Dashati 17
Indra as the foremost, newly-manifest power who conquers enemies and is strengthened through ṛta and Soma-pressings
Indra
Vīra/raudra-tinged exaltation: triumphal forceful and protective
Ṛgvedic concordance not supplied in the input; the seer attribution cannot be stated securely without mapping these verses to their RV loci.
Directly Soma-linked: references to three pressings (triḥ) Soma admixture (āśira) purification (punata) and Indra’s Soma-joy with his companions.
Mantras
Mantra 1
त्रिरस्मै सप्त धेनवो दुदुह्रिरे सत्यामाशिरं परमे व्योमनि चत्वार्यन्या भुवनानि निर्णिजे चारूणि चक्रे यदृतैरवर्धत
Thrice did the seven milch-kine yield unto him the true admixture, in the highest heaven; he fashioned for purification four other fair regions, when, by the ordinances of truth (ṛta), he waxed in might.
Mantra 2
स भक्षमाणो अमृतस्य चारुण उभे द्यावा काव्येना वि शश्रथे तेजिष्ठा अपो मंहना परि व्यत यदी देवस्य श्रवसा सदो विदुः
He, partaking of the pleasant immortal (Soma), spread abroad by sacerdotal wisdom through both the heavens; the most rapid waters encompassed (the draught) with bounty, when the (priests) of the sacrificial session knew (him) by the glory of the god.
Mantra 3
ते अस्य सन्तु केतवो ऽमृत्यवो ऽदाभ्यासो जनुषी उभे अनु येभिर्नृम्णा च देव्या च पुनत आदिद्राजानं मनना अगृभ्णत
May these be his signs—immortal, unassailable—following after both his births; wherewith, with manly and with divine puissance, they purify (the offering): by reverent thought they have obtained the resplendent king.
Frequently Asked Questions
It presents Indra as the foremost power who is effective immediately against foes, and whose strength becomes manifest through the ordered sacrificial process—especially Soma pressing, mixing, and purification.
Traditional interpretation links ‘three times’ to the three Soma-pressings, while the ‘seven milch-kine’ symbolize abundant, truth-grounded nourishment offered to Indra—ritual plenty that supports his cosmic kingship.
It refers to the ritual refining of Soma (filtering/mixing) and, by extension, the sanctifying power that makes Indra’s radiant sovereignty ‘graspable’ through reverent thought and correct performance.