Rig Veda Sukta 23
Mandala 7Sukta 236 Mantras

Sukta 23

Sukta 7.23

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Dalam himne Triṣṭubh enam bait ini, Vasiṣṭha (juga berbicara atas nama klan Vasiṣṭha) mengangkat doa-doa pertempuran yang membawa kemenangan kepada Indra, memohon agar Ia mendengar, datang segera, serta menganugerahkan kekuatan, kemasyhuran, dan perlindungan. Himne ini mengaitkan pujian yang terilhami secara benar dengan ṛta (kebenaran/tatanan kosmis), menggambarkan Indra sebagai daya yang meluas, yang membagikan vāja (daya kemenangan, kelimpahan) kepada mereka yang mendekat dengan dhī (pikiran tercerahkan). Penutupnya berupa berkat singkat: semoga Indra menegakkan kemakmuran yang kaya para pahlawan dan kaya ternak, dan semoga para penjaga ilahi memelihara para pemuja dalam kesejahteraan yang lestari.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.23

Mantras

Mantra 1

उदु ब्रह्माण्यैरत श्रवस्येन्द्रं समर्ये महया वसिष्ठ । आ यो विश्वानि शवसा ततानोपश्रोता म ईवतो वचांसि ॥

Angkatlah mantra-mantra demi meraih kemasyhuran yang didengar; agungkan Indra dalam pertempuran, wahai Vasiṣṭha. Dia yang dengan dayanya telah membentangkan segala sesuatu—semoga datang sebagai pendengar bagi kata-kataku yang penuh hasrat.

Mantra 2

अयामि घोष इन्द्र देवजामिरिरज्यन्त यच्छुरुधो विवाचि । नहि स्वमायुश्चिकिते जनेषु तानीदंहांस्यति पर्ष्यस्मान् ॥

Kulepaskan seruan ini, wahai Indra, kerabat para dewa, ketika belenggu-belenggu yang memusuhi berbicara terpisah dan mengacaukan. Sebab di antara manusia tiada yang sungguh mengenali batas umurnya sendiri; maka seberangkanlah kami melampaui penyempitan dan kekeliruan ini.

Mantra 3

युजे रथं गवेषणं हरिभ्यामुप ब्रह्माणि जुजुषाणमस्थुः । वि बाधिष्ट स्य रोदसी महित्वेन्द्रो वृत्राण्यप्रती जघन्वान् ॥

Untuk pengikatan, kereta yang mencari Sinar-sinar disiapkan dengan dua kuda kuning keemasan; mantra-mantra berdiri dekat, menyambutnya. Dengan kebesarannya ia memisahkan dua dunia; Indra, yang menumpas segala rintangan tanpa tandingan, telah membebaskan jalan.

Mantra 4

आपश्चित्पिप्युः स्तर्यो न गावो नक्षन्नृतं जरितारस्त इन्द्र । याहि वायुर्न नियुतो नो अच्छा त्वं हि धीभिर्दयसे वि वाजान् ॥

Bahkan air pun telah meluap, seperti sapi yang melenguh, mencapai Kebenaran; demikian pula para pemujimu, wahai Indra, telah sampai pada hukum yang benar (ṛta). Datanglah kepada kami seperti Vāyu dengan kekuatan-kekuatan yang terpasang; sebab dengan pikiran-pikiran yang bercahaya engkau membagikan kelimpahan daya (vāja).

Mantra 5

ते त्वा मदा इन्द्र मादयन्तु शुष्मिणं तुविराधसं जरित्रे । एको देवत्रा दयसे हि मर्तानस्मिञ्छूर सवने मादयस्व ॥

Semoga ekstasi-eksatasi sukacita ini memabukkanmu, wahai Indra—perkasa dalam daya, luas dalam kemurahan—demi sang penyanyi. Engkau seoranglah, di jalan ilahi, yang menganugerahkan rahmat kepada manusia fana; dalam pemerasan soma ini, wahai pahlawan, nikmatilah kegembiraanmu dan bertambah.

Mantra 6

एवेदिन्द्रं वृषणं वज्रबाहुं वसिष्ठासो अभ्यर्चन्त्यर्कैः । स नः स्तुतो वीरवद्धातु गोमद्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Demikianlah para Vasiṣṭha melantunkan kidung-kidung pujian kepada Indra, Sang Banteng, berlengan vajra. Semoga Ia—yang dipuji—menganugerahkan kepada kami kekayaan sinar dan kekayaan daya kepahlawanan; dan semoga kalian, para penjaga ilahi, senantiasa melindungi kami dengan kesejahteraan.

Inside Sukta 23

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A deliberate ‘raising’ of mantras for śravas (renown) and a direct request that Indra listen closely to the poet’s eager words.

  2. Development

    Indra is described as the force that has ‘stretched out all things’; the hymn then aligns the singers with ṛta, using the image of swelling waters/cows to show praise reaching truth and fullness.

  3. Climax

    The urgent invitation: Indra is called to come swiftly—like Vāyu with yoked powers—because through dhī (illumined thought) he apportions vāja (effective might and plenitude).

  4. Where it settles

    The Vasiṣṭhas collectively acclaim Indra as bull and thunder-armed, asking for hero-rich, cattle-rich prosperity and ending with a standing prayer for continual svasti and protection.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is praised as vṛṣan (the Bull), vajrabāhu (thunder-armed), the hearer of hymns and the decisive victor in samarya (battle/contest), who by sheer śavas (force) stretches out and sustains the worlds.
  • Cosmic functionHe embodies the conquering, world-ordering power that breaks obstruction, releases the life-giving flows, and apportions vāja—strength, victory, and abundance—to the aligned worshipper.
  • Inner significanceIndra signifies the awakened will and courageous intelligence that overcomes inner resistance, opens blocked energies, and turns inspired thought (dhī) into effective power and achievement.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Vasiṣṭhāsaḥ, the Vasiṣṭha family of seers) · One of the foremost ṛṣis of the Rigveda, celebrated for powerful Indra-hymns and for articulating ṛta through inspired speech; traditionally famed as a paradigmatic Brahmarṣi and royal priest (purohita).

Famous verses

upashrotā me īvato vacāṃsi
Verse 7.23.1Sets the hymn’s purpose: victorious praise seeking fame and Indra’s attentive hearing; it frames Indra as the cosmic expander and the immediate listener to prayer.Read verse 7.23.1 →
tvaṃ hi dhībhir dayase vi vājān
Verse 7.23.4Central theological pivot: praise and waters ‘reach ṛta’; Indra is urged to come swiftly and is defined as the one who distributes vāja through dhī.Read verse 7.23.4 →
vṛṣaṇaṃ vajrabāhum
Verse 7.23.6Concluding communal voice of the Vasiṣṭhas; a compact request for vīra and go wealth and an enduring blessing of svasti/protection.Read verse 7.23.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vajra-wielder (thunderbolt power)
  • Victor in battle and giver of fame (śravas)
  • Listener and responder to prayer (upashrotā)
  • Distributor of vāja (force, plenitude, winning)
  • Upholder of ṛta through right action and right praise
  • Protector who grants svasti (well-being)

Also by this seer

  • Major portions of Rigveda Maṇḍala 7 (Vasiṣṭha Maṇḍala)
  • Noted Rigvedic hymns to Indra, Agni, Varuṇa-Mitra, and the Maruts within Maṇḍala 7
  • Later tradition associates Vasiṣṭha with Vasiṣṭha-dharma materials and the Vasiṣṭha Smṛti (attributional tradition)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fire and seat of offering; establish intention for victory and protection.
  • Recite the opening praise to ‘raise up’ brahmāṇi (formulated mantras) and invite Indra as the attentive hearer.
  • Offer oblations while chanting verses that connect praise with ṛta and request Indra’s swift approach.
  • Reaffirm Indra’s might (vṛṣan, vajrabāhu) and explicitly ask for vāja, heroic offspring/companions (vīra), and cattle/wealth (go).
  • Conclude with a benediction for ongoing svasti and protective oversight by the divine powers.

Offerings

  • Soma (where applicable)
  • Ghee/clarified butter (ājya)
  • Grain-cakes or simple food offerings (puroḍāśa, regional practice)
  • Water libations alongside praise (symbolically echoed by the hymn’s swelling waters imagery)

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks Indra to hear the poets’ prayers, come swiftly in times of contest, and grant vāja (winning strength), fame, wealth (especially cattle), heroic support, and lasting well-being (svasti).

The image shows praise and devotion becoming full and effective—like waters swelling—until they ‘reach ṛta,’ meaning they align with the right order that makes Indra’s gifts and victories possible.

It can be recited as an Indra-stuti before difficult work or competition, with a small fire or lamp and a ghee offering (or even simple water libation), focusing on courage, clarity (dhī), and protection.

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