Sukta 28
Sukta 7.28
Vasiṣṭha (traditional for Mandala 7)
Triṣṭubh (probable; requires metrical verification)
This short Indra-hymn is a focused invitation for the god to turn his powers toward the poet’s sacrifice and to hear their particular call amid the many who invoke him. It praises Indra as the one who gathers and leads the striving people, awakens even the inert into motion, and grants “great riches” to those who fashion and chant brahman (the inspired, formative word). The hymn closes with a request for enduring protection and well-being (svasti).
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
ब्रह्मा ण इन्द्रोप याहि विद्वानर्वाञ्चस्ते हरयः सन्तु युक्ताः । विश्वे चिद्धि त्वा विहवन्त मर्ता अस्माकमिच्छृणुहि विश्वमिन्व ॥
इंद्र, हमारी पूजा सुन के आ जा। तेरे घोड़े जुड़े हैं, तेरे पास आने के लिए। सारी दुनिया तुझे बुलाती है। पर हमारी आवाज़ ज़रा ध्यान से सुन। तू पूरी दुनिया को चलाता है।
Mantra 2
हवं त इन्द्र महिमा व्यानड्ब्रह्म यत्पासि शवसिन्नृषीणाम् । आ यद्वज्रं दधिषे हस्त उग्र घोरः सन्क्रत्वा जनिष्ठा अषाळ्हः ॥
जब लोग इंद्र को बुलाते हैं, उसकी बड़ाई फैलती है। रिशि लोग उसकी ताकत के साथ रहते हैं। जब वो अपने हाथ में वज्र पकड़ता है, वो बहुत ज़ोर लगाता है। तब वो ऐसा जन्म लेता है जो कोई हरा नहीं सकता।
Mantra 3
तव प्रणीतीन्द्र जोहुवानान्त्सं यन्नॄन्न रोदसी निनेथ । महे क्षत्राय शवसे हि जज्ञेऽतूतुजिं चित्तूतुजिरशिश्नत् ॥
इंद्र, जब लोग तुम्हे पूरे दिल से पुकारते हैं, तुम उन्हे एक साथ ला देते हो। जैसे कोई दोनों दुनिया में लोगों को खींच के ला दे। तुम बड़े राज के लिए पैदा हुए हो, तुम्हारी ताकत बड़ी है। तुम जिसे चाहो उसे चला देते हो, जैसे कोई इंजन हो। तुम सबको आगे बढ़ाते हो।
Mantra 4
एभिर्न इन्द्राहभिर्दशस्य दुर्मित्रासो हि क्षितयः पवन्ते । प्रति यच्चष्टे अनृतमनेना अव द्विता वरुणो मायी नः सात् ॥
इंद्र के साथ दिन गुज़ार, हमें ताकत दे। दुश्मन लोग हमारे खिलाफ मिल जाते हैं, गलत लोग हमारे पीछे पड़ जाते हैं। जब कोई झूठ बोलता है, तब वरुण हमें बचाए। वो अंदर की बात जानता है, वो हमें डबल प्रोटेक्ट करेगा।
Mantra 5
वोचेमेदिन्द्रं मघवानमेनं महो रायो राधसो यद्ददन्नः । यो अर्चतो ब्रह्मकृतिमविष्ठो यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
हम इस इंद्र की बात करते हैं जो बहुत देता है। वो हमें बड़ा धन और ताकत देता है। जो लोग भजन करते हैं और सच्ची बात बोलते हैं, उनका वो सबसे बड़ा साथी है। तुम हमेशा हमें सुरक्षित रखना।
Inside Sukta 28
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct summons: Indra is asked to come near the poet’s brahman, with his tawny powers/steeds yoked and facing the sacrificer.
- Development
The hymn universalizes Indra’s call—many mortals invoke him—then sharpens the claim: may he hear “our” call especially, because he leads and gathers the earnest callers.
- Climax
Indra’s defining greatness is stated: born for vast sovereignty and force, he impels even the un-impelled—his power awakens motion and effective striving.
- Where it settles
The poets speak of Indra as bountiful giver of great riches to the chanters and brahman-makers, ending with a sustained request for protection and well-being (svasti).
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaHe is praised as the leader who gathers the callers, the impeller who sets forces in motion, and the giver of expansive wealth and protection.
- Cosmic functionChampion of dynamic order: he mobilizes power, overcomes obstruction, and secures space, vitality, and prosperity for the community aligned with sacrifice and truth.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and victorious energy in the human being—clarity, courage, and forward-driving force that turns aspiration into effective action and protects the inner sacrifice (discipline of speech, breath, and intention).
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (one of the principal ṛṣi lineages; traditional seer of Maṇḍala 7) · Foremost among the Seven Seers (Saptarṣi), celebrated for brahmanic speech-power, priestly mastery, and hymns that articulate a mature theology of Indra, Varuṇa, and Agni.
Famous verses
ब्रह्मा ण इन्द्रोप याहि विद्वानर्वाञ्चस्ते हरयः सन्तु युक्ताः । विश्वे चिद्धि त्वा विहवन्त मर्ता अस्माकमिच्छृणुहि विश्वमिन्व ॥तव प्रणीतीन्द्र जोहुवानान्त्सं यन्नॄन्न रोदसी निनेथ । महे क्षत्राय शवसे हि जज्ञेऽतूतुजिं चित्तूतुजिरशिश्नत् ॥svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Maghavan (bountiful giver)
- Kṣatra (sovereign power)
- Śavas (overwhelming strength)
- Leader and gatherer of seekers
- Impeller who sets even the inert in motion
- Responsive to brahman (inspired speech)
Also by this seer
- Primary authorship/traditional attribution of many hymns in Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7
- Vasiṣṭha-related praise of Varuṇa’s moral order (ṛta) and pleas for release from bonds in several RV 7 hymns
- A central Vedic priestly archetype associated with the hotṛ and brahman functions in later tradition
The rite, step by step
- Purification and kindling of the sacred fire (Agni) with preparatory recitations
- Formal invitation (āvāhana) to Indra to approach the brahman with yoked tawny steeds
- Praise of Indra’s leadership and mobilizing power, aligning the assembly’s intention with his kṣatra and śavas
- Petition for great riches (rāyas, rādhas) and support for the makers of brahman (brahmakṛt)
- Concluding protective prayer for svasti (well-being) and continued guardianship
Offerings
- Soma libation (where applicable)
- Ghee/clarified butter into the fire
- Oblation-cakes or simple food offerings (context-dependent)
- Praise-hymn as the principal ‘offering’ of speech (brahman)
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Indra to come close to the sacrifice, hear this worshipper’s call, energize their efforts, and grant great wealth and ongoing protection.
Here brahman means the inspired, formative power of sacred speech. The hymn says Indra especially helps those who chant rightly and shape this sacred word in ritual.
Svasti means well-being, safety, and harmonious good fortune. The hymn ends by asking Indra (and the supporting powers) to guard the community with lasting svasti.
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