Rig Veda Sukta 44
Mandala 3Sukta 444 Mantras

Sukta 44

Sukta 3.44

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (Mandala 3 Indra cycle; RV 3.44)

Chandas

Gāyatrī (probable for RV 3.44; shorter pādas consistent with Gāyatrī-stotra style)

Himne ringkas bergaya Gāyatrī ini mengundang Indra ke pemerasan soma, memohon agar baginda datang bersama kuda-kuda kuning keemasannya dan mengambil tempat di atas kereta yang bercahaya pada upacara korban. Kemudian Indra dipuji sebagai penegak Langit dan Bumi yang menegakkan kelimpahan rezeki, dan akhirnya memuncak pada gambaran Indra sebagai Lembu Jantan kuning keemasan yang mempersenjatai dirinya dengan vajra untuk tindakan yang menang.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.44

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Indra

    Indra is the mighty soma-loving warrior and sovereign, drawn by praise to the rite, mounted on a bright chariot with tawny horses, and famed for wielding the vajra to win victories and release abundance.

Mantras

Mantra 1

अयं ते अस्तु हर्यतः सोम आ हरिभिः सुतः । जुषाण इन्द्र हरिभिर्न आ गह्या तिष्ठ हरितं रथम् ॥

Soma ini untukmu—yang menyenangkan—diperas dengan kuasa-kuasa kuning-keemasan (hari). Terimalah ia, wahai Indra; datanglah kepada kami dengan tenaga-tenaga harimu; hampirilah dan berdirilah di atas kereta hijau-keemasan (harita) dalam gelanggang persembahan kami.

Mantra 2

हर्यन्नुषसमर्चयः सूर्यं हर्यन्नरोचयः । विद्वाँश्चिकित्वान्हर्यश्व वर्धस इन्द्र विश्वा अभि श्रियः ॥

Dengan semangat kuning-keemasan (harya) engkau memuji Fajar (Uṣas); dengan semangat kuning-keemasan engkau menampakkan sinar Surya. Mengetahui dan arif, wahai Indra yang berkuda kuning-keemasan (haryaśva), engkau berkembang kepada segala kemuliaan—kepada setiap daya kesempurnaan yang bercahaya.

Mantra 3

द्यामिन्द्रो हरिधायसं पृथिवीं हरिवर्पसम् । अधारयद्धरितोर्भूरि भोजनं ययोरन्तर्हरिश्चरत् ॥

Indra menegakkan Langit yang sarat kilau kuning-keemasan (hari), dan Bumi yang kaya dengan rupa-rupa kuning-keemasan. Ia meneguhkan rezeki yang melimpah bagi dua daya hari itu—di antara keduanya Tenaga bercahaya bergerak dan berusaha.

Mantra 4

जज्ञानो हरितो वृषा विश्वमा भाति रोचनम् । हर्यश्वो हरितं धत्त आयुधमा वज्रं बाह्वोर्हरिम् ॥

Terlahir sebagai Banteng dari kuasa-kuasa keemasan, seluruh alam bercahaya memancar. Indra, yang berkuda-kuda keemasan, mengangkat senjata keemasan; ia meletakkan vajra—kekuatan bercahaya—pada kedua lengannya demi kerja kemenangan.

Inside Sukta 44

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct invitation: the delightful soma is pressed—Indra is asked to come with his tawny horses and take his place on the chariot at the rite.

  2. Development

    Praise expands from the immediate ritual arrival to Indra’s cosmic stature, depicting him as sustaining Heaven and Earth and instituting plentiful nourishment.

  3. Climax

    Indra is revealed as the tawny Bull whose presence makes the luminous world shine, and who readies the vajra for conquering work.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into assurance: the invoked Indra, armed and radiant, stands ready to act for the sacrificer—bringing stability, victory, and plenty.

The deity: Indra

  • Cosmic functionChampion of ṛta through heroic force: he stabilizes the cosmic spaces (Heaven and Earth), breaks obstacles, and sets nourishment and prosperity in motion for gods and humans.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened power of will and luminous energy that overcomes inner resistance, steadies one’s world, and turns inspiration (soma) into decisive, life-supporting action.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthina (Viśvāmitra gotra) · A royal-turned-seer whose hymns powerfully shape the Indra cycle of Maṇḍala 3, celebrated for forging mantric speech that “brings” the god to the offering and for the wider Viśvāmitra tradition associated with the Gāyatrī.

Famous verses

ayaṃ te astu haryataḥ somaḥ
Verse 3.44.1Captures the hymn’s core ritual function—offering soma and summoning Indra to arrive with the tawny horses and take his seat at the sacrifice.Read verse 3.44.1 →
द्यामिन्द्रो हरिधायसं पृथिवीं हरिवर्पसम् । अधारयद्धरितोर्भूरि भोजनं ययोरन्तर्हरिश्चरत् ॥
Verse 3.44.3States Indra’s cosmic role as the one who upholds Heaven and Earth and establishes abundant nourishment between the two ‘tawny powers.’Read verse 3.44.3 →
ā vajraṃ bāhvor harim
Verse 3.44.4Presents the climactic martial-theophany: Indra as the tawny Bull who makes the luminous realm shine and takes up the vajra for victory.Read verse 3.44.4 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Soma-drinker and patron of the pressings
  • Wielder of the vajra (thunderbolt)
  • Rider of the tawny horses (harī) and radiant chariot
  • Upholder of Heaven and Earth
  • Giver of bhoga (nourishment, enjoyment, plenty)
  • Victorious, bull-like strength (vṛṣan)

Also by this seer

  • Primary seer of much of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (notably many Indra hymns)
  • Associated with the Viśvāmitra family corpus (Viśvāmitra Maṇḍala)
  • Later tradition links him with the Gāyatrī mantra (ṚV 3.62.10) within the broader Viśvāmitra lineage

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/vedi and kindle the sacred fire according to the rite.
  • Press and filter soma; set it forth as the inviting draught for Indra.
  • Recite the hymn as an āhvāna (invocation), requesting Indra to come with the harī and mount the chariot at the offering-ground.
  • Offer soma with accompanying praises, affirming Indra’s cosmic support of Heaven and Earth and his gift of abundance.
  • Conclude by visualizing Indra arming himself with the vajra—seeking protection, victory, and the establishment of plenty.

Offerings

  • Soma (pressed and offered)
  • Ghee/clarified butter (as ancillary oblation in the sacrificial setting)

Frequently Asked Questions

It invites Indra to come to the soma offering with his tawny horses, take his seat at the ritual, and bring strength, victory, and nourishment to the worshippers.

The ‘hari’ imagery points to Indra’s tawny horses and radiant power—his shining energy that moves between Heaven and Earth and turns the offering into effective, life-giving force.

The vajra symbolizes decisive power that breaks obstacles—an inner courage and clarity that protects, stabilizes one’s world, and wins the needed victory for growth and well-being.

Ask anything about Sukta 44 of the Rig Veda

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