Sukta 81
Sukta 8.81
This nine-verse hymn is a direct invitatory praise to Indra, asking him to come near and “grasp” for the worshippers a vivid, abundant share of power, wealth, and victorious force. It emphasizes the efficacy of right-handed action (dakṣiṇā), the sung sāman that Indra is urged to hear, and the swift arrival of Indra’s luminous vāja-s (plenitudes) to ripen growth and success.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
आ तू न इन्द्र क्षुमन्तं चित्रं ग्राभं सं गृभाय । महाहस्ती दक्षिणेन ॥
इंद्र, हमारे पास आ। अपने दाएँ हाथ से हमारे लिए वो चमकता हुआ शक्ति पकड़। तुम्हारा हाथ बड़ा है, उस्से हमें वो ताकत दे जो काम आए।
Mantra 2
विद्मा हि त्वा तुविकूर्मिं तुविदेष्णं तुवीमघम् । तुविमात्रमवोभिः ॥
हम जानते हैं तुम कैसे हो। तुम हर तरफ काम करते हो, बहुत देते हो, बड़ा धन वाले हो। तुम्हारी हिफाज़त हमें संभालती है, तुम नाप से बहुत बड़े हो।
Mantra 3
नहि त्वा शूर देवा न मर्तासो दित्सन्तम् । भीमं न गां वारयन्ते ॥
हे वीर, जब तुम देने का फैसला कर लेते हो, तो कोई तुम्हे रोक नहीं सकता। ना देव, ना इंसान, कोई नहीं। जैसे कोई भयंकर बैल को उसकी दौड़ में रोक नहीं सकता, वैसे ही तुम्हे भी कोई नहीं रोक सकता।
Mantra 4
एतो न्विन्द्रं स्तवामेशानं वस्वः स्वराजम् । न राधसा मर्धिषन्नः ॥
चलो, इंद्र की स्तुति करते हैं। वो ही धन का मालिक है, अपने आप का राजा है। उनकी देन से हम दबे नहीं, बल्कि उठें। वो अपनी देन हमपे सही से रखें।
Mantra 5
प्र स्तोषदुप गासिषच्छ्रवत्साम गीयमानम् । अभि राधसा जुगुरत् ॥
स्तुति बढ़ के चले, गाना पास आए। वो सुन लें जब गाना चल रहा हो। देन लेकर लोग उनके पास जाग उठें, खुशी में जुड़ जाएं।
Mantra 6
आ नो भर दक्षिणेनाभि सव्येन प्र मृश । इन्द्र मा नो वसोर्निर्भाक् ॥
दाएं हाथ से हमें दो, बाएं से भी सही करके भेजो। इंद्र, हमें धन से मत काटो, हमें खजाने से दूर मत करो।
Mantra 7
उप क्रमस्वा भर धृषता धृष्णो जनानाम् । अदाशूष्टरस्य वेदः ॥
पास आके दो, हिम्मत वाले। लोगों में तुम सबसे ज़्यादा डेयरिंग हो। तुम जानते हो उसका राज़ जो देता नहीं, उसका भी तुम्हे पता है कैसे निभाए।
Mantra 8
इन्द्र य उ नु ते अस्ति वाजो विप्रेभिः सनित्वः । अस्माभिः सु तं सनुहि ॥
इंद्र, जो शक्ति तुम्हारे पास है, वो रिशियों के साथ मिलने वाली है। हमें भी उस शक्ति को पाने का मौका दे दो। सही तरीके से हमें भी उसका हिस्सा बना दो।
Mantra 9
सद्योजुवस्ते वाजा अस्मभ्यं विश्वश्चन्द्राः । वशैश्च मक्षू जरन्ते ॥
तुम्हारी शक्तियाँ जल्दी से हमारे पास आती हैं। वो चमक रही हैं और आगे बढ़ रही हैं। अपनी ताकत से वो हमारा काम जल्दी पूरा करती हैं।
Inside Sukta 81
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A forceful invitation: Indra is summoned to “seize together” an abundant, radiant share for the worshippers by his effective right-handed power.
- Development
Praise intensifies through the medium of song—especially the sāman—stressing that Indra must hear and respond, and that worshippers draw near to him with offerings and expectation of bounty.
- Climax
The hymn reaches its peak in the vision of Indra’s swiftly moving, all-luminous vāja-s surging toward the sacrificer, empowered by mastery (vaśa) to bring quick fruition.
- Where it settles
It settles into assurance: Indra’s energies do not merely arrive, they “ripen” growth—turning invocation into increase, stability, and realized gain.
The deity: Indra
- Cosmic functionHe upholds order by overcoming obstructive forces, releasing vitality and prosperity, and empowering human endeavor with victorious energy and increase.
- Inner significanceIndra signifies awakened will-force and courageous clarity that breaks inner resistance, gathers scattered energies, and converts aspiration (song, praise) into tangible growth and accomplishment.
Famous verses
mahāhastī dakṣiṇena
प्र स्तोषदुप गासिषच्छ्रवत्साम गीयमानम् । अभि राधसा जुगुरत् ॥vājā asmabhyaṃ viśvaścandrāḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Vajra-bearing power and victory
- Swift responsiveness to invocation
- Giver of rādhas (bounty) and vāja (plenitude)
- Listener to sāman and praise
- Mighty-handed efficacy (dakṣiṇā as effective action)
Also by this seer
- Mandala 8 contains many Indra-focused hymns in a similar pragmatic, ritual-invitatory register; RV 8.81 participates in that Indra-stotra stream.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the sacred space and kindled fire (Agni) as the carrier of offerings.
- Open with an āvāhana-style call: invite Indra to come near and take his seat among the worshippers.
- Recite/sing the hymn with emphasis on audibility: “may he hear the sāman as it is being sung.”
- Make offerings while voicing requests for rādhas (bounty), vāja (plenitude), and victorious force.
- Conclude with a reaffirmation that Indra’s swift powers press toward the sacrificer, bringing ripening and increase.
Offerings
- Soma (where applicable in the broader rite)
- Ghee/clarified butter into the fire
- Grain-cakes or simple food offerings (anna) as customary adjuncts
- Libations (water/milk) according to household practice
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Indra to come near and actively secure for the worshippers a bright, abundant share of power, prosperity, and victorious strength.
Because the hymn treats sung praise as a key way to draw Indra close—he is urged to hear the sāman, and that hearing is linked to granting bounty (rādhas).
It describes Indra’s quickly moving forces of increase—energies that arrive fast, shine with fullness, and make the worshippers’ aims mature and succeed.
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