Sukta 23
Sukta 7.23
Vasiṣṭha
Indra
Triṣṭubh (probable)
In this six-verse Triṣṭubh hymn, Vasiṣṭha (speaking also for the Vasiṣṭha clan) raises victorious battle-prayers to Indra, asking him to hear, come swiftly, and grant strength, fame, and protection. The hymn links right-inspired praise with ṛta (cosmic truth/order), portraying Indra as the expansive power who distributes vāja (winning force, plenitude) to those who approach with dhī (illumined thought). It closes with a compact benediction: may Indra establish hero-rich and cattle-rich prosperity, and may the divine guardians keep the worshippers in lasting well-being.
Mantras
Mantra 1
उदु ब्रह्माण्यैरत श्रवस्येन्द्रं समर्ये महया वसिष्ठ । आ यो विश्वानि शवसा ततानोपश्रोता म ईवतो वचांसि ॥
वसिष्ठ बोलते हैं, अपने मंत्र को ज़ोर से उठाओ। इंद्र की महिमा बढ़ाओ, क्योंकि वो लड़ाई में जीतता है। इंद्र ने अपनी ताकत से पूरी दुनिया फैला दी है। मेरी बात सुनो, वो मेरी इच्छा के शब्दों को सुननेवाला है।
Mantra 2
अयामि घोष इन्द्र देवजामिरिरज्यन्त यच्छुरुधो विवाचि । नहि स्वमायुश्चिकिते जनेषु तानीदंहांस्यति पर्ष्यस्मान् ॥
मैं इंद्र को पुकारता हूँ, वो देवताओं का अपना है। जब दुश्मन लोग उलझ कर बात करते हैं, तब मैं चिल्लाता हूँ। कोई भी इंसान को नहीं जानता कि उसकी ज़िन्दगी कितनी लंबी है। इसलिए इंद्र, तुम हमें इन परेशानियों से निकाल के ले जाओ।
Mantra 3
युजे रथं गवेषणं हरिभ्यामुप ब्रह्माणि जुजुषाणमस्थुः । वि बाधिष्ट स्य रोदसी महित्वेन्द्रो वृत्राण्यप्रती जघन्वान् ॥
इंद्र का रथ तैयार है, दो घोड़े जुड़े हैं। वो रथ उजाला ढूँढने निकला है। मंत्र उसके पास खड़े हैं उसे स्वागत करने के लिए। इंद्र ने अपनी ताकत से दुनिया को अलग किया। उसने दुश्मनों को मारा और रास्ता साफ कर दिया।
Mantra 4
आपश्चित्पिप्युः स्तर्यो न गावो नक्षन्नृतं जरितारस्त इन्द्र । याहि वायुर्न नियुतो नो अच्छा त्वं हि धीभिर्दयसे वि वाजान् ॥
पानी भर गया है, जैसे गायें बोल रही हों। वो सच्चाई तक पहुँच गए हैं। इंद्र, तुम्हारे भक्त भी सही रास्ते तक पहुँच गए हैं। इंद्र, तुम हमारे पास आओ जैसे वायु अपनी ताकत ले कर आता है। तुम अपने बुद्धि से लोगों को ताकत बाँटते हो।
Mantra 5
ते त्वा मदा इन्द्र मादयन्तु शुष्मिणं तुविराधसं जरित्रे । एको देवत्रा दयसे हि मर्तानस्मिञ्छूर सवने मादयस्व ॥
इंद्र, यह खुशी तुम्हे भी भाए। तुम बड़े बलवान हो और बड़े दाता हो। तुम अकेला हो जो लोगों पर मेहरबानी करता है। यह पूजा में तुम खुश रहो और और ताकत पाओ।
Mantra 6
एवेदिन्द्रं वृषणं वज्रबाहुं वसिष्ठासो अभ्यर्चन्त्यर्कैः । स नः स्तुतो वीरवद्धातु गोमद्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
वशिष्ठ रिशि और उनके शिष्य इंद्र के लिए गाना गाते हैं। इंद्र बलवान है, बिजली का हथौड़ा उसके हाथ में है। वो हमे ताकत दे और धन दे। भगवान हमेशा अपनी शक्ति से हमारे साथ रहें।
Inside Sukta 23
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A deliberate ‘raising’ of mantras for śravas (renown) and a direct request that Indra listen closely to the poet’s eager words.
- Development
Indra is described as the force that has ‘stretched out all things’; the hymn then aligns the singers with ṛta, using the image of swelling waters/cows to show praise reaching truth and fullness.
- Climax
The urgent invitation: Indra is called to come swiftly—like Vāyu with yoked powers—because through dhī (illumined thought) he apportions vāja (effective might and plenitude).
- Where it settles
The Vasiṣṭhas collectively acclaim Indra as bull and thunder-armed, asking for hero-rich, cattle-rich prosperity and ending with a standing prayer for continual svasti and protection.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is praised as vṛṣan (the Bull), vajrabāhu (thunder-armed), the hearer of hymns and the decisive victor in samarya (battle/contest), who by sheer śavas (force) stretches out and sustains the worlds.
- Cosmic functionHe embodies the conquering, world-ordering power that breaks obstruction, releases the life-giving flows, and apportions vāja—strength, victory, and abundance—to the aligned worshipper.
- Inner significanceIndra signifies the awakened will and courageous intelligence that overcomes inner resistance, opens blocked energies, and turns inspired thought (dhī) into effective power and achievement.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Vasiṣṭhāsaḥ, the Vasiṣṭha family of seers) · One of the foremost ṛṣis of the Rigveda, celebrated for powerful Indra-hymns and for articulating ṛta through inspired speech; traditionally famed as a paradigmatic Brahmarṣi and royal priest (purohita).
Famous verses
upashrotā me īvato vacāṃsi
tvaṃ hi dhībhir dayase vi vājān
vṛṣaṇaṃ vajrabāhum
Attributes of the deity
- Vajra-wielder (thunderbolt power)
- Victor in battle and giver of fame (śravas)
- Listener and responder to prayer (upashrotā)
- Distributor of vāja (force, plenitude, winning)
- Upholder of ṛta through right action and right praise
- Protector who grants svasti (well-being)
Also by this seer
- Major portions of Rigveda Maṇḍala 7 (Vasiṣṭha Maṇḍala)
- Noted Rigvedic hymns to Indra, Agni, Varuṇa-Mitra, and the Maruts within Maṇḍala 7
- Later tradition associates Vasiṣṭha with Vasiṣṭha-dharma materials and the Vasiṣṭha Smṛti (attributional tradition)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/fire and seat of offering; establish intention for victory and protection.
- Recite the opening praise to ‘raise up’ brahmāṇi (formulated mantras) and invite Indra as the attentive hearer.
- Offer oblations while chanting verses that connect praise with ṛta and request Indra’s swift approach.
- Reaffirm Indra’s might (vṛṣan, vajrabāhu) and explicitly ask for vāja, heroic offspring/companions (vīra), and cattle/wealth (go).
- Conclude with a benediction for ongoing svasti and protective oversight by the divine powers.
Offerings
- Soma (where applicable)
- Ghee/clarified butter (ājya)
- Grain-cakes or simple food offerings (puroḍāśa, regional practice)
- Water libations alongside praise (symbolically echoed by the hymn’s swelling waters imagery)
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Indra to hear the poets’ prayers, come swiftly in times of contest, and grant vāja (winning strength), fame, wealth (especially cattle), heroic support, and lasting well-being (svasti).
The image shows praise and devotion becoming full and effective—like waters swelling—until they ‘reach ṛta,’ meaning they align with the right order that makes Indra’s gifts and victories possible.
It can be recited as an Indra-stuti before difficult work or competition, with a small fire or lamp and a ghee offering (or even simple water libation), focusing on courage, clarity (dhī), and protection.
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