Rig Veda Sukta 133
Mandala 10Sukta 1337 Mantras

Sukta 133

Sukta 10.133

Devata

Indra

Himne Indra tujuh rangkap ini ialah doa perang untuk perlindungan dan kemenangan: para penyanyi membangkitkan Indra, pembentuk dunia dan pembunuh Vṛtra, agar berdiri bersama mereka dalam pertempuran jarak dekat dan mengacaukan bala yang memusuhi. Seperti ulangan, ia memohon agar tali busur lawan menjadi kendur dan para penyerang ditundukkan, lalu berakhir dengan anugerah kelimpahan—kurnia Indra mengalir seperti lembu kemakmuran yang beraliran seribu kepada penyair yang memuji.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.133

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्रो ष्वस्मै पुरोरथमिन्द्राय शूषमर्चत । अभीके चिदु लोककृत्संगे समत्सु वृत्रहास्माकं बोधि चोदिता नभन्तामन्यकेषां ज्याका अधि धन्वसु ॥

Majukanlah baginya rata hadapan—nyanyikanlah kekuatan bagi Indra. Bahkan dalam jarak yang paling dekat, sang pembentuk dunia-dunia, pembunuh halangan dalam pertembungan pertempuran—jagalah bagi kami sebagai peniup ilham. Biarlah tali busur pihak lain mengendur pada busur-busur mereka.

Mantra 2

त्वं सिन्धूँरवासृजोऽधराचो अहन्नहिम् । अशत्रुरिन्द्र जज्ञिषे विश्वं पुष्यसि वार्यं तं त्वा परि ष्वजामहे नभन्तामन्यकेषां ज्याका अधि धन्वसु ॥

Engkau melepaskan sungai-sungai mengalir ke bawah; engkau membunuh Sang Ular. Tanpa musuh, wahai Indra, engkau dilahirkan; engkau memelihara segala yang terpilih dan diingini. Maka kami memelukmu dari segenap sisi—biarlah tali busur pihak lain mengendur pada busur-busur mereka.

Mantra 3

वि षु विश्वा अरातयोऽर्यो नशन्त नो धियः । अस्तासि शत्रवे वधं यो न इन्द्र जिघांसति या ते रातिर्ददिर्वसु नभन्तामन्यकेषां ज्याका अधि धन्वसु ॥

Hamburkanlah segala kuasa niat-jahat yang hendak memusnahkan ilham fikiran kami. Engkau, wahai Indra, ialah pemanah dengan anak-panah pembunuh terhadap musuh yang mahu menjatuhkan kami. Dan kurnia kekayaan-Mu—daya kelimpahan bercahaya yang Engkau anugerahkan—biarlah menjadi milik kami; biarlah tali-busur para penuntut lain mengendur pada busur-busur mereka.

Mantra 4

यो न इन्द्राभितो जनो वृकायुरादिदेशति । अधस्पदं तमीं कृधि विबाधो असि सासहिर्नभन्तामन्यकेषां ज्याका अधि धन्वसु ॥

Sesiapa pun di antara manusia yang, bernafsu serigala, menuding kepada kami dari segenap arah—jadikanlah dia jatuh ke tapak yang lebih rendah. Engkau penolak yang perkasa, penewas yang mengatasi; biarlah tali-busur orang lain mengendur pada busur-busur mereka.

Mantra 5

यो न इन्द्राभिदासति सनाभिर्यश्च निष्ट्यः । अव तस्य बलं तिर महीव द्यौरध त्मना नभन्तामन्यकेषां ज्याका अधि धन्वसु ॥

Sesiapa pun yang menyerang kami, wahai Indra—sama ada kerabat dekat atau orang asing—jungkirkan kekuatannya; hempaskanlah ia, sebagaimana langit yang maha-luas menekan ke bawah dengan beratnya sendiri. Biarlah tali-busur orang lain mengendur pada busur-busur mereka.

Mantra 6

वयमिन्द्र त्वायवः सखित्वमा रभामहे । ऋतस्य नः पथा नयाति विश्वानि दुरिता नभन्तामन्यकेषां ज्याका अधि धन्वसु ॥

Wahai Indra, kami yang milik-Mu ini berpegang pada persahabatan-Mu. Pimpinlah kami di jalan Ṛta, supaya segala kesukaran dan kesesatan gugur lenyap. Biarlah tali busur orang lain mengendur pada busur-busur mereka.

Mantra 7

अस्मभ्यं सु त्वमिन्द्र तां शिक्ष या दोहते प्रति वरं जरित्रे । अच्छिद्रोध्नी पीपयद्यथा नः सहस्रधारा पयसा मही गौः ॥

Untuk kami, wahai Indra, ajarkanlah dan kurniakanlah anugerah itu—yang mengalirkan pilihan terbaiknya sebagai balasan kepada penyanyi pujian. Semoga Sapi kelimpahan, yang ambingnya tidak terputus, mengenyangkan kami—agung, beribu-aliran—dengan susunya, cahaya yang menyuburkan.

Inside Sukta 133

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A stirring call to set Indra ‘in the forefront’ like a fore-chariot and to sing up his force for immediate aid in battle.

  2. Development

    The hymn sharpens into protective imprecations: hostile men are identified, their aggression is to be repelled, and their weapon-power is to fail (bowstrings slacken).

  3. Climax

    Indra is addressed as the overpowering vibādha/sāsahi who can cast aggressors down and decisively turn the tide in the clash of battles.

  4. Where it settles

    The tone resolves into beneficence: Indra is asked to teach/grant the boon that truly ‘yields’ to the singer, culminating in the image of the unbroken-uddered, thousand-streaming cow of plenty filling the worshippers.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is praised as Vṛtrahā (slayer of obstruction), a champion in saṃgá/samátsu (clashes and battles), and a powerful repeller who protects his worshippers at close quarters. He is invoked as a force-awakening inspirer who can overturn hostile intent and bestow nourishing plenty.
  • Cosmic functionBreaker of cosmic and human obstacles, releaser of the life-giving waters/energies, and upholder of ṛta by defeating forces of constriction and chaos.
  • Inner significanceThe awakening of courageous will and decisive clarity that cuts through fear, hostility, and inner inertia; the power that makes one’s ‘bowstring’ steady while dissolving the tension of opposing impulses.

The seer

  • Anukramaṇī-attributed: Indra; exact rishi uncertainThis hymn is notable for its battle-protective tone and repeated petition that enemies’ bowstrings slacken, coupled with a concluding image of plenitude (“thousand-streaming cow”).

Famous verses

nabhantām anyakeṣāṃ jyākā adhi dhanvasu
Verse 10.133.1Programmatic opening: Indra is placed at the front as battle-leader; he is invoked as lokakṛt and Vṛtrahā, with the signature petition that opponents’ bowstrings slacken.Read verse 10.133.1 →
adhaspadaṃ tam īṃ kṛdhi
Verse 10.133.4Direct protective application: identifies surrounding aggressors and asks Indra to cast them down; reiterates Indra as repeller/overpowerer with the bowstring-slackening refrain.Read verse 10.133.4 →
sahasradhārā payasā mahī gauḥ
Verse 10.133.7Concluding boon of prosperity: shifts from combat to sustenance, asking for a gift that ‘milks back’ to the singer, ending with the iconic image of the thousand-streaming cow of plenty.Read verse 10.133.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vṛtrahā (obstruction-slayer)
  • World-ordering power (lokakṛt)
  • Battle-protector and inspirer (coditā)
  • Repeller/overpowerer (vibādha, sāsahi)
  • Bestower of boons and abundance
  • Swift, forceful, victorious

Also by this seer

  • Because the seer is uncertain in the tradition for this sukta, no secure corpus of additional hymns can be confidently assigned to the same rishi beyond RV 10.133 itself.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the sacred space and kindle Agni (or establish a focused recitation seat if non-fire context).
  • Invoke Indra with praise of his might and Vṛtrahā deed; state the immediate need (protection in ‘close quarters’).
  • Recite the sukta sequentially, emphasizing the protective petitions (e.g., nullifying opponents’ weapons/intent).
  • Conclude with a boon-request for prosperity and sustaining nourishment for the patron and singer.
  • Offer concluding oblations and a śānti-style closing intention: safety for one’s side, dispersal of hostility.

Offerings

  • Soma (where applicable)
  • Ghee/ājya oblations
  • Grain cakes (puroḍāśa) in Indra rites
  • Water/libations and verbal offerings of praise (stuti)

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a prayer to Indra for protection and victory—asking him to stand with the worshippers in conflict, repel attackers, and weaken the enemy’s power.

It is a vivid Vedic way of praying that hostile weapons and resolve fail—so opponents cannot effectively strike, and danger is neutralized.

It ends by asking Indra for a boon of abundance. The ‘thousand-streaming cow’ symbolizes overflowing nourishment, prosperity, and sustaining life-force granted to the singer and community.

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