Rig Veda Sukta 25
Mandala 6Sukta 259 Mantras

Sukta 25

Sukta 6.25

Rishi

Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Himne ini ialah puji-seruan Bharadvāja kepada Indra sebagai pembunuh Vṛtra yang tiada tandingan, memohon agar setiap tingkat pertolongan-Nya—yang dekat atau jauh, yang tinggi atau rendah—menghantar para pemuja melintasi pertikaian. Ia memuji ketakterkalahkan dan keunggulan Indra atas segala makhluk, serta merayu agar Baginda menundukkan kuasa-kuasa bermusuhan yang “tidak seketuhanan”, supaya para penyanyi mencapai fajar yang selamat dan luas serta kemakmuran yang berterusan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 6.25

Mantras

Mantra 1

या त ऊतिरवमा या परमा या मध्यमेन्द्र शुष्मिन्नस्ति । ताभिरू षु वृत्रहत्येऽवीर्न एभिश्च वाजैर्महान्न उग्र ॥

Apa pun pertolongan-Mu—yang bawah, yang atas, ataupun yang di tengah—wahai Indra yang perkasa, dengan itu bawalah kami menempuh pembunuhan Vṛtra, Sang Penghalang; dan dengan kelimpahan daya ini jadikanlah kami besar, wahai Yang gagah.

Mantra 2

आभिः स्पृधो मिथतीररिषण्यन्नमित्रस्य व्यथया मन्युमिन्द्र । आभिर्विश्वा अभियुजो विषूचीरार्याय विशोऽव तारीर्दासीः ॥

Dengan kuasa-kuasa ini, halau perseteruan yang saling bertembung, wahai Indra yang tidak dapat digugat; hancurkan amarah si musuh. Dengan ini atasilah segala serangan lawan yang datang dari pelbagai arah; demi Ārya, tundukkanlah bala-bala Dāsa.

Mantra 3

इन्द्र जामय उत येऽजामयोऽर्वाचीनासो वनुषो युयुज्रे । त्वमेषां विथुरा शवांसि जहि वृष्ण्यानि कृणुही पराचः ॥

Wahai Indra, sama ada mereka kerabat atau bukan kerabat—mereka yang memasang kuk melawan kami dan mendesak dari dekat—engkau, tewaskan kuasa-kuasa pengacau mereka; jadikan kekuatan-kekuatan ganas mereka berpaling menjauh.

Mantra 4

शूरो वा शूरं वनते शरीरैस्तनूरुचा तरुषि यत्कृण्वैते । तोके वा गोषु तनये यदप्सु वि क्रन्दसी उर्वरासु ब्रवैते ॥

Seorang wira benar-benar menewaskan wira dengan daya-daya tubuh yang berjasad, apabila engkau menyempurnakan kerja penaklukan dengan cahaya daripada hakikatmu sendiri. Sama ada pada anak, atau pada kawanan lembu-cahaya, atau pada zuriat, atau di dalam perairan—seruanmu meledak; di ladang-ladang yang luas engkau melafazkan titahmu.

Mantra 5

नहि त्वा शूरो न तुरो न धृष्णुर्न त्वा योधो मन्यमानो युयोध । इन्द्र नकिष्ट्वा प्रत्यस्त्येषां विश्वा जातान्यभ्यसि तानि ॥

Tiada wira, tiada yang pantas, tiada pejuang yang gagah—tiada juga yang menyangka dirinya pahlawan—pernah menewaskanmu. Wahai Indra, tiada seorang pun di antara mereka yang dapat menentangmu; engkau mengatasi segala yang lahir, semuanya.

Mantra 6

स पत्यत उभयोर्नृम्णमयोर्यदी वेधसः समिथे हवन्ते । वृत्रे वा महो नृवति क्षये वा व्यचस्वन्ता यदि वितन्तसैते ॥

Dia menjadi tuan atas kekuatan-insani kedua-dua pihak, apabila para pemanggil yang bijaksana menyerunya di medan perang. Sama ada melawan Vṛtra, atau demi pertambahan besar di rumah yang sarat dengan lelaki, apabila yang meluas itu menghamparkan diri, dialah yang mengatasi.

Mantra 7

अध स्मा ते चर्षणयो यदेजानिन्द्र त्रातोत भवा वरूता । अस्माकासो ये नृतमासो अर्य इन्द्र सूरयो दधिरे पुरो नः ॥

Maka sesungguhnya, wahai Indra, apabila kaum-kaummu bergerak—jadilah penyelamat kami dan pelindung yang melingkungi kami. Kerana bagi kami, yang paling perkasa dan Arya, wahai Indra, para wira-ṛṣi telah menempatkanmu di hadapan kami sebagai kubu kami.

Mantra 8

अनु ते दायि मह इन्द्रियाय सत्रा ते विश्वमनु वृत्रहत्ये । अनु क्षत्रमनु सहो यजत्रेन्द्र देवेभिरनु ते नृषह्ये ॥

Dalam jejak kurnia-Mu bergerak kuasa-Indra yang maha luas; dalam tindakan-Mu yang tidak terputus segala sesuatu mengikut-Mu dalam pembunuhan Vṛtra, Sang Penutup. Selepas-Mu datang kedaulatan yang benar, selepas-Mu datang kekuatan—wahai Indra, yang layak dipersembahkan; bersama para dewa mereka mengikut-Mu dalam penguasaan-Mu yang menundukkan manusia.

Mantra 9

एवा नः स्पृधः समजा समत्स्विन्द्र रारन्धि मिथतीरदेवीः । विद्याम वस्तोरवसा गृणन्तो भरद्वाजा उत त इन्द्र नूनम् ॥

Demikianlah, wahai Indra, himpunkanlah kuasa-kuasa saingan kami dan tundukkanlah mereka dalam pertempuran—kuasa palsu, tidak berketuhanan, yang mengelirukan. Semoga kami, kaum Bhāradvāja, sambil melagukan pujian, mengenal keluasan Fajar (Uṣas) melalui perlindungan-Mu—ya, bahkan sekarang, wahai Indra.

Inside Sukta 25

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by invoking Indra’s help in all its ranges—lower, higher, and middle—so that his protection is total and unfailing.

  2. Development

    It develops by celebrating Indra as the Vṛtra-slayer and giver of vāja, then intensifies into declarations that no warrior can defeat him and that he surpasses all born beings.

  3. Climax

    The peak petition asks Indra to drive rival powers together and subdue the ‘un-godlike’ forces that confuse and oppose the community in battle.

  4. Where it settles

    It resolves with the Bharadvājas’ confident hope: through hymning and Indra’s protection they will reach the broad, auspicious dawn—an image of renewed safety, clarity, and prosperity.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is hailed as śuṣmin (mighty, forceful), ugra (formidable), and the peerless warrior who cannot be overcome by any hero; he is the archetypal Vṛtrahan who breaks the obstructor and releases power, space, and vitality for the people.
  • Cosmic functionChampion of ṛta in the sphere of conflict: he shatters obstruction, secures victory, and restores the free flow of strength, rain, and abundance—ensuring order and expansion for gods and humans.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened will and courageous intelligence that defeats inner inertia, fear, and भ्रम (confounding forces), enabling clarity, expansion, and a ‘dawn-like’ opening of consciousness.

The seer

  • Bharadvāja BārhaspatyaBharadvāja gotra; Bārhaspatya (of the line of Bṛhaspati) · A principal seer of the Bharadvāja family in Maṇḍala 6, celebrated for powerful Indra-hymns that combine martial confidence (victory in battle) with priestly precision (effective praise and offering).

Famous verses

yā ta ūtir avamā yā paramā yā madhyamā
Verse 6.25.1Programmatic opening: it names the hymn’s central request—Indra’s aid in every dimension—specifically for overcoming the Obstructor and becoming ‘great’ through vāja (plenitude of force).Read verse 6.25.1 →
indra nakiṣ ṭvā praty asti
Verse 6.25.5A strong theological assertion of Indra’s unmatched status: no hero can fight him down; he stands above all that exists—supporting the hymn’s confidence in victory and protection.Read verse 6.25.5 →
mithatīr adevīḥ
Verse 6.25.9Concluding prayer tying battle-protection to spiritual expansion: Indra is asked to subdue deceptive, ungodlike forces so the singers may attain the ‘wideness of Dawn’ under his guardianship.Read verse 6.25.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vṛtrahan (slayer of the Obstructor)
  • Invincible and unsurpassed among beings
  • Bestower of vāja (vigor, prizes, plenitude)
  • Protector in battles and contests (samatsu)
  • Ugra/śuṣmin: fierce, energetic power responsive to praise

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6 are attributed to the Bharadvājas (family collection).
  • Associated with multiple Indra, Agni, and allied deity hymns within the Bharadvāja corpus of Book 6.
  • Traditionally linked (as a Bharadvāja) with later Vedic priestly lineages influential in śrauta ritual transmission.

The rite, step by step

  • Āvāhana: Invite Indra as Vṛtrahan and protector, acknowledging every form of his aid (near/far, high/low).
  • Stuti: Recite praises declaring his unmatched supremacy and invincibility over all opponents.
  • Yācñā: Petition for victory in samara/samats (conflicts), and for the subduing of mithatīḥ adevīḥ (false, ungodlike confounders).
  • Dāna-prārthanā: Ask for vāja—strength, prizes, and increase—so the community becomes ‘great’ through Indra’s support.
  • Śānti/niṣkṛti: Conclude with confidence in protection and the attainment of wide, auspicious dawns through continued praise.

Offerings

  • Soma (where applicable in the śrauta setting)
  • Ghee/ājyā oblations into Agni as the carrier to Indra
  • Optional: praise-gifts (dakṣiṇā) aligned with victory rites

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn asks Indra to support the worshippers with every form of help and to carry them through conflicts by defeating obstructing and hostile forces.

It emphasizes that no warrior or rival power can overcome Indra, because he surpasses all beings and embodies the decisive force that breaks obstruction.

It refers to deceptive or disorderly powers that confuse and oppose right action; the hymn asks Indra to restrain them so life becomes safe, clear, and expansive like the coming dawn.

Ask anything about Sukta 25 of the Rig Veda

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