Sukta 17
Sukta 2.17
Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava) (traditional attribution for RV 2.17)
Indra (with Agni/Vahni as operative power in the imagery)
Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 2.17; verse length and cadence consistent)
हे संक्षिप्त त्रिष्टुभ सूक्त इंद्राची स्तुती करते—त्याच्या त्या विस्तीर्ण अधिपत्याची, जे वाढत जाऊन सर्व लोकांना व्यापते, आणि त्याच्या त्या विजयशक्तीची, जी विश्वात प्रकाश व सुसंगती (व्यवस्था) प्रस्थापित करते. इंद्राची क्रिया येथे कार्यकारी “अग्नि-शक्ती” (अग्नि/वह्नि) यांच्या प्रतिमेतून दाखवली आहे; ती दोन लोकांना विस्तारते आणि फाटलेला अंधार “शिवून” जोडते. त्यानंतर कवी गायकांसाठी वाज (विजयकारी बल), संरक्षण, आणि उदार दक्षिणा (दान) यांची याचना करतो.
Mantras
Mantra 4
अधा यो विश्वा भुवनाभि मज्मनेशानकृत्प्रवया अभ्यवर्धत । आद्रोदसी ज्योतिषा वह्निरातनोत्सीव्यन्तमांसि दुधिता समव्ययत् ॥
मग तो—जो आपल्या महत्त्वाने सर्व भुवनांवर व्यापून वाढला, अधिपत्याचा कर्ता, अग्रगामी प्रेरणेने उन्नत झाला; त्याने आपल्या ज्योतीने दोन दृढ लोक (द्यावा-पृथिवी) विस्तारले. अंधाराच्या फाटलेल्या भागांना शिवून जोडत, प्रेरक अग्निशक्तीने त्यांना एकाच सुसंगतीत घट्ट एकवटले.
Mantra 7
अमाजूरिव पित्रोः सचा सती समानादा सदसस्त्वामिये भगम् । कृधि प्रकेतमुप मास्या भर दद्धि भागं तन्वो येन मामहः ॥
जसा बालक आई-वडिलांच्या सान्निध्यात चिकटून चालतो, तसा एकाच चेतनेच्या गृहात स्थित होऊन, समान आसनातून, हे भग, मी तुझ्याकडे येतो. आमच्यासाठी स्पष्ट ‘प्रकेत’ (योग्य बोध) कर; तो त्याच्या मर्यादेत जवळ आण; आणि देहधारी जीवनाला योग्य असा भाग दे—ज्याने आम्ही सौख्यात वाढू.
Mantra 8
भोजं त्वामिन्द्र वयं हुवेम ददिष्ट्वमिन्द्रापांसि वाजान् । अविड्ढीन्द्र चित्रया न ऊती कृधि वृषन्निन्द्र वस्यसो नः ॥
हे इंद्रा! समृद्धींचा स्वामी ‘भोज’ म्हणून आम्ही तुला हाक देतो. हे इंद्रा! तूच कर्मे (अपांसि) आणि वाज-बल (वाजान्) प्रदान करतोस. हे इंद्रा! तुझ्या तेजस्वी, चित्र-विविध ऊतीने आमच्यासाठी मार्ग भेदून काढ; हे वृषन् इंद्रा! आम्हाला उत्तम अवस्था (वस्यस्) प्राप्त होऊ दे—तिचे अधिकारी कर.
Mantra 9
नूनं सा ते प्रति वरं जरित्रे दुहीयदिन्द्र दक्षिणा मघोनी । शिक्षा स्तोतृभ्यो माति धग्भगो नो बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥
आता, हे इंद्रा! जरित्र (गायक) यासाठी तुझ्या प्रत्युत्तर-वर-भेटीप्रमाणे ती उदार दक्षिणा (मघोनी) दुहिली जावो. स्तोत्रकर्त्यांना तिचे शिक्षण दे; आमचा भग (भाग्य-देव) दग्ध होऊ नये. विदथ (सभेत) आम्ही ‘बृहद्’—महान वाणी—उच्चारू; आणि ‘सुवीराः’—वीरशक्तीने संपन्न—होऊ.
Inside Sukta 17
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Indra is invoked as the powerful lord and enjoyer of plenitudes, the giver of vāja and effective works.
- Development
The hymn magnifies his cosmic action: by vastness he grows over all worlds, and through luminous force the two realms are stretched and stabilized.
- Climax
The striking image of Vahni/Fire-Power “sewing” the rents of darkness into coherence—light establishing unity and order.
- Where it settles
The poet turns to practical boons: piercing help, better fortune, a milked-out dakṣiṇā for the singer, and the ability to speak the Vast in assembly with heroic strength.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is celebrated as the mighty lord (īśāna), the giver of vāja and works (apāṃsi), the breaker-through (aviḍdhi) who brings wide light and victory to the worshipper.
- Cosmic functionHe expands and stabilizes the worlds, overcomes obstructing darkness and constraint, and releases the powers of increase—strength, wealth, and victorious momentum.
- Inner significanceIndra represents the awakened will and heroic force that breaks inner obstruction, gathers scattered energies into coherence, and establishes clarity (light) over confusion (darkness).
The seer
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family of Maṇḍala 2) · Principal seer of most of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2, famed for Indra hymns that combine martial victory with cosmic ordering imagery.
Famous verses
sīvyan tamāṃsi ("sewing the darkness")
citrayā na ūtī ("with your bright/varied help")
bṛhad vadema ("may we speak the Vast")
Attributes of the deity
- Vajra-bearing power and breakthrough force
- Lordship and mastery (īśāna)
- Bestower of vāja (victorious energy) and prosperity
- Protector with “bright/varied” aid (citrā ūtī)
- Cosmic expander who establishes light and order
Also by this seer
- Majority of RV Maṇḍala 2 (many sūktas traditionally ascribed to Gṛtsamada)
- Multiple Indra-stutis in Mandala 2 emphasizing vāja, protection, and patronage (dakṣiṇā)
- Hymns that frequently link Indra’s victory to the widening of the worlds and the establishment of light
The rite, step by step
- Kindle and steady the sacred fire (Agni) as the carrier of the hymn.
- Prepare the Soma or principal oblation; recite the Triṣṭubh verses as Indra is invited to partake.
- Praise Indra’s cosmic deeds (expansion of worlds, establishment of light) to align the rite with ṛta (order).
- Make the specific petitions: vāja, protection, breakthrough help, and a generous dakṣiṇā for the jaritṛ (singer).
- Conclude with a communal aspiration: to speak the “Vast” in the assembly and gain heroic offspring/powers (suvīra).
Offerings
- Soma libation (where applicable)
- Ghee/clarified butter into Agni
- Oblations of grain/cakes per household or śrauta setting
- Dakṣiṇā (gifts/fees) to officiants/singers
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Indra’s supreme power that spreads over all worlds and establishes light and order, then asks him for strength (vāja), protection, and prosperity for the worshippers.
The hymn keeps Indra as the main deity, but uses “Vahni” (Fire-Power) as the operative image of luminous force—showing how Indra’s power works to extend light and bind the worlds into coherence.
It is a poetic way of saying that the divine power repairs the ‘rips’ of confusion and obstruction, joining what is scattered into unity and establishing clarity and stability (light) in the cosmos and in life.
Ask anything about Sukta 17 of the Rig Veda
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