Rig Veda Sukta 31
Mandala 4Sukta 3115 Mantras

Sukta 31

Sukta 4.31

Devata

Indra (implied by śacī, maghavan context in the hymn)

本讃歌は、常に増大する友(sakhā、sadāvṛdhaḥ)としてのインドラへの探り求める呼びかけであり、いかなる光明の助けと最も有効なśacī(力/技)によって、彼が祭祀者を選び助けるのかを問う。ソーマを搾る者と、規律ある求道者に対するインドラの迅速な施与を讃え、ついには豊穣・守護・永続する名声を願い求める。末尾では一瞬スーリヤ(太陽)にも向き、上より名声と光を「注ぎ下ろす」可視の力として描く。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.31

Mantras

Mantra 1

कया नश्चित्र आ भुवदूती सदावृधः सखा । कया शचिष्ठया वृता ॥

常に増し栄える我らの友よ、いかなる輝けるウーティ(護り・助け)によって我らのもとへ来たまうのか。いかなる最も力あるシャチー(妙智・有効の力)をもって我らを選び、正しき働きへと導くのか。

Mantra 2

कस्त्वा सत्यो मदानां मंहिष्ठो मत्सदन्धसः । दृळ्हा चिदारुजे वसु ॥

いかなる者が、歓喜(マダ)の真にかなう者として、最も寛大にして、喜悦の精髄アンドハス(ándhas)により汝を満たし、堅く閉ざされたヴァス(vasú、宝蔵・存在の富)さえも打ち破り開くのか。

Mantra 3

अभी षु णः सखीनामविता जरितॄणाम् । शतं भवास्यूतिभिः ॥

まことに、我らの仲間の助け手となり、讃歌をうたう者(ジャリトリ)の守護者となれ。ウーティ(護り・助け)をもって我らに百倍となり、魂の前進を支える援けを増し広げよ。

Mantra 4

अभी न आ ववृत्स्व चक्रं न वृत्तमर्वतः । नियुद्भिश्चर्षणीनाम् ॥

われらに向き直り、動く車輪のごとくわれらへと転がり来たれ、騎乗の者よ。諸民を駆り立てる「ニユト」(niyút、衝動の牽引)をもって軛(くびき)されて来たれ——神なる力が速やかに、秩序正しく到来するために。

Mantra 5

प्रवता हि क्रतूनामा हा पदेव गच्छसि । अभक्षि सूर्ये सचा ॥

意志の力の前傾の流れによって、汝は進む、まるで一歩一歩のごとく。汝はわれらとともに太陽を分かち持つ——旅路を導く光明の覚知をともにする。

Mantra 6

सं यत्त इन्द्र मन्यवः सं चक्राणि दधन्विरे । अध त्वे अध सूर्ये ॥

汝の熱誠の力が、インドラ(Indra)よ、ひとつに集まり、諸々の働きを回転させて動かすとき、そのとき決定的な転回は汝のうちに——そして太陽のうちに—確立される。

Mantra 7

उत स्मा हि त्वामाहुरिन्मघवानं शचीपते । दातारमविदीधयुम् ॥

まことに人々は汝を「マガヴァン(寛与の者)」と呼ぶ、シャチーの主(Śacīpati)、霊威ある君よ。汝は与える者、曇らされず、消されぬ施与者である。

Mantra 8

उत स्मा सद्य इत्परि शशमानाय सुन्वते । पुरू चिन्मंहसे वसु ॥

またまことに、ただちに、四方にわたり、ソーマを搾りつつ自らを鎮め制した供犠者に、汝は多くのヴァス(vásu、宝・恵み)を豊かに施す。

Mantra 9

नहि ष्मा ते शतं चन राधो वरन्त आमुरः । न च्यौत्नानि करिष्यतः ॥

なぜなら、鈍く未熟な者どもは、汝の施与の百の一すら得られず、また決定的な奮励(chyautnáni)を成し遂げることもない。

Mantra 10

अस्माँ अवन्तु ते शतमस्मान्त्सहस्रमूतयः । अस्मान्विश्वा अभिष्टयः ॥

汝の百重の救護よ、われらを守れ。汝の千重の援助よ、われらを護れ。汝の一切の成就をもたらす力よ、われらを取り巻き、支えよ。

Mantra 11

अस्माँ इहा वृणीष्व सख्याय स्वस्तये । महो राये दिवित्मते ॥

ここにてわれらを選び、汝の友契(さきゃ)へ、われらの安泰(スヴァスティ)へと導け。光明にして天へ向かう、大いなる霊的富の充満のために、われらを選べ。

Mantra 12

अस्माँ अविड्ढि विश्वहेन्द्र राया परीणसा । अस्मान्विश्वाभिरूतिभिः ॥

万有の主インドラよ、充満なる富をもってわれらを見いだし、われらへと貫き至れ。汝のあらゆる救護をもって、われらを包め。

Mantra 13

अस्मभ्यं ताँ अपा वृधि व्रजाँ अस्तेव गोमतः । नवाभिरिन्द्रोतिभिः ॥

われらのために、それらの力を妨げから遠ざけて増し広げたまえ――光に富む牛囲いを牧守が広げるように。インドラのつねに新たなる護り(ūti)とともに。

Mantra 14

अस्माकं धृष्णुया रथो द्युमाँ इन्द्रानपच्युतः । गव्युरश्वयुरीयते ॥

われらの、猛き力の戦車は、光輝に満ち、インドラよ、揺るがずして進む。光の牛群を求め(gavyú)、疾き力を求めて(aśvayú)。

Mantra 15

अस्माकमुत्तमं कृधि श्रवो देवेषु सूर्य । वर्षिष्ठं द्यामिवोपरि ॥

スーリヤよ、われらの名声を神々のうちで最上のものとなしたまえ。天の高みより、最も豊かに注ぎ降ろしたまえ。

Inside Sukta 31

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A questioning, intimate call: ‘By what bright help will our ever-growing Friend come?’—seeking the precise mode of Indra’s saving power (4.31.1).

  2. Development

    Praise unfolds through Indra’s character as swift, surrounding aid and lavish giver to the Soma-presser and the disciplined seeker; the hymn links devotion, self-mastery, and divine generosity (e.g., 4.31.8).

  3. Climax

    The poet intensifies the request: immediate bestowal of many-formed riches and decisive support, portraying Indra’s grace as both abundant and timely.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into a final petition for highest renown and a rain-like outpouring ‘from above,’ momentarily invoking Sūrya as the seal of illumination and fame (4.31.15).

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is Maghavan, the bountiful lord of might and victory, approached as a close ally who answers the Soma-offering with protection, strength, and wealth; his śacī is the effective, victorious power that accomplishes the right work.
  • Cosmic functionHe upholds ṛta by overcoming obstructive forces, releasing riches and vital energies, and empowering the sacrificer and community with victory, rain/abundance, and heroic force.
  • Inner significanceIndra signifies the awakened will and courageous intelligence that breaks inner resistance, restores confidence, and turns aspiration (soma-pressing) into tangible growth—clarified at the end by Sūrya as illumination and right discernment.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (Vāmadeva-gotra) · A principal seer of Maṇḍala 4, celebrated for hymns that blend intimate friendship with the gods (especially Indra) and profound inner aspiration, later remembered in Vedic tradition as a visionary of expansive realization.

Famous verses

sadāvṛdhaḥ sakhā
Verse 4.31.1Sets the hymn’s signature tone—an earnest inquiry into the specific ‘bright help’ and most potent śacī by which Indra chooses and assists the worshippers.Read verse 4.31.1 →
उत स्मा सद्य इत्परि शशमानाय सुन्वते । पुरू चिन्मंहसे वसु ॥
Verse 4.31.8A compact statement of Indra’s immediate generosity toward the Soma-presser and the inwardly mastered seeker, emphasizing abundance (vasu) as a response to offering and discipline.Read verse 4.31.8 →
asmākam uttamaṃ kṛdhi śravaḥ
Verse 4.31.15Notable closing turn to Sūrya, framing the hymn’s goal as lasting ‘śravas’ (fame/renown) poured down from above—linking victory with illumination.Read verse 4.31.15 →

Attributes of the deity

  • maghavan (bountiful giver)
  • vṛtrahan (obstacle-breaker)
  • sakhā (friend/ally)
  • śacīvant (endowed with effective power/skill)
  • swift responder to Soma and praise
  • giver of vasu (treasures, substance, well-being)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4: numerous hymns attributed to Vāmadeva (esp. Indra, Agni, and allied deities)
  • Vāmadeva is frequently cited in later Vedic/Itihāsa-Purāṇa traditions as a paradigmatic ṛṣi and mantra-seer

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish the ritual space and intentions for strength and prosperity.
  • Press Soma (or offer a Soma-substitute in later practice) while reciting/preserving the hymn’s central refrain-like questions of ‘by what aid?’
  • Offer libations with Indra’s epithets (Maghavan, śacīvant, sadāvṛdhaḥ), asking for immediate and surrounding protection and wealth.
  • Conclude with a prayer for enduring fame and right illumination, optionally aligning the final verse’s Sūrya-address with a closing oblation and silent dedication.

Offerings

  • Soma libations (primary)
  • ghee/ājya into fire
  • oblations of grain/cakes as supportive offerings
  • dakṣiṇā (ritual gifts) according to capacity

Frequently Asked Questions

Indra is the main deity, praised as Maghavan (the generous one) and as a close friend who brings help and wealth to the Soma-offerer. The last verse briefly addresses Sūrya for illumination and fame.

It is a poetic way of seeking the right form of divine assistance—how Indra’s power (śacī) will actively choose, protect, and enable the worshippers in their work and struggles.

In Vedic ritual, Soma-offering is the key act that invites Indra. The hymn says Indra responds quickly by granting vasu—resources, well-being, and strength—especially to the sincere and disciplined sacrificer.

Ask anything about Sukta 31 of the Rig Veda

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