Rig Veda Sukta 103
Mandala 1Sukta 1038 Mantras

Sukta 103

Sukta 1.103

Rishi

Kutsa Āṅgirasa (traditional attribution)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Ten hymn chwali najwyższą, daleko sięgającą potęgę Indry, postrzeganą jako działającą zarówno na ziemi, jak i w niebie jako jeden zjednoczony znak. Wzywa do wiary w bohaterską moc Indry, przypominając jego dobroczynne odkrycia: krowy, konie, rośliny, wody i lasy, oraz jego zwycięstwa nad przeszkadzającymi wrogami. Końcowy werset rozszerza błogosławieństwo, wzywając Mitrę, Varunę, Aditi, Sindhu, Ziemię i Niebo, aby pomnożyły zdobyte zwycięstwo dla czcicieli.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.103

Mantras

Mantra 1

तत्त इन्द्रियं परमं पराचैरधारयन्त कवयः पुरेदम् । क्षमेदमन्यद्दिव्यन्यदस्य समी पृच्यते समनेव केतुः ॥

Tę najwyższą twoją indryczną moc wieszcy podtrzymywali od dawna, z daleko sięgających wyżyn. Jedna jest tutaj na ziemi, druga jest ta w niebie; jednak obie są złączone jako jeden znak w tym samym miejscu spotkania.

Mantra 2

स धारयत्पृथिवीं पप्रथच्च वज्रेण हत्वा निरपः ससर्ज । अहन्नहिमभिनद्रौहिणं व्यहन्व्यंसं मघवा शचीभिः ॥

On utrzymał mocno Ziemię i rozpostarł ją; uderzywszy piorunową siłą, uwolnił wody. Zabił Węża, rozłupał Rauhinę, powalił przeszkodziciela Wjamsę, Maghawan swymi świadomymi mocami.

Mantra 3

स जातूभर्मा श्रद्दधान ओजः पुरो विभिन्दन्नचरद्वि दासीः । विद्वान्वज्रिन्दस्यवे हेतिमस्यार्यं सहो वर्धया द्युम्नमिन्द्र ॥

On, nosiciel wrodzonej mocy, opierając wiarę na swojej sile, przełamał twierdze i ruszył naprzód, uwalniając zniewolone moce. Wiedząc, o dzierżycielu pioruna, powalił broń Dasju; pomnóż dla Arji siłę i świetlisty tryumf, o Indro.

Mantra 4

तदूचुषे मानुषेमा युगानि कीर्तेन्यं मघवा नाम बिभ्रत् । उपप्रयन्दस्युहत्याय वज्री यद्ध सूनुः श्रवसे नाम दधे ॥

To ludzkie pokolenia głosiły przez wieki, niosąc godną chwały nazwę Maghawana. Dzierżyciel piorunu wyruszył na zabicie Dasju, gdy Syn ustanowił dla siebie imię dla wzrostu słuchu i sławy.

Mantra 5

तदस्येदं पश्यता भूरि पुष्टं श्रदिन्द्रस्य धत्तन वीर्याय । स गा अविन्दत्सो अविन्ददश्वान्त्स ओषधीः सो अपः स वनानि ॥

Zobaczcie to jego, jak obfity jest wzrost: złóżcie wiarę w Indrę dla jego bohaterskiej mocy. On znalazł Krowy, znalazł Konie; znalazł Rośliny, znalazł Wody, znalazł Lasy.

Mantra 6

भूरिकर्मणे वृषभाय वृष्णे सत्यशुष्माय सुनवाम सोमम् । य आदृत्या परिपन्थीव शूरोऽयज्वनो विभजन्नेति वेदः ॥

Dla sprawcy wielu dzieł, dla Byka, dla silnego o prawdziwym zapale, wyciskajmy Somę. On, który bacząc, jak bohater strzegący ścieżek, rozróżnia i zna nieskładających ofiar, nieofiarujące siły.

Mantra 7

तदिन्द्र प्रेव वीर्यं चकर्थ यत्ससन्तं वज्रेणाबोधयोऽहिम् । अनु त्वा पत्नीर्हृषितं वयश्च विश्वे देवासो अमदन्ननु त्वा ॥

To zaprawdę, o Indro, był twój bohaterski czyn, gdy piorunową siłą przebudziłeś śpiącego Węża. Za tobą podążały małżonki i radosne moce życia; wszyscy bogowie radowali się, idąc za tobą.

Mantra 8

शुष्णं पिप्रुं कुयवं वृत्रमिन्द्र यदावधीर्वि पुरः शम्बरस्य । तन्नो मित्रो वरुणो मामहन्तामदितिः सिन्धुः पृथिवी उत द्यौः ॥

Gdy zabiłeś Śuṣṇę, Pipru, Kuyavę i Vṛtrę, o Indro, i zniszczyłeś twierdze Śambarę, niech ta moc zwycięstwa nas wzmocni: Mitra i Varuṇa, Aditi, Rzeka przepływu, Ziemia i Niebo.

Inside Sukta 103

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by proclaiming Indra’s supreme power upheld by ancient seers, spanning far heights and uniting earth and heaven.

  2. Development

    It builds confidence through concrete outcomes of Indra’s might—growth and prosperity—highlighting his role as finder and releaser of essential resources.

  3. Climax

    The peak recalls Indra’s decisive slayings of major obstructers (Śuṣṇa, Pipru, Kuyava, Vṛtra) and the shattering of Śambara’s strongholds.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn resolves by converting victory into blessing: allied deities and cosmic supports (Mitra-Varuṇa, Aditi, Sindhu, Earth, Heaven) are asked to enlarge that triumph for the people.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is celebrated as the foremost warrior and soma-drinker, breaker of forts, slayer of Vṛtra and other obstructers, and the one who releases hidden wealth and waters. He is lauded for irresistible strength (indriya), victorious energy, and for granting increase and prosperity to his allies.
  • Cosmic functionHe clears obstructions in the cosmos—releasing waters, opening paths, and restoring the flow of life and abundance—thereby sustaining order and growth.
  • Inner significanceIndra symbolizes decisive will and luminous courage that breaks inner inertia and fear, releasing one’s ‘blocked’ energies (clarity, vitality, and creative flow).

The seer

  • Kutsa ĀṅgirasaĀṅgirasa (Angiras lineage; Kutsa is counted among the Āṅgiras seers) · A prominent early Rigvedic seer closely associated with Indra’s heroic myths, especially victory narratives and the recovery of wealth (cattle) and life-supporting resources.

Famous verses

तत्त इन्द्रियं परमं पराचैरधारयन्त कवयः पुरेदम् । क्षमेदमन्यद्दिव्यन्यदस्य समी पृच्यते समनेव केतुः ॥
Verse 1.103.1Defines the hymn’s central theology: Indra’s single supreme power manifests in both earthly and heavenly domains, joined as one ‘sign’—a key Vedic vision of unified potency.Read verse 1.103.1 →
तदस्येदं पश्यता भूरि पुष्टं श्रदिन्द्रस्य धत्तन वीर्याय । स गा अविन्दत्सो अविन्ददश्वान्त्स ओषधीः सो अपः स वनानि ॥
Verse 1.103.5Summarizes Indra’s beneficence in tangible terms—recovering cows, horses, plants, waters, and forests—linking victory to nourishment and societal flourishing.Read verse 1.103.5 →
śuṣṇam pipruṃ kuyavaṃ vṛtram
Verse 1.103.8Culminates in the classic victory catalogue (slaying obstructers, breaking forts) and then widens into a multi-deity blessing for communal enlargement and stability.Read verse 1.103.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vṛtrahan (slayer of obstruction)
  • Fortress-breaker (puraṃdara)
  • Soma-empowered hero
  • Giver of increase and wealth (puṣṭi)
  • Protector of the faithful
  • Unifier of earthly and heavenly power

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Mandala 1 hymns traditionally attributed to Kutsa (notably a cluster of Indra hymns around RV 1.94–1.115 in several Anukramaṇī traditions)
  • Indra-centered praise poetry that helped shape later retellings of the Vṛtra/fortress-breaking motif

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the sacred fire (Agni) and establish the altar space.
  • Press and offer soma (or a substitute in later practice), reciting Indra-invocations.
  • Recite the hymn’s verses as stotra/śastra-style praise, emphasizing Indra’s ‘supreme indriya’ and victory deeds.
  • Make concluding prayers for enlargement (māmahatām) and communal welfare, optionally adding the closing invocations to Mitra-Varuṇa-Aditi, Sindhu, Earth, and Heaven.
  • Conclude with śānti-style assent and distribution of blessed remnants (where applicable).

Offerings

  • Soma libation (primary)
  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni
  • Grain cakes/oblations (puroḍāśa, where used)
  • Water libations and praise-gifts (dakṣiṇā) in traditional settings

Frequently Asked Questions

It proclaims Indra’s supreme power as one force working in both heaven and earth, and it asks that his victories bring increase, prosperity, and protection to the worshippers.

These represent the basic supports of life and prosperity; the hymn says Indra ‘finds’ or releases them, meaning he removes obstacles so abundance can return to the world.

The closing prayer broadens the blessing beyond Indra alone, calling on cosmic order (Mitra-Varuṇa), boundless protection (Aditi), the life-giving river (Sindhu), and the two great supports (Earth and Heaven) to strengthen the gained victory.

Ask anything about Sukta 103 of the Rig Veda

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