Rig Veda Sukta 50
Mandala 8Sukta 5010 Mantras

Sukta 50

Sukta 8.50

Rishi

Kaṇva (Kāṇva family; common for RV 8.50)

Devata

Indra (Śakra)

Chandas

Jagatī (probable; needs verification)

Kidung ini merupakan pujian dan undangan bergaya Kāṇva kepada Indra, sang pemenang termasyhur yang dermawan, yang meluaskan kemakmuran si pelaksana yajña dan menjamin keberhasilan dalam perlombaan maupun dalam ritus. Kidung ini berulang kali mengaitkan kedahsyatan Indra dengan pemerasan Soma dan kedermawanan, memohon agar Ia melipatgandakan kekayaan yang diinginkan “seakan-akan dengan curahan seribu kali lipat”, serta membuka “sapi-sapi” yang bercahaya (cahaya/anugerah) bagi sang penyanyi, sebagaimana Ia dahulu melakukannya bagi para resi terdahulu.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.50

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र सु श्रुतं सुराधसमर्चा शक्रमभिष्टये । यः सुन्वते स्तुवते काम्यं वसु सहस्रेणेव मंहते ॥

Nyanyikanlah dengan lantang kepada Yang Perkasa, termasyhur dan kaya dalam pemberian yang benar, demi kemenangan dan pemenuhan kami. Dialah yang kepada pemeras (Soma) dan pemuji menganugerahkan harta yang diinginkan, seakan-akan dengan curahan seribu kali lipat.

Mantra 2

शतानीका हेतयो अस्य दुष्टरा इन्द्रस्य समिषो महीः । गिरिर्न भुज्मा मघवत्सु पिन्वते यदीं सुता अमन्दिषुः ॥

Seratus mata tajam senjatanya, sukar ditembus; luaslah daya pendorong Indra. Laksana gunung yang besar dan lebar ia mengembang di antara para dermawan, ketika tetes-tetes Soma yang diperas membuatnya menyala oleh sukacita.

Mantra 3

यदीं सुतास इन्दवोऽभि प्रियममन्दिषुः । आपो न धायि सवनं म आ वसो दुघा इवोप दाशुषे ॥

Ketika tetesan yang diperas—Indu (Soma)—telah menyukakan-Nya menuju yang terkasih, maka persembahanku ditegakkan, laksana air yang mengalir. Wahai Vasu (Yang Kaya), mendekatlah kepada sang pemberi, sebagaimana sapi perah mendekat untuk mencurahkan aliran yang menyehatkan.

Mantra 4

अनेहसं वो हवमानमूतये मध्वः क्षरन्ति धीतयः । आ त्वा वसो हवमानास इन्दव उप स्तोत्रेषु दधिरे ॥

Wahai Yang Kaya, ketika kami memanggil-Mu untuk pertolongan, pikiran-pikiran kami yang tercerahkan meneteskan kemanisan, laksana madu-anggur. Tetesan perasan ini, memanggil-Mu, menempatkan Engkau di sini—dekat, di dalam kidung-kidung pujian kami—agar daya-Mu bekerja dalam kesadaran.

Mantra 5

आ नः सोमे स्वध्वर इयानो अत्यो न तोशते । यं ते स्वदावन्त्स्वदन्ति गूर्तयः पौरे छन्दयसे हवम् ॥

Datanglah kepada kami, wahai Soma, bergerak dalam yajña yang tertata benar, laksana kuda pacu yang tak dapat ditahan. Ucapan-ucapan yang terlafaz baik mengecap kemanisan-Mu; dan dalam kepenuhan keberadaan, Engkau berkenan pada seruan kami.

Mantra 6

प्र वीरमुग्रं विविचिं धनस्पृतं विभूतिं राधसो महः । उद्रीव वज्रिन्नवतो वसुत्वना सदा पीपेथ दाशुषे ॥

Majukanlah Sang Pahlawan yang dahsyat, sang pembedah (viviçi), peraih kekayaan (dhanaspṛt), kelimpahan yang meluas dari kepenuhan agung. Wahai pemegang vajra, laksana gelombang yang mengangkat, Engkau senantiasa menambah bagi si pemberi (dāśuṣ) dengan daya-kekayaan sejati (vasutvanā).

Mantra 7

यद्ध नूनं परावति यद्वा पृथिव्यां दिवि । युजान इन्द्र हरिभिर्महेमत ऋष्व ऋष्वेभिरा गहि ॥

Entah kini Engkau di kejauhan, entah di bumi, entah di langit; dengan menambatkan kekuatan-kekuatan keemasanmu (hari), wahai Indra, datanglah kepada maksud agung kami; wahai Yang Mahatinggi, datanglah dengan energi-energi yang tinggi.

Mantra 8

रथिरासो हरयो ये ते अस्रिध ओजो वातस्य पिप्रति । येभिर्नि दस्युं मनुषो निघोषयो येभिः स्वः परीयसे ॥

Kekuatan-kekuatan keemasanmu (hari), teguh di kereta, tak terpatahkan, meneguk daya angin. Dengan mereka Engkau membungkam Dasyu dalam manusia; dengan mereka Engkau mengitari Svar, dunia bercahaya, menaklukkan hamparan luas cahaya.

Mantra 9

एतावतस्ते वसो विद्याम शूर नव्यसः । यथा प्राव एतशं कृत्व्ये धने यथा वशं दशव्रजे ॥

Wahai Vasu (Yang Kaya), wahai Śūra (Pahlawan), sejauh inilah kami hendak mengenal-Mu kembali sebagai yang selalu baru: bagaimana Engkau mengedepankan Etaśa dalam jerih payah perebutan harta, bagaimana Engkau mengeluarkan Vaśa dari kurungan berlipat sepuluh.

Mantra 10

यथा कण्वे मघवन्मेधे अध्वरे दीर्घनीथे दमूनसि । यथा गोशर्ये असिषासो अद्रिवो मयि गोत्रं हरिश्रियम् ॥

Seperti kepada Kaṇva, wahai Maghavan (Yang Dermawan), dalam yajña dan adhvara Engkau menjadi penguasa kebijaksanaan yang menuntun jauh, wahai Damūnas; demikian pula bagi Gośarya Engkau berjuang untuk memenangkan: pada diriku pun menangkan ‘kawanan’ yang bercahaya—sinar-sinar yang terkurung, pembawa kemilau daya-daya keemasan (hari).

Inside Sukta 50

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct summons to sing to Indra the renowned, right-giving Mighty One for victory and the fulfillment of aims.

  2. Development

    The hymn amplifies Indra’s heroic power and discerning force, portraying him as the finder and multiplier of riches who responds to Soma and praise by enlarging the worshiper’s prosperity.

  3. Climax

    Indra is invoked at the height of his thunderbolt potency as the ever-increasing patron of the giver—an overflowing surge of wealth and strength granted to the devoted sacrificer.

  4. Where it settles

    The poet anchors the request in lineage-memory: as Indra favored Kaṇva and others, so may he now open for the singer the radiant ‘herd’—the enclosed wealth/light—securing a lasting share.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is celebrated as Śakra (the Mighty), Maghavan (the Bounteous), and Vajrin (wielder of the thunderbolt), a heroic power who conquers obstacles, releases riches, and rewards the Soma-presser and the praiser. He is invoked as the discerner and finder of wealth, expanding the sacrificer’s portion and granting victory and fulfillment.
  • Cosmic functionHe upholds the order of the world through victorious force: breaking restraints, opening the ‘cows’ (light/wealth), and establishing the flow of life-sustaining plenty in alliance with the sacrifice and Soma.
  • Inner significanceIndra signifies the awakened will and victorious energy in the seeker—courage, clarity, and decisive power that breaks inner limitations and releases the ‘hidden wealth’ of insight, strength, and joy.

The seer

  • Kaṇva (Kāṇva family seer)Kāṇva gotra / Kāṇva lineage · A principal seer-line of the Rig Veda noted for vigorous Indra hymns that unite praise (stuti), Soma-ritual power, and requests for victory and abundance; RV 8 frequently preserves Kāṇva voices and exemplars.

Famous verses

sahasreṇeva maṃhate
Verse 8.50.1Sets the hymn’s purpose and tone: praise to Śakra for victory and fulfillment, emphasizing Indra’s thousandfold-style generosity to the Soma-presser and praiser.Read verse 8.50.1 →
प्र वीरमुग्रं विविचिं धनस्पृतं विभूतिं राधसो महः । उद्रीव वज्रिन्नवतो वसुत्वना सदा पीपेथ दाशुषे ॥
Verse 8.50.6A concentrated portrait of Indra as heroic, formidable, discerning, and wealth-finding; it links his vajra-power to the steady increase of the sacrificer’s prosperity.Read verse 8.50.6 →
gotraṃ hariśriyam
Verse 8.50.10Concludes with a lineage-based appeal, citing Indra’s past favor to Kaṇva and asking him to ‘win’ for the poet the hariśriya ‘gotra’—symbolically the radiant cows/boons released by divine power.Read verse 8.50.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Mighty (śakra), heroic (vīra), formidable (ugra)
  • Bounteous giver (maghavan), increaser of the worshiper’s portion
  • Thunderbolt wielder (vajrin), breaker of obstacles
  • Friend of Soma and the sacrifice; responds to pressing and praise
  • Opener/releaser of ‘cows’ (rays/wealth), bestower of victory

Also by this seer

  • Numerous hymns in Rig Veda Mandala 8 are attributed to the Kāṇvas (family collection).
  • Kāṇva tradition is closely associated with Indra-Soma praise and with poetic formulae of dāna (gift) and rayi (wealth).
  • The name Kaṇva appears within hymns as a paradigmatic recipient of Indra’s favor, functioning as a remembered model for later singers.

The rite, step by step

  • Preparation of the altar and fires; establishment of ritual order (ṛta) and intention for victory/fulfillment.
  • Soma pressing (sunvat) and purification; recitation of Indra-invoking verses alongside praise (stuti).
  • Offering of Soma to Indra with accompanying mantras, inviting his might and generosity to ‘increase the giver.’
  • Petition for desired wealth and the opening/releasing of boons (‘cows’/light), modeled on Indra’s favors to earlier seers (e.g., Kaṇva).
  • Concluding praise and reaffirmation of Indra’s patronage over the sacrificer and community.

Offerings

  • Soma (primary libation)
  • Ghee/clarified butter (supporting oblation in the fire rite)
  • Optional: sacrificial fee/gifts (dakṣiṇā) aligned with the hymn’s dāna theme

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks Indra for victory and the fulfillment of aims, especially through abundant gifts—wealth, strength, and protection—granted to the Soma-presser and the praiser.

In the Vedic ritual imagination, Soma and stuti “call” Indra and strengthen his presence; the hymn says he responds to this devotion by increasing the sacrificer’s prosperity and success.

Literally it evokes a ‘herd/enclosure’ that is radiant with tawny splendor; symbolically it points to the release of hidden boons—like cows as wealth or rays as light—opened by Indra for the worshiper.

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