Rig Veda Sukta 54
Mandala 8Sukta 548 Mantras

Sukta 54

Sukta 8.54

Devata

Indra

Himne untuk Indra ini memuji vīrya (daya kepahlawanan) sang dewa sebagai sesuatu yang dicapai melalui ujaran yang terilhami dan wawasan bercahaya, sebagaimana “para leluhur” dahulu mencapainya. Lalu sang penyair mengubah pujian itu menjadi permohonan yang praktis: semoga Indra terjaga dan berpaling kepada para penyanyi sebagai sahabat dalam sukacita bersama, serta menegakkan bagi mereka kelimpahan yang teguh dan tak berkurang—terutama bagi Praskaṇva.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.54

Mantras

Mantra 1

एतत्त इन्द्र वीर्यं गीर्भिर्गृणन्ति कारवः । ते स्तोभन्त ऊर्जमावन्घृतश्चुतं पौरासो नक्षन्धीतिभिः ॥

Inilah vīrya-Mu, wahai Indra—daya kepahlawanan—yang dinyanyikan para kavi dengan gīr (kata-kata ilham). Mereka, melantunkan, meraih urj (tenaga pemelihara) yang menetes dengan ghee bercahaya; para purāsa, yang purba, mencapai-Mu dengan dhīti (wawasan yang terang).

Mantra 2

नक्षन्त इन्द्रमवसे सुकृत्यया येषां सुतेषु मन्दसे । यथा संवर्ते अमदो यथा कृश एवास्मे इन्द्र मत्स्व ॥

Mereka meraih Indra sebagai penolong melalui perbuatan benar—mereka yang dalam Soma yang diperasnya Engkau berkenan. Sebagaimana Engkau mabuk-suci pada putaran agung, sebagaimana pada masa yang serba kurus, demikian pula pada kami, wahai Indra, bersukacitalah dan curahkan daya-Mu.

Mantra 3

आ नो विश्वे सजोषसो देवासो गन्तनोप नः । वसवो रुद्रा अवसे न आ गमञ्छृण्वन्तु मरुतो हवम् ॥

Datanglah kepada kami, wahai semua dewa, seia-sekata; mendekatlah kepada kami. Semoga para Vasu dan para Rudra datang untuk menolong kami; semoga para Marut mendengar seruan kami.

Mantra 4

पूषा विष्णुर्हवनं मे सरस्वत्यवन्तु सप्त सिन्धवः । आपो वातः पर्वतासो वनस्पतिः शृणोतु पृथिवी हवम् ॥

Semoga Pūṣan dan Viṣṇu menjaga panggilan-persembahanku; semoga Sarasvatī dan Tujuh Sungai (Sapta Sindhu) meneguhkannya. Biarlah Perairan, Angin, Pegunungan, dan Penguasa Rimba (Vanaspati) mendengar; biarlah Bumi mendengar invokasi ini.

Mantra 5

यदिन्द्र राधो अस्ति ते माघोनं मघवत्तम । तेन नो बोधि सधमाद्यो वृधे भगो दानाय वृत्रहन् ॥

Wahai Indra, jika ada padamu kekayaan anugerah, wahai Maghavan yang paling dermawan; dengan itu bangunlah bagi kami, sahabat dalam sukacita bersama; bertumbuhlah di dalam kami sebagai Bhaga untuk penganugerahan, wahai pembunuh Vṛtra.

Mantra 6

आजिपते नृपते त्वमिद्धि नो वाज आ वक्षि सुक्रतो । वीती होत्राभिरुत देववीतिभिः ससवांसो वि शृण्विरे ॥

Wahai penguasa perlombaan, wahai raja manusia, engkaulah yang sungguh harus mengangkut kami menuju kepenuhan vāja, wahai yang bertekad jernih. Dengan persembahan-persembahan hotṛa kami dan dengan jalur persembahan yang dipimpin para dewa (devavīti), kami yang mendesak maju dibuat terdengar luas.

Mantra 7

सन्ति ह्यर्य आशिष इन्द्र आयुर्जनानाम् । अस्मान्नक्षस्व मघवन्नुपावसे धुक्षस्व पिप्युषीमिषम् ॥

Sebab sungguh ada anugerah mulia dalam Indra: umur panjang dan daya pengangkat bagi manusia. Wahai Maghavan, tuntunlah kami menuju pertolongan yang dekat; curahkanlah ke dalam kami kepenuhan yang bertumbuh dari gizi yang menyenangkan.

Mantra 8

वयं त इन्द्र स्तोमेभिर्विधेम त्वमस्माकं शतक्रतो । महि स्थूरं शशयं राधो अह्रयं प्रस्कण्वाय नि तोशय ॥

Kami akan berbakti kepada-Mu, wahai Indra, dengan kidung-kidung pujian; Engkaulah milik kami, wahai Śatakratu. Tegakkan bagi Praskaṇva suatu kelimpahan yang agung, kukuh, tak menyusut; buatlah ia menetap padanya sebagai milik yang aman.

Inside Sukta 54

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by declaring Indra’s vīrya as the subject of inspired song: seers ‘sing’ it with sacred speech and attain nourishing energy through insight.

  2. Development

    Praise becomes a means of approach: the ‘ancients’ reached Indra by dhīti (luminous thought), and the present singers seek the same access and results—ūrj and rādhas.

  3. Climax

    A direct conditional petition: if Indra possesses rādhas as the supreme giver, let him awaken toward the worshippers and become Bhaga-like in bestowing gifts (8.54.5).

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn closes with confident service through hymns and a concrete request: Indra should establish a great, solid, undiminishing abundance as a secure possession for Praskaṇva (8.54.8).

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is celebrated as the foremost heroic power—Vṛtrahan (slayer of obstruction), Śatakratu (of a hundred powers/works), and Maghavan (bountiful giver)—who responds to praise (stoma/gir) with strength, protection, and gifts.
  • Cosmic functionBreaker of cosmic obstruction and releaser of life-sustaining forces (waters, light, nourishment); champion of ṛta by restoring movement, victory, and increase.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened force of will and courage that breaks inner inertia, clears mental ‘coverings,’ and converts inspiration into effective action and abundance.

The seer

  • Praskaṇva (Kāṇva)Kāṇva (Kanva family line) · A Kāṇva seer associated with Mandala 8’s Indra-oriented praise-poetry, noted here for directly requesting Indra to ‘settle’ lasting wealth upon him through stoma (hymnic service).

Famous verses

एतत्त इन्द्र वीर्यं गीर्भिर्गृणन्ति कारवः । ते स्तोभन्त ऊर्जमावन्घृतश्चुतं पौरासो नक्षन्धीतिभिः ॥
Verse 8.54.1States the hymn’s core theology: Indra’s heroic power is accessed through inspired speech and luminous insight, yielding nourishing energy (ūrj) likened to ghee/dripping brightness.Read verse 8.54.1 →
यदिन्द्र राधो अस्ति ते माघोनं मघवत्तम । तेन नो बोधि सधमाद्यो वृधे भगो दानाय वृत्रहन् ॥
Verse 8.54.5Central petition-verse linking Indra’s generosity (rādhas, Maghavan) with his ‘awakening’ to the sacrificers and his function as Bhaga (the distributor of shares) for giving.Read verse 8.54.5 →
वयं त इन्द्र स्तोमेभिर्विधेम त्वमस्माकं शतक्रतो । महि स्थूरं शशयं राधो अह्रयं प्रस्कण्वाय नि तोशय ॥
Verse 8.54.8Concluding, highly personal request: the worshippers serve Indra with hymns and ask him to ‘settle’ firm, undiminishing wealth upon Praskaṇva—showing the pragmatic aim of the stuti.Read verse 8.54.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vīrya (heroic power)
  • Vṛtrahan (obstruction-slayer)
  • Maghavan (generous giver)
  • Śatakratu (many-powered, many-skilled)
  • Responsive to praise and insight (dhīti)
  • Bestower of rādhas (grace/wealth) and ūrj (nourishing vigor)

Also by this seer

  • Rigveda Mandala 8: several hymns in the Kāṇva collection are attributed to Kāṇva seers; Praskaṇva is linked with this Indra-sūkta (RV 8.54) by internal self-reference (8.54.8).

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the ritual space and kindle Agni (or maintain the sacred fire).
  • Recite/chant the hymn as stoma (praise), emphasizing Indra’s vīrya and Vṛtrahan aspect.
  • Invite Indra as sadhāmādya (companion in shared delight) and request his ‘awakening’ toward the sacrificers.
  • Make the principal offering while repeating key petition-verses for rādhas (abundance) and ūrj (nourishment).
  • Conclude with a stabilizing request: that the granted wealth be firm, secure, and undiminishing for the intended recipient (as in the Praskaṇva verse).

Offerings

  • Soma libation (where applicable)
  • Ghee/clarified butter (ājya)
  • Grain cakes or oblations (puroḍāśa, context-dependent)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Indra’s heroic power (vīrya) and says he is reached through inspired speech and luminous insight. It then asks Indra to turn toward the worshippers and grant stable, lasting prosperity.

Bhaga is the Vedic principle of ‘apportioning’ and good fortune. The hymn asks Indra to act in that Bhaga-like role—distributing gifts and wealth to the sacrificers.

Praskaṇva is the seer named in the final verse, associated with the Kāṇva lineage. The hymn ends by requesting Indra to establish a great, undiminishing abundance specifically for him.

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