Rig Veda Sukta 36
Mandala 3Sukta 3611 Mantras

Sukta 36

Sukta 3.36

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (continuing Maṇḍala 3 sequence)

Devata

Indra (contextually; hymn continues Indra-Soma motif)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Himne ini menyeru Indra sebagai wira yang sentiasa diperkukuh, yang bertambah besar dengan setiap pemerasan Soma dan menjadi “terkenal didengar” melalui perbuatan-perbuatan agungnya. Ia mengaitkan kuasa Indra yang semakin meluas dengan daya pengisian Soma, sambil menggunakan derasnya sungai-sungai menuju lautan sebagai gambaran kosmik tentang momentum yang tidak dapat ditahan. Sukta ini memuncak dalam doa pertempuran yang langsung: semoga Indra yang pemurah mendengar, menumpaskan halangan-halangan (vṛtrāṇi), dan memenangi khazanah untuk para pemuja.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.36

Mantras

Mantra 1

इमामू षु प्रभृतिं सातये धाः शश्वच्छश्वदूतिभिर्यादमानः । सुतेसुते वावृधे वर्धनेभिर्यः कर्मभिर्महद्भिः सुश्रुतो भूत् ॥

Letakkanlah persembahan-ini sebagai persembahan-maju demi kemenangan; bergerak berulang-ulang dengan pertolongan-pertolonganmu. Ia bertambah pada setiap pemerasan, oleh penguat-penguatannya—dia yang dengan karya-karya agung telah menjadi masyhur (terdengar luas) di dunia-dunia.

Mantra 2

इन्द्राय सोमाः प्रदिवो विदाना ऋभुर्येभिर्वृषपर्वा विहायाः । प्रयम्यमानान्प्रति षू गृभायेन्द्र पिब वृषधूतस्य वृष्णः ॥

Bagi Indra, aliran-aliran Soma—yang diketahui dari langit yang jauh—yang telah dilepaskan oleh para Ṛbhu, yang beruas-ruas kuat. Genggamlah kini, ketika dihulurkan kepadamu; minumlah, wahai Indra, Soma yang digerakkan Sang Banteng—engkau yang gagah perkasa.

Mantra 3

पिबा वर्धस्व तव घा सुतास इन्द्र सोमासः प्रथमा उतेमे । यथापिबः पूर्व्याँ इन्द्र सोमाँ एवा पाहि पन्यो अद्या नवीयान् ॥

Minumlah dan bertambah dalam kekuatanmu; kerana bagimu, wahai Indra, perahan-perahan Soma ini ialah persembahan yang pertama, juga yang ini. Sebagaimana engkau dahulu meminum Soma-Soma purba, demikian juga minumlah sekarang, wahai Yang Dipuja, aliran-aliran kenikmatan yang sentiasa lebih baharu.

Mantra 4

महाँ अमत्रो वृजने विरप्श्युग्रं शवः पत्यते धृष्ण्वोजः । नाह विव्याच पृथिवी चनैनं यत्सोमासो हर्यश्वममन्दन् ॥

Agung, tiada terukur, ia meluas di medan perbuatan; kedahsyatan kekuatannya memerintah, tenaganya yang berani. Bahkan Bumi pun tidak mampu melingkupinya, apabila Soma-Soma telah menggembirakan Yang Berkuda Kuning-Kecokelatan.

Mantra 5

महाँ उग्रो वावृधे वीर्याय समाचक्रे वृषभः काव्येन । इन्द्रो भगो वाजदा अस्य गावः प्र जायन्ते दक्षिणा अस्य पूर्वीः ॥

Agung dan menggerunkan, ia bertambah bagi daya kepahlawanan; Sang Banteng telah menyediakan segalanya dengan kebijaksanaan ṛṣi. Indra menjadi Bhaga, pengurnia kelimpahan; sinar-sinarnya (lembu-lembu) lahir memancar, dan banyak Dakṣiṇā yang purba bergerak menuju penzahiran.

Mantra 6

प्र यत्सिन्धवः प्रसवं यथायन्नापः समुद्रं रथ्येव जग्मुः । अतश्चिदिन्द्रः सदसो वरीयान्यदीं सोमः पृणति दुग्धो अंशुः ॥

Apabila sungai-sungai meluncur dalam arus dorongannya, apabila air menuju samudera bagaikan kereta di jalan—maka bahkan daripada itu Indra menjadi lebih luas daripada perhimpunan, apabila Soma, tangkai terang yang telah diperah, memenuhi dirinya.

Mantra 7

समुद्रेण सिन्धवो यादमाना इन्द्राय सोमं सुषुतं भरन्तः । अंशुं दुहन्ति हस्तिनो भरित्रैर्मध्वः पुनन्ति धारया पवित्रैः ॥

Sungai-sungai, bergerak dengan keluasan samudera, membawa bagi Indra Soma yang diperah sebaiknya. Mereka memerah sari terang itu dengan tangan dan bejana; mereka menyucikan kenikmatan bermadu dalam aliran, melalui ayak-ayak penyuci.

Mantra 8

ह्रदा इव कुक्षयः सोमधानाः समी विव्याच सवना पुरूणि । अन्ना यदिन्द्रः प्रथमा व्याश वृत्रं जघन्वाँ अवृणीत सोमम् ॥

Bagaikan tasik-tasik, rahim-rahim yang menampung Soma itu menghampar bersama menjadi banyak pemerasan. Ketika Indra mula-mula membuka makanan-makanan (sumber-sumber penghidupan), setelah menewaskan Vṛtra, ia memilih Soma bagi dirinya.

Mantra 9

आ तू भर माकिरेतत्परि ष्ठाद्विद्मा हि त्वा वसुपतिं वसूनाम् । इन्द्र यत्ते माहिनं दत्रमस्त्यस्मभ्यं तद्धर्यश्व प्र यन्धि ॥

Bawalah ke mari; jangan biarkan sesiapa pun berdiri menghalangi hal ini. Kerana kami mengenalmu sebagai tuan segala kekayaan. Wahai Indra, apa jua anugerah perkasa yang ada padamu—wahai yang berkuda-kuda keemasan—kurniakanlah itu kepada kami, limpahkanlah.

Mantra 10

अस्मे प्र यन्धि मघवन्नृजीषिन्निन्द्र रायो विश्ववारस्य भूरेः । अस्मे शतं शरदो जीवसे धा अस्मे वीराञ्छश्वत इन्द्र शिप्रिन् ॥

Kepada kami limpahkanlah, wahai Indra yang pemurah, wahai penguasa pemerasan Soma, kekayaan yang melimpah—kelimpahan yang serba diidamkan. Dalam diri kami tetapkan seratus musim luruh untuk hidup; dalam diri kami tetapkan para wira untuk selama-lamanya, wahai Indra yang berahang kuat.

Mantra 11

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

Demi kesejahteraan kami, kami menyeru Indra, Yang Pemurah, dalam pertempuran ini—yang paling perkasa, demi memenangi kelimpahan. Semoga ia mendengar kami; yang garang untuk pertolongan di tengah pertembungan, yang menghentam halangan-halangan (Vṛtra), penakluk segala harta.

Inside Sukta 36

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    An urgent establishment of the offering for ‘winning’ (sātaye), affirming Indra’s repeated help and growth at every Soma pressing.

  2. Development

    Indra’s fame and power are expanded through great works; Soma is portrayed as the filling force that enlarges him, with the rivers-to-ocean image illustrating unstoppable divine momentum.

  3. Climax

    Indra becomes ‘wider than the assembly’ when Soma fills him—an apex of cosmic expansion and empowerment.

  4. Where it settles

    A final, practical prayer: call Indra for welfare in battle, to hear the worshippers, smash obstructions, and secure treasures.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is praised as maghavān (bountiful), ugra (fierce), nṛtama (most manly), the slayer of Vṛtra-like obstructions, and the victorious winner of wealth when invigorated by Soma.
  • Cosmic functionHe releases and directs life-giving powers—symbolized by waters/rivers—overcomes restraints, and secures victory, space, and abundance for gods and humans.
  • Inner significanceIndra represents awakened will and courageous clarity that, when ‘filled’ by the Soma principle (rapt attention/joyous intensity), breaks inner blockages and restores forward movement in life.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthina; traditionally connected with the Kauśika/Viśvāmitra gotra stream · A royal-turned-seer celebrated for shaping powerful Indra hymns and for the visionary authority associated with the Viśvāmitra tradition.

Famous verses

sute-sute vāvṛdhe
Verse 3.36.1Sets the hymn’s ritual and theological frame: the offering is established for victory, and Indra is portrayed as repeatedly strengthened at each Soma pressing and renowned by great deeds.Read verse 3.36.1 →
āpaḥ samudraṃ rathyeva jagmuḥ
Verse 3.36.6Provides the hymn’s most vivid cosmic simile—rivers rushing to the ocean—while stating the central idea that Soma’s fullness makes Indra surpass all bounds.Read verse 3.36.6 →
ghnantaṃ vṛtrāṇi
Verse 3.36.11The concluding battle-invocation compresses Indra’s key epithets (maghavān, nṛtama, ugra) and the practical request: hear us, slay obstacles, win treasures.Read verse 3.36.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Bountiful giver of riches (maghavān)
  • Warrior-protector in conflicts (samatsu)
  • Obstacle-smasher (vṛtra-han)
  • Strengthened by Soma pressings
  • Expansive, surpassing the assembly (varīyān)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (including many Indra and Agni hymns)
  • Tradition later associates the Viśvāmitra line with the Gāyatrī mantra (RV 3.62.10)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the sacred space and kindle the fires; seat the priests and establish the soma-pressing area.
  • Press Soma (sute-sute) and clarify/strain it; accompany with recitation in Triṣṭubh cadence.
  • Offer Soma to Indra with praise of his expanding might and his renowned deeds.
  • Add supporting offerings (ghee/oblations) and request help in contest/battle and in winning wealth.
  • Conclude with a direct call for Indra to hear, strike obstacles, and grant welfare and treasure.

Offerings

  • Soma juice (pressed and strained)
  • Ghee/clarified butter oblations
  • Optional accompanying gifts/fees (dakṣiṇā) consistent with Indra’s ‘maghavān’ aspect

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Indra as the heroic power that grows stronger at every Soma pressing and is asked to grant victory, protection, and wealth by destroying obstacles.

The rivers-to-ocean image shows irresistible movement and expansion, illustrating how Indra’s power becomes vast when Soma fills and strengthens him.

Traditionally it fits Soma-offering rites and Indra-invocations; in a simpler devotional setting it can be recited as a prayer for courage, removal of hindrances, and success in difficult efforts.

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