Rig Veda Sukta 46
Mandala 3Sukta 465 Mantras

Sukta 46

Sukta 3.46

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional, Mandala 3)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (very likely)

この短いインドラ讃歌は、雷霆を携える主を讃える。彼は自ら主権を備え、常に若々しくしかも老いぬ牡牛であり、その英雄的な業は広大で、広く名高い。インドラはあらゆる尺度を溢れさせ、天・地・中空をも凌駕すると描かれる。祭儀は、調えられ捧げられたソーマによって結ばれ、彼がそれを飲み、守護と勝利の力を強めるようにと願う。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.46

Mantras

Mantra 1

युध्मस्य ते वृषभस्य स्वराज उग्रस्य यूनः स्थविरस्य घृष्वेः । अजूर्यतो वज्रिणो वीर्याणीन्द्र श्रुतस्य महतो महानि ॥

インドラよ、汝のものなるは、戦う牡牛・自ら王たる者・猛き者・若くしてなお堅き者・突進の烈しき者の英雄の力なり。老いざる金剛(ヴァジュラ)を執る者の武威――名高き大能者の大いなる業は、まことに大いなり。

Mantra 2

महाँ असि महिष वृष्ण्येभिर्धनस्पृदुग्र सहमानो अन्यान् । एको विश्वस्य भुवनस्य राजा स योधया च क्षयया च जनान् ॥

汝は大いなる者、雄々しき大力者よ。男らしき力によりて、猛く、富を奪い取り、他を圧し伏す。汝ひとり、万有の生成の王なり。汝は人々を戦へと駆り、また安住の住処に据え置くこともできる。

Mantra 3

प्र मात्राभी रिरिचे रोचमानः प्र देवेभिर्विश्वतो अप्रतीतः । प्र मज्मना दिव इन्द्रः पृथिव्याः प्रोरोर्महो अन्तरिक्षादृजीषी ॥

彼はその尺度に満ちあふれて輝き、四方より進み出でて、神々をも超え、抗しがたし。直く奮い進むインドラは、その広大さによって増し、天と地を越え、中空界の広き大いなるものをも越ゆ。

Mantra 4

उरुं गभीरं जनुषाभ्युग्रं विश्वव्यचसमवतं मतीनाम् । इन्द्रं सोमासः प्रदिवि सुतासः समुद्रं न स्रवत आ विशन्ति ॥

広く深く、生まれながらにして猛く、万方に遍く、諸思を扶ける者——搾り出されたソーマ(Soma)の流れは、高天においてインドラ(Indra)へと入りゆく、走る水が海へ注ぐがごとく。

Mantra 5

यं सोममिन्द्र पृथिवीद्यावा गर्भं न माता बिभृतस्त्वाया । तं ते हिन्वन्ति तमु ते मृजन्त्यध्वर्यवो वृषभ पातवा उ ॥

インドラよ、大地と天は、母が胎児を抱くように、汝のためにそのソーマ(Soma)を宿し支える——アドヴァリュ(Adhvaryu)らはそれを汝のために駆り立て、汝のために清める。雄牛よ、汝が飲まんがために。

Inside Sukta 46

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Indra’s heroic powers are proclaimed—battle-ready, self-ruling, fierce, and unaging in might (vajrin).

  2. Development

    His radiance and force are described as overflowing all measures; he advances irresistibly and surpasses cosmic bounds (heaven, earth, and midspace).

  3. Climax

    Indra’s immeasurable greatness is affirmed—his expansion and supremacy are set as the hymn’s revelation of divine magnitude.

  4. Where it settles

    The ritual returns to the offering: Soma, upheld by Heaven and Earth like a mother’s child, is pressed and cleansed for Indra to drink—sealing praise into sacrificial action.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is praised as the vajrin (wielder of the thunderbolt), the battling Bull, self-sovereign (svarāj), fierce yet radiant, whose great deeds are ‘great’ and far-famed. He is depicted as overflowing all measures and advancing irresistibly, exceeding even the gods in might.
  • Cosmic functionChampion of ṛta through victory over obstructive forces; releaser of waters/light, giver of strength, protection, and success in conflict; recipient of Soma that fuels divine power.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened force of courage and decisive will that breaks inner obstruction, expands consciousness beyond limiting ‘measures,’ and channels purified vitality (Soma) into clear, victorious action.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthina (Kauśika/Viśvāmitra lineage; traditionally associated with the Bharadvāja–Viśvāmitra mandala complex) · A royal-turned-seer celebrated for powerful Indra hymns and for shaping the spiritual authority of the Viśvāmitra tradition within the Rig Veda.

Famous verses

svarāja (self-sovereign) / vajriṇo vīryāṇi (heroic powers of the thunderbolt-bearer)
Verse 3.46.1Defines Indra’s core epithets—bull-like, self-sovereign, vajra-wielding—and frames the hymn as a celebration of his famed heroic deeds.Read verse 3.46.1 →
प्र मात्राभी रिरिचे रोचमानः प्र देवेभिर्विश्वतो अप्रतीतः । प्र मज्मना दिव इन्द्रः पृथिव्याः प्रोरोर्महो अन्तरिक्षादृजीषी ॥
Verse 3.46.3Expresses the hymn’s central vision of Indra’s immeasurable expansion—overflowing measures and surpassing heaven, earth, and the midspace.Read verse 3.46.3 →
garbhaṃ na mātā bibhṛtaḥ (borne like a child by its mother)
Verse 3.46.5Anchors the praise in ritual reality: Soma is borne by Heaven and Earth and is set in motion and purified by priests for Indra to drink.Read verse 3.46.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vajra-bearer (vajrin)
  • Bull-like strength (vṛṣabha)
  • Self-sovereign (svarāj)
  • Irresistible and expansive beyond measure
  • Unaging power; youthful vigor with firm steadiness
  • Protector and victory-giver
  • Soma-drinker, energized by the offering

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (many Indra- and Agni-sūktas) are traditionally ascribed to the Viśvāmitra family.
  • Hymnic themes of Indra’s cosmic vastness, victory, and Soma-invocation recur across RV 3 in the Viśvāmitra corpus.
  • Later tradition strongly associates Viśvāmitra with the Gāyatrī mantra (RV 3.62.10), though this sukta is specifically an Indra praise-hymn.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare Soma (pressing/expressing) and purify it (straining/cleansing).
  • Recite the hymn to invoke Indra as vajrin and vṛṣabha, recalling his famed heroic deeds.
  • Offer the purified Soma with appropriate libations, inviting Indra to drink.
  • Conclude with petitions for empowerment—victory, protection, and expansive strength for the sacrificer and community.

Offerings

  • Soma juice (pressed, strained, and offered)
  • Ghee/libations (as customary accompaniments in Indra rites)

Frequently Asked Questions

It proclaims Indra’s unmatched, immeasurable power—he overflows all limits—and it directs that praise into the Soma offering so Indra may drink and empower the sacrificer.

It is a poetic way of saying Indra cannot be contained by ordinary limits: his might and radiance surpass even the cosmic domains of heaven, earth, and the midspace.

Soma is the purified offering prepared by the priests; it is upheld by Heaven and Earth and then pressed and cleansed so Indra, the Bull, may drink and become fully invigorated.

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