Rig Veda Sukta 29
Mandala 4Sukta 295 Mantras

Sukta 29

Sukta 4.29

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional for Mandala 4); specific hymn attribution not provided in input

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Trishtubh (probable; requires scan)

この短いインドラ讃歌は、神に対し、たとえ遠方からでも来臨して多くのソーマ搾りの祭へ赴くよう、切迫して招きかける。黄褐色の駿馬に喜ばされ、歌い手たちの霊感ある讃美によって朗らかになったインドラが来るように、詩人は祈る。さらに、インドラがその呼び声を「聞く」ようにされ、あふれる力で起ち上がって成就を授けるよう願う――勝利の力(vāja)、安全な渡し場(su-tīrtha)、そして無畏を。結びは共同の希求である。インドラの守護のもと、歌い手たちが真の見者となり、彼の寛大な施与によって天の広大な富を分かち合えますように。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.29

Mantras

Mantra 1

आ नः स्तुत उप वाजेभिरूती इन्द्र याहि हरिभिर्मन्दसानः । तिरश्चिदर्यः सवना पुरूण्याङ्गूषेभिर्गृणानः सत्यराधाः ॥

讃えられしインドラよ、われらのもとへ来たれ。力の豊穣(vāja)をもたらす護りを携えて近づき、黄褐の駿馬(hari)とともに歓喜して来たれ。たとえ遠くにあろうとも、高貴なる者よ、多くの搾り(savana)へ来たり、霊感の言葉(aṅgūṣa)により歌われつつ、真実にかなう成就をもつ汝よ。

Mantra 2

आ हि ष्मा याति नर्यश्चिकित्वान्हूयमानः सोतृभिरुप यज्ञम् । स्वश्वो यो अभीरुर्मन्यमानः सुष्वाणेभिर्मदति सं ह वीरैः ॥

まことに彼は来たる――人の力(narya)を具え、知慧ある者(cikitvān)として、搾り手(sotṛ)に呼ばれ、祭儀(yajña)へと近づく。良き馬をもつ者(sváśva)、自らを誇りつつも恐れなき者は、よく搾る者ら(suṣvāṇa)とともに酔い、勇士たち(vīra)と合して一つとなる。

Mantra 3

श्रावयेदस्य कर्णा वाजयध्यै जुष्टामनु प्र दिशं मन्दयध्यै । उद्वावृषाणो राधसे तुविष्मान्करन्न इन्द्रः सुतीर्थाभयं च ॥

彼の耳に聞かしめよ、力の満ち足りた恵みをもたらすために。愛される呼び声を四方へ放ち、彼を歓喜させよ。あふれる威力を起こして我らの成就のために、強きインドラ(Indra)が我らに善き渡り場と無畏とを打ち立てたまえ。

Mantra 4

अच्छा यो गन्ता नाधमानमूती इत्था विप्रं हवमानं गृणन्तम् । उप त्मनि दधानो धुर्याशून्त्सहस्राणि शतानि वज्रबाहुः ॥

助けをもって窮乏の者へまっすぐ来たるその御方は——かく呼び、讃える霊感の詩聖(vipra)に——雷霆の腕の持ち主、みずからに迅速なる力の軛の隊を負わせる。千、百の群れとなって、我らを前へ運ぶために。

Mantra 5

त्वोतासो मघवन्निन्द्र विप्रा वयं ते स्याम सूरयो गृणन्तः । भेजानासो बृहद्दिवस्य राय आकाय्यस्य दावने पुरुक्षोः ॥

富を授ける者よ、インドラ(Indra)よ、あなたに護られて、我らが霊感の詩聖(vipra)となり、知解に光りつつ、つねにあなたを讃えんことを。広大なる天の富に与り、豊饒なる御方の多くの施しを受けるにふさわしくあらんことを。

Inside Sukta 29

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct summons: Indra is praised and invited to come near with aid and plenitude, even if he is far away.

  2. Development

    The hymn intensifies the call—make him hear, send the beloved summons in every direction—so he may rejoice and arrive empowered.

  3. Climax

    Indra rises in overflowing might to establish ‘su-tīrtha’ (a good crossing) and ‘abhaya’ (fearlessness) for the worshippers.

  4. Where it settles

    A closing prayer for lasting relationship: protected by Indra, may the poets become luminous seers and partake of the vast heavenly wealth through his generous giving.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is hailed as Maghavan (the bountiful), the mighty hero who comes to Soma, is strengthened by praise, and answers the inspired call with gifts of force and protection.
  • Cosmic functionBreaker of obstacles and winner of divine power (vāja); he secures space for life and order by overcoming hostile forces and by releasing prosperity, safe passage, and courage.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and victorious energy in the seeker—courage that hears the soul’s call, surges upward, and creates an inner ‘good crossing’ beyond fear and limitation.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (Gautama-gotra) · A major seer of the Rig Veda’s 4th Maṇḍala, famed for powerful Indra hymns and for visionary self-identifications that later tradition links with high realization (e.g., the celebrated “I was Manu and the Sun” motif).

Famous verses

आ नः स्तुत उप वाजेभिरूती इन्द्र याहि हरिभिर्मन्दसानः । तिरश्चिदर्यः सवना पुरूण्याङ्गूषेभिर्गृणानः सत्यराधाः ॥
Verse 4.29.1Sets the hymn’s core act—inviting Indra to the many Soma pressings, praising him as ‘truth-accomplishing’ (satyarādhāḥ) and urging his near approach with aid and force.Read verse 4.29.1 →
sutīrthābhayaṃ
Verse 4.29.3Contains the striking ritual-psychological petition: ‘make his ears hear’ the call, culminating in the boon of a ‘good crossing’ and fearlessness—central to the sukta’s aim.Read verse 4.29.3 →
त्वोतासो मघवन्निन्द्र विप्रा वयं ते स्याम सूरयो गृणन्तः । भेजानासो बृहद्दिवस्य राय आकाय्यस्य दावने पुरुक्षोः ॥
Verse 4.29.5Concludes with the communal aspiration: under Indra’s protection the singers become vipra-s/sūrayaḥ and share the ‘wide heaven’s’ riches—linking praise with lasting prosperity.Read verse 4.29.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Maghavan (generous giver)
  • Tuviṣmān (mighty, overflowing in power)
  • Soma-delighted
  • Harivān (linked with tawny steeds)
  • Protector who grants fearlessness
  • Bestower of vāja (victorious force)

Also by this seer

  • Primary rishi associated with much of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 (numerous Indra- and allied deva-sūktas)
  • Tradition associates him with the Vāmadeva lineage and with later Upaniṣadic remembrance (Vāmadeva-vidyā motif)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the yajña space and kindle the fire; arrange Soma and vessels.
  • At the Soma pressing(s), recite the invitation verses calling Indra ‘praised’ to come with help and with the haris.
  • Project the call in all directions so that Indra ‘hears’ (a ritualized summons), sustaining the chant with inspired speech (āṅgūṣa).
  • Make the offering into the fire/into the Soma rite while requesting vāja, a ‘good crossing’ (su-tīrtha), and abhaya (fearlessness).
  • Conclude with the benediction: under Indra’s protection may the singers become vipra-s and share in the ‘wide heaven’ riches.

Offerings

  • Soma (libation/pressing)
  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Optional cakes/oblations customary to Indra in Soma contexts

Frequently Asked Questions

It calls Indra to the Soma pressings and asks for victorious strength (vāja), a safe passage or “good crossing” (su-tīrtha), and fearlessness (abhaya).

It is a poetic way of intensifying the ritual summons—urging that Indra truly heed the chant and respond quickly with help and gifts.

It can be recited as an invocation for courage and protection, especially in a fire offering or devotional setting, focusing on the themes of strength, safe passage, and freedom from fear.

Ask anything about Sukta 29 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