Sukta 43
Sukta 6.43
Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya) tradition.
Indra.
Gāyatrī (likely; refrain-like structure; verify by syllable count in critical edition).
ଇହା ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କୁ ଉଦ୍ଦିଶ୍ୟ କରିଥିବା ଏକ ସଂକ୍ଷିପ୍ତ ସୋମ-ଆହ୍ୱାନ ଷ୍ଟୁତି, ଯେଉଁଥିରେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ବୀରକାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସ୍ମରଣ କରାଯାଏ—ଦିବୋଦାସ ପାଇଁ ଶମ୍ବରକୁ ଦମନ, ପାଥର ମଧ୍ୟରୁ “ଗାଈ/କିରଣ” ମୁକ୍ତ କରିବା, ଏବଂ ଦାନଶୀଳ ପ୍ରତିପାଳକଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବିଜୟୀ ଶକ୍ତି ସ୍ଥାପନ। ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଋଚାର କେନ୍ଦ୍ରରେ ପୁନରୁକ୍ତି-ସଦୃଶ ଡାକ ରହିଛି—“ହେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର, ଏହି ସେଇ ସୋମ ତୁମ ପାଇଁ ଚାପାଯାଇଛି; ପିଅ”—ଯାହା ଷ୍ଟୁତିକୁ ସିଧାସଳଖ ଭାବେ ହବିସ୍ ସହ ଯୋଡ଼େ। ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟ ହେଉଛି ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କୁ ସୋମ-ଚାପାଣିକୁ ଆକର୍ଷିତ କରିବା, ତାଙ୍କର ଉତ୍ସାହ/ମଦ (ମଦ) ପୁନର୍ନବୀକରଣ କରିବା, ଏବଂ ଯଜମାନ ଓ ପ୍ରତିପାଳକ ପାଇଁ ରକ୍ଷା, ବିଜୟ ଓ ଐଶ୍ୱର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସୁନିଶ୍ଚିତ କରିବା।
Mantras
Mantra 1
यस्य त्यच्छम्बरं मदे दिवोदासाय रन्धयः । अयं स सोम इन्द्र ते सुतः पिब ॥
ହେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର! ଯେ ତୁମେ ମଦରେ ଦିବୋଦାସ ପାଇଁ ସେ ଶମ୍ବରକୁ ବଶ କରିଥିଲ—ଏହି ହେଉଛି ସେଇ ସୋମ, ତୁମ ପାଇଁ ସୁତ; ପିଅ।
Mantra 2
यस्य तीव्रसुतं मदं मध्यमन्तं च रक्षसे । अयं स सोम इन्द्र ते सुतः पिब ॥
ହେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର! ଯେ ତୁମେ ତୀବ୍ର-ସୁତ ମଦକୁ—ତାହାର ମଧ୍ୟ ଓ ଅନ୍ତକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ—ରକ୍ଷା କର; ଏହି ହେଉଛି ସେଇ ସୋମ, ତୁମ ପାଇଁ ସୁତ; ପିଅ।
Mantra 3
यस्य गा अन्तरश्मनो मदे दृळ्हा अवासृजः । अयं स सोम इन्द्र ते सुतः पिब ॥
ହେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର! ଯେ ତୁମେ ମଦରେ ପଥରର ଭିତରୁ ଦୃଢ଼ଭାବେ ବନ୍ଧା ଗାଵ (କିରଣ)ମାନଙ୍କୁ ମୁକ୍ତ କରିଥିଲ—ଏହି ହେଉଛି ସେଇ ସୋମ, ତୁମ ପାଇଁ ସୁତ; ପିଅ।
Mantra 4
यस्य मन्दानो अन्धसो माघोनं दधिषे शवः । अयं स सोम इन्द्र ते सुतः पिब ॥
ହେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର! ସୋମ-ରସର ସାରରେ ଆନନ୍ଦିତ ହୋଇ, ଦାନବୀର (ମାଘବନ)ଙ୍କ ଶକ୍ତିକୁ ତୁମେ ସ୍ଥାପନ କର। ଏହି ହେଉଛି ସେଇ ସୋମ—ତୁମ ପାଇଁ ପିଷିତ; ପିଅ।
Inside Sukta 43
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Indra is addressed through a remembered victory—his subduing of Śambara for Divodāsa—immediately tied to the present Soma invitation.
- Development
The hymn moves from martial aid to cosmic liberation: Indra’s power releases the cows/rays from within the stone, portraying him as opener of hidden abundance and light.
- Climax
Indra, exhilarated by Soma-essence, ‘sets in place’ (establishes) force in the bounteous giver—mythic power becomes present social prosperity and victorious capacity.
- Where it settles
The refrain repeatedly resolves the hymn into ritual immediacy: the Soma is ready now—‘pressed out, drink’—so the praised deeds become operative blessings.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is the Soma-loving, thunderbolt-bearing champion who is strengthened by pressing and praise, famed for breaking fortresses, releasing the cows (light/wealth), and granting victory and generous gifts to patrons.
- Cosmic functionHe restores and maintains ṛta by overcoming obstructive powers, opening the channels of light and waters, and empowering the sacrificer’s community with strength, rain, and triumph.
- Inner significanceIndra symbolizes awakened force and courageous clarity—the inner power that breaks inertia, frees the ‘rays’ of insight from confinement, and turns intoxication (mada) into victorious energy rather than confusion.
The seer
- Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya tradition)Bharadvāja gotra; associated with the Bārhaspatya/Angirasa stream · Foremost among the Bharadvājas of Maṇḍala 6, celebrated for Indra-centered Soma hymns that blend mythic recollection (e.g., Śambara, release of the cows) with direct ritual summons to drink.
Famous verses
ayaṃ sa soma indra te sutaḥ piba
ayaṃ sa soma indra te sutaḥ piba
ayaṃ sa soma indra te sutaḥ piba
Attributes of the deity
- Soma-drinker (somapā)
- Vajra-bearer and fortress-breaker
- Liberator of cows/rays (light, wealth)
- Protector of patrons (e.g., Divodāsa)
- Bounteous giver (māghavan)
- Warrior of ecstatic power (mada)
Also by this seer
- Major portion of Rigveda Maṇḍala 6 (Bharadvāja family collection), especially Indra and allied deities in Soma contexts
- Hymns invoking Indra’s Vṛtra-slaying and cow-releasing motifs across the Bharadvāja corpus (Mandala 6 family hymns)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the Soma pressing and seat the deity mentally through recitation (āvāhana by praise).
- Recite the verses with the repeated invitation to drink, aligning each remembrance of Indra’s deed with the offering.
- Offer Soma (or its later substitute in non-Soma settings) while maintaining the refrain as the act-link (yajña-bandhu) between speech and oblation.
- Conclude with a request for strength, protection, and patronal bounty, sealing the hymn’s intention.
Offerings
- Pressed Soma (suta soma)
- Associated oblations in Soma ritual setting (supporting offerings as customary, e.g., ghee in the fire alongside the Soma service)
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Indra’s famous victories and liberations and then repeatedly invites him to drink the freshly pressed Soma, so he grants strength, protection, and success to the worshippers and their patron.
The repetition acts like a ritual refrain: it ties each remembered deed of Indra to the present offering, making the praise immediately effective as an invitation and request for blessing.
On the surface it recalls a mythic act of freeing cattle/wealth; symbolically it suggests Indra releasing hidden light, inspiration, and abundance from obstruction—turning confinement into openness and clarity.
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