Rig Veda Sukta 37
Mandala 3Sukta 3711 Mantras

Sukta 37

Sukta 3.37

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (opening of RV 3.37 traditionally attributed to Viśvāmitra).

Devata

Indra.

Chandas

Gāyatrī (short 3-pāda structure suggests a compact meter; many such invocatory openings are in Gāyatrī).

RV 3.37 to zwarte, potężne wezwanie Indry jako pogromcy Vṛtry i zwycięzcy bitew, nakłaniające go, by zwrócił się ku czcicielom i umocnił ich zwycięstwa. Hymn wielokrotnie wzywa Indrę z bliska i z daleka, prosząc go o szybkie przybycie, przyjęcie ofiary i złamanie przeszkadzających mocy, które wstrzymują światło, wody i postęp.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.37

Mantras

Mantra 1

वार्त्रहत्याय शवसे पृतनाषाह्याय च । इन्द्र त्वा वर्तयामसि ॥

Dla zabicia Zasłaniacza i dla mocy, oraz dla zwycięstwa w bitwach, o Indro, wprawiamy cię w ruch, zwracamy cię ku nam.

Mantra 2

अर्वाचीनं सु ते मन उत चक्षुः शतक्रतो । इन्द्र कृण्वन्तु वाघतः ॥

O Indro o stu mocach, niech szukający ukształtują dla ciebie umysł zwrócony do wewnątrz i wizję pełną blasku, aby twoja siła działała w nas jako przebudzona energia ofiarna.

Mantra 3

नामानि ते शतक्रतो विश्वाभिर्गीर्भिरीमहे । इन्द्राभिमातिषाह्ये ॥

O Indro o stu mocach, wszystkimi naszymi hymnami wzywamy twoje Imiona, twoje wielorakie obecności, abyś mógł pokonać wrogie naciski, które atakują duszę.

Mantra 4

पुरुष्टुतस्य धामभिः शतेन महयामसि । इन्द्रस्य चर्षणीधृतः ॥

Przez sto świetlistych stacji mocy wysławiamy wielce chwalonego Indrę, wspierającego ludzkie rody, tego, który podtrzymuje nasze pole działania i wzrostu.

Mantra 5

इन्द्रं वृत्राय हन्तवे पुरुहूतमुप ब्रुवे । भरेषु वाजसातये ॥

Wzywam blisko Indrę, wielokrotnie przyzywanego, by uderzył Writrę, Zasłaniacza, aby w bitwach życia wywalczył dla nas obfitości siły.

Mantra 6

वाजेषु सासहिर्भव त्वामीमहे शतक्रतो । इन्द्र वृत्राय हन्तवे ॥

W zyskach siły bądź naszym zwycięzcą; ciebie szukamy, o Indro o stu mocach, byś powalił zasłaniacza naszego światła i ruchu.

Mantra 7

द्युम्नेषु पृतनाज्ये पृत्सुतूर्षु श्रवस्सु च । इन्द्र साक्ष्वाभिमातिषु ॥

W naszych świetlistych osiągnięciach, w impulsach bitewnych, w konfliktach, które muszą być przezwyciężone, i w polach natchnionej sławy, o Indro, bądź obecny i zwycięski przeciwko napierającym siłom wrogim.

Mantra 8

शुष्मिन्तमं न ऊतये द्युम्निनं पाहि जागृविम् । इन्द्र सोमं शतक्रतो ॥

Chroń dla naszej pomocy najbardziej potężnego, promiennego, czuwającego Somę, o Indro o stu mocach, aby przebudzona rozkosz została zachowana dla podróży duszy.

Mantra 9

इन्द्रियाणि शतक्रतो या ते जनेषु पञ्चसु । इन्द्र तानि त आ वृणे ॥

Moce Indry, o stuwolny, które są twoje wśród pięciu ludów, te właśnie moce, o Indro, wybieram i przyciągam ku sobie dla wzrostu duszy.

Mantra 10

अगन्निन्द्र श्रवो बृहद्द्युम्नं दधिष्व दुष्टरम् । उत्ते शुष्मं तिरामसि ॥

Przybądź, o Indro: umieść w sobie rozległą natchnioną sławę, promienną moc trudną do przezwyciężenia; i wznosimy się ponad, przekraczamy twoją siłę, przez to wzniesienie przełamujemy trudną przeprawę.

Mantra 11

अर्वावतो न आ गह्यथो शक्र परावतः । उ लोको यस्ते अद्रिव इन्द्रेह तत आ गहि ॥

Przybądź do nas z bliższych krain, a także, o potężny, z dalszych; z jakiegokolwiek świata jest twój, o panie kamienia piorunowego, o Indro, przybądź tu stamtąd w to ucieleśnione pole.

Inside Sukta 37

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct mobilization of Indra: invoked for Vṛtra-slaying, strength, and battle-victory—‘we turn/set you in motion toward us.’

  2. Development

    The hymn intensifies the request, portraying Indra as the overcomer in vājas and repeatedly framing the central problem as obstruction to light, movement, and success.

  3. Climax

    Indra is explicitly sought as the one who will strike Vṛtra—heroic, many-powered, and decisive in the critical moment of contest.

  4. Where it settles

    A sweeping final summons calls Indra from near or far, from any realm that is his, to come ‘here from there’—bringing the divine power fully into the ritual field.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is hailed as Śakra (the mighty), Śatakratu (of a hundred powers/acts), wielder of the thunderstone (adri-vat), and the heroic breaker of Vṛtra who releases the blocked currents of life. He is the foremost champion of the Arya community in conflict and the swift recipient of soma and praise.
  • Cosmic functionHe shatters obstruction, releases waters/light, restores movement, and secures victory and abundance—turning chaos into ordered flow and enabling the world’s dynamism.
  • Inner significanceIndra represents awakened will, courage, and decisive intelligence that breaks inner inertia (vṛtra) and reopens the streams of clarity, energy, and forward motion in the seeker.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthin (Viśvāmitra lineage; traditionally connected with the Kuśika line) · A paradigmatic ṛṣi who embodies tapas and transformation, celebrated for powerful Indra hymns and for establishing expansive, world-ordering prayer-forms in the Rig Veda tradition.

Famous verses

indra tvā vartayāmasi
Verse 3.37.1Sets the hymn’s program: Indra is invoked for Vṛtra-slaying, might, and victory in battle, with the strong ritual gesture of ‘turning’ the deity toward the sacrificer.Read verse 3.37.1 →
वाजेषु सासहिर्भव त्वामीमहे शतक्रतो । इन्द्र वृत्राय हन्तवे ॥
Verse 3.37.6Crystallizes Indra’s functional role as sāsahi (overcomer) in vājas and explicitly seeks him to strike Vṛtra—linking prosperity, contest, and obstacle-removal.Read verse 3.37.6 →
arvāvato na ā gahi
Verse 3.37.11A memorable concluding invitation: Indra is called from near and far, from any world, to arrive here—expressing the Vedic idea that the god’s presence is made immediate through mantra and offering.Read verse 3.37.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vṛtrahan (slayer of the Coverer/obstructor)
  • Śakra (mighty, capable)
  • Śatakratu (many-powered, many-devised)
  • Swift to come when invoked
  • Battle-winner and protector of the pressing (soma) and the sacrificer
  • Wielder of vajra/adri (thunderstone)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (many hymns attributed to Viśvāmitra and his line)
  • Indra-focused sūktas emphasizing Vṛtra-han (slayer of obstruction) and victory in contest (pṛtanā-saha)
  • Foundational Vedic prayer motifs later echoed in famous mantras associated with Viśvāmitra (e.g., the solar prayer tradition)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fire (Agni) and establish a focused intention: victory over obstruction (vṛtra) and attainment of strength (śavas).
  • Invite Indra with stotra/śastra-style recitation, explicitly ‘turning’ him toward the rite (ā-vartana/āhvāna sense).
  • Offer soma (or its ritual substitute) and ghee while reciting key verses that name Indra as Vṛtrahan and Śatakratu.
  • Reinforce the request: Indra as sāsahi (overcomer) in vājas (contests/energetic gains), to strike down the obstructing force.
  • Conclude with the broad summons: call Indra from near and far ‘from whatever world is his’ to be present here and now, sealing the protection and victory.

Offerings

  • Soma libation (primary, where applicable)
  • Ghee/ājya into Agni
  • Optional: oblations with milk/curds in Indra context (regional śrauta variations)

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks Indra to come to the worshippers, destroy the obstructing force called Vṛtra, and grant strength and victory in conflict and effort.

Vṛtra symbolizes blockage—of waters, light, and progress. Indra as Vṛtrahan is the power that breaks the blockage and restores flow and success.

It is a poetic way of saying: wherever Indra’s power is present in the cosmos, the mantra invites that power to become present here in the ritual and in the seeker’s life.

Ask anything about Sukta 37 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play