Rig Veda Sukta 44
Mandala 3Sukta 444 Mantras

Sukta 44

Sukta 3.44

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (Mandala 3 Indra cycle; RV 3.44)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Gāyatrī (probable for RV 3.44; shorter pādas consistent with Gāyatrī-stotra style)

Este breve hino em estilo gāyatrī convida Indra ao prensar do soma, pedindo-lhe que venha com seus cavalos fulvos e tome assento no carro radiante no sacrifício. Em seguida, louva Indra como o sustentáculo do Céu e da Terra, que estabelece abundante sustento, culminando na imagem de Indra como o Touro fulvo que se arma com o vajra para a ação vitoriosa.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.44

Mantras

Mantra 1

अयं ते अस्तु हर्यतः सोम आ हरिभिः सुतः । जुषाण इन्द्र हरिभिर्न आ गह्या तिष्ठ हरितं रथम् ॥

Que este Soma seja teu, ó Desejável: espremido com os poderes fulvos (hari). Aceitando‑o, ó Indra, vem a nós com tuas energias hari; aproxima‑te e toma teu lugar no carro verde‑dourado em nosso recinto de oferenda.

Mantra 2

हर्यन्नुषसमर्चयः सूर्यं हर्यन्नरोचयः । विद्वाँश्चिकित्वान्हर्यश्व वर्धस इन्द्र विश्वा अभि श्रियः ॥

Com ardor fulvo (hari) tu hinas Uṣas, a Aurora; com ardor fulvo fazes resplandecer Sūrya, o Sol. Sabedor, perspicaz, ó Indra de corcéis fulvos, cresces em todos os esplendores — em toda Śrī, em toda realização luminosa.

Mantra 3

द्यामिन्द्रो हरिधायसं पृथिवीं हरिवर्पसम् । अधारयद्धरितोर्भूरि भोजनं ययोरन्तर्हरिश्चरत् ॥

Indra sustentou o Céu, pleno de brilho fulvo (hari), e a Terra, rica em formas fulvas. Ele firmou abundante alimento para os dois poderes hari; entre ambos se move e atua a Energia luminosa.

Mantra 4

जज्ञानो हरितो वृषा विश्वमा भाति रोचनम् । हर्यश्वो हरितं धत्त आयुधमा वज्रं बाह्वोर्हरिम् ॥

Nascido como o Touro das potências fulvas, todo o espaço luminoso resplandece. Indra de corcéis fulvos toma a arma fulva; ele põe sobre os braços o vajra, poder refulgente, para a obra da vitória.

Inside Sukta 44

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct invitation: the delightful soma is pressed—Indra is asked to come with his tawny horses and take his place on the chariot at the rite.

  2. Development

    Praise expands from the immediate ritual arrival to Indra’s cosmic stature, depicting him as sustaining Heaven and Earth and instituting plentiful nourishment.

  3. Climax

    Indra is revealed as the tawny Bull whose presence makes the luminous world shine, and who readies the vajra for conquering work.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into assurance: the invoked Indra, armed and radiant, stands ready to act for the sacrificer—bringing stability, victory, and plenty.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is the mighty soma-loving warrior and sovereign, drawn by praise to the rite, mounted on a bright chariot with tawny horses, and famed for wielding the vajra to win victories and release abundance.
  • Cosmic functionChampion of ṛta through heroic force: he stabilizes the cosmic spaces (Heaven and Earth), breaks obstacles, and sets nourishment and prosperity in motion for gods and humans.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened power of will and luminous energy that overcomes inner resistance, steadies one’s world, and turns inspiration (soma) into decisive, life-supporting action.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthina (Viśvāmitra gotra) · A royal-turned-seer whose hymns powerfully shape the Indra cycle of Maṇḍala 3, celebrated for forging mantric speech that “brings” the god to the offering and for the wider Viśvāmitra tradition associated with the Gāyatrī.

Famous verses

ayaṃ te astu haryataḥ somaḥ
Verse 3.44.1Captures the hymn’s core ritual function—offering soma and summoning Indra to arrive with the tawny horses and take his seat at the sacrifice.Read verse 3.44.1 →
द्यामिन्द्रो हरिधायसं पृथिवीं हरिवर्पसम् । अधारयद्धरितोर्भूरि भोजनं ययोरन्तर्हरिश्चरत् ॥
Verse 3.44.3States Indra’s cosmic role as the one who upholds Heaven and Earth and establishes abundant nourishment between the two ‘tawny powers.’Read verse 3.44.3 →
ā vajraṃ bāhvor harim
Verse 3.44.4Presents the climactic martial-theophany: Indra as the tawny Bull who makes the luminous realm shine and takes up the vajra for victory.Read verse 3.44.4 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Soma-drinker and patron of the pressings
  • Wielder of the vajra (thunderbolt)
  • Rider of the tawny horses (harī) and radiant chariot
  • Upholder of Heaven and Earth
  • Giver of bhoga (nourishment, enjoyment, plenty)
  • Victorious, bull-like strength (vṛṣan)

Also by this seer

  • Primary seer of much of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 (notably many Indra hymns)
  • Associated with the Viśvāmitra family corpus (Viśvāmitra Maṇḍala)
  • Later tradition links him with the Gāyatrī mantra (ṚV 3.62.10) within the broader Viśvāmitra lineage

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/vedi and kindle the sacred fire according to the rite.
  • Press and filter soma; set it forth as the inviting draught for Indra.
  • Recite the hymn as an āhvāna (invocation), requesting Indra to come with the harī and mount the chariot at the offering-ground.
  • Offer soma with accompanying praises, affirming Indra’s cosmic support of Heaven and Earth and his gift of abundance.
  • Conclude by visualizing Indra arming himself with the vajra—seeking protection, victory, and the establishment of plenty.

Offerings

  • Soma (pressed and offered)
  • Ghee/clarified butter (as ancillary oblation in the sacrificial setting)

Frequently Asked Questions

It invites Indra to come to the soma offering with his tawny horses, take his seat at the ritual, and bring strength, victory, and nourishment to the worshippers.

The ‘hari’ imagery points to Indra’s tawny horses and radiant power—his shining energy that moves between Heaven and Earth and turns the offering into effective, life-giving force.

The vajra symbolizes decisive power that breaks obstacles—an inner courage and clarity that protects, stabilizes one’s world, and wins the needed victory for growth and well-being.

Ask anything about Sukta 44 of the Rig Veda

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