Rig Veda Sukta 34
Mandala 3Sukta 3411 Mantras

Sukta 34

Sukta 3.34

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (RV 3.34 traditionally)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

この讃歌は、因陀羅を「城砦を破る者」として讃える。彼は聖なる言葉(brahman)に力づけられ、ダーサ/ダシュユの抵抗を打ち倒し、敵を四散させ、聖見者たちに真の富を勝ち取らせる。さらに、その行為の偉大さと正しさ――曲がったものをまっすぐにし、抗しがたい力で征服すること――を称え、結びには戦いの祈願として、因陀羅が祈る者の声を聞き、争いと繁栄において助けるよう求める。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.34

Mantras

Mantra 1

इन्द्रः पूर्भिदातिरद्दासमर्कैर्विदद्वसुर्दयमानो वि शत्रून् । ब्रह्मजूतस्तन्वा वावृधानो भूरिदात्र आपृणद्रोदसी उभे ॥

インドラ、城塞を砕く者は、燃え立つ讃歌によってダーサを越え、敵どもを散らした。まことの富を見いだし、贈り物を注ぎ出す。ブラフマン(聖なる言葉)に駆り立てられ、自らの力の身において増大し、寛大なる施与者は天と地、その両界を満たした。

Mantra 2

मखस्य ते तविषस्य प्र जूतिमियर्मि वाचममृताय भूषन् । इन्द्र क्षितीनामसि मानुषीणां विशां दैवीनामुत पूर्वयावा ॥

われは汝の威力の駆り立つ速さを前へと掲げ、言葉を不死のために飾り立てる。おおインドラよ、汝は人の住まいの主、また神なる諸族の主である。汝は先頭に立ち、道を導く者。

Mantra 3

इन्द्रो वृत्रमवृणोच्छर्धनीतिः प्र मायिनाममिनाद्वर्पणीतिः । अहन्व्यंसमुशधग्वनेष्वाविर्धेना अकृणोद्राम्याणाम् ॥

インドラは、突撃の首領ヴリトラをあらわにし、幻術師たちのさまざまな形を打ち砕いた――正しく形づくる者として。森の中で塞ぐ者を撃ち、光り輝く牛群を顕現させた――野に動き出る歓喜の贈りものを。

Mantra 4

इन्द्रः स्वर्षा जनयन्नहानि जिगायोशिग्भिः पृतना अभिष्टिः । प्रारोचयन्मनवे केतुमह्नामविन्दज्ज्योतिर्बृहते रणाय ॥

インドラは太陽の界を勝ち取り、日々を生み出した。燃える求道者たちとともに戦を征し、突入における助け手となった。彼はマヌのために昼日のしるしを輝かせ、偉大な戦いのために広大なる光を見いだした。

Mantra 5

इन्द्रस्तुजो बर्हणा आ विवेश नृवद्दधानो नर्या पुरूणि । अचेतयद्धिय इमा जरित्रे प्रेमं वर्णमतिरच्छुक्रमासाम् ॥

インドラ――駆り立て、広げる者――は入り来たり、人を高める力を担っている、数多く多様に。彼は歌い手にこれらの思惟を目覚めさせ、彼らのためにこの澄みわたる光輝を推し進めた――魂の諸力の輝く色合いを。

Mantra 6

महो महानि पनयन्त्यस्येन्द्रस्य कर्म सुकृता पुरूणि । वृजनेन वृजिनान्त्सं पिपेष मायाभिर्दस्यूँरभिभूत्योजाः ॥

インドラの業は大いにして偉大、世の人はそれを讃える――よく成し遂げられた数多の働き。まっすぐに正す力によって、曲がり歪んだものを粉砕し、諸々のマーヤー(māyā)によって、制しがたい威力をもってダシュユ(Dasyu)を打ち伏せる。

Mantra 7

युधेन्द्रो मह्ना वरिवश्चकार देवेभ्यः सत्पतिश्चर्षणिप्राः । विवस्वतः सदने अस्य तानि विप्रा उक्थेभिः कवयो गृणन्ति ॥

インドラは戦いによって、またその偉大さによって、神々のために広き道を開いた――真実の主、諸民を成就させる者。ヴィヴァスヴァト(Vivasvat)の座における彼のそれらの業を、霊感ある賢者たち、詩人たちはウクタ(uktha)の讃歌によって歌い上げる。

Mantra 8

सत्रासाहं वरेण्यं सहोदां ससवांसं स्वरपश्च देवीः । ससान यः पृथिवीं द्यामुतेमामिन्द्रं मदन्त्यनु धीरणासः ॥

常に勝ち抜く者、選ばるべき尊者、力を授ける者;天の光スヴァル(svar)と神聖なる水を勝ち得た者。大地と天とこの世界を制したその者に従い、堅固なる思いはインドラに歓喜する。

Mantra 9

ससानात्याँ उत सूर्यं ससानेन्द्रः ससान पुरुभोजसं गाम् । हिरण्ययमुत भोगं ससान हत्वी दस्यून्प्रार्यं वर्णमावत् ॥

彼は疾き駿馬を勝ち得、また太陽をも勝ち得た。インドラは豊かな享受をもたらす牝牛を勝ち得、黄金の歓喜と充溢とを勝ち得た。ダスユを討ち滅ぼして前進し、アーリヤの光輝(varṇa)を護った。

Mantra 10

इन्द्र ओषधीरसनोदहानि वनस्पतीँरसनोदन्तरिक्षम् । बिभेद वलं नुनुदे विवाचोऽथाभवद्दमिताभिक्रतूनाम् ॥

インドラは癒しの薬草と日々とを顕現させ、森の主たちと中空(antarikṣa)とを顕現させた。彼はヴァラ(Vala)を打ち割り、言葉を乱す者どもを追い払った。かくして彼は、敵対する意志を馴致する者、悪しき企てを鎮める者となった。

Mantra 11

शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥

この戦い、この豊穣の獲得において、われらは福をもたらす寛大なるインドラを、最も雄々しき者を呼び招こう。われらの声を聞き、援けのために猛く、戦場にてヴリトラ(Vṛtra)どもを打ち倒し、財宝を集める勝利者たれ。

Inside Sukta 34

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Indra is hailed as the fort-breaker who crosses over the Dāsa with hymns, discovers true riches, and fills heaven and earth—his power is explicitly linked to brahman (inspired Word).

  2. Development

    The hymn enlarges Indra’s profile through a catalogue of mighty, well-wrought deeds: he straightens what is crooked, crushes hostile forces, and prevails through unmastered might and strategic ‘masteries’ (māyā).

  3. Climax

    The celebration of Indra’s irresistible efficacy—his capacity to grind down the crooked and overcome Dasyus—presents him as the decisive agent of ṛta’s victory.

  4. Where it settles

    The poets turn praise into petition: may Indra hear, come as fierce helper in struggles, strike down Vṛtras, and secure the winnings and wealth for the worshippers.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is celebrated as pūrbhid (breaker of strongholds), vṛtrahan (slayer of Vṛtra), maghavan (bounteous), and the champion who expands heaven and earth by his force, guided by brahman and praised by arká (flaming hymns).
  • Cosmic functionHe releases and reorders obstructed powers—waters, light, and abundance—by breaking constriction, defeating hostile forces, and restoring the straight path of ṛta (right order).
  • Inner significanceIndra represents the awakened will and luminous courage that breaks inner ‘fortresses’ of fear, inertia, and falsehood; brahman-inspired clarity empowers decisive action that turns chaos into ordered strength.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthin (Viśvāmitra gotra / Kauśika lineage in later tradition) · A royal-turned-seer famed for mastering brahman (mantric power) and for Indra-focused hymns that link victory and prosperity to inspired speech; later tradition also remembers him as a key figure in the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) mantra’s transmission.

Famous verses

brahmajūtas ("impelled by brahman")
Verse 3.34.1Sets the hymn’s thesis: Indra as fort-breaker who defeats Dāsa opposition through arká and is ‘driven by brahman,’ linking victory to sacred speech and cosmic expansion.Read verse 3.34.1 →
महो महानि पनयन्त्यस्येन्द्रस्य कर्म सुकृता पुरूणि । वृजनेन वृजिनान्त्सं पिपेष मायाभिर्दस्यूँरभिभूत्योजाः ॥
Verse 3.34.6Condenses Indra’s ethical-cosmic role: his ‘straightening power’ crushes the crooked, and his overpowering force subdues Dasyus—an emblem of restoring ṛta.Read verse 3.34.6 →
śunaṃ huvema ("may we invoke for good fortune")
Verse 3.34.11Powerful concluding invocation asking Indra to hear and help in battles/struggles, to slay Vṛtras, and to gather riches—often treated as the practical prayer of the sukta.Read verse 3.34.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Fort-breaker (pūrbhid)
  • Conqueror of Vṛtra and foes
  • Bounteous giver of wealth (maghavan, bhūridātra)
  • Strength that ‘straightens the crooked’
  • Responsive to hymns and brahman
  • Battle-aid and winner of prizes (vājasāti)

Also by this seer

  • Rigveda Maṇḍala 3 (a large portion is attributed to the Viśvāmitra family)
  • Hymns to Indra, Agni, and the Viśve Devāḥ across RV 3
  • Association in later śrauta-smārta memory with the Gāyatrī/Sāvitrī tradition (non-Rigvedic attribution in later literature)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fire and seat the rite with introductory invocations.
  • Recite/chant the Triṣṭubh verses as Indra-stuti, emphasizing Indra as pūrbhid and vṛtrahan.
  • State the intention: removal of obstacles, scattering of foes, winning of vāja (plenitude/prize).
  • Offer oblations while repeating key epithets (maghavan, ugram, bhūridātra).
  • Conclude with a direct request for hearing and aid in samatsu (battles/struggles) and for the gathering of riches.

Offerings

  • Soma (where applicable)
  • Ghṛta (ghee) oblations
  • Havis (simple food offerings)
  • Optional: iṣṭi-style offerings aligned to Indra (as per local śrauta practice)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Indra’s power to break obstacles and defeat hostile forces, and it asks him to grant victory, protection, and wealth. A key idea is that Indra’s triumph is invoked and strengthened through inspired sacred speech (brahman).

In Vedic poetry these often symbolize opposing powers that block light, order, and prosperity—whether enemies in conflict or inner obstacles. Indra is celebrated as the one who breaks such “strongholds” and restores the straight path.

It can be recited as a prayer before difficult efforts—exams, disputes, competitions, or inner struggles—asking for courage, clarity, and the removal of obstacles. Traditionally it also fits Indra-focused offerings, especially in soma-related contexts.

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