Rig Veda Sukta 161
Mandala 10Sukta 1615 Mantras

Sukta 161

Sukta 10.161

Rishi

Traditionally associated with healing/expulsion hymns (bhaiṣajya); specific rishi attribution varies by Anukramaṇī

Devata

Indrāgnī (dual deity)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable; requires metrical verification)

Este breve hino de cura (bhaiṣajya/āyuṣya) invoca o poder conjunto de Indra e Agni para libertar o sofredor de enfermidades que se agarram e consomem, e do invisível «apreensor» (grāhi). Pela força do havis (oferta/oblação) e da fala sagrada, o paciente é simbolicamente «trazido de volta», restaurado na visão, nos membros e no tempo de vida, e conduzido para além de durita (aflição, infortúnio, movimento errado).

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.161

Mantras

Mantra 1

मुञ्चामि त्वा हविषा जीवनाय कमज्ञातयक्ष्मादुत राजयक्ष्मात् । ग्राहिर्जग्राह यदि वैतदेनं तस्या इन्द्राग्नी प्र मुमुक्तमेनम् ॥

Com a oferenda sacrificial eu te liberto — para a vida — da doença desconhecida que definha e da doença régia, consumidora. Se o Apreensor o apreendeu assim, então desse aperto, ó Indra-Agni, libertai-o por completo.

Mantra 2

यदि क्षितायुर्यदि वा परेतो यदि मृत्योरन्तिकं नीत एव । तमा हरामि निॠतेरुपस्थादस्पार्षमेनं शतशारदाय ॥

Se o tempo de vida que lhe foi destinado se esgotou, ou se ele já passou além, ou se de fato foi levado para perto da Morte — ainda assim eu o trago de volta do regaço de Nirṛti. Eu o restauro intocado — por cem outonos.

Mantra 3

सहस्राक्षेण शतशारदेन शतायुषा हविषाहार्षमेनम् । शतं यथेमं शरदो नयातीन्द्रो विश्वस्य दुरितस्य पारम् ॥

Com o poder de mil olhos (visão ampla), com cem outonos de amadurecimento, com vida centuplicada — pela oblação (havis) eu o trouxe aqui, para que Indra conduza este ser por cem estações, até a margem longínqua, além de toda aflição e de todo desvio.

Mantra 4

शतं जीव शरदो वर्धमानः शतं हेमन्ताञ्छतमु वसन्तान् । शतमिन्द्राग्नी सविता बृहस्पतिः शतायुषा हविषेमं पुनर्दुः ॥

Vive cem outonos, crescendo e aumentando; cem invernos e cem primaveras. Que Indra-Agni, Savitṛ e Bṛhaspati o restaurem de novo e de novo pela oblação (havis) de vida centuplicada — renovando o curso do seu ser.

Mantra 5

आहार्षं त्वाविदं त्वा पुनरागाः पुनर्नव । सर्वाङ्ग सर्वं ते चक्षुः सर्वमायुश्च तेऽविदम् ॥

Eu te trouxe de volta; eu te reencontrei. Retorna renovado, sempre de novo. Inteiro em cada membro — que te sejam restituídos todo o teu ver e toda a tua força vital; tudo isso eu recuperei para ti.

Inside Sukta 161

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct therapeutic declaration: the speaker releases the patient ‘for life’ from wasting sickness and from the grasp of the Seizer, calling Indrāgnī to unbind.

  2. Development

    The hymn expands from expulsion to restoration—re-establishing longevity (hundred seasons), wholeness, and safe passage beyond durita through Indra’s leadership and Agni’s rite.

  3. Climax

    The turning point is the longevity/transition vision: Indra leads the person across the far shore of all distress, implying definitive recovery and re-entry into ordered life.

  4. Where it settles

    It ends with a tender retrieval refrain—‘I have brought you back, found you again’—and a sealing blessing for complete limbs, restored sight, and recovered life-force.

The deity: Indrāgnī

  • In the VedaIndra is the victorious, far-leading power who breaks obstruction and carries beings across danger; Agni is the luminous fire-principle, priest of the rite, who conveys offerings and purifies. As a dual deity, Indrāgnī unites decisive force with consecrated flame to drive away affliction and re-establish order.
  • Cosmic functionThey protect life by dispelling hostile forces, restoring vitality (āyus), and re-aligning the person with ṛta through the sacrificial channel (Agni) and the overcoming power (Indra).
  • Inner significanceIndra represents courage, expansive will, and the breakthrough beyond fear; Agni represents inner heat, clarity, digestion/transformation, and the capacity to ‘carry’ intention. Together they signify the integrated recovery of strength and coherence after illness or psychic ‘seizure.’

The seer

  • Anukramaṇī attribution varies (late Maṇḍala 10 bhaiṣajya strand; often treated as Atharvanic-style healing voice)Associated with expulsion-and-restoration hymns that address disease as a seizing power and use mantra as a therapeutic release (mumukta) and retrieval (āhārṣam/avidaṃ).

Famous verses

pra mumuktam enam
Verse 10.161.1Core release formula: names wasting illnesses (known/unknown) and the ‘Seizer,’ then commands Indrāgnī to free the patient from that grasp—this is the hymn’s therapeutic nucleus.Read verse 10.161.1 →
viśvasya duritasya pāram
Verse 10.161.3Sets the āyuṣya frame (‘hundred autumns’) and invokes Indra as the guide who leads the person beyond all durita; it transforms healing into a larger passage from danger to safety.Read verse 10.161.3 →
punar āgāḥ punarnava
Verse 10.161.5Concluding restoration mantra: ‘brought back / found again’ and a comprehensive recovery blessing for limbs, vision, and life—often used as the sealing affirmation in healing recitations.Read verse 10.161.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Dual divine agency (paired invocation)
  • Release from ‘seizing’ forces (grāhi)
  • Restoration of āyus (life-span) and cakṣus (vision)
  • Purification and re-integration of the person
  • Crossing beyond durita (distress)

Also by this seer

  • Connected in style and intent with late RV Maṇḍala 10 āyuṣya/bhaiṣajya material (healing, longevity, restoration).
  • Parallels the Atharvavedic medical/expulsion idiom (yakṣma, grāhi, recovery of breath/sight), though this hymn is Rigvedic in placement.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare a small fire (Agni) or a consecrated space; seat the patient facing the fire/light.
  • Recite RV 10.161 with intent of ‘release for life’ (jīvanāya), naming the affliction as unknown/royal wasting and as a ‘seizer.’
  • Offer havis into the fire (or perform a symbolic offering) while speaking the release formula to Indrāgnī (pra mumuktam enam).
  • Pronounce the longevity frame: ‘hundred autumns’ (śataśārad) and ‘lead beyond all durita,’ affirming recovery and future seasons.
  • Conclude with the retrieval/return formula (āhārṣam… avidaṃ… punar āgāḥ), touching or anointing the patient to seal restoration of limbs, sight, and life-force.

Offerings

  • Ghṛta (ghee) into Agni
  • Simple havis (cooked oblation) as available
  • Water for sprinkling/ācamana
  • Optional medicinal herbs aligned with local tradition (as adjunct, not required by the text)

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a short Vedic healing hymn that asks Indra and Agni to free a person from wasting sickness and from a ‘seizing’ force, and to restore full life, strength, and sight.

Indra represents the power that breaks obstruction and leads beyond danger, while Agni represents the purifying fire that carries the offering and the prayer. Together they act as a united force for release and restoration.

It can be recited in a simple healing rite with an offering (like ghee into fire) or as a spoken prayer near the patient, focusing on the key ideas: release from the grasp, return of vitality, and blessing for long life.

Ask anything about Sukta 161 of the Rig Veda

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