantra 3
इन्द्राविष्णू मदपती मदानामा सोमं यातं द्रविणो दधाना । सं वामञ्जन्त्वक्तुभिर्मतीनां सं स्तोमासः शस्यमानास उक्थैः ॥
इंद्र और विष्णु, तुम खुशी के हो मालिक। सोम लेकर आओ, जो तुम्हारे पास है। हमारी सोच तुम्हे अनॉइंट करे, जैसे तेल लगाया जाए। हमारे गाने यहाँ आके तुम्हे भाव से जोड़े।
Mantra 4
आ वामश्वासो अभिमातिषाह इन्द्राविष्णू सधमादो वहन्तु । जुषेथां विश्वा हवना मतीनामुप ब्रह्माणि शृणुतं गिरो मे ॥
तुम्हारे घोड़े दुश्मन को हरा के यहाँ आएं। इंद्र और विष्णु, तुम दोनों साथ में खुशी मनाते हो। हमारी सारी प्रेयर्स से तुम्हे खुशी हो। मेरी बातें ध्यान से सुनो।
Mantra 5
इन्द्राविष्णू तत्पनयाय्यं वां सोमस्य मद उरु चक्रमाथे । अकृणुतमन्तरिक्षं वरीयोऽप्रथतं जीवसे नो रजांसि ॥
इंद्र और विष्णु, सोम के नशे में तुमने एक अमेज़िंग काम किया। तुमने बीच की दुनिया को और बड़ा बना दिया। तुमने हमारे लिए जगह फैला दी ताकि हम जी सकें।
Mantra 7
इन्द्राविष्णू पिबतं मध्वो अस्य सोमस्य दस्रा जठरं पृणेथाम् । आ वामन्धांसि मदिराण्यग्मन्नुप ब्रह्माणि शृणुतं हवं मे ॥
इंद्र और विष्णु, इस सोम को पियो। यह मीठा है, अपना पेट भर लो। खुशी वाली चीज़ें तुम्हारे पास आ गई हैं। मेरी बातें सुनो, मेरा कॉल सुनो।
Mantra 8
उभा जिग्यथुर्न परा जयेथे न परा जिग्ये कतरश्चनैनोः । इन्द्रश्च विष्णो यदपस्पृधेथां त्रेधा सहस्रं वि तदैरयेथाम् ॥
इंद्र और विष्णु दोनों ने जीत लिया। दोनों में से कोई हारा नहीं। जब दोनों की ताकत का खेल हुआ, तब वो हज़ार गुना शक्ति को तीन धारों में बाँट के चला दिए।
Inside Sukta 69
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The poet yokes Indra and Viṣṇu together through work and aspiration, asking them to enjoy the sacrifice and carry the worshipper across safely (the ‘far shore’ motif).
- Development
The hymn intensifies the invitation: their steeds bring them, they are urged to listen to all calls of inspired thought and to the poet’s brahman, and to grant wealth and protection against assaults.
- Climax
A strong declaration of their mutual, undefeated victory culminates in the image of their contest/play of powers that sets a “thousandfold” energy in motion and distributes it in three streams—orderly power released and apportioned.
- Where it settles
The praise resolves into assurance: the paired gods remain reliable allies who hear, protect, enrich, and guide the sacrificer along unbroken paths to completion and wellbeing.
The deity: Indra–Viṣṇu
- In the VedaAs a pair, they are praised as companions in shared exhilaration (sadhāmāda), arriving together, hearing the poet’s words, and acting in concert to protect and enrich the worshipper.
- Cosmic functionThey stabilize and expand the ordered world: Indra overcomes hostile powers and releases energies; Viṣṇu measures out and secures the cosmic spaces. Together they ensure victory without defeat and distribute power and abundance in a regulated, life-sustaining way.
- Inner significanceIndra–Viṣṇu symbolizes the union of force and order: decisive will that breaks inner obstacles (Indra) guided by a luminous, harmonizing intelligence that “makes room” for the soul’s progress (Viṣṇu). Their ‘carrying across’ points to crossing hardship, confusion, and fear through aligned energy and right direction.
The seer
- BharadvājaBharadvāja (Bārhaspatya) gotra; Angiras lineage (traditional attribution for Maṇḍala 6) · A major Rigvedic seer associated with the Bharadvāja family hymns of Maṇḍala 6, noted for powerful, practical invocations for protection, victory, and right ritual performance.
Famous verses
ariṣṭair naḥ pathibhiḥ pārayantā
आ वामश्वासो अभिमातिषाह इन्द्राविष्णू सधमादो वहन्तु । जुषेथां विश्वा हवना मतीनामुप ब्रह्माणि शृणुतं गिरो मे ॥ubhā jigyathur na parā jayethe
Attributes of the deity
- paired allies acting as one power
- unconquered and undefeated
- protectors who ‘carry across’ by unbreakable paths
- delighters in yajña and hearers of inspired speech
- givers of draviṇa (wealth/plenitude)
- world-ordering distribution of power (often expressed as measured or ‘threefold’ movement)
Also by this seer
- Traditional seer-family behind many hymns of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6
- Associated in later tradition with Bharadvāja-Brāhmaṇa lineages and the Bharadvāja gotra transmission
- Frequently linked with Indra-centered and allied-deity praises emphasizing help in battle, safe passage, and prosperity
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the sacred fire and seat; establish intention for protection and successful completion of work.
- Invite Indra–Viṣṇu with opening praises, emphasizing their joint arrival and companionship in delight.
- Offer oblations while reciting the central verses, asking them to enjoy the yajña and hear the brahman (the poet’s formulative speech).
- State specific petitions: wealth (draviṇa), victory over opposition, and safe ‘crossing’ by uninjured paths.
- Conclude with affirmations of their unconquered power and their right distribution of energies, sealing the rite with a final oblation.
Offerings
- ghee (ājya)
- soma (where applicable)
- oblations of grains/cakes depending on rite (puroḍāśa-type offerings in later practice)
- water/clarified butter libations accompanying mantra recitation
Frequently Asked Questions
They are invoked as a paired power: Indra brings victorious force that breaks obstacles, while Viṣṇu brings ordered expansion and secure space. Together they protect, grant prosperity, and guide the sacrificer safely through hardship.
It is a prayer for safe passage—through danger, conflict, or difficult work—so the worshipper reaches the goal without harm. It also suggests an inner crossing: moving beyond fear and obstruction through divine support and right direction.
It is suited for fire offerings (and Soma settings where applicable) when seeking protection, victory over opposition, and successful completion of demanding tasks. The hymn emphasizes correct invocation, attentive divine hearing, and the granting of wealth and wellbeing.
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