Rig Veda Sukta 177
Mandala 1Sukta 1775 Mantras

Sukta 177

Sukta 1.177

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Trishtubh (probable; requires metrical verification)

Este hino de cinco versos é um convite urgente a Indra —o rei dos povos, semelhante a um touro— para que venha depressa em seu carro com os dois Haris, atraído pelo louvor e pelo Soma espremido. Enfatiza a prontidão de Indra em ajudar o cantor, conceder fama e força, e conduzir os adoradores a um estado luminoso e vitorioso (uma renovação como a aurora) e a uma realização bem-sucedida.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.177

Mantras

Mantra 1

आ चर्षणिप्रा वृषभो जनानां राजा कृष्टीनां पुरुहूत इन्द्रः । स्तुतः श्रवस्यन्नवसोप मद्रिग्युक्त्वा हरी वृषणा याह्यर्वाङ् ॥

Vem, ó guia dos povos humanos, Touro das nações, Rei das comunidades, Indra muitas vezes invocado. Louvado, desejoso da fama luminosa, aproxima-te com teu amparo; jungindo os dois fortes corcéis baios, vem para cá, até nós.

Mantra 2

ये ते वृषणो वृषभास इन्द्र ब्रह्मयुजो वृषरथासो अत्याः । ताँ आ तिष्ठ तेभिरा याह्यर्वाङ्हवामहे त्वा सुत इन्द्र सोमे ॥

Esses teus corcéis fortes, de feição taurina, ó Indra—jungidos pela palavra sagrada (brahman), que puxam o carro poderoso—monta-os; com eles vem para cá. Nós te chamamos quando o Soma é prensado, ó Indra.

Mantra 3

आ तिष्ठ रथं वृषणं वृषा ते सुतः सोमः परिषिक्ता मधूनि । युक्त्वा वृषभ्यां वृषभ क्षितीनां हरिभ्यां याहि प्रवतोप मद्रिक् ॥

Sobe ao carro robusto; para ti foi prensado o Soma, ó Poderoso, e as doçuras foram derramadas ao redor. Jungindo os dois corcéis potentes, ó Touro das moradas, vem com os Haris (Hari) pelas encostas em declive—para a embriaguez, o êxtase.

Mantra 4

अयं यज्ञो देवया अयं मियेध इमा ब्रह्माण्ययमिन्द्र सोमः । स्तीर्णं बर्हिरा तु शक्र प्र याहि पिबा निषद्य वि मुचा हरी इह ॥

Este é o sacrifício que conduz aos deuses; esta é a obra da oferenda; estes são os bráhmanas (ditos sagrados); este, ó Indra, é o Soma. O capim do barhis está estendido: vem, pois, ó Śakra, aproxima-te; bebe, sentado, e aqui desatrela teus dois corcéis.

Mantra 5

ओ सुष्टुत इन्द्र याह्यर्वाङुप ब्रह्माणि मान्यस्य कारोः । विद्याम वस्तोरवसा गृणन्तो विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥

Ó Indra, bem louvado, vem aqui, para os bráhmanas, as palavras sagradas do cantor digno. Que nós, cantando, por tua graça alcancemos o estado luminoso da Aurora; que alcancemos o ímpeto e a plenitude vitoriosa, ó rápido doador do dom.

Inside Sukta 177

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct summons: Indra, leader and king of peoples, is called to come near, praised for strength and responsiveness.

  2. Development

    The hymn situates the invitation in the Soma rite—sweetnesses poured, Soma pressed—and repeatedly visualizes Indra mounting the strong chariot and yoking the Haris.

  3. Climax

    The decisive moment is Indra’s commanded arrival ‘arvāṅ’ to the singer’s brahmāṇi, with Soma ready—an immediacy of divine presence and aid.

  4. Where it settles

    The worshippers end with clear goals: by Indra’s help may they win a shining dawn-state and attain effective impulse and victorious plenitude/overcoming.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is praised as puruhūta (“much-invoked”), vṛṣabha (“bull,” the strong one), and rājā of kṛṣṭīs (communities), arriving in a thunderous chariot drawn by the tawny Haris to drink Soma and protect the worshipper.
  • Cosmic functionHe releases and directs life-giving powers (victory, rain, vital force), breaks obstacles, and secures order and prosperity for clans through heroic might.
  • Inner significanceIndra symbolizes the awakened will and courageous force that breaks inner resistance, energizes aspiration, and turns inspired speech (brahmāṇi) into effective realization.

Famous verses

puruhūta indraḥ
Verse 1.177.1Sets the tone with Indra’s royal, bull-like leadership and the classic invitation to arrive with yoked Haris—an archetypal Indra-call for presence and protection.Read verse 1.177.1 →
आ तिष्ठ रथं वृषणं वृषा ते सुतः सोमः परिषिक्ता मधूनि । युक्त्वा वृषभ्यां वृषभ क्षितीनां हरिभ्यां याहि प्रवतोप मद्रिक् ॥
Verse 1.177.3Places the hymn firmly in the Soma-sacrificial context: Soma is pressed and sweetness poured, while Indra is urged to mount the chariot and come down the ‘sloping ways’ to exhilaration.Read verse 1.177.3 →
o suṣṭuta indra yāhy arvāṅ
Verse 1.177.5Concludes with the hymn’s practical spiritual request: approach the sacred words of the worthy singer and grant dawn-like winning, impulse (iṣ), and victorious overcoming—linking praise to attainment.Read verse 1.177.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Much-invoked (puruhūta)
  • Bull-like strength (vṛṣabha)
  • Chariot-rider with the Haris
  • Soma-drinker and giver of boons
  • Protector and victor over obstacles
  • Bestower of fame (śravas) and effective help (avasa)

Also by this seer

  • No additional secure attributions can be stated without a specific Anukramaṇī/Śākala tradition reference for RV 1.177 beyond this hymn.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the seat/space of worship and recite invitatory praise to Indra as king and bull of peoples.
  • Press/offer Soma (or symbolically present Soma) and announce it as ‘sutaḥ somaḥ’ for Indra.
  • Invoke Indra’s chariot arrival: request yoking of the two Haris and his approach ‘arvāṅ’.
  • Recite the central praises, asking for help (avasa), fame (śravas), and victorious force.
  • Conclude with petitions for dawn-like brightness/renewal and for winning iṣ (impulsion/food/means) and vṛjana (victorious company or overcoming of hostile bands).

Offerings

  • Soma (primary)
  • Ghee/oblations as customary accompaniments
  • Praise-hymns (brahmāṇi) as the essential offering of speech

Frequently Asked Questions

It invites Indra to come quickly to the sacrifice, especially to drink the pressed Soma, and asks him to give help, fame, strength, and victory to the worshippers.

The chariot and the two tawny steeds (Haris) are a standard Vedic image for Indra’s swift arrival. The hymn uses it to make the invitation vivid and urgent: “come here now.”

It asks that, through Indra’s support, the singers may “win the dawn” (a bright, renewed state) and also gain iṣ (effective impulse/means of success) and vṛjana (victorious overcoming or winning against opposition).

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