Rig Veda Sukta 34
Mandala 3Sukta 3411 Mantras

Sukta 34

Sukta 3.34

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (RV 3.34 traditionally)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Himne ini memuji Indra sebagai pemecah benteng yang, diperkasakan oleh ucapan suci (brahman), menumbangkan penentangan Dāsa/Dasyu, mencerai-beraikan musuh, dan memenangkan kekayaan sejati bagi para resi. Ia merayakan kebesaran serta kebenaran perbuatannya—meluruskan yang bengkok dan menakluk dengan kekuatan yang tiada tertahan—dan berakhir sebagai doa-pertempuran yang memohon Indra mendengar serta menolong para pemuja dalam persaingan dan kemakmuran.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.34

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Indra

    Indra is celebrated as pūrbhid (breaker of strongholds), vṛtrahan (slayer of Vṛtra), maghavan (bounteous), and the champion who expands heaven and earth by his force, guided by brahman and praised by arká (flaming hymns).

Mantras

Mantra 1

इन्द्रः पूर्भिदातिरद्दासमर्कैर्विदद्वसुर्दयमानो वि शत्रून् । ब्रह्मजूतस्तन्वा वावृधानो भूरिदात्र आपृणद्रोदसी उभे ॥

Indra, pemecah kota-kota berkubu, dengan madah-madah yang menyala mengatasi Dāsa dan mencerai-beraikan musuh; menemukan kekayaan yang benar lalu mencurahkan kurnianya. Digerakkan oleh Sabda (Brahman), membesar dalam tubuh-kekuatan dirinya, sang pemberi yang melimpah memenuhi Langit dan Bumi, kedua-duanya.

Mantra 2

मखस्य ते तविषस्य प्र जूतिमियर्मि वाचममृताय भूषन् । इन्द्र क्षितीनामसि मानुषीणां विशां दैवीनामुत पूर्वयावा ॥

Ke hadapan kuangkat laju pendorong daripada kedahsyatanmu, memperindah sabda demi keabadian. Wahai Indra, engkau tuan tempat tinggal manusia dan kaum-kaum ilahi; engkaulah yang mendahului, memimpin jalan.

Mantra 3

इन्द्रो वृत्रमवृणोच्छर्धनीतिः प्र मायिनाममिनाद्वर्पणीतिः । अहन्व्यंसमुशधग्वनेष्वाविर्धेना अकृणोद्राम्याणाम् ॥

Indra menyingkap Vṛtra, ketua serangan; ia memecahkan rupa-rupa para māyina (ahli sihir), sang pembentuk yang benar. Ia menewaskan penghalang itu di rimba, lalu menzahirkan kawanan-kawanan yang bercahaya—kenikmatan yang bergerak di alam terbuka.

Mantra 4

इन्द्रः स्वर्षा जनयन्नहानि जिगायोशिग्भिः पृतना अभिष्टिः । प्रारोचयन्मनवे केतुमह्नामविन्दज्ज्योतिर्बृहते रणाय ॥

Indra, meraih dunia-surya (svar), melahirkan hari-hari; bersama para pencari yang menyala ia menewaskan pertempuran—penolong dalam serbuan. Ia membuat tanda hari-hari bersinar bagi Manu, dan menemukan Cahaya yang luas bagi pertempuran yang agung.

Mantra 5

इन्द्रस्तुजो बर्हणा आ विवेश नृवद्दधानो नर्या पुरूणि । अचेतयद्धिय इमा जरित्रे प्रेमं वर्णमतिरच्छुक्रमासाम् ॥

Indra, pendorong dan pembesar, telah masuk; memikul daya-daya yang mengangkat insan—banyak dan pelbagai. Ia membangunkan fikiran-fikiran ini dalam diri penyanyi; bagi mereka ia membawa ke hadapan kilau terang ini—warna bercahaya daripada tenaga jiwa.

Mantra 6

महो महानि पनयन्त्यस्येन्द्रस्य कर्म सुकृता पुरूणि । वृजनेन वृजिनान्त्सं पिपेष मायाभिर्दस्यूँरभिभूत्योजाः ॥

Besar dan perkasa ialah pekerjaan-pekerjaan Indra yang diraikan manusia—banyak, amalan yang teratur indah. Dengan daya yang meluruskan ia menghancurkan yang bengkok; dengan māyā-māyā (kepandaian kuasanya) ia menewaskan kaum Dasyu, dengan kekuatan yang tidak dapat ditundukkan.

Mantra 7

युधेन्द्रो मह्ना वरिवश्चकार देवेभ्यः सत्पतिश्चर्षणिप्राः । विवस्वतः सदने अस्य तानि विप्रा उक्थेभिः कवयो गृणन्ति ॥

Dalam peperangan Indra, dengan kebesarannya, melapangkan jalan bagi para dewa—tuan yang benar, pemelihara umat manusia. Perbuatan-perbuatannya itu di singgasana Vivasvat, para vipra dan kavi menyebutnya dengan uktha-uktha (madah pujian).

Mantra 8

सत्रासाहं वरेण्यं सहोदां ससवांसं स्वरपश्च देवीः । ससान यः पृथिवीं द्यामुतेमामिन्द्रं मदन्त्यनु धीरणासः ॥

Yang menewaskan segala, yang terpilih, pemberi kekuatan; yang telah memenangi cahaya langit (svar) dan air-air ilahi. Dialah yang menundukkan bumi, langit, dan alam ini—mengikutinya, jiwa-jiwa yang teguh bersukacita dalam Indra.

Mantra 9

ससानात्याँ उत सूर्यं ससानेन्द्रः ससान पुरुभोजसं गाम् । हिरण्ययमुत भोगं ससान हत्वी दस्यून्प्रार्यं वर्णमावत् ॥

Dia telah memenangi kuda-kuda yang tangkas; dia telah memenangi Surya. Indra telah memenangi Lembu yang kaya kenikmatan; dia telah memenangi kegembiraan keemasan dan kelimpahan. Setelah membunuh kaum Dasyu, dia maju dan melindungi sinar Arya.

Mantra 10

इन्द्र ओषधीरसनोदहानि वनस्पतीँरसनोदन्तरिक्षम् । बिभेद वलं नुनुदे विवाचोऽथाभवद्दमिताभिक्रतूनाम् ॥

Indra menzahirkan herba-herba penyembuh dan hari-hari; dia menzahirkan para penguasa rimba dan ruang antara (antarikṣa). Dia membelah Vala dan menghalau para pengacau bicara; lalu dia menjadi penunduk kehendak-kehendak yang bermusuhan.

Mantra 11

शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥

Moga kami menyeru Indra, Yang Pemurah, demi tuah, dalam perjuangan ini—yang paling perkasa dalam merebut vāja (kemenangan dan kelimpahan). Mendengar kami, dia yang garang untuk menolong dalam pertempuran, yang menewaskan Vṛtra-Vṛtra, sang penakluk yang menghimpun kekayaan.

Inside Sukta 34

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Indra is hailed as the fort-breaker who crosses over the Dāsa with hymns, discovers true riches, and fills heaven and earth—his power is explicitly linked to brahman (inspired Word).

  2. Development

    The hymn enlarges Indra’s profile through a catalogue of mighty, well-wrought deeds: he straightens what is crooked, crushes hostile forces, and prevails through unmastered might and strategic ‘masteries’ (māyā).

  3. Climax

    The celebration of Indra’s irresistible efficacy—his capacity to grind down the crooked and overcome Dasyus—presents him as the decisive agent of ṛta’s victory.

  4. Where it settles

    The poets turn praise into petition: may Indra hear, come as fierce helper in struggles, strike down Vṛtras, and secure the winnings and wealth for the worshippers.

The deity: Indra

  • Cosmic functionHe releases and reorders obstructed powers—waters, light, and abundance—by breaking constriction, defeating hostile forces, and restoring the straight path of ṛta (right order).
  • Inner significanceIndra represents the awakened will and luminous courage that breaks inner ‘fortresses’ of fear, inertia, and falsehood; brahman-inspired clarity empowers decisive action that turns chaos into ordered strength.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthin (Viśvāmitra gotra / Kauśika lineage in later tradition) · A royal-turned-seer famed for mastering brahman (mantric power) and for Indra-focused hymns that link victory and prosperity to inspired speech; later tradition also remembers him as a key figure in the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) mantra’s transmission.

Famous verses

brahmajūtas ("impelled by brahman")
Verse 3.34.1Sets the hymn’s thesis: Indra as fort-breaker who defeats Dāsa opposition through arká and is ‘driven by brahman,’ linking victory to sacred speech and cosmic expansion.Read verse 3.34.1 →
महो महानि पनयन्त्यस्येन्द्रस्य कर्म सुकृता पुरूणि । वृजनेन वृजिनान्त्सं पिपेष मायाभिर्दस्यूँरभिभूत्योजाः ॥
Verse 3.34.6Condenses Indra’s ethical-cosmic role: his ‘straightening power’ crushes the crooked, and his overpowering force subdues Dasyus—an emblem of restoring ṛta.Read verse 3.34.6 →
śunaṃ huvema ("may we invoke for good fortune")
Verse 3.34.11Powerful concluding invocation asking Indra to hear and help in battles/struggles, to slay Vṛtras, and to gather riches—often treated as the practical prayer of the sukta.Read verse 3.34.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Fort-breaker (pūrbhid)
  • Conqueror of Vṛtra and foes
  • Bounteous giver of wealth (maghavan, bhūridātra)
  • Strength that ‘straightens the crooked’
  • Responsive to hymns and brahman
  • Battle-aid and winner of prizes (vājasāti)

Also by this seer

  • Rigveda Maṇḍala 3 (a large portion is attributed to the Viśvāmitra family)
  • Hymns to Indra, Agni, and the Viśve Devāḥ across RV 3
  • Association in later śrauta-smārta memory with the Gāyatrī/Sāvitrī tradition (non-Rigvedic attribution in later literature)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fire and seat the rite with introductory invocations.
  • Recite/chant the Triṣṭubh verses as Indra-stuti, emphasizing Indra as pūrbhid and vṛtrahan.
  • State the intention: removal of obstacles, scattering of foes, winning of vāja (plenitude/prize).
  • Offer oblations while repeating key epithets (maghavan, ugram, bhūridātra).
  • Conclude with a direct request for hearing and aid in samatsu (battles/struggles) and for the gathering of riches.

Offerings

  • Soma (where applicable)
  • Ghṛta (ghee) oblations
  • Havis (simple food offerings)
  • Optional: iṣṭi-style offerings aligned to Indra (as per local śrauta practice)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Indra’s power to break obstacles and defeat hostile forces, and it asks him to grant victory, protection, and wealth. A key idea is that Indra’s triumph is invoked and strengthened through inspired sacred speech (brahman).

In Vedic poetry these often symbolize opposing powers that block light, order, and prosperity—whether enemies in conflict or inner obstacles. Indra is celebrated as the one who breaks such “strongholds” and restores the straight path.

It can be recited as a prayer before difficult efforts—exams, disputes, competitions, or inner struggles—asking for courage, clarity, and the removal of obstacles. Traditionally it also fits Indra-focused offerings, especially in soma-related contexts.

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