Rig Veda Sukta 131
Mandala 10Sukta 1317 Mantras

Sukta 131

Sukta 10.131

Rishi

Unknown (RV 10.131; late maṇḍala)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Likely Triṣṭubh (common for Indra hymns in this register), though confirmation requires full hymn metrical scan

Himne Rigveda yang lewat ini menyeru Indra sebagai pelindung empat penjuru, yang menghalau kuasa-kuasa bermusuhan dari setiap arah agar para pemuja bersukacita dalam naungan perlindungan (śarman) yang luas. Ia memadukan doa perlindungan yang bersifat penolak bala dengan ingatan mitis (termasuk episod Namuci bersama Aśvin) untuk menegaskan kuasa kemenangan Indra dan menjamin kesejahteraan bersama. Himne ini memuncak dengan harapan agar dapat bernaung dalam fikiran dewa yang penuh kebajikan, dan agar bahkan permusuhan yang paling kecil pun diusir jauh.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.131

Mantras

Mantra 1

अप प्राच इन्द्र विश्वाँ अमित्रानपापाचो अभिभूते नुदस्व । अपोदीचो अप शूराधराच उरौ यथा तव शर्मन्मदेम ॥

Singkirkanlah, wahai Indra, segala musuh dari hadapan; halau kuasa yang datang dari belakang yang menyerang kami. Jauhkan juga yang dari utara dan dari bawah, wahai wira, supaya dalam damai yang luas di bawah lindunganmu kami bersukacita dan menjadi teguh.

Mantra 2

कुविदङ्ग यवमन्तो यवं चिद्यथा दान्त्यनुपूर्वं वियूय । इहेहैषां कृणुहि भोजनानि ये बर्हिषो नमोवृक्तिं न जग्मुः ॥

Barangkali benar, wahai Indra, bahkan mereka yang kaya dengan jelai pun dibuat menyerahkan jelai mereka, menurut tertib yang sepatutnya. Di sini dan di sini, sediakanlah bagi mereka jamuan—bagi mereka yang belum sampai kepada pemotongan (rumput suci) Barhis sebagai tanda sembah-hormat.

Mantra 3

नहि स्थूर्यृतुथा यातमस्ति नोत श्रवो विविदे संगमेषु । गव्यन्त इन्द्रं सख्याय विप्रा अश्वायन्तो वृषणं वाजयन्तः ॥

Sesungguhnya kedatanganmu bukanlah secara kasar, melainkan menurut musim-musim; dan kemasyhuranmu pula bukan sekadar ditemui dalam pertemuan yang lahiriah. Para vipra yang terilham mencari Indra untuk persahabatan—mencari sinar pengetahuan, mencari kuda-kuda tenaga, menggerakkan Sang Banteng menuju kepenuhan kekuatan.

Mantra 4

युवं सुराममश्विना नमुचावासुरे सचा । विपिपाना शुभस्पती इन्द्रं कर्मस्वावतम् ॥

Kamu berdua, wahai Aśvin, telah minum sedalam-dalamnya surā yang kuat bersama Namuci di medan Asura; kamu, tuan-tuan keindahan yang bercahaya, telah menegakkan Indra dalam kerja-kerjanya.

Mantra 5

पुत्रमिव पितरावश्विनोभेन्द्रावथुः काव्यैर्दंसनाभिः । यत्सुरामं व्यपिबः शचीभिः सरस्वती त्वा मघवन्नभिष्णक् ॥

Seperti dua ibu bapa menolong anaknya, kedua-dua Aśvin menolong engkau, wahai Indra, dengan ilham para kavi dan kuasa-kuasa ajaib. Tatkala engkau meminum kenikmatan yang kuat itu dengan śacī—kerja-kerja perkasa—Sarasvatī, wahai yang pemurah, menolakmu ke hadapan dan menjadikanmu menang.

Mantra 6

इन्द्रः सुत्रामा स्ववाँ अवोभिः सुमृळीको भवतु विश्ववेदाः । बाधतां द्वेषो अभयं कृणोतु सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम ॥

Semoga Indra, pelindung yang baik, kaya dengan kekuatannya sendiri, dengan pertolongan-pertolongannya menjadi penyayang dan Maha Mengetahui. Biarlah ia menumpaskan kebencian dan menjadikan tanpa gentar; semoga kami menjadi tuan atas vīrya—kekuatan kepahlawanan—yang bercahaya dan sempurna.

Mantra 7

तस्य वयं सुमतौ यज्ञियस्यापि भद्रे सौमनसे स्याम । स सुत्रामा स्ववाँ इन्द्रो अस्मे आराच्चिद्द्वेषः सनुतर्युयोतु ॥

Dalam niat baik yang bercahaya dari Kuasa yang layak dipuja dalam yajña itu, semoga kami juga bernaung—dalam budi yang bahagia dan seia-sekata. Semoga Indra, pelindung yang kuat, kaya dengan kekuatannya sendiri, menghalau jauh daripada kami bahkan permusuhan yang paling kecil, menyingkirkannya hingga tuntas.

Inside Sukta 131

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct protective command-prayer to Indra: remove hostile forces from every direction so the worshippers may rejoice in his wide shelter.

  2. Development

    The hymn broadens the request into a fuller assurance of divine guardianship, supporting the plea with remembered divine exploits and alliances that demonstrate Indra’s effectiveness.

  3. Climax

    Mythic validation and empowerment: the narrative recollection (including the Aśvins and the Namuci setting) underscores that Indra is upheld in decisive works and therefore can uphold the sacrificers now.

  4. Where it settles

    A calm benediction: may we abide in the good-minded favor connected with the sacrifice, and may Indra drive even the slightest enmity far away, utterly removing it.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is the foremost warrior and protector in the Ṛgveda—slayer of Vṛtra, breaker of forts, winner of cattle and waters, and the god most urgently called to aid in conflict and peril. He is repeatedly praised as śūra (hero), sutrāmā (good protector), and as one whose ‘shelter’ (śarman) grants breadth, safety, and gladness.
  • Cosmic functionHe upholds ṛta by defeating obstructive powers, releasing life-giving resources (waters, light, abundance), and securing victory and stability for the community.
  • Inner significanceIndra symbolizes the awakened force of courage and decisive will that drives out inner and outer ‘enemies’—fear, inertia, hostility, and confusion—so the mind can rest in spaciousness and confident clarity.

Famous verses

urau yathā tava śarman madema
Verse 10.131.1Signature protective verse: it explicitly repels hostility from front, back, north/above, and below, and ends in the wish to rejoice in Indra’s ‘wide shelter’ (urau śarman).Read verse 10.131.1 →
युवं सुराममश्विना नमुचावासुरे सचा । विपिपाना शुभस्पती इन्द्रं कर्मस्वावतम् ॥
Verse 10.131.4Important mythic/narrative pivot: brings in the Aśvins and the Namuci episode to corroborate divine support in Indra’s works, strengthening the hymn’s efficacy through remembered precedent.Read verse 10.131.4 →
ārāc cid dveṣaḥ sanutar yuyotu
Verse 10.131.7Concluding benediction: expresses the desired inner state (goodwill, harmonious mind) and asks Indra as sutrāmā to drive away even minimal hostility completely.Read verse 10.131.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Protector (sutrāmā) and giver of shelter (śarman)
  • Directional guardian who repels threats from all quarters
  • Victorious warrior against obstructive/demonic forces
  • Strengthener of the sacrificer and community
  • Allied with other gods in mythic episodes (e.g., Aśvins in the Namuci narrative)

Also by this seer

  • Attributed broadly to the anonymous strata of Maṇḍala 10 (Anukta sūktas), where authorship is not preserved in the Anukramaṇī tradition for certain hymns.

The rite, step by step

  • Establish the sacred space and light the fire (if part of an iṣṭi or homa setting).
  • Invoke Indra with a request to ‘cast away’ enemies from front, behind, above/north, and below—creating a complete protective perimeter (as in 10.131.1).
  • Recite the central verses as a reinforcement of Indra’s victorious capacity; optionally recall the supporting mythic frame (Namuci/Aśvins) to strengthen the ‘proof’ of divine aid.
  • Conclude with the benedictive prayer to dwell in divine goodwill and for hostility to be driven far away (as in 10.131.7).
  • Seal with a final oblation and a quiet moment of intention for peace and fearlessness.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni
  • Soma (where applicable in a Soma context) or a symbolic substitute in later practice
  • Grain/oblations (caru) as customary
  • Water sprinkling around the ritual boundary (optional, for protective enclosure)

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a protective hymn asking Indra to push away hostile forces from every direction so the worshippers can live in safety and confidence under his shelter.

That reference recalls a known mythic setting where divine powers acted decisively; it functions like a ‘proof by precedent’ that Indra (with divine support) succeeds in difficult works.

It can be recited as a prayer for protection before travel or important undertakings, focusing on the idea of clearing negativity from all quarters and settling into a peaceful, steady mind.

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