Rig Veda Sukta 23
Mandala 7Sukta 236 Mantras

Sukta 23

Sukta 7.23

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Dalam himne Triṣṭubh enam rangkap ini, Vasiṣṭha (juga mewakili kaum Vasiṣṭha) mengangkat doa-doa perang yang membawa kemenangan kepada Indra, memohon agar baginda mendengar, datang dengan segera, serta menganugerahkan kekuatan, kemasyhuran, dan perlindungan. Himne ini mengaitkan pujian yang digerakkan oleh ilham yang benar dengan ṛta (kebenaran/tatanan kosmik), menggambarkan Indra sebagai kuasa yang meluaskan diri dan mengagihkan vāja (daya kemenangan, kelimpahan) kepada mereka yang mendekat dengan dhī (fikiran yang tercerahkan). Ia berakhir dengan berkat yang ringkas: semoga Indra menegakkan kemakmuran yang kaya dengan pahlawan dan ternakan, dan semoga para penjaga ilahi memelihara para pemuja dalam kesejahteraan yang berkekalan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.23

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Indra

    Indra is praised as vṛṣan (the Bull), vajrabāhu (thunder-armed), the hearer of hymns and the decisive victor in samarya (battle/contest), who by sheer śavas (force) stretches out and sustains the worlds.

Mantras

Mantra 1

उदु ब्रह्माण्यैरत श्रवस्येन्द्रं समर्ये महया वसिष्ठ । आ यो विश्वानि शवसा ततानोपश्रोता म ईवतो वचांसि ॥

Tinggikanlah mantra-mantra demi memperoleh kemasyhuran yang didengar; besarkan Indra dalam pertempuran, wahai Vasiṣṭha. Dia yang dengan kekuatannya telah membentangkan segala sesuatu—moga datang sebagai pendengar bagi kata-kataku yang penuh hasrat.

Mantra 2

अयामि घोष इन्द्र देवजामिरिरज्यन्त यच्छुरुधो विवाचि । नहि स्वमायुश्चिकिते जनेषु तानीदंहांस्यति पर्ष्यस्मान् ॥

Kulepaskan seruan ini, wahai Indra, kerabat para dewa, ketika belenggu-belenggu yang memusuhi berkata terpisah dan mengelirukan. Kerana di kalangan manusia tiada siapa benar-benar mengenal batas umurnya sendiri; maka bawalah kami melampaui penyempitan dan kesilapan ini.

Mantra 3

युजे रथं गवेषणं हरिभ्यामुप ब्रह्माणि जुजुषाणमस्थुः । वि बाधिष्ट स्य रोदसी महित्वेन्द्रो वृत्राण्यप्रती जघन्वान् ॥

Untuk penggandingan, kereta yang mencari Sinar-sinar disediakan dengan dua kuda kuning keemasan; mantra-mantra berdiri dekat, menyambutnya. Dengan kebesarannya ia memisahkan dua alam; Indra, yang menewaskan segala rintangan tanpa bandingan, telah melapangkan jalan.

Mantra 4

आपश्चित्पिप्युः स्तर्यो न गावो नक्षन्नृतं जरितारस्त इन्द्र । याहि वायुर्न नियुतो नो अच्छा त्वं हि धीभिर्दयसे वि वाजान् ॥

Bahkan air pun telah melimpah, seperti sapi yang melenguh, mencapai Kebenaran; demikian juga para pemujimu, wahai Indra, telah sampai kepada hukum yang benar (ṛta). Datanglah kepada kami seperti Vāyu dengan kuasa-kuasa yang terpasang; kerana dengan fikiran-fikiran yang bercahaya engkau membahagikan kelimpahan daya (vāja).

Mantra 5

ते त्वा मदा इन्द्र मादयन्तु शुष्मिणं तुविराधसं जरित्रे । एको देवत्रा दयसे हि मर्तानस्मिञ्छूर सवने मादयस्व ॥

Semoga ekstasi-eksatasi kegirangan ini memabukkanmu, wahai Indra—perkasa dalam daya, luas dalam kurnia—demi sang penyanyi. Engkau seoranglah, pada jalan ilahi, yang mengurniakan rahmat kepada insan fana; dalam pemerasan soma ini, wahai wira, nikmatilah sukacitamu dan bertambah.

Mantra 6

एवेदिन्द्रं वृषणं वज्रबाहुं वसिष्ठासो अभ्यर्चन्त्यर्कैः । स नः स्तुतो वीरवद्धातु गोमद्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Demikianlah para Vasiṣṭha melagukan puji-pujian dengan himpunan madah kepada Indra, Sang Lembu Jantan, yang berlengan vajra. Semoga Dia—yang dipuji—mengurniakan kepada kami kekayaan sinar dan kekayaan daya kepahlawanan; dan semoga kamu, para penjaga ilahi, sentiasa memelihara kami dengan kesejahteraan.

Inside Sukta 23

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A deliberate ‘raising’ of mantras for śravas (renown) and a direct request that Indra listen closely to the poet’s eager words.

  2. Development

    Indra is described as the force that has ‘stretched out all things’; the hymn then aligns the singers with ṛta, using the image of swelling waters/cows to show praise reaching truth and fullness.

  3. Climax

    The urgent invitation: Indra is called to come swiftly—like Vāyu with yoked powers—because through dhī (illumined thought) he apportions vāja (effective might and plenitude).

  4. Where it settles

    The Vasiṣṭhas collectively acclaim Indra as bull and thunder-armed, asking for hero-rich, cattle-rich prosperity and ending with a standing prayer for continual svasti and protection.

The deity: Indra

  • Cosmic functionHe embodies the conquering, world-ordering power that breaks obstruction, releases the life-giving flows, and apportions vāja—strength, victory, and abundance—to the aligned worshipper.
  • Inner significanceIndra signifies the awakened will and courageous intelligence that overcomes inner resistance, opens blocked energies, and turns inspired thought (dhī) into effective power and achievement.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Vasiṣṭhāsaḥ, the Vasiṣṭha family of seers) · One of the foremost ṛṣis of the Rigveda, celebrated for powerful Indra-hymns and for articulating ṛta through inspired speech; traditionally famed as a paradigmatic Brahmarṣi and royal priest (purohita).

Famous verses

upashrotā me īvato vacāṃsi
Verse 7.23.1Sets the hymn’s purpose: victorious praise seeking fame and Indra’s attentive hearing; it frames Indra as the cosmic expander and the immediate listener to prayer.Read verse 7.23.1 →
tvaṃ hi dhībhir dayase vi vājān
Verse 7.23.4Central theological pivot: praise and waters ‘reach ṛta’; Indra is urged to come swiftly and is defined as the one who distributes vāja through dhī.Read verse 7.23.4 →
vṛṣaṇaṃ vajrabāhum
Verse 7.23.6Concluding communal voice of the Vasiṣṭhas; a compact request for vīra and go wealth and an enduring blessing of svasti/protection.Read verse 7.23.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vajra-wielder (thunderbolt power)
  • Victor in battle and giver of fame (śravas)
  • Listener and responder to prayer (upashrotā)
  • Distributor of vāja (force, plenitude, winning)
  • Upholder of ṛta through right action and right praise
  • Protector who grants svasti (well-being)

Also by this seer

  • Major portions of Rigveda Maṇḍala 7 (Vasiṣṭha Maṇḍala)
  • Noted Rigvedic hymns to Indra, Agni, Varuṇa-Mitra, and the Maruts within Maṇḍala 7
  • Later tradition associates Vasiṣṭha with Vasiṣṭha-dharma materials and the Vasiṣṭha Smṛti (attributional tradition)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fire and seat of offering; establish intention for victory and protection.
  • Recite the opening praise to ‘raise up’ brahmāṇi (formulated mantras) and invite Indra as the attentive hearer.
  • Offer oblations while chanting verses that connect praise with ṛta and request Indra’s swift approach.
  • Reaffirm Indra’s might (vṛṣan, vajrabāhu) and explicitly ask for vāja, heroic offspring/companions (vīra), and cattle/wealth (go).
  • Conclude with a benediction for ongoing svasti and protective oversight by the divine powers.

Offerings

  • Soma (where applicable)
  • Ghee/clarified butter (ājya)
  • Grain-cakes or simple food offerings (puroḍāśa, regional practice)
  • Water libations alongside praise (symbolically echoed by the hymn’s swelling waters imagery)

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks Indra to hear the poets’ prayers, come swiftly in times of contest, and grant vāja (winning strength), fame, wealth (especially cattle), heroic support, and lasting well-being (svasti).

The image shows praise and devotion becoming full and effective—like waters swelling—until they ‘reach ṛta,’ meaning they align with the right order that makes Indra’s gifts and victories possible.

It can be recited as an Indra-stuti before difficult work or competition, with a small fire or lamp and a ghee offering (or even simple water libation), focusing on courage, clarity (dhī), and protection.

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