Rig Veda Sukta 77
Mandala 8Sukta 7711 Mantras

Sukta 77

Sukta 8.77

Devata

Indra

この讃歌は、インドラをその誕生の時から、決断力に富み多くの力を備えた英雄として讃える。彼はふさわしい盟友を求め、ただちに戦いと恩寵へと向かう。山々を打ち破って養いと富を解き放ったことを想起し、勝利の秩序を打ち立てる道具として、完全に鍛え上げられた武器と腕力を称揚する。目的は、祭主と共同体のために、力・守護・豊穣という助けをインドラに聞き届けさせ、授けさせることにある。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.77

Mantras

Mantra 1

जज्ञानो नु शतक्रतुर्वि पृच्छदिति मातरम् । क उग्राः के ह शृण्विरे ॥

生まれ出でたる者、百の策を具する(インドラ)は、内において母に問うた。「誰がその猛き者たちか。誰がまことに(我が呼び声を)聞くのか。」――まるで真の戦いの同盟者を求めるかのように。

Mantra 2

आदीं शवस्यब्रवीदौर्णवाभमहीशुवम् । ते पुत्र सन्तु निष्टुरः ॥

そのとき力ある母は彼について語った――「羊毛の網をまとう者、蛇を駆り立てる者」と――そして言った。「わが子よ、彼らが汝の障碍を打ち倒す者となれ、確かな勝利の征服者となれ。」

Mantra 3

समित्तान्वृत्रहाखिदत्खे अराँ इव खेदया । प्रवृद्धो दस्युहाभवत् ॥

そののちヴリトラを殺す者(Vṛtrahan)は彼らに迫り、疲弊させた。あたかも車軸の間隙で輻を磨り減らす者のごとく。力を増しつつ、彼はダスユ(Dasyu)を討つ者となった。

Mantra 4

एकया प्रतिधापिबत्साकं सरांसि त्रिंशतम् । इन्द्रः सोमस्य काणुका ॥

インドラ――鋭き者――は、ひとつの揺るがぬ定め(プラティダー)によってソーマを飲み、ひとつの行為のうちに三十の流れをともに取り入れ、歓喜の力の広大な充溢を己に収めた。

Mantra 5

अभि गन्धर्वमतृणदबुध्नेषु रजस्स्वा । इन्द्रो ब्रह्मभ्य इद्वृधे ॥

インドラは、諸界の底なき空間においてガンダルヴァを打ち倒した。そしてリシたちの聖なる言(ブラフマン)のために、彼は増大し広がる――マントラの守護者・成就者として。

Mantra 6

निराविध्यद्गिरिभ्य आ धारयत्पक्वमोदनम् । इन्द्रो बुन्दं स्वाततम् ॥

インドラはそれを山々から穿ち出し、熟した滋養の糧をもたらした。彼は整い成った蓄え――満ち広がるもの――を勝ち取り、存在の養いとした。

Mantra 7

शतब्रध्न इषुस्तव सहस्रपर्ण एक इत् । यमिन्द्र चकृषे युजम् ॥

汝のものは百の結びある矢、千の羽ある矢――ただ一つにして、しかも足る。これによって、インドラよ、汝は勝利のための轡(くつわ)ある具を作り成した。

Mantra 8

तेन स्तोतृभ्य आ भर नृभ्यो नारिभ्यो अत्तवे । सद्यो जात ऋभुष्ठिर ॥

それ(勝利の力)によって、讃歌する者たちへ運べ――男たちへも女たちへも――享受されるべき成就の食を。汝は技に堅く、ただちに生まれ出でる者(その時に即して現れる者)ゆえに。

Mantra 9

एता च्यौत्नानि ते कृता वर्षिष्ठानि परीणसा । हृदा वीड्वधारयः ॥

これらは汝の成し遂げた光輝の衝き――汝の最も豊かな業――充溢より鍛えられたもの。しかも汝は心の内なる保持によって、堅く抗する力を支え保った。

Mantra 10

विश्वेत्ता विष्णुराभरदुरुक्रमस्त्वेषितः । शतं महिषान्क्षीरपाकमोदनं वराहमिन्द्र एमुषम् ॥

まことに、広き歩みのヴィシュヌ(Viṣṇu)は、汝の燃え立つ意志に促されて、これらすべてを汝にもたらした――百の雄々しき力、乳に煮た滋養の食、そして猪なるエムシャ(Emuṣa)を。おおインドラ(Indra)よ、それは制し、変容させるべき力として。

Mantra 11

तुविक्षं ते सुकृतं सूमयं धनुः साधुर्बुन्दो हिरण्ययः । उभा ते बाहू रण्या सुसंस्कृत ऋदूपे चिदृदूवृधा ॥

汝の弓は遠くまで届き、よく鍛えられ、歓喜の力に満ちる。黄金の尖端をもつ一撃は、まっすぐにして誤りない。さらに汝の両腕は喜びを与え、完全に整えられている――やさしき道においてさえ増し、やさしき力をいよいよ増大させる。

Inside Sukta 77

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Indra’s birth and immediate self-awareness: the many-powered one questions ‘who will hear’—a call for allies and responsiveness.

  2. Development

    The hymn moves from origin and readiness into remembered deeds: Indra pierces the mountains and brings forth cooked nourishment and stored abundance.

  3. Climax

    The decisive act of releasing and winning the ‘well-formed store’—a vivid image of bounty wrested from obstruction through divine force.

  4. Where it settles

    Praise settles on Indra’s perfected weapons and delight-giving arms, affirming reliable protection and the steady increase of gentle, sustaining power.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is the Śatakratu (“of a hundred powers/strategies”), the foremost warrior and drinker of soma, swift to hear the call, breaker of obstacles, and winner of spoils for his friends. He is praised as strong-armed, weapon-bearing, and capable of opening hidden riches and sustenance from the hard places of the world.
  • Cosmic functionChampion of ṛta in the field of struggle: he overcomes obstructing forces, releases life-supporting waters/foods/wealth, and secures victory and space for gods and men.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and courageous intelligence that confronts inner resistance, calls in supportive powers, and ‘breaks open’ concealed energy into usable strength, clarity, and nourishment.

Famous verses

जज्ञानो नु शतक्रतुर्वि पृच्छदिति मातरम् । क उग्राः के ह शृण्विरे ॥
Verse 8.77.1Sets the hymn’s distinctive tone: Indra as newborn Śatakratu immediately seeking those who will hear and stand with him—invocation of responsiveness and alliance.Read verse 8.77.1 →
निराविध्यद्गिरिभ्य आ धारयत्पक्वमोदनम् । इन्द्रो बुन्दं स्वाततम् ॥
Verse 8.77.6Central deed-image: Indra drills out the mountain and brings forth nourishment and a well-spread store—symbol of releasing hidden plenty and life-support.Read verse 8.77.6 →
तुविक्षं ते सुकृतं सूमयं धनुः साधुर्बुन्दो हिरण्ययः । उभा ते बाहू रण्या सुसंस्कृत ऋदूपे चिदृदूवृधा ॥
Verse 8.77.11Concluding exaltation of Indra’s far-reaching bow and perfectly formed arms, presenting divine weaponry as disciplined, beneficent power that secures victory.Read verse 8.77.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Śatakratu (many-powered, many-skilled)
  • Vajrin (weapon-bearing, forceful)
  • Obstacle-breaker and opener of hidden plenty
  • Soma-inspired exhilaration and heroic drive
  • Protector of allies; giver of wealth and victory

Also by this seer

  • Associated broadly with Mandala 8’s Indra hymns in the Śākala recension tradition (exact rishi attribution varies by ancillary lists).
  • No single, securely attributable corpus can be assigned from the data given.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the sacred fire and seat; establish intention for strength and protection.
  • Recite the opening verses invoking Indra as newly arisen power who ‘asks’ for allies—calling supportive forces to the rite.
  • Offer soma/oblations while praising Indra’s obstacle-breaking deeds (release of nourishment from the mountains).
  • Petition for victory, protection of the community, and the winning of well-formed abundance.
  • Conclude with praise of Indra’s arms/weapons as perfectly fashioned powers, sealing the request with reverence.

Offerings

  • Soma (where applicable)
  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Grain/food oblations (anna/odana as symbolic nourishment)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Indra’s many-powered heroism—from his very birth—to show that he hears the call, defeats obstacles, and brings nourishment, wealth, and victory to his allies.

It is a poetic image for Indra breaking through hard obstruction and releasing hidden bounty—food, wealth, and sustaining power—into the human world.

It can be recited as an Indra-invocation for courage and breakthrough—especially when seeking strength to overcome resistance and to ‘open’ stuck resources into steady support.

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