Rig Veda Sukta 39
Mandala 3Sukta 399 Mantras

Sukta 39

Sukta 3.39

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional attribution for RV 3)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

このインドラへのトリシュトゥブ(Triṣṭubh)讃歌は、心から主へと立ち上る霊感に満ちた「思いの讃歌」(mati/stoma)を示し、祭主(供犠者)のうちにあるインドラ自身の力を認め、呼び覚ましてくださるよう願う。ついで、ナヴァグヴァ(Navagva)とダシャグヴァ(Daśagva)とともに隠された太陽を見いだしたというインドラの「真実の業」――闇から取り戻された光――を想起し、最後に現在の嘆願として、闘争における助力、妨げる者への勝利、そして富と安寧の獲得を求める。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.39

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • IndraMantras 1-7, 9

    Indra is the Maghavan (bountiful giver), nṛtama (most manly/heroic), the slayer of Vṛtra and other obstructions, and the discoverer of light, one who hears the call of praise and comes to the soma-pressing and the battle alike.

  • VasusMantra 8with Indra still in hymn-context, this verse explicitly names Vasus

Mantras

Mantra 1

इन्द्रं मतिर्हृद आ वच्यमानाच्छा पतिं स्तोमतष्टा जिगाति । या जागृविर्विदथे शस्यमानेन्द्र यत्ते जायते विद्धि तस्य ॥

インドラ(Indra)へと、心より発せられ、讃歌として彫琢された思念(mati)はまっすぐに赴き、主(pati)へと向かう。求めの会座(vidatha)において目覚め、光りつつ彼女は称えられる。「インドラよ、汝のうちに生まれ出づるもの—応答と力として—それを、われらの内に現れる汝自身の顕現として知れ」と。

Mantra 2

दिवश्चिदा पूर्व्या जायमाना वि जागृविर्विदथे शस्यमाना । भद्रा वस्त्राण्यर्जुना वसाना सेयमस्मे सनजा पित्र्या धीः ॥

天(divaḥ)よりさえ彼女は生まれる—古くしてなお新たしく。声に出して讃えられるとき、求めの会座(vidatha)において目覚め、ひろがりゆく。吉祥なる明るき衣をまとい、この祖霊より生まれし洞察(dhī)—父祖(pitṛ)において古来のもの—いまここに、われらのものとなる。

Mantra 3

यमा चिदत्र यमसूरसूत जिह्वाया अग्रं पतदा ह्यस्थात् । वपूंषि जाता मिथुना सचेते तमोहना तपुषो बुध्न एता ॥

まさにここにて、束縛する双子の力が生まれしところ、舌の最先の尖端は躍り出て、その座に立った。対をなす力として生まれた諸形相は、互いに結び合い合一する——これらは闇を殺す者、Tapas(苦行の熱・意志の凝熱)の深き基底に根ざす。

Mantra 4

नकिरेषां निन्दिता मर्त्येषु ये अस्माकं पितरो गोषु योधाः । इन्द्र एषां दृंहिता माहिनावानुद्गोत्राणि ससृजे दंसनावान् ॥

人々のうち、誰ひとりとして彼ら——われらの父祖、〈牛〉(光)の中で戦う勇士たち——をそしることはできぬ。偉大なる力を具えるインドラは彼らを堅固にし、成就の力(daṃsana)によって、囲い込まれた群れ(隠された光線)を上へと解き放った。

Mantra 5

सखा ह यत्र सखिभिर्नवग्वैरभिज्ञ्वा सत्वभिर्गा अनुग्मन् । सत्यं तदिन्द्रो दशभिर्दशग्वैः सूर्यं विवेद तमसि क्षियन्तम् ॥

友として、かの地にて友ら——ナヴァグヴァ(Navagva)——とともに、存在の力によって道を識り、彼らは光線(牛)に従って進んだ。まことにそれが真実である。インドラは十人——ダシャグヴァ(Daśagva)——とともに、闇のうちに住まう太陽を見いだした。

Mantra 6

इन्द्रो मधु सम्भृतमुस्रियायां पद्वद्विवेद शफवन्नमे गोः । गुहा हितं गुह्यं गूळ्हमप्सु हस्ते दधे दक्षिणे दक्षिणावान् ॥

インドラは、輝く牝牛(usriyā)のうちに集められた蜜を見いだした。道を知る者のごとく、蹄の跡において、光線の生の力のうちにそれを見いだした。洞窟に秘され、秘奥として水の中に隠されたそれを、彼は右の手に据えた――ダクシナー(dakṣiṇā)の力、正しき施与に富む者は。

Mantra 7

ज्योतिर्वृणीत तमसो विजानन्नारे स्याम दुरितादभीके । इमा गिरः सोमपाः सोमवृद्ध जुषस्वेन्द्र पुरुतमस्य कारोः ॥

光を選び、闇からそれを見分けつつ、苦難が近く迫るときにも、われらがそれより遠くあらんことを。ソーマを飲む者よ、ソーマにより増す者よ――インドラよ、多くの業をなす祭官のこの言葉を、どうか嘉納したまえ。

Mantra 8

ज्योतिर्यज्ञाय रोदसी अनु ष्यादारे स्याम दुरितस्य भूरेः । भूरि चिद्धि तुजतो मर्त्यस्य सुपारासो वसवो बर्हणावत् ॥

光が祭儀に随い、天と地(Rodasī)がそれに伴わんことを。われらが多くの苦難より遠くあらんことを。迫られる死すべき者には、まことに多くの圧迫がある。だがヴァスたち(Vasus)よ、汝らは善く渡らせる者、持ち上げ広げる力を帯びる。

Mantra 9

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

安寧のために、われらは施与豊かなインドラを呼ぶ。この戦いの担いの中で、豊穣(vāja)を勝ち取るに最も勇士なる者を。われらの声を聞き、助けのために猛き者として、諸戦陣においてヴリトラ(Vṛtra)なる障りを打ち倒し、財宝と福祉とを征服する者を。

Inside Sukta 39

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens with the heart-born inspired thought, fashioned into praise, going straight to Indra as Lord, asking him to recognize the power awakening through the rite.

  2. Development

    It develops Indra’s identity as helper and truth-worker, recalling the companionship of the Navagvas/Daśagvas and the pursuit of the ‘cows’ (rays), culminating in the discovery of the Sun hidden in darkness.

  3. Climax

    The revelation that Indra ‘found the Sun in the darkness’—a paradigmatic victory of truth and light over concealment—becomes the warrant for present assistance.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn closes with an urgent, practical invocation: may Indra hear, come fiercely to help in battles, slay the obstructers, and secure the conquerable riches for well-being.

The deity: Indra

  • Cosmic functionHe breaks the powers of confinement, releases the waters/light, and establishes the victory of ṛta (truth-order), enabling abundance and the reappearance of the Sun from darkness.
  • Inner significanceIndra symbolizes the awakened will and luminous force in the seeker that shatters inner inertia and doubt, recovers hidden clarity (the ‘Sun’), and turns inspired speech into effective power.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthin (Viśvāmitra-gotra) · A royal-turned-seer celebrated for forging powerful Indra hymns and for the Viśvāmitra tradition that unites poetic inspiration (mati) with effective ritual speech (stoma) to win divine help and illumination.

Famous verses

इन्द्रं मतिर्हृद आ वच्यमानाच्छा पतिं स्तोमतष्टा जिगाति । या जागृविर्विदथे शस्यमानेन्द्र यत्ते जायते विद्धि तस्य ॥
Verse 3.39.1Sets the hymn’s core theology of inspired speech: the heart-born mati, shaped as stoma, reaches Indra, and the divine power ‘born’ in response is recognized as Indra’s manifestation within the worshipper.Read verse 3.39.1 →
sūryaṃ viveda tamasi kṣiyantam
Verse 3.39.5A central mythic-illumination verse: Indra with the Navagvas/Daśagvas follows the rays and discovers the Sun dwelling in darkness—an emblem of recovering truth and light.Read verse 3.39.5 →
ghnantaṃ vṛtrāṇi
Verse 3.39.9Concluding petition that applies the myth to the present: Indra is invoked for well-being, victory in struggle, the slaying of vṛtras (obstacles), and the winning of riches/plenitude.Read verse 3.39.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Maghavan (generous bestower)
  • Vṛtra-han (slayer of obstruction)
  • Nṛtama (supreme hero)
  • Listener to prayer and praise
  • Finder/releaser of the hidden Sun/light
  • Giver of vāja (strength, plenitude, victory)

Also by this seer

  • Primary seer for much of Rigveda Maṇḍala 3 (Viśvāmitra family hymns)
  • RV 3.62.10 (Gāyatrī/“Sāvitrī” mantra) traditionally associated with the Viśvāmitra lineage
  • Numerous Indra, Agni, and related hymns in RV 3 attributed to the Viśvāmitras

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish a focused intention for protection, victory, and clarity.
  • Press/offer Soma (or its substitute in later practice) while reciting Indra praises; invite Indra as pati (Lord) of the hymn.
  • Recite the hymn with emphasis on inspired speech (mati) and truth (satya/ṛta), asking Indra to ‘know’ and awaken the power being born in the sacrificer.
  • Offer oblations and conclude with a direct petition for help in conflicts (samatsu), removal of obstacles (vṛtrāṇi), and attainment of riches (dhana).

Offerings

  • Soma libation (primary)
  • Ghee (ājya) oblations into Agni
  • Optional: milk/curd offerings in Indra context

Frequently Asked Questions

It teaches that sincere, well-shaped praise rising from the heart reaches Indra, who then awakens his power in the worshipper—breaking obstacles and bringing victory, abundance, and light.

They represent Indra’s companions in a truth-seeking quest where the ‘rays/cows’ are followed and the Sun is discovered hidden in darkness—an image for recovering lost light and clarity.

Traditionally it fits Indra-focused soma/fire rites for strength and success; in a simple recitation practice it is used to pray for courage, removal of inner blocks, and clear insight during difficult struggles.

Ask anything about Sukta 39 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play