Rig Veda Sukta 55
Mandala 10Sukta 558 Mantras

Sukta 55

Sukta 10.55

Devata

Indra (Maghavan)

Chandas

Trishtubh (probable)

Himne kepada Indra (Maghavan) ini menggabungkan pujian terhadap pahlawan perkasa yang dikuatkan oleh Soma dengan renungan yang penuh teka-teki dan paradoks tentang nama-nama tersembunyi, waktu, dan pembalikan (masa muda “ditelan” oleh yang kelabu). Ia mengingatkan sokongan kosmik Indra terhadap Langit dan Bumi serta perlindungannya terhadap yang lemah, dan memuncak pada dorongan perangnya yang menghalau kaum Dasyu serta memulihkan tertib. Secara keseluruhan, ia sekaligus sebuah stotra (pujian) dan suatu meditasi tentang kuasa rahsia Indra yang membalikkan jangkaan biasa.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.55

Mantras

Mantra 1

दूरे तन्नाम गुह्यं पराचैर्यत्त्वा भीते अह्वयेतां वयोधै । उदस्तभ्नाः पृथिवीं द्यामभीके भ्रातुः पुत्रान्मघवन्तित्विषाणः ॥

Jauh di sana Nama yang tersembunyi itu, berpaling daripada yang menuju ke luar; namun dua yang ketakutan itu menyerumu, wahai pengatur kelimpahan. Engkau telah menyangga Bumi dan Langit dekat di hadapan, wahai Maghavan, menyala dengan daya, (menyelamatkan) putera-putera saudara.

Mantra 2

महत्तन्नाम गुह्यं पुरुस्पृग्येन भूतं जनयो येन भव्यम् । प्रत्नं जातं ज्योतिर्यदस्य प्रियं प्रियाः समविशन्त पञ्च ॥

Besar Nama yang tersembunyi itu, yang menyentuh banyak perkara—dengannya engkau melahirkan yang telah ada, dan dengannya (lahir) yang akan ada. Cahaya purba yang terlahir itu—kedudukan kesayangannya—ke dalamnya lima yang dikasihi masuk bersama.

Mantra 3

आ रोदसी अपृणादोत मध्यं पञ्च देवाँ ऋतुशः सप्तसप्त । चतुस्त्रिंशता पुरुधा वि चष्टे सरूपेण ज्योतिषा विव्रतेन ॥

Ia memenuhi dua alam dan juga wilayah pertengahan; (ia menata) lima dewa menurut musim-musim, tujuh-dan-tujuh. Dengan tiga puluh dua ia memandang dalam pelbagai cara, dengan cahaya yang seiras, namun dengan hukum kosmik (ṛta) yang meluas.

Mantra 4

यदुष औच्छः प्रथमा विभानामजनयो येन पुष्टस्य पुष्टम् । यत्ते जामित्वमवरं परस्या महन्महत्या असुरत्वमेकम् ॥

Tatkala, wahai Fajar (Uṣas), engkau bersinar terlebih dahulu antara segala cahaya, engkau melahirkan pemeliharaan daripada pemeliharaan. Dan tatkala pertalianmu ialah yang bawah, dan yang lain ialah yang atas—yang satu ialah kedaulatan Asura yang agung bagi Yang Mahabesar.

Mantra 5

विधुं दद्राणं समने बहूनां युवानं सन्तं पलितो जगार । देवस्य पश्य काव्यं महित्वाद्या ममार स ह्यः समान ॥

Yang kelabu menelan yang pantas di perhimpunan ramai, walaupun ia masih muda. Lihatlah kawi-karya dewa itu oleh kebesarannya: hari ini ia telah mati—namun semalam ia tetap sama.

Mantra 6

शाक्मना शाको अरुणः सुपर्ण आ यो महः शूरः सनादनीळः । यच्चिकेत सत्यमित्तन्न मोघं वसु स्पार्हमुत जेतोत दाता ॥

Dengan kekuatan yang gagah Sang Yang Bercahaya, bersayap indah, datang—wira di Yang Mahaluas, sejak dahulu tidak letih dalam perjalanan. Apa jua yang diketahuinya itulah kebenaran; itu tidak pernah sia-sia: ia memenangi kepenuhan yang didambakan dan ia juga mengurniakannya.

Mantra 7

ऐभिर्ददे वृष्ण्या पौंस्यानि येभिरौक्षद्वृत्रहत्याय वज्री । ये कर्मणः क्रियमाणस्य मह्न ऋतेकर्ममुदजायन्त देवाः ॥

Dengan ini ia mengurniakan kuasa-kuasa keperwiraan, yang dengannya Sang Pemegang Vajra (Vajrī) menjadi teguh untuk membunuh Vṛtra; oleh kebesaran kerja yang sedang dilakukan, para dewa lahir terangkat ke dalam perbuatan Kebenaran (ṛta).

Mantra 8

युजा कर्माणि जनयन्विश्वौजा अशस्तिहा विश्वमनास्तुराषाट् । पीत्वी सोमस्य दिव आ वृधानः शूरो निर्युधाधमद्दस्यून् ॥

Terikat pada Karya, melahirkan perbuatan-perbuatan dengan kuasa sejagat—pembunuh cela yang tidak tersulut, berjiwa sejagat, penakluk dalam serbuan—setelah meminum Soma dari langit dan membesar dalam ketinggian itu, Sang Wira menghalau kaum Dasyu dengan peperangan.

Inside Sukta 55

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Begins with the mystery of Indra’s ‘hidden Name’—distant from outward-going perception—yet he is urgently invoked by the fearful.

  2. Development

    Moves through Indra’s cosmic support and protective action, then introduces riddle-like paradox (youth and grey, today and yesterday) to show divine power overturning linear expectation.

  3. Climax

    Indra as all-powered, yoked to the Work, Soma-grown in heavenly height—victorious force that turns the tide through battle-energy and right action.

  4. Where it settles

    Ends with the decisive expulsion of the Dasyus, implying restoration of order, safety, and space for the community’s life and ritual to flourish.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is the foremost heroic deva of the Rig Veda: Soma-drinker, wielder of thunder (vajra), breaker of obstacles, and giver of bounty (Maghavan, “the bountiful”). He is praised as upholding the cosmic spaces and as a protector who answers urgent calls, even when his ‘name’ and mode of action are hidden.
  • Cosmic functionRestores ṛta (ordered reality) by defeating obstructive forces, releasing energies (waters/light/cattle), stabilizing Heaven and Earth, and enabling prosperity and victory for the community.
  • Inner significanceRepresents awakened will-power and luminous courage that breaks inner obstruction—fear, inertia, blame (aśasti), and hostile impulses—so the seeker’s energies can flow in right order.

Famous verses

guhyaṃ nāma ("hidden Name")
Verse 10.55.1Introduces the hymn’s signature motif: Indra’s ‘hidden Name’ and his immediate, protective response to those who call in fear; also links him to the cosmic act of upholding Heaven and Earth.Read verse 10.55.1 →
paśya kāvyam ("behold the poet-craft")
Verse 10.55.5A striking paradox-verse (grey devours the swift; today dead, yesterday the same) that highlights divine ‘kāvya’—the god’s uncanny poetic/cosmic craft beyond ordinary time and causality.Read verse 10.55.5 →
śūro ... adhamad dasyūn ("the Hero drove out the Dasyus")
Verse 10.55.8Concludes with classic Indra heroism: Soma-drinking, universal power, and the driving out of Dasyus—an emblem of both outer victory and inner clearing of obstruction.Read verse 10.55.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Soma-strengthened hero (śūra)
  • Bountiful giver (Maghavan)
  • Supporter of Heaven and Earth
  • Slayer of obstructers and Dasyus
  • Protector in संकट (fear/need)
  • Paradoxical, ‘hidden-name’ divinity whose power exceeds ordinary logic

Also by this seer

  • Ascription of RV 10.55 is uncertain; no stable wider corpus can be confidently attributed to this same seer on internal evidence alone.
  • The hymn reflects a broader 10th-maṇḍala tendency toward speculative and ‘secret name’ (guhya nāma) motifs found across several late hymns.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the sacred space and kindle Agni; establish a focused intention for protection and victory.
  • Invite Indra with praise, emphasizing his hidden power and readiness to be called in fear or need.
  • Press/prepare Soma (or offer Soma-substitute where appropriate) and recite the key verses as anukīrtana (repetition of praise).
  • Make oblations while recalling Indra’s cosmic deeds (supporting Heaven/Earth) and his expulsion of Dasyus (removal of obstacles).
  • Conclude with a request for bounty, courage, and the driving away of inner/outer negativity; seal with śānti-style closure (well-being for the group).

Offerings

  • Soma (primary, where Soma-rite is performed)
  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni
  • Grain/cakes (puroḍāśa) as customary Indra offerings in many śrauta settings
  • Water/libations, as supportive offerings

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn primarily addresses Indra, especially as Maghavan (“the bountiful”), the Soma-strengthened hero who protects and grants victory.

It suggests that Indra’s true power is not grasped by ordinary, outward-looking perception; yet he can still be invoked and becomes near and effective for those in fear or need.

On the outer level it is victory over hostile forces; on the inner level it symbolizes removing obstructive, chaotic tendencies so order, clarity, and strength can prevail.

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