Sukta 82
Rishi: As in RV parallel tradition for this verse (Indra-stuti); AV 20 largely reuses RV seers—exact r̥ṣi assignment depends on the RV locus.
Devata: Indra
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (as transmitted in AV 20 Indra-stutis; metrical identification may vary with pada division)
ഈ ചുരുക്കമായ ഇന്ദ്രസ്തുതി, ആരാധകൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന പരമാധികാരവും സമൃദ്ധിയും ഇന്ദ്രന്റെ തന്നെ പരാക്രമത്തിന്റെ അളവുമായി ഒത്തുചേർത്ത്, ശക്തിയും ധനവും പാപത്വം (നൈതിക/യാഗാനുഷ്ഠാന മലിനത) ആയി വഴുതിപ്പോകാതെ വർധിക്കണമെന്നു പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കുന്നു. ‘ദിവസംതോറും’ ആവർത്തിച്ചു ലഭിക്കുന്ന ഐശ്വര്യത്തിന്റെ അതുല്യ ഉറവിടമായി ഇന്ദ്രനെ അവതരിപ്പിച്ച്, പാത്രോനേജ്/പോഷകത്വം, ആത്മവിശ്വാസം, ധർമ്മാനുസൃത സമ്പാദനം എന്നിവയെ ശക്തിപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു.
Kind of charm
Mantras
Mantra 1
यदि॑न्द्र॒ याव॑त॒स्त्वमे॒ताव॑द॒हमीशी॑य । स्तो॒तार॒मिद् दि॑धिषेय रदावसो॒ न पा॑प॒त्वाय॑ रासीय
ഹേ ഇന്ദ്രാ, നീ എത്രമാത്രം ശക്തിമാനോ, അത്രതന്നെ എനിക്കും അധിപത്യം/വശത ലഭിക്കട്ടെ. ഹേ ധനദാതാവേ, സ്തോതാവിനെ—അതെ, അവനെയേ—ഞാൻ ദൃഢസ്ഥാനത്ത് സ്ഥാപിക്കും; ഞാൻ ഒന്നും പാപത്തിലേക്കു ഏല്പിക്കുകയില്ല.
Mantra 2
शिक्षे॑य॒मिन्म॑हय॒ते दि॒वेदि॑वे रा॒य आ कु॑हचि॒द्विदे॑ । न॒हि त्वद॒न्यन्म॑घवन् न॒ आप्यं॒ वस्यो॒ अस्ति॑ पि॒ता च॒न
ഞാൻ—അതെ—മഹാനിൽ നിന്ന് ദിനംപ്രതി, എവിടെ നിന്നായാലും ലഭിക്കുന്നിടത്തുനിന്ന്, ധനം സമ്പാദിക്കട്ടെ. കാരണം, ഹേ ഉദാരനായ മഘവൻ, നിന്നെക്കൂടാതെ മറ്റൊന്നും മികച്ചതായ, ലഭിക്കാവുന്ന വരമില്ല—പിതാവിൽ നിന്നുപോലും ഇല്ല.
Inside Sukta 82
How it unfolds
- How it opens
The hymn opens by measuring the worshipper’s desired mastery against Indra’s own magnitude of power (“yāvat tvam… etāvad aham īśīya”).
- What it asks
Grant me sovereignty and daily, repeating wealth from whatever quarter it may be found; establish the praiser firmly and do not let the gift become ‘for evil.’
- Where its power lies
Indra is declared unmatched—no other ‘better boon’ is attainable apart from him, not even a father’s support—thereby intensifying reliance on Indra’s patronage.
- How it closes
It closes with exclusivity and finality: Indra alone is the supreme, attainable source of the best goods, sealing confidence in the petition’s fulfillment.
Famous verses
na pāpatvāya rāsīya
dive-dive rāya ā
Kind of hymn
Paustika (Prosperity) / Indra-stuti (Royal/Patronage)
What it is for
Mastery and stable standing for the patron, with recurring wealth from all quarters, gained without ethical/ritual taint.
Who it is for
Householder patrons, leaders/clients seeking success and resources, and ritual specialists reciting Indra-stutis for prosperity and righteous gain.
Also used as
- Indra-stuti
- Royal/Patronage (rājanya)
- Shāntika (averting pāpatva/ill consequence)
The deity
Indra is the paradigmatic royal power: victorious force, lord of resources, and patron of the singer and sacrificer, granting mastery while safeguarding right order when approached with proper intent.
Powers of the deity
- Grants sovereignty, mastery, and command (īśitva)
- Bestows wealth and patronage (maghavat)
- Secures prosperity repeatedly/continuously (“day by day”)
- Protects the worshipper from harm and misdirection toward evil (pāpatva)
- Establishes and stabilizes the praiser/ally in a firm position
Why the deity is called
To obtain Indra’s patronage for power and recurring wealth while explicitly rejecting gains that lead to moral/ritual fault, ensuring prosperity remains legitimate and stabilizing for the patron and community.
The seer
- RV-parallel seer (Indra-stuti locus-dependent; AV 20 borrowing)Angiras. Indra-stutis for royal success, patronage, wealth-gain, and protection from the ethical/ritual danger that can accompany acquisition
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 20 Indra-stuti cycle (multiple RV-derived verses; exact attributions vary by RV locus)
Preparing for the rite
- Choose a clean, quiet place; seat the patron facing east (or toward the ritual fire if present).
- Set intention explicitly: wealth and authority sought are to be free of pāpatva; dedicate the gain to dharma, household support, and generosity.
- Optional: simple offering setup (water for sipping, clarified butter or oblation if a fire rite is available), consistent with local practice.
The rite
- Recite AV 20.82.1–2 with clear articulation, pausing at key petitions (īśīya; na pāpatvāya; dive-dive).
- Mentally ‘place’ (didhīṣeya) the stotṛ (praiser/patron) in firm standing—visualize stability, legitimacy, and protection.
- Conclude with a brief personal vow: gains will be used without harm and with proper distribution (dāna/maintenance).
What it needs
- None required (hymn is self-sufficient as a stuti); optional water for ācamana and optional simple oblation if integrated into a larger rite
When
Morning recitation is suitable; also before assemblies, negotiations, patronage decisions, or when seeking steady income/royal favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Indra to grant mastery/authority and to provide wealth repeatedly (“day by day”), while ensuring the gains do not turn into pāpatva—harmful or blameworthy acquisition.
Because prosperity can bring moral and ritual risk if gained through harmful means or misused. The mantra safeguards the request so wealth and power remain legitimate, stabilizing, and non-injurious.
No. AV 20.82 functions as a stuti (praise-petition) and can be recited on its own; optional simple offerings may be added if performed within a broader household or fire-rite context.
Ask anything about Sukta 82 of the Atharva Veda
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