Rig Veda Sukta 69
Mandala 6Sukta 697 Mantras

Sukta 69

Sukta 6.69

Rishi

Bharadvāja (traditional for Mandala 6).

Devata

Indra-Viṣṇu (dual).

Chandas

Triṣṭubh.

Himne ini menyeru dua ketuhanan berpasangan, Indra dan Viṣṇu, sebagai sekutu yang tidak terpisahkan, yang bersama-sama membawa si pelaksana korban menyeberangi “pantai seberang” daripada kerja yang berat dan pertikaian. Ia memohon agar mereka berkenan pada yajña, mendengar brahman sang penyair (ucapan perumusan), menganugerahkan kekayaan dan perlindungan, serta meneguhkan kuasa mereka yang tidak terkalahkan dan menata tatanan dunia.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 6.69

Mantras

Mantra 1

सं वां कर्मणा समिषा हिनोमीन्द्राविष्णू अपसस्पारे अस्य । जुषेथां यज्ञं द्रविणं च धत्तमरिष्टैर्नः पथिभिः पारयन्ता ॥

Dengan kerja dan daya kerinduan pemujaan aku menghimpunkan kalian, wahai Indra dan Viṣṇu, di tebing jauh dari usaha ini. Berkenanlah pada yajña dan letakkan pada kami kepenuhan; seberangkan kami melalui jalan-jalan yang tidak dapat dipatahkan.

Mantra 2

या विश्वासां जनितारा मतीनामिन्द्राविष्णू कलशा सोमधाना । प्र वां गिरः शस्यमाना अवन्तु प्र स्तोमासो गीयमानासो अर्कैः ॥

Wahai Indra dan Viṣṇu, kamu yang memperanakkan segala ilham, bejana-bejana yang menampung Soma; semoga kata-kata kami yang terucap melindungi dan memelihara kamu; semoga puji-pujian kami, dinyanyikan dengan penglihatan para ṛṣi, maju dan menguatkan perhubungan suci.

Mantra 3

इन्द्राविष्णू मदपती मदानामा सोमं यातं द्रविणो दधाना । सं वामञ्जन्त्वक्तुभिर्मतीनां सं स्तोमासः शस्यमानास उक्थैः ॥

Wahai Indra dan Viṣṇu, tuan-tuan ekstasi, datanglah kepada Soma dengan membawa kelimpahan. Semoga sinar ilham-ilham kami mengurapi kamu; semoga puji-pujian kami, dilafazkan sebagai ucapan yang ditinggikan, berhimpun dan mengikat kamu pada yajña.

Mantra 4

आ वामश्वासो अभिमातिषाह इन्द्राविष्णू सधमादो वहन्तु । जुषेथां विश्वा हवना मतीनामुप ब्रह्माणि शृणुतं गिरो मे ॥

Semoga kuda-kuda kamu, penewas serangan yang memusuhi, membawa kamu ke mari, wahai Indra dan Viṣṇu, sahabat dalam kenikmatan bersama. Bergembiralah atas segala seruan ilham-ilham kami; dengarlah dengan saksama brahman-brahman pembentuk itu, dengarlah ujaranku.

Mantra 5

इन्द्राविष्णू तत्पनयाय्यं वां सोमस्य मद उरु चक्रमाथे । अकृणुतमन्तरिक्षं वरीयोऽप्रथतं जीवसे नो रजांसि ॥

Wahai Indra dan Viṣṇu, dalam ekstasi Soma kamu berdua meluaskan yang layak menimbulkan takjub; kamu membentuk antarikṣa menjadi kelapangan yang lebih besar, dan kamu membentangkan alam-alam (rajāṃsi) demi kehidupan kami.

Mantra 7

इन्द्राविष्णू पिबतं मध्वो अस्य सोमस्य दस्रा जठरं पृणेथाम् । आ वामन्धांसि मदिराण्यग्मन्नुप ब्रह्माणि शृणुतं हवं मे ॥

Wahai Indra dan Viṣṇu, minumlah Soma yang bermadu ini, wahai para pembuat keajaiban; penuhilah perut kamu berdua dengannya. Inti-inti yang memabukkan telah datang kepada kamu—dengarkanlah rumusan-rumusan brahman, dengarlah seruanku.

Mantra 8

उभा जिग्यथुर्न परा जयेथे न परा जिग्ये कतरश्चनैनोः । इन्द्रश्च विष्णो यदपस्पृधेथां त्रेधा सहस्रं वि तदैरयेथाम् ॥

Kamu berdua telah menakluk; tiada seorang pun daripada kamu dikalahkan, dan tiada seorang pun daripada kamu pernah ditaklukkan. Wahai Indra dan Viṣṇu, apabila kamu beradu daya, kamu menggerakkan dan membahagikan tenaga seribu-lipat itu ke dalam tiga aliran.

Inside Sukta 69

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The poet yokes Indra and Viṣṇu together through work and aspiration, asking them to enjoy the sacrifice and carry the worshipper across safely (the ‘far shore’ motif).

  2. Development

    The hymn intensifies the invitation: their steeds bring them, they are urged to listen to all calls of inspired thought and to the poet’s brahman, and to grant wealth and protection against assaults.

  3. Climax

    A strong declaration of their mutual, undefeated victory culminates in the image of their contest/play of powers that sets a “thousandfold” energy in motion and distributes it in three streams—orderly power released and apportioned.

  4. Where it settles

    The praise resolves into assurance: the paired gods remain reliable allies who hear, protect, enrich, and guide the sacrificer along unbroken paths to completion and wellbeing.

The deity: Indra–Viṣṇu

  • In the VedaIndra appears as the victorious, obstacle-breaking lord of might and giver of spoils; Viṣṇu as the wide-striding supporter of cosmic order and the one who makes space for life. As a pair, they are praised as companions in shared exhilaration (sadhāmāda), arriving together, hearing the poet’s words, and acting in concert to protect and enrich the worshipper.
  • Cosmic functionThey stabilize and expand the ordered world: Indra overcomes hostile powers and releases energies; Viṣṇu measures out and secures the cosmic spaces. Together they ensure victory without defeat and distribute power and abundance in a regulated, life-sustaining way.
  • Inner significanceIndra–Viṣṇu symbolizes the union of force and order: decisive will that breaks inner obstacles (Indra) guided by a luminous, harmonizing intelligence that “makes room” for the soul’s progress (Viṣṇu). Their ‘carrying across’ points to crossing hardship, confusion, and fear through aligned energy and right direction.

The seer

  • BharadvājaBharadvāja (Bārhaspatya) gotra; Angiras lineage (traditional attribution for Maṇḍala 6) · A major Rigvedic seer associated with the Bharadvāja family hymns of Maṇḍala 6, noted for powerful, practical invocations for protection, victory, and right ritual performance.

Famous verses

ariṣṭair naḥ pathibhiḥ pārayantā
Verse 6.69.1Programmatic opening: the hymn’s core request—Indra–Viṣṇu’s enjoyment of yajña, bestowal of draviṇa, and the saving ‘crossing’ by unbreakable paths—is stated with striking clarity.Read verse 6.69.1 →
आ वामश्वासो अभिमातिषाह इन्द्राविष्णू सधमादो वहन्तु । जुषेथां विश्वा हवना मतीनामुप ब्रह्माणि शृणुतं गिरो मे ॥
Verse 6.69.4Highlights the ritual dynamic: their arrival on conquering steeds, their shared exhilaration, and their attentive hearing of the poet’s brahman—key Vedic themes of invocation and effective speech.Read verse 6.69.4 →
ubhā jigyathur na parā jayethe
Verse 6.69.8Culminating theological statement: both are unconquered, and their coordinated power distributes a vast energy in a threefold way, expressing ordered cosmic force rather than mere aggression.Read verse 6.69.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • paired allies acting as one power
  • unconquered and undefeated
  • protectors who ‘carry across’ by unbreakable paths
  • delighters in yajña and hearers of inspired speech
  • givers of draviṇa (wealth/plenitude)
  • world-ordering distribution of power (often expressed as measured or ‘threefold’ movement)

Also by this seer

  • Traditional seer-family behind many hymns of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6
  • Associated in later tradition with Bharadvāja-Brāhmaṇa lineages and the Bharadvāja gotra transmission
  • Frequently linked with Indra-centered and allied-deity praises emphasizing help in battle, safe passage, and prosperity

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the sacred fire and seat; establish intention for protection and successful completion of work.
  • Invite Indra–Viṣṇu with opening praises, emphasizing their joint arrival and companionship in delight.
  • Offer oblations while reciting the central verses, asking them to enjoy the yajña and hear the brahman (the poet’s formulative speech).
  • State specific petitions: wealth (draviṇa), victory over opposition, and safe ‘crossing’ by uninjured paths.
  • Conclude with affirmations of their unconquered power and their right distribution of energies, sealing the rite with a final oblation.

Offerings

  • ghee (ājya)
  • soma (where applicable)
  • oblations of grains/cakes depending on rite (puroḍāśa-type offerings in later practice)
  • water/clarified butter libations accompanying mantra recitation

Frequently Asked Questions

They are invoked as a paired power: Indra brings victorious force that breaks obstacles, while Viṣṇu brings ordered expansion and secure space. Together they protect, grant prosperity, and guide the sacrificer safely through hardship.

It is a prayer for safe passage—through danger, conflict, or difficult work—so the worshipper reaches the goal without harm. It also suggests an inner crossing: moving beyond fear and obstruction through divine support and right direction.

It is suited for fire offerings (and Soma settings where applicable) when seeking protection, victory over opposition, and successful completion of demanding tasks. The hymn emphasizes correct invocation, attentive divine hearing, and the granting of wealth and wellbeing.

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