Rig Veda Sukta 19
Mandala 2Sukta 199 Mantras

Sukta 19

Sukta 2.19

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (traditional for RV 2.19)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 2.19)

Ten hymn wychwala Indrę jako pana napełnionego Somą, który ustanawia swą siedzibę w "wyższym niebie", odpowiada ofiarodawcy i przynosi światło, bogactwo oraz zwycięstwo. Łączy właściwą chwałę (brahman) i wyciskanie Somy z namacalnymi darami Indry: słońcopodobnym oświeceniem, ukrytymi skarbami i niezmiennym udziałem (bhaga) dla śpiewaków. Końcowa modlitwa prosi, aby hojna Dakṣiṇā została "wydojona" dla społeczności kapłańskiej, aby mogli oni głosić To, co Rozległe (bṛhat) na zgromadzeniu, mając silne potomstwo i bohaterską moc.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.19

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Indra

    Indra is the foremost heroic deva of the Ṛgveda, strengthened by Soma, a breaker of obstacles and winner of cattle, light, and victory; he is drawn to strong praise and generous offering.

Mantras

Mantra 1

अपाय्यस्यान्धसो मदाय मनीषिणः सुवानस्य प्रयसः । यस्मिन्निन्द्रः प्रदिवि वावृधान ओको दधे ब्रह्मण्यन्तश्च नरः ॥

Wyciśnięta rozkosz została wypita dla ekstazy przez widza myśli, z pełni ofiary; w tym (Somie) Indra, rosnący w wyższym niebie, ustanowił swój dom, a ludzie szukający Słowa zgromadzili się przy nim.

Mantra 2

अस्य मन्दानो मध्वो वज्रहस्तोऽहिमिन्द्रो अर्णोवृतं वि वृश्चत् । प्र यद्वयो न स्वसराण्यच्छा प्रयांसि च नदीनां चक्रमन्त ॥

Radując się z tej słodyczy, Indra, dzierżący piorunową moc, rozciął węża, który pokrył powódź. Wtedy, jak ptaki do własnych strumieni, ruchy i naprzód pędzące rzeki ruszyły w swym biegu.

Mantra 3

स माहिन इन्द्रो अर्णो अपां प्रैरयदहिहाच्छा समुद्रम् । अजनयत्सूर्यं विदद्गा अक्तुनाह्नां वयुनानि साधत् ॥

Ten potężny Indra, zabójca węża, popędził powódź wód ku oceanowi. Sprowadził Słońce na świat, znalazł Promienie (krowy), i nocą oraz dniem dokonał dzieł uporządkowanego rozeznania.

Mantra 4

सो अप्रतीनि मनवे पुरूणीन्द्रो दाशद्दाशुषे हन्ति वृत्रम् । सद्यो यो नृभ्यो अतसाय्यो भूत्पस्पृधानेभ्यः सूर्यस्य सातौ ॥

On, Indra, dał Manu wiele nie do odparcia łask; zabija Vṛtrę dla dającego. Ten, który staje się natychmiast niezwyciężony dla ludzi, w zdobywaniu Słońca, przeciwko tym, którzy rywalizują w wrogości.

Mantra 5

स सुन्वत इन्द्रः सूर्यमा देवो रिणङ्मर्त्याय स्तवान् । आ यद्रयिं गुहदवद्यमस्मै भरदंशं नैतशो दशस्यन् ॥

Dla wyciskającego, Indra bóg przybliża Słońce dla śmiertelnika, który chwali. A gdy przynosi mu ukrytą pełnię, bez skazy, niesie ją jako należną część, jak Etaśa przynoszący udział, w akcie służby.

Mantra 6

स रन्धयत्सदिवः सारथये शुष्णमशुषं कुयवं कुत्साय । दिवोदासाय नवतिं च नवेन्द्रः पुरो व्यैरच्छम्बरस्य ॥

Ujarzmił Śuṣṇę, wysuszającego, i Kuyavę dla Kutsy, woźnicę niebiańskich. Dla Divodāsy, Indra wyłamał dziewięćdziesiąt dziewięć twierdz Śambari.

Mantra 7

एवा त इन्द्रोचथमहेम श्रवस्या न त्मना वाजयन्तः । अश्याम तत्साप्तमाशुषाणा ननमो वधरदेवस्य पीयोः ॥

Tak, o Indro, chcielibyśmy wypowiedzieć twoją chwałę dla sławy, starając się własnym ja zdobyć pełnie. Niech osiągniemy ten siódmy (krok/krainę), parając naprzód; niech broń bezbożnych, pęczniejąca wroga siła, skłoni się przed nami.

Mantra 8

एवा ते गृत्समदाः शूर मन्मावस्यवो न वयुनानि तक्षुः । ब्रह्मण्यन्त इन्द्र ते नवीय इषमूर्जं सुक्षितिं सुम्नमश्युः ॥

Tak widzowie Gṛtsamada, pragnący twojej pomocy, o bohaterze, ukształtowali swoje myśli jak zręczne dzieła. Szukając Słowa, o Indro, osiągnęli twój nowszy (wyższy) dar: impuls i wzrost, dobre ustabilizowane stanie, i łaska pełni.

Mantra 9

नूनं सा ते प्रति वरं जरित्रे दुहीयदिन्द्र दक्षिणा मघोनी । शिक्षा स्तोतृभ्यो माति धग्भगो नो बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

Teraz zaprawdę niech ta hojna Dakszina, bogata w pełnię, zostanie wydojona w odpowiedzi dla ciebie, o Indro, dla śpiewaka. Udziel chwalcom; niech nasz Bhaga, cząstka szczęścia, nie będzie przypalona ani pomniejszona; mówmy o Rozległym na zgromadzeniu, obdarzeni dobrymi i bohaterskimi mocami.

Inside Sukta 19

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Indra is invoked as Soma-drinker and exalted power who makes his dwelling in the higher heaven where inspired singers gather.

  2. Development

    The hymn ties Indra’s responsiveness to Soma and praise: he brings near light (Sūrya) and conveys faultless, hidden wealth as a rightful portion to the devotee.

  3. Climax

    The boon-motif peaks in the image of prosperity being brought forth and allotted—Indra’s gift as an earned share, with solar and chariot imagery (Etaśa) underscoring swift bestowal.

  4. Where it settles

    It closes with a direct petition: let bounteous Dakṣiṇā be ‘milked’ for the singer, let our bhaga not be diminished, and let us speak the Vast (bṛhat) in the assembly with good offspring and heroic strength.

The deity: Indra

  • Cosmic functionHe secures order by overcoming hostile powers, releases light and abundance, and ensures the right distribution of prosperity to the sacrificer through divine might.
  • Inner significanceIndra signifies awakened will-power and courageous clarity: the force in consciousness that, fed by disciplined aspiration (Soma/offerings), breaks inertia, reveals ‘sunlight’ of insight, and secures one’s rightful share.

The seer

  • GṛtsamadaBhārgava (of the Bhr̥gu line; often connected with the Gṛtsamada lineage within the Bhārgavas) · A principal seer of Maṇḍala 2, renowned for robust Indra-stutis that bind poetic inspiration (brahman) to ritual efficacy, especially Soma-pressing and the winning of wealth and protection.

Famous verses

ओको दधे (oko dadhe) — “he has set his home/seat”
Verse 2.19.1Sets the hymn’s ritual-theological frame: Soma is drunk for ecstasy; Indra ‘grows’ and establishes his seat where brahman-seeking men congregate—linking offering, inspiration, and divine presence.Read verse 2.19.1 →
स सुन्वत इन्द्रः सूर्यमा देवो रिणङ्मर्त्याय स्तवान् । आ यद्रयिं गुहदवद्यमस्मै भरदंशं नैतशो दशस्यन् ॥
Verse 2.19.5Highlights Indra’s beneficence: he brings the Sun near (illumination and success) and delivers ‘hidden, faultless’ wealth as a due share, using Etaśa imagery to stress rightful and swift distribution.Read verse 2.19.5 →
बृहत् वदेम (bṛhat vadema) — “may we speak the Vast”
Verse 2.19.9Concluding prayer central to many ritual contexts: Dakṣiṇā as a bounteous cow to be milked for the singer; protection of bhaga (right portion) and aspiration to speak bṛhat in the assembly with heroic progeny.Read verse 2.19.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Soma-joyed and strength-increasing (madāya, vāvṛdhāna)
  • Warrior and obstacle-breaker
  • Giver of wealth and ‘hidden plenitude’
  • Drawn to brahman (sacred word) and the pressers
  • Bringer of light/solar clarity (Sūrya imagery)
  • Bestower of right portion (bhaga) and generous Dakṣiṇā

Also by this seer

  • Primary r̥ṣi for most of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 hymns (especially many Indra hymns)
  • Associated in tradition with shaping powerful Triṣṭubh praise-forms used in Soma rites
  • Contributor to the wider Bhārgava poetic and ritual heritage reflected across early Vedic liturgy

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the yajña-ground and kindled fires; establish the rite with opening praises.
  • Press Soma (savana), strain and mix according to custom; recite Indra-invocations in Triṣṭubh.
  • Offer Soma to Indra, inviting him to ‘take his seat’ among the brahman-seeking singers.
  • Recite victory/boon verses asking for the Sun-like opening of light, the release of hidden riches, and protection.
  • Conclude with prayers for Dakṣiṇā, an undiminished bhaga (right share), and strong speech in the assembly (vidatha).

Offerings

  • Soma juice (primary)
  • Ghee/clarified butter (as accompanying oblation)
  • Priestly praise (brahman) as the ‘offering of speech’
  • Dakṣiṇā (ritual gift/fee) invoked as a boon to be received

Frequently Asked Questions

It teaches that Indra responds to Soma and sincere praise by bringing light (clarity and success), granting wealth (even ‘hidden’ riches), and ensuring the singers receive their rightful share.

Dakṣiṇā is the ritual gift given to priests; calling it ‘to be milked’ uses cow imagery to ask that generous reward and nourishment flow out abundantly for the sacrificer and singers.

Bhaga means one’s allotted portion of good fortune. The hymn asks that this rightful share not be reduced or ‘burnt away,’ so prosperity and strength remain intact.

Ask anything about Sukta 19 of the Rig Veda

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