Rig Veda Sukta 33
Mandala 5Sukta 339 Mantras

Sukta 33

Sukta 5.33

Rishi

Atri (Ātreya)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Ten hymn Atriego chwali niezrównaną siłę Indry i jego pomoc przynoszącą zwycięstwo w bitwach, prosząc go o przebudzenie "dobrego umysłu" (sumati) i przyniesienie zwycięskiej mocy czcicielom. Wspomina potęgę Indry miażdżącą węża oraz jego łaskawe obdarowywanie bogactwem, przedstawiając pomyślność jako bosko prowadzone "zgromadzenie", podobnie jak krowy wchodzące do bezpiecznej zagrody.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 5.33

Mantras

Mantra 1

महि महे तवसे दीध्ये नॄनिन्द्रायेत्था तवसे अतव्यान् । यो अस्मै सुमतिं वाजसातौ स्तुतो जने समर्यश्चिकेत ॥

Rozpalam potężny hymn dla wielkiej Mocy, dla Indry, tak dla siły, której nie można przewyższyć. On, chwalony wśród ludzi, budzi w zdobywaniu pełni dobry umysł dla szukającego, prawdziwie staje się znany jako walczący w bitwie.

Mantra 2

स त्वं न इन्द्र धियसानो अर्कैर्हरीणां वृषन्योक्त्रमश्रेः । या इत्था मघवन्ननु जोषं वक्षो अभि प्रार्यः सक्षि जनान् ॥

Ty zaiste, o Indro, zamyślony naszymi oświecającymi pieśniami, zaprzęgasz jarzmo swoich dwóch sił, byku siły. Wtedy, o szczodry, w ten właśnie sposób i z radosną zgodą, niesiesz nas naprzód na swojej piersi, prowadź dążące ludy do zwycięstwa.

Mantra 3

न ते त इन्द्राभ्यस्मदृष्वायुक्तासो अब्रह्मता यदसन् । तिष्ठा रथमधि तं वज्रहस्ता रश्मिं देव यमसे स्वश्वः ॥

Nie od nas, o Indro, pochodziły te źle zaprzężone impulsy, gdy były bez kształtującego Słowa. Stań na swoim rydwanie, o dzierżący piorun; weź cugle, o bogu, ty o dobrych koniach, kieruj energiami we właściwym ruchu.

Mantra 4

पुरू यत्त इन्द्र सन्त्युक्था गवे चकर्थोर्वरासु युध्यन् । ततक्षे सूर्याय चिदोकसि स्वे वृषा समत्सु दासस्य नाम चित् ॥

Liczne są twoje hymny, o Indro, gdyż uczyniłeś miejsce dla Sił Światła, krów, nawet walcząc na szerokich polach. Wyżłobiłeś miejsce nawet dla Słońca w jego własnym domu; jako Byk w zmaganiach sprawiasz, że nawet imię Ciemnego odpada.

Mantra 5

वयं ते त इन्द्र ये च नरः शर्धो जज्ञाना याताश्च रथाः । आस्माञ्जगम्यादहिशुष्म सत्वा भगो न हव्यः प्रभृथेषु चारुः ॥

My i ci ludzie, o Indro, twoje nowo narodzone zastępy i twoje rydwany, które przybyły, niech ta moc miażdżąca węża przyjdzie do nas. Jak Bhaga, pożądany dla ofiary, bądź łaskawy w darach, piękny w dawaniu.

Mantra 6

पपृक्षेण्यमिन्द्र त्वे ह्योजो नृम्णानि च नृतमानो अमर्तः । स न एनीं वसवानो रयिं दाः प्रार्यः स्तुषे तुविमघस्य दानम् ॥

O Indro, ty jesteś tym, którego należy szukać i wypełniać; albowiem w tobie są siła i moce męstwa, ty, który prowadzisz człowieka do właściwego działania, nieśmiertelny. Tak więc, bogato odziany w dobro, daj nam teraz rayi, pełnię bytu; ja, dążący Arja, chwalę dar szeroko szczodrego.

Mantra 8

उत त्ये मा पौरुकुत्स्यस्य सूरेस्त्रसदस्योर्हिरणिनो रराणाः । वहन्तु मा दश श्येतासो अस्य गैरिक्षितस्य क्रतुभिर्नु सश्चे ॥

I niech te złote, radujące się moce Trasadasyu, bohaterskiego potomka Purukutsy, mnie niesią - niech dziesięć białych koni mnie niesie; i niech teraz będę połączony z siłami woli tego górskiego władcy.

Mantra 9

उत त्ये मा मारुताश्वस्य शोणाः क्रत्वामघासो विदथस्य रातौ । सहस्रा मे च्यवतानो ददान आनूकमर्यो वपुषे नार्चत् ॥

I niech ci czerwoni, silnej woli dawcy Marutāśvy mnie niesą w darze zgromadzenia. Cyavatāna, dając mi tysiąc, sprawił, że Arya zajaśniał na jego czele - jak hymn wzniesiony dla piękna postaci.

Mantra 10

उत त्ये मा ध्वन्यस्य जुष्टा लक्ष्मण्यस्य सुरुचो यतानाः । मह्ना रायः संवरणस्य ऋषेर्व्रजं न गावः प्रयता अपि ग्मन् ॥

I niech ci promienni, mili Dhvaniemu i Lakṣmaṇyi, postępujący z dobrym światłem, mnie niesą. Przez wielkość bogactwa widza Saṃvaraṇy przyszli do niego jak krowy wchodzące do zagrody - gotowe i skierowane do ich prawdziwej obory.

Inside Sukta 33

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The poet ‘kindles’ a great hymn to Indra’s great might, presenting praise as a force that awakens divine favor and battle-readiness.

  2. Development

    The hymn expands into petitions: Indra should come with his host and chariots, bring serpent-crushing power, and be gracious in the offerings like Bhaga in bestowal.

  3. Climax

    Indra’s decisive, obstruction-breaking energy is invoked as the turning point—victory and plenitude arise when his power and ‘good mind’ are granted.

  4. Where it settles

    It closes with an image of wealth and radiant aids arriving in ordered fullness, like cows entering their pen—prosperity gathered, protected, and made stable.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is the mighty warrior and lord of power (śakra), praised for irresistible strength, the crushing of the serpent/obstructor (ahi), and for granting victory, cattle, and abundance to his praisers.
  • Cosmic functionHe breaks obstruction, releases the life-giving flow (often imaged as waters/light), and secures order and expansion through heroic force and protection of the community.
  • Inner significanceIndra symbolizes the awakened will and courageous clarity that breaks inner resistance—fear, inertia, and confusion—so insight and abundance can “flow” into a rightly ordered life.

The seer

  • Atri (Ātreya)Ātreya gotra (descendants of Atri) · One of the most ancient Vedic seers, renowned for powerful Indra hymns and for the Atri family’s distinctive voice in Mandala 5, often linking praise, battle-aid, and generous bounty.

Famous verses

tavase atavyān
Verse 5.33.1Sets the hymn’s keynote: praise as kindling, Indra’s unsurpassed strength, and the gift of sumati that enables victory and recognition among men.Read verse 5.33.1 →
ahiśuṣma satvā
Verse 5.33.5Central petition for Indra’s arrival with his host and chariots and for ahi-crushing protective power, paired with the request for gracious giving in the offerings.Read verse 5.33.5 →
vrajaṃ na gāvaḥ
Verse 5.33.10Concluding prosperity image: radiant aids and wealth gather ‘like cows to the pen,’ expressing secure, guided abundance as the hymn’s final fruit.Read verse 5.33.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Unsurpassed strength (atavyān)
  • Serpent/obstruction-slayer (ahiśuṣman)
  • Giver of victory and plenitude (vājasāti)
  • Protector in battle and crisis
  • Responsive to praise and offerings
  • Bestower of wealth and flourishing

Also by this seer

  • Rigveda Mandala 5 (many hymns attributed to the Ātreyas, including prominent Indra and Agni praises)
  • Later Vedic/Itihāsa-Purāṇa memory: counted among the Saptarṣis; associated with the Atri lineage and its ritual-poetic transmission

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle Agni as the carrier of offerings.
  • Recite Indra-stuti (praise) to ‘kindle’ the hymn and invite Indra with his hosts and chariots.
  • Offer Soma (or its ritual substitute) with clarified butter while requesting sumati (right-minded favor) and victory.
  • State the specific petition: serpent-crushing protection, success in contest, and generous bestowal.
  • Conclude with thanksgiving and an affirmation of wealth arriving and being ‘enclosed’ safely (prosperity secured).

Offerings

  • Soma (where applicable)
  • Ghee/clarified butter (ājya)
  • Oblations/food portions (havis)

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks Indra for victorious strength, protection that crushes obstacles, and generous prosperity—along with sumati, a clear and favorable mind for success.

In Vedic poetry the ‘serpent’ (ahi) often represents an obstructing force. Calling Indra ahiśuṣman means asking him to break what blocks progress—outer threats and inner resistance.

It is a metaphor for wealth and benefits arriving in an orderly, secure way—gathered, protected, and settled where they truly belong, not scattered or lost.

Ask anything about Sukta 33 of the Rig Veda

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