Rig Veda Sukta 28
Mandala 4Sukta 285 Mantras

Sukta 28

Sukta 4.28

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional for RV 4.28)

Devata

Indra-Soma (Indra empowered by Soma)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

この短い讃歌は、ソーマと親密に結び合うインドラを讃え、ヴリトラという障碍を討ち、マヌと人々のために生命をもたらす七つの河(諸水)を解き放った古典的勝利を想起する。ソーマの鼓舞し霊感を与える力と、インドラの決断的な威力とが結び付けられ、両者は封じられたものを破り開き、敵対する抵抗を払い、そして「牝牛の野」(光明の知と豊穣)を広げる。目的は、祭儀において同じ共同の力を招き、外と内の塞がれた水路を開いて、正しい道を通行可能にすることである。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.28

Mantras

Mantra 1

त्वा युजा तव तत्सोम सख्य इन्द्रो अपो मनवे सस्रुतस्कः । अहन्नहिमरिणात्सप्त सिन्धूनपावृणोदपिहितेव खानि ॥

汝を同じ轭の友として、その友誼において、ソーマよ、インドラはマヌのために水々を流れ出させた。彼は締めつける者を打ち倒し、七つの河を解き放ち、塞がれていた水路を、覆いを取り去るかのように開いた。

Mantra 2

त्वा युजा नि खिदत्सूर्यस्येन्द्रश्चक्रं सहसा सद्य इन्दो । अधि ष्णुना बृहता वर्तमानं महो द्रुहो अप विश्वायु धायि ॥

インドゥよ、汝を轭(くびき)の伴として、インドラはその力により太陽の輪を押し伏せた。広大なる頂において巡り動きつつ、彼は万有の生命から大いなる虚偽と敵意を払い、より真なる光明が全存在を治めるようにした。

Mantra 3

अहन्निन्द्रो अदहदग्निरिन्दो पुरा दस्यून्मध्यंदिनादभीके । दुर्गे दुरोणे क्रत्वा न यातां पुरू सहस्रा शर्वा नि बर्हीत् ॥

インドゥよ、インドラは討ち、アグニは焼いた、いにしえのダスユ(Dasyu)を——真昼より、迫り来る戦いのただ中で。険しき関、難き住処において、正しき意志(kratu)により進まぬ者らは打ち倒され、多くの千の敵の矢は落とされた——魂の道が清められ、正しき旅路が成るために。

Mantra 4

विश्वस्मात्सीमधमाँ इन्द्र दस्यून्विशो दासीरकृणोरप्रशस्ताः । अबाधेथाममृणतं नि शत्रूनविन्देथामपचितिं वधत्रैः ॥

インドラよ、汝は四方よりダスユ(Dasyu)を押し伏せ、諸族を真理を讃えぬ隷属へと変えた。汝とその力は内なる敵を退けて砕き、決断の武器によって「アパチティ」(apaciti)——失われた正しい秩序と清明——を取り戻した。

Mantra 5

एवा सत्यं मघवाना युवं तदिन्द्रश्च सोमोर्वमश्व्यं गोः । आदर्दृतमपिहितान्यश्ना रिरिचथुः क्षाश्चित्ततृदाना ॥

まことに、かくこそ真実(satya)なり、豊饒を授くる二主よ――インドラとソーマよ。汝らは「牝牛」(光明の知・啓示)の広き野と、その迅きはたらきを開きひろげた。固くなり閉ざされたものを打ち破り、覆いを取り去り、さらに大地の抗いさえ穿って、閉じ込められていたものを解き放った。

Inside Sukta 28

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Indra, yoked with Soma in friendship, sets the waters flowing for Manu—an opening proclamation of alliance and liberation.

  2. Development

    The hymn recalls decisive combats: the constrictor is slain, channels are opened, and hostile Dasyu forces are burned/overthrown even in difficult terrain—emphasizing removal of resistance.

  3. Climax

    Indra and Soma together break hardened coverings and widen the ‘field of the Cow,’ piercing even earth-bound resistances to release what was shut in.

  4. Where it settles

    It seals the account as satya (Truth): the joint lords of plenitude have done this before and are invoked to do it again—opening paths and restoring flow.

The deity: Indra–Soma

  • In the VedaIndra is the vajra-bearing slayer of Vṛtra who frees the waters and establishes the wide path; Soma (Indu) is the pressed, exhilarating draught that strengthens gods and awakens inspired speech. Together they are invoked as a dual force that breaks coverings, releases streams, and grants victorious momentum.
  • Cosmic functionTo restore cosmic circulation—releasing waters/rivers, opening channels, and overcoming hostile powers that constrict the world’s order (ṛta). Soma supplies the surge of vitality and vision; Indra executes the breakthrough that re-establishes flow and space.
  • Inner significanceSoma is uplifted awareness and inspired delight; Indra is the will-force and clarity that strikes through inertia. Their union symbolizes energized consciousness that breaks psychological knots, releases blocked energies, and widens the inner ‘field’ where truth and right action can move freely.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (Vāmadeva) gotra · A prominent seer of Maṇḍala 4, celebrated for hymns that unite heroic Indra-myth with inner illumination—especially the release of the waters/cows as a symbol of truth and knowledge.

Famous verses

saptá síndhūn (seven rivers)
Verse 4.28.1States the core myth and theology of the sukta: Indra, strengthened by Soma, slays the constrictor and releases the seven rivers, opening blocked channels—an archetype for restoring flow and order.Read verse 4.28.1 →
अहन्निन्द्रो अदहदग्निरिन्दो पुरा दस्यून्मध्यंदिनादभीके । दुर्गे दुरोणे क्रत्वा न यातां पुरू सहस्रा शर्वा नि बर्हीत् ॥
Verse 4.28.3Highlights the overcoming of hostile forces in the ‘near battle,’ pairing Indra’s slaying with Agni’s burning while Soma is addressed as the empowering presence—stressing practical victory in hard passages.Read verse 4.28.3 →
evā́ satyám (thus indeed it is Truth)
Verse 4.28.5Concludes with a truth-affirmation: Indra and Soma widen the ‘field of the Cow’ and break coverings, piercing resistances to release concealed plenitude—summarizing the hymn’s spiritual intent.Read verse 4.28.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vajra-force and decisive victory (Indra)
  • Exhilaration, inspiration, and strengthening (Soma)
  • Release of waters/seven rivers
  • Breaking open sealed or hardened obstructions
  • Protection of Manu/ordered humanity
  • Expansion of the ‘field of the Cow’ (illumined abundance)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 (many hymns traditionally attributed to Vāmadeva Gautama)
  • Hymns to Indra, Agni, and allied deities emphasizing victory over obstruction and the opening of hidden plenitude

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the Soma pressing (abhisava) and purify the juice; establish the fire (Agni) and sacred space.
  • Recite the sukta as an invitation to Indra–Soma, recalling the Vṛtra-slaying and river-release as the archetype of breakthrough.
  • Offer Soma-libations into the fire and/or to the Indra–Soma cups, asking for the opening of ‘blocked channels’ and removal of hostile forces.
  • Conclude with affirmations of satya/ṛta (truth-order) and petitions for widened space, safe passage, and abundance.

Offerings

  • Soma juice (pressed and purified)
  • Ghee/clarified butter into Agni
  • Optional oblations/food offerings accompanying Soma rites

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn primarily invokes Indra together with Soma (Indu). Soma is the empowering, inspiring force, and Indra is the heroic power that breaks obstacles and releases the waters.

On the mythic level it recalls Indra’s victory that frees the world’s waters. Symbolically it means restoring blocked life-currents—health, prosperity, and the flow of truth and knowledge—by removing constriction.

It fits naturally in Soma offerings, especially when seeking strength, victory, and the removal of obstacles. Reciting it with Soma libations (and ghee into Agni) aligns the rite with the archetype of opening sealed channels and widening abundance.

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