Sukta 5
Rishi: RV-derived Indra-Soma tradition (AV 20 compilation layer).
Devata: Indra (with Soma as instrument/vehicle)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (RV-parallel may differ; AV transmission often regularizes)
AV 20.5はインドラ—ソーマの増力（加勢）讃歌であり、ソーマがインドラの内に入り、彼を包み込み、勝利の威力へと駆り立てる力として描かれる。詩節は、インドラの強制・駆動（その「鞭／突き棒」）がソーマを搾る者へと及び、富と勇気、戦いに勝つ決意をもたらすこと、さらに神的なマナス（意・心）が祭儀の主体に堅固に植え付けられることを祈願する。
Kind of charm
Mantras
Mantra 1
अ॒यमु॑ त्वा विचर्षणे॒ जनी॑रिवा॒भि संवृ॑तः । प्र सोम॑ इन्द्र सर्पतु
このソーマはまことに、広く見通すインドラ（Indra）よ、女が抱きしめるように汝を包み抱く。進みゆけ、ソーマよ、インドラよ、その内へと滑り入れ。
Mantra 2
तु॒वि॒ग्रीवो॑ व॒पोद॑रः सुबा॒हुरन्ध॑सो॒ मदे॑ । इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ जिघ्नते
強き頸、満ちた腹、たくましき腕——ソーマ汁の歓喜の中で——インドラ（Indra）はヴリトラ（Vṛtra）ども、塞ぐ敵を打ち倒す。
Mantra 3
इन्द्र॒ प्रेहि॑ पु॒रस्त्वं विश्व॒स्येशा॑न॒ ओज॑सा ।वृ॒त्राणि॑ वृत्रहं जहि
インドラよ、われらの前に進み出でよ――力によって万有の主なる者よ。諸ヴリトラ（Vṛtra）を打ち砕け、ヴリトラ殺しよ、彼らを討ち滅ぼせ。
Mantra 4
दी॒र्घस्ते॑ अस्त्वङ्कु॒शो येना॒ वसु॑ प्र॒यच्छ॑सि । यज॑मानाय सुन्व॒ते
汝の鉤杖（ゴード）よ、長くあれ――それによって汝は富を、祭主に、ソーマを搾る者に授ける。
Mantra 5
अ॒यं त॑ इन्द्र॒ सोमो॒ निपू॑तो॒ अधि॑ ब॒र्हिषि॑ । एही॑म॒स्य द्रवा॒ पिब॑
インドラよ、汝のためのこのソーマ（Soma）は――よく清められて――バルヒス（祭草）の上に置かれている。来たれ；そこへ駆け寄れ；それを飲め。
Mantra 6
शाचि॑गो॒ शाचि॑पूजना॒यं रणा॑य ते सु॒तः। आख॑ण्डल॒ प्र हू॑यसे
力の主よ、力により讃えられる者よ。この搾りしソーマ（Soma）は、戦いのために汝のもの。破れざる者（Ākhaṇḍala）よ、汝は高らかに呼ばれる。
Mantra 7
यस्ते॑ शृङ्गवृषो नपा॒त् प्रण॑पात् कुण्ड॒पाय्यः॑ । न्यस्मिन्दध्र॒ आ मनः॑
角ある牡牛——汝の子、さらに力ある子、鉢を飲む者——は、この（人）の上にその心を据えた。
Inside Sukta 5
How it unfolds
- How it opens
Begins with Soma addressed as an intimate, enveloping power entering Indra—like a spouse’s embrace—initiating invigoration (20.5.1).
- What it asks
That Indra, activated by Soma, extend his compelling ‘goad’ to drive wealth and success to the Soma-presser and sacrificer (notably 20.5.4).
- Where its power lies
The hymn repeatedly treats Soma as the operative force that makes Indra effective—penetrating, impelling, and guaranteeing results for the patron through Indra’s agency.
- How it closes
Concludes by fixing divine mind/resolve upon ‘this one,’ sealing courage and steadiness in the ritual subject (20.5.7).
Famous verses
janīr ivābhi saṃvṛtaḥ
dīrghas te astv aṅkuśaḥ
ny asmindadhra ā manaḥ
Kind of hymn
Paustika (invigoration) / Royal-heroic (Indra empowerment)
What it is for
Invigoration through Soma leading to victory, compelling acquisition of wealth, and firm courageous intention (manas) in the patron/agent.
Who it is for
Soma-pressing yajamāna and his ritual specialist (Atharvanic priest), especially patrons seeking victory, dominance, and prosperity.
Also used as
- Royal-heroic empowerment
- Bala (strength/resolve)
- Saubhagya/Śrī (prosperity-gaining)
The deity
Indra is the paradigmatic kingly victor: breaker of obstacles, giver of spoils, and stabilizer of courage. Soma functions here as the penetrating, enveloping sacramental power that enters Indra (and by extension the empowered agent) and activates triumph and largesse.
Powers of the deity
- Bestows victory and martial efficacy
- Grants wealth, cattle, and spoils to the patron
- Removes obstacles and hostile pressures
- Stabilizes courage, resolve (manas), and dominance
- Responds to Soma-pressing and praise with increased power
Why the deity is called
To drive Soma’s energizing force into Indra so that Indra, fully “filled,” compels prosperity and victory for the Soma-presser and implants steadfast resolve in the ritual subject.
The seer
- RV-derived Indra–Soma seer-line (Rigvedic source, Atharvavedic compilation)Angiras. Indra–Soma invigoration and royal-heroic empowerment charms: strengthening resolve (manas), compelling success, drawing wealth to the patron through Soma-liturgical force.
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 20.1–20.6 (Indra–Soma RV-parallel compilation layer, broadly)
- Related RV Indra–Soma stotra cycles preserved in AV 20 (general RV-derived stratum)
Preparing for the rite
- Prepare a clean pressing/offerings space; establish a focused, martial intention for the patron.
- Arrange Soma (or a Soma-substitute in later practice) and a drinking vessel (kuṇḍa/cup).
- Seat the patron facing east; steady breath and mind before recitation.
The rite
- Recite the hymn over the prepared Soma/cup, visualizing Soma ‘wrapping’ and entering Indra (and the patron as Indra-like).
- Offer/raise the Soma-cup while reciting the ‘goad/wealth’ petition, directing the boon toward the yajamāna who presses Soma.
- Conclude by touching the patron’s chest/head (manas-seat) to ‘set down’ resolve, aligning with the closing implantation motif.
What it needs
- Soma (or ritually acceptable substitute)
- Pressing implements (if applicable)
- Soma vessel/cup (kuṇḍa)
- Clean water for purification (optional)
When
Ideally during Soma-related rites or before contests/royal undertakings; also suitable at dawn or prior to a decisive action.
The main substance
Soma (pressed/raised in a vessel)
Amulets
- Soma vessel/cup (kuṇḍa) as a functional ritual implement; optionally kept as a consecrated object for repeated empowerment
How it is prepared
Press and filter Soma according to rite (or prepare a sanctioned substitute); pour into a clean cup, recite while holding/raising it, then ritually offer or partake as appropriate to the tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions
For invigoration and royal-heroic success—strengthening courage and dominance, winning contests, and drawing prosperity to the Soma-presser through Indra’s favor.
Because Soma is treated as the activating instrument: it ‘enters’ and empowers Indra, and that energized Indra then grants victory and wealth to the patron.
It is a metaphor of compulsion and direction—Indra’s power to drive outcomes (especially wealth and success) toward the sacrificer who performs Soma-pressing and praise.
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