Rig Veda Sukta 74
Mandala 10Sukta 746 Mantras

Sukta 74

Sukta 10.74

Devata

Vasus (collective luminous powers); implicitly the divine helpers in attainment

Kidung ini memuji kekuatan-kekuatan bercahaya secara kolektif (Vasus) sebagai para penolong ilahi yang beraneka, yang melaluinya para pencari mencapai kepenuhan—melalui tapa batin yang tekun, wawasan yang tercerahkan, dan tindakan yajña yang menyatukan Langit dan Bumi. Lalu kidung ini beralih kepada Indra sebagai daya penentu yang memungkinkan penyeberangan menuju “perbendaharaan” kaya akan cahaya dan kelimpahan, menegaskan banyak kuasa-Nya serta kemampuan-Nya menuntaskan apa yang dicari sang aspirant.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.74

Mantras

Mantra 1

वसूनां वा चर्कृष इयक्षन्धिया वा यज्ञैर्वा रोदस्योः । अर्वन्तो वा ये रयिमन्तः सातौ वनुं वा ये सुश्रुणं सुश्रुतो धुः ॥

Sebagian dari Vasu berjuang dengan kerja batin yang menyala; sebagian meraih dengan dhī (pikiran-terang), atau dengan yajña yang menyatukan Langit dan Bumi. Sebagian adalah kuda-kuda cepat dari keberadaan, kaya akan rayi, memenangkan kepenuhan dalam penaklukan; sebagian lain memanggul “pendengaran-baik” dan “pendengaran-benar”—daya-daya yang…

Mantra 2

हव एषामसुरो नक्षत द्यां श्रवस्यता मनसा निंसत क्षाम् । चक्षाणा यत्र सुविताय देवा द्यौर्न वारेभिः कृणवन्त स्वैः ॥

Seruan kekuatan-kekuatan ini menjangkau Langit; dengan batin yang merindu pendengaran sejati mereka menyentuh dan membentuk Bumi. Memandang jalan menuju suvita (kesejahteraan/kelapangan yang baik), para dewa di sana menegakkan keluasan mereka sendiri, sebagaimana Langit ditegakkan oleh penopang-penopangnya yang semestinya.

Mantra 3

इयमेषाममृतानां गीः सर्वताता ये कृपणन्त रत्नम् । धियं च यज्ञं च साधन्तस्ते नो धान्तु वसव्यमसामि ॥

Inilah nyanyian yang menjangkau segala arah dari para amerta (yang tak-mati) yang memelihara ratna (harta/permata anugerah). Mereka menyempurnakan baik dhi (wawasan-cerah) maupun yajña (kurban suci); semoga mereka menegakkan dalam diri kami sifat Vasu—semoga kami berada dalam kepenuhan itu.

Mantra 4

आ तत्त इन्द्रायवः पनन्ताभि य ऊर्वं गोमन्तं तितृत्सान् । सकृत्स्वं ये पुरुपुत्रां महीं सहस्रधारां बृहतीं दुदुक्षन् ॥

Menuju itu, wahai Indra, para pencarimu mendesak maju—mereka yang hendak menyeberang ke lumbung penuh yang kaya akan sinar-sinar pengetahuan. Mereka yang sekali membangunkan Bumi mereka sendiri—yang luas, banyak-keturunan, beribu-aliran dan agung—membuatnya memerah, menumpahkan kelimpahannya.

Mantra 5

शचीव इन्द्रमवसे कृणुध्वमनानतं दमयन्तं पृतन्यून् । ऋभुक्षणं मघवानं सुवृक्तिं भर्ता यो वज्रं नर्यं पुरुक्षुः ॥

Wahai para pemilik śacī (daya-tindak yang benar), jadikanlah Indra penolong kami—ia yang tak menunduk, yang menundukkan para pejuang di dalam. Ia, Ṛbhukṣaṇ, Maghavan yang dermawan, tuan atas ucapan yang baik; ia memanggul vajra yang gagah-perkasa, Purukṣu, yang luas daya pertumbuhannya.

Mantra 6

यद्वावान पुरुतमं पुराषाळा वृत्रहेन्द्रो नामान्यप्राः । अचेति प्रासहस्पतिस्तुविष्मान्यदीमुश्मसि कर्तवे करत्तत् ॥

Ketika, wahai yang perkasa, Indra sang pembunuh Vṛtra, pemukul yang purba, meluaskan banyak namanya dalam kepenuhan, maka tampaklah sang tuan daya yang unggul dalam kekuatannya: apa pun yang kami kehendaki ia lakukan, itulah yang dapat ia selesaikan.

Inside Sukta 74

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by classifying the Vasus as diverse divine agencies of attainment—some strive by intense inner labor, others by dhī (illumined thought), others by yajña that joins Heaven and Earth.

  2. Development

    It expands the image of attainment as a conquest: swift “steeds” rich in rayi, and faculties of true hearing that carry inspiration; the seekers press toward a full store of light/knowledge.

  3. Climax

    Indra is invoked as the power by which one ‘crosses over’ to the rich store, and the wide Earth is made to yield abundance—an image of released plenitude through awakened power.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends by affirming Indra’s manifested might and many names: whatever the aspirant truly seeks him to accomplish, he is capable of doing—confidence in effective divine action.

The deity: Vasus

  • In the VedaThe Vasus are “bright ones,” supportive powers associated with elemental and luminous forms (e.g., earth, fire, dawn-light, cosmic order), frequently invoked as helpers who uphold the worlds and strengthen sacrifice. In this hymn they appear as multiple modes of divine aid—some as intense inner striving, some as inspired intelligence, some as sacrificial powers joining Heaven and Earth; Indra stands forth as the effective champion who makes the passage to fullness possible.
  • Cosmic functionThey stabilize and sustain the cosmic order and the worlds (Heaven–Earth), distribute wealth/‘rayi’ and strength, and empower the yajña so that abundance and victory can be won.
  • Inner significancePsychologically, the Vasus signify the luminous faculties that build the seeker’s capacity—discipline (inner labor), insight (dhī), and consecrated action (yajña). Indra represents the breakthrough-force that defeats obstruction (Vṛtra) and releases the ‘cows/rays’—clarity, energy, and plenitude—into consciousness.

Famous verses

वसूनां वा चर्कृष इयक्षन्धिया वा यज्ञैर्वा रोदस्योः । अर्वन्तो वा ये रयिमन्तः सातौ वनुं वा ये सुश्रुणं सुश्रुतो धुः ॥
Verse 10.74.1Programmatic verse: it lays out the hymn’s central teaching—attainment comes through multiple divine modes (inner labor, illumined thought, yajña) and through faculties that ‘hear rightly’ and bear true inspiration.Read verse 10.74.1 →
आ तत्त इन्द्रायवः पनन्ताभि य ऊर्वं गोमन्तं तितृत्सान् । सकृत्स्वं ये पुरुपुत्रां महीं सहस्रधारां बृहतीं दुदुक्षन् ॥
Verse 10.74.4Key transition to Indra and the ‘crossing’ motif: seekers press toward the full store (ūrva) rich in rays/knowledge, and the awakened Earth yields abundance—strong imagery for realized plenitude.Read verse 10.74.4 →
यद्वावान पुरुतमं पुराषाळा वृत्रहेन्द्रो नामान्यप्राः । अचेति प्रासहस्पतिस्तुविष्मान्यदीमुश्मसि कर्तवे करत्तत् ॥
Verse 10.74.6Concluding assurance: Indra as Vṛtrahan manifests supreme might and fulfills what is desired—summarizing the hymn’s confidence in divine efficacy against obstruction.Read verse 10.74.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Luminous sustaining powers
  • Multiple paths of attainment: tapas-like effort, dhī (illumined thought), yajña (sacrificial integration)
  • Bestowers of rayi (plenitude/wealth/light)
  • World-upholding (linking Heaven and Earth)
  • Indra as Vṛtrahan: obstacle-slayer, accomplisher of the desired work

Also by this seer

  • Attribution of RV 10.74 is not securely fixed in the traditional indices
  • The hymn’s style aligns with late Ṛgvedic (Mandala 10) reflective compositions that integrate ritual, psychology, and cosmic symbolism.

The rite, step by step

  • Ācamana and saṅkalpa: state the intention—seeking rayi, victory, and unobstructed progress.
  • Kindle/attend the āhavanīya fire (or lamp) and establish a calm, attentive dhī (focused thought).
  • Recite the sūkta sequentially (6 mantras), pausing after key lines to internalize the three means: inner labor, illumined thought, and yajña.
  • Offer oblations while reciting verses that speak of joining Heaven and Earth and of crossing to the rich store (ūrva gomant).
  • Conclude with a brief Indra-invocation (as Vṛtrahan) asking for removal of obstacles and fulfillment of the intended work.
  • Śānti/closing: silent gratitude and dedication of the fruit of the recitation.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into fire
  • Soma (where ritually appropriate) or symbolic libation (water/milk)
  • Grains (barley/rice) as simple havis
  • Optional: fragrant offering (samidh/incense)

Frequently Asked Questions

Here the Vasus are portrayed as collective luminous helpers—powers that support a seeker through discipline, inspired understanding (dhī), and sacrificial action (yajña) that harmonizes Heaven and Earth.

The Vasus represent supportive modes of progress, but Indra is invoked as the decisive force that breaks obstruction (Vṛtra) and enables the final ‘crossing’ into fullness, victory, and abundance (rayi).

It is a Vedic image for reaching a state of secured plenitude—light/knowledge, strength, and resources—after overcoming limits; outwardly it can mean prosperity and success, inwardly it means clearer, empowered consciousness.

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