Sukta 89
Sukta 8.89
Gautama (Gautama family context continues into 8.89 in many traditions; exact assignment should be confirmed in Anukramaṇī)
Trishtubh (probable; verify in critical edition)
This short hymn calls the Maruts to sing a “bṛhat” (vast) praise that awakens Indra, the Vṛtra-slayer, so he may release light, waters, and the wide luminous realm (svaḥ). Across the verses Indra is urged to advance boldly, split open the obstructing power, and set the cosmic order in motion—sun, waters, and truth-strengthening energies moving together. The purpose is both ritual (to invigorate Indra for victory and rain) and inner (to rouse the divine force that breaks inertia and brings clarity).
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
बृहदिन्द्राय गायत मरुतो वृत्रहन्तमम् । येन ज्योतिरजनयन्नृतावृधो देवं देवाय जागृवि ॥
मरुत्स, बड़ा गाना गाओ इंद्र के लिए। वो दुश्मनों को हराने वाला सबसे बड़ा है। तुमने उसके साथ मिलके रोशनी पैदा की। सच को बढ़ाने वाले हो तुम। भगवान को जगाओ ताकि वो हमारे अंदर आए।
Mantra 2
अपाधमदभिशस्तीरशस्तिहाथेन्द्रो द्युम्न्याभवत् । देवास्त इन्द्र सख्याय येमिरे बृहद्भानो मरुद्गण ॥
इंद्र ने दुश्मनों की हरकतें हटा दी, अंधेरा भगा दिया। फिर इंद्र चमक उठा। देवता उसके दोस्त बन गए। मरुत सेना के साथ वो चमक रहा था।
Mantra 3
प्र व इन्द्राय बृहते मरुतो ब्रह्मार्चत । वृत्रं हनति वृत्रहा शतक्रतुर्वज्रेण शतपर्वणा ॥
मरुत्स, बड़ा मंत्र लाओ इंद्र के लिए। वो दुश्मन को मारने वाला है। वज्र लेकर वो वृत्र को गिरा देता है। उसकी इच्छा बहुत ताकतवर है।
Mantra 4
अभि प्र भर धृषता धृषन्मनः श्रवश्चित्ते असद्बृहत् । अर्षन्त्वापो जवसा वि मातरो हनो वृत्रं जया स्वः ॥
हिम्मत से आगे बढ़ो, दिल में दम रखो। तुम्हारी बड़ाई फैलेगी। पानी तेज़ी से बहने लागो, माता जैसा फैलो। वृत्र को मारो, जीत हमारी होगी।
Mantra 5
यज्जायथा अपूर्व्य मघवन्वृत्रहत्याय । तत्पृथिवीमप्रथयस्तदस्तभ्ना उत द्याम् ॥
जब इंद्र पैदा हुआ, तब एक नई बात हुई। दुश्मन मारना था उसका काम। तब उसने धरती को फैला दिया, आसमान को ऊपर संभाल लिया।
Mantra 6
तत्ते यज्ञो अजायत तदर्क उत हस्कृतिः । तद्विश्वमभिभूरसि यज्जातं यच्च जन्त्वम् ॥
तुम्हारा यज्ञ पैदा हुआ, तुम्हारे गीत बन गए, और तुम्हारी शक्ति काम करने लगी। इससे तुम सबसे बड़े हो गए। जो पैदा हो चुका है और जो अभी पैदा होने वाला है, सब पे तुम्हारा राज है।
Mantra 7
आमासु पक्वमैरय आ सूर्यं रोहयो दिवि । घर्मं न सामन्तपता सुवृक्तिभिर्जुष्टं गिर्वणसे बृहत् ॥
तुम कच्चे से पक्का निकालते हो। तुम सूरज को आसमान में चढ़ा देते हो। जैसे गर्मी गाना बन जाती है, तुम सच्चाई को चमका देते हो। हम अपने शब्दों से तुम्हारी पूजा करते हैं।
Inside Sukta 89
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The Maruts are urged to sing a vast hymn to Indra, awakening the Vṛtra-slayer who brings forth light and strengthens truth (ṛta).
- Development
The hymn intensifies into direct imperatives: Indra is pressed to advance with daring mind; fame is to become vast; the waters and ‘Mothers’ are to surge and spread as obstruction is struck down.
- Climax
The decisive breakthrough imagery: Vṛtra is to be slain and svaḥ (the luminous world) won—cosmic opening through force and right-ordered power.
- Where it settles
Indra’s transformative capacity is affirmed: he ripens what is unripe, sets the Sun in heaven, and is pleased by well-made hymns—ending in sustained praise and divine welcome to the sacrificer’s speech.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaThe Maruts appear as truth-increasing (ṛtāvṛdhaḥ) storm-powers whose chant and force accompany Indra’s victory.
- Cosmic functionBreaker of cosmic blockage: he cleaves the withholding power, releases rivers/rains, restores movement, and establishes the shining expanse where sun and order can stand.
- Inner significanceIndra symbolizes the awakened will and victorious clarity that shatters inner constriction (fear, inertia, confusion), releasing the ‘waters’ of life-force and the ‘light’ of discernment; the Maruts represent the surging energies of breath, ardor, and inspired speech that support this breakthrough.
The seer
- Gautama (Gautama family)Gautama gotra (Āṅgirasa stream in later tradition) · A prominent Vedic seer-lineage associated with hymns of inspired praise and with the articulation of ṛta (cosmic order) through potent speech.
Famous verses
bṛhad indrāya gāyata
hano vṛtraṃ jayā svaḥ
आमासु पक्वमैरय आ सूर्यं रोहयो दिवि । घर्मं न सामन्तपता सुवृक्तिभिर्जुष्टं गिर्वणसे बृहत् ॥Attributes of the deity
- Vṛtra-slayer (obstruction-breaker)
- Bringer of light (jyotiḥ-janaka motif)
- Liberator of waters (āpāṃ mocaka)
- Winner of svaḥ (luminous realm)
- Girvāṇas (delighting in inspired utterance)
- Allied with Maruts (storm-host, singers, energizers)
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda family corpus associated with Gautamas (multiple hymns across the Saṃhitā are attributed to Gautama-descended seers in Anukramaṇī traditions).
- Later Vedic-Itihāsa memory preserves Gautama as an archetypal brahmarṣi associated with tapas and disciplined insight (distinct strands exist; exact RV hymn mapping varies by recension and Anukramaṇī).
The rite, step by step
- Āvāhana: invite Indra and the Maruts through loud, expansive praise (bṛhat).
- Stuti: recount Indra’s Vṛtra-slaying and light-bringing deeds; emphasize ṛta and the release of waters.
- Preraṇa (urging): address Indra with imperatives—advance boldly, make fame vast, strike the obstructer, win svaḥ.
- Saṃyoga: invoke supporting powers (Maruts/waters/mothers) to ‘rush’ and spread, mirroring the cosmic opening.
- Nivedana: offer oblations while reciting key verses; request protection, victory, and luminous increase.
- Śānti/Upasaṃhāra: conclude with well-fashioned speech (suvṛkti) seeking Indra’s continued favor and presence.
Offerings
- Soma (where applicable)
- Ghṛta (ghee oblations)
- Puroḍāśa/anna offerings (context-dependent)
- Voice-offering: stotra/uktha as the primary ‘bṛhat’ gift
Frequently Asked Questions
Indra is the primary deity. The Maruts are closely involved as his allied storm-host and as the singers who help awaken and energize him.
It urges Indra to advance boldly, strike down Vṛtra (the power of obstruction), release the waters, bring forth light, and win svaḥ—the wide luminous realm.
Beyond a cosmic battle, it can be read as breaking inner blockage—fear, inertia, or confusion—so that clarity (light) and life-force (waters) can flow freely under the guidance of ṛta (right order).
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