Sukta 54
Sukta 8.54
This Indra-hymn praises the god’s vīrya (heroic power) as something reached by inspired speech and luminous insight, the way the “ancients” attained him. The poet then turns the praise into a practical petition: may Indra awaken toward the singers as their companion in shared joy and establish for them a firm, undiminishing abundance—especially for Praskaṇva.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
एतत्त इन्द्र वीर्यं गीर्भिर्गृणन्ति कारवः । ते स्तोभन्त ऊर्जमावन्घृतश्चुतं पौरासो नक्षन्धीतिभिः ॥
यह तुम्हारी ताकत है इंद्र, जो रिशि गाके बताते हैं। वो लोग जाप करते हैं और शक्ति पाते हैं, जैसे घी टपकता है। पुराने लोग अपनी समझ से तुम्हे पा लेते हैं।
Mantra 2
नक्षन्त इन्द्रमवसे सुकृत्यया येषां सुतेषु मन्दसे । यथा संवर्ते अमदो यथा कृश एवास्मे इन्द्र मत्स्व ॥
लोग सही काम करके इंद्र की मदद पाते हैं। जहाँ सोम की ऑफरिंग होती है, इंद्र खुश होता है। जैसे तुम पहले भी खुश हुए थे, ऐसे ही हमारे लिए भी खुश हो और शक्ति दो।
Mantra 3
आ नो विश्वे सजोषसो देवासो गन्तनोप नः । वसवो रुद्रा अवसे न आ गमञ्छृण्वन्तु मरुतो हवम् ॥
सब देवता मिलकर हमारे पास आओ। वसु और रुद्र हमारी मदद के लिए आओ। मरुत लोग हमारी पूजा सुनो और आओ।
Mantra 4
पूषा विष्णुर्हवनं मे सरस्वत्यवन्तु सप्त सिन्धवः । आपो वातः पर्वतासो वनस्पतिः शृणोतु पृथिवी हवम् ॥
पूषन और विष्णु मेरी पूजा की रक्षा करो। सरस्वती और सात नदियाँ साथ दो। पानी, हवा, पहाड़, जंगल सब मेरी पूजा सुनो। धरती भी सुनो।
Mantra 5
यदिन्द्र राधो अस्ति ते माघोनं मघवत्तम । तेन नो बोधि सधमाद्यो वृधे भगो दानाय वृत्रहन् ॥
इंद्र, अगर तुम्हारे पास कोई खजाना है तो हमको भी दो। तुम बड़े दाता हो। हमारे साथ रहो और खुश रहो। हम भी तुमसे उम्मीद रखते हैं।
Mantra 6
आजिपते नृपते त्वमिद्धि नो वाज आ वक्षि सुक्रतो । वीती होत्राभिरुत देववीतिभिः ससवांसो वि शृण्विरे ॥
हे इंद्र, तुम कॉम्पीटीशन के मालिक हो और लोगों के राजा हो। हमें ले चलो उस जगह जहाँ सब कुछ भरपूर मिले। तुम्हारे इरादे बिल्कुल साफ हैं। हम अपनी पूजा और भगवान के बताए रास्ते से आगे बढ़ रहे हैं। हमारी आवाज़ दूर तक सुनाई दे रही है।
Mantra 7
सन्ति ह्यर्य आशिष इन्द्र आयुर्जनानाम् । अस्मान्नक्षस्व मघवन्नुपावसे धुक्षस्व पिप्युषीमिषम् ॥
इंद्र में ऐसी दुआ है जो लोगों को ज़िन्दगी देती है और उन्हें उठा के सही रास्ते पर लगाती है। हे इंद्र, हमें उस मदद के पास ले चलो जो पास ही हो। हमें अंदर से इतना भर दो कि हम खुश रहें और बढ़ते रहें।
Mantra 8
वयं त इन्द्र स्तोमेभिर्विधेम त्वमस्माकं शतक्रतो । महि स्थूरं शशयं राधो अह्रयं प्रस्कण्वाय नि तोशय ॥
हे इंद्र, हम तुम्हारी स्तुति में गाना गाते हैं। तुम हमारे हो और तुम्हारी शक्ति बहुत बड़ी है। प्रस्कण्व के लिए इतना धन और सुख दे दो जो कभी कम न हो। यह उसके पास पक्का रहे।
Inside Sukta 54
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens by declaring Indra’s vīrya as the subject of inspired song: seers ‘sing’ it with sacred speech and attain nourishing energy through insight.
- Development
Praise becomes a means of approach: the ‘ancients’ reached Indra by dhīti (luminous thought), and the present singers seek the same access and results—ūrj and rādhas.
- Climax
A direct conditional petition: if Indra possesses rādhas as the supreme giver, let him awaken toward the worshippers and become Bhaga-like in bestowing gifts (8.54.5).
- Where it settles
The hymn closes with confident service through hymns and a concrete request: Indra should establish a great, solid, undiminishing abundance as a secure possession for Praskaṇva (8.54.8).
The deity: Indra
- Cosmic functionBreaker of cosmic obstruction and releaser of life-sustaining forces (waters, light, nourishment); champion of ṛta by restoring movement, victory, and increase.
- Inner significanceThe awakened force of will and courage that breaks inner inertia, clears mental ‘coverings,’ and converts inspiration into effective action and abundance.
The seer
- Praskaṇva (Kāṇva)Kāṇva (Kanva family line) · A Kāṇva seer associated with Mandala 8’s Indra-oriented praise-poetry, noted here for directly requesting Indra to ‘settle’ lasting wealth upon him through stoma (hymnic service).
Famous verses
एतत्त इन्द्र वीर्यं गीर्भिर्गृणन्ति कारवः । ते स्तोभन्त ऊर्जमावन्घृतश्चुतं पौरासो नक्षन्धीतिभिः ॥यदिन्द्र राधो अस्ति ते माघोनं मघवत्तम । तेन नो बोधि सधमाद्यो वृधे भगो दानाय वृत्रहन् ॥वयं त इन्द्र स्तोमेभिर्विधेम त्वमस्माकं शतक्रतो । महि स्थूरं शशयं राधो अह्रयं प्रस्कण्वाय नि तोशय ॥Attributes of the deity
- Vīrya (heroic power)
- Vṛtrahan (obstruction-slayer)
- Maghavan (generous giver)
- Śatakratu (many-powered, many-skilled)
- Responsive to praise and insight (dhīti)
- Bestower of rādhas (grace/wealth) and ūrj (nourishing vigor)
Also by this seer
- Rigveda Mandala 8: several hymns in the Kāṇva collection are attributed to Kāṇva seers; Praskaṇva is linked with this Indra-sūkta (RV 8.54) by internal self-reference (8.54.8).
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the ritual space and kindle Agni (or maintain the sacred fire).
- Recite/chant the hymn as stoma (praise), emphasizing Indra’s vīrya and Vṛtrahan aspect.
- Invite Indra as sadhāmādya (companion in shared delight) and request his ‘awakening’ toward the sacrificers.
- Make the principal offering while repeating key petition-verses for rādhas (abundance) and ūrj (nourishment).
- Conclude with a stabilizing request: that the granted wealth be firm, secure, and undiminishing for the intended recipient (as in the Praskaṇva verse).
Offerings
- Soma libation (where applicable)
- Ghee/clarified butter (ājya)
- Grain cakes or oblations (puroḍāśa, context-dependent)
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Indra’s heroic power (vīrya) and says he is reached through inspired speech and luminous insight. It then asks Indra to turn toward the worshippers and grant stable, lasting prosperity.
Bhaga is the Vedic principle of ‘apportioning’ and good fortune. The hymn asks Indra to act in that Bhaga-like role—distributing gifts and wealth to the sacrificers.
Praskaṇva is the seer named in the final verse, associated with the Kāṇva lineage. The hymn ends by requesting Indra to establish a great, undiminishing abundance specifically for him.
Ask anything about Sukta 54 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
