Sukta 83
Sukta 1.83
Indra
अयं संक्षिप्त इन्द्रसूक्तः तं मर्त्यं स्तौति यः इन्द्रसहाय्येन समृद्धिं गच्छति—अश्वान्, गावः (रश्मयः/धनम्), च बहुलं धनं लभते, यथा आपः नदीं पूरयन्ति। अङ्गिरसां–पणि/वलसम्बन्धिनं पुरावृत्तं स्मारयति, यत्र निगूढं धनं प्रकाशश्च सम्यक् समिधा-प्रदीपनात् प्रेरितात् प्रयत्नाच्च जय्यते। अन्ते च इन्द्रस्य प्रीतिं सुसम्पन्ने सोमयागे स्थापयति—यत्र स्तोत्रं, अधिषवणशिला, विस्तीर्णं बर्हिश्च सन्ति।
Mantras
Mantra 1
अश्वावति प्रथमो गोषु गच्छति सुप्रावीरिन्द्र मर्त्यस्तवोतिभिः । तमित्पृणक्षि वसुना भवीयसा सिन्धुमापो यथाभितो विचेतसः ॥
अश्वावती मर्त्यः, इन्द्र, तव ऊतिभिः सुप्रावीः सन् गोषु प्रथमः गच्छति। तम् इत् त्वं भवीयसा वसुना पृणक्षि, यथा विचेतस आपः सिन्धुम् अभितो भरन्ति।
Mantra 2
आपो न देवीरुप यन्ति होत्रियमवः पश्यन्ति विततं यथा रजः । प्राचैर्देवासः प्र णयन्ति देवयुं ब्रह्मप्रियं जोषयन्ते वरा इव ॥
आपो न देवीर् होत्रियम् उप यन्ति; विततं रज इव पश्यन्ति। प्राचैः देवासः देवयुं प्र णयन्ति; ब्रह्मप्रियं वराः इव जोषयन्ते।
Mantra 3
अधि द्वयोरदधा उक्थ्यं वचो यतस्रुचा मिथुना या सपर्यतः । असंयत्तो व्रते ते क्षेति पुष्यति भद्रा शक्तिर्यजमानाय सुन्वते ॥
अधि द्वयोः समशक्त्योः त्वम् उक्थ्यं वचो न्यधाः—यतस्रुचा मिथुना या सपर्यतः। असंयत्तो व्रते ते शुभा शक्तिर्यजमानाय सुन्वते क्षेति पुष्यति।
Mantra 4
आदङ्गिराः प्रथमं दधिरे वय इद्धाग्नयः शम्या ये सुकृत्यया । सर्वं पणेः समविन्दन्त भोजनमश्वावन्तं गोमन्तमा पशुं नरः ॥
आदङ्गिरसः प्रथमे वयः दधिरे; इद्धा अग्नयः शम्या ये सुकृत्यया। सर्वं पणेः समविन्दन्त भोजनम्—अश्वावन्तं गोमन्तम्, आ पशुं नरः।
Mantra 5
यज्ञैरथर्वा प्रथमः पथस्तते ततः सूर्यो व्रतपा वेन आजनि । आ गा आजदुशना काव्यः सचा यमस्य जातममृतं यजामहे ॥
यज्ञैः अथर्वा प्रथमो पथः तते; ततः सूर्यः व्रतपा वेनः अजनि। आ गा आजदुशना काव्यः सचा; यमस्य जातम् अमृतं यजामहे।
Mantra 6
बर्हिर्वा यत्स्वपत्याय वृज्यतेऽर्को वा श्लोकमाघोषते दिवि । ग्रावा यत्र वदति कारुरुक्थ्यस्तस्येदिन्द्रो अभिपित्वेषु रण्यति ॥
यत्र वा स्वपत्याय बर्हिर्वृज्यते, यत्र वा दिवि श्लोकः आघोष्यते; यत्र ग्रावा वदति, कारुरुक्थ्यः स्तोत्रम् उच्चारयति—तत्रैव इन्द्रः अभिपित्वेषु रण्यति।
Inside Sukta 83
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A mortal empowered by Indra’s aids goes foremost and is filled with abundance, like waters filling a river.
- Development
Prosperity is framed as a divinely supported flow; the hymn links present gain to archetypal recovery of wealth/light through Angirasa right-working and kindled fire.
- Climax
The Angirases’ winning of the Pani’s hoarded enjoyment—horses, cows (rays), and increase of herds—stands as the mythic proof of Indra’s power to restore plenitude.
- Where it settles
Indra’s presence is secured where the ritual is alive: barhis spread, chant resounding, pressing-stone speaking, and the inspired singer praising—there Indra delights and fulfills.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is the mighty wielder of vajra, the foremost hero who grants strength, victory, and plenitude; he releases the cows (light/wealth), overcomes obstructers, and is especially drawn to Soma and to inspired praise (uktha).
- Cosmic functionBreaker of obstruction and releaser of life-giving powers—opening the flow of waters, light, and prosperity; champion of ṛta by defeating forces that hoard or bind abundance.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and courageous clarity that breaks inner inertia and fear, releases blocked energies, and turns right effort and prayer into tangible growth and confidence.
The seer
- Gotama RāhūgaṇaGautama gotra (Āṅgirasa lineage) · A seer of the early Rigvedic layer associated with Indra hymns and with Angirasa themes of winning light/wealth through sacred work (kindling, pressing, and inspired speech).
Famous verses
अश्वावति प्रथमो गोषु गच्छति सुप्रावीरिन्द्र मर्त्यस्तवोतिभिः । तमित्पृणक्षि वसुना भवीयसा सिन्धुमापो यथाभितो विचेतसः ॥आदङ्गिराः प्रथमं दधिरे वय इद्धाग्नयः शम्या ये सुकृत्यया । सर्वं पणेः समविन्दन्त भोजनमश्वावन्तं गोमन्तमा पशुं नरः ॥बर्हिर्वा यत्स्वपत्याय वृज्यतेऽर्को वा श्लोकमाघोषते दिवि । ग्रावा यत्र वदति कारुरुक्थ्यस्तस्येदिन्द्रो अभिपित्वेषु रण्यति ॥Attributes of the deity
- Vajra-bearing
- Soma-loving
- Bestower of horses/cattle/wealth
- Victor over Panis/Vala-like hoarders
- Friend of the inspired singer (kavi/kāru)
- Strength-giver to mortals
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Mandala 1 hymns traditionally attributed to the Gautamas (including multiple Indra-focused sūktas in the 1.7x–1.8x sequence)
- Participation in the broader Āṅgirasa mythic complex (Vala/Pani, recovery of cows/light) reflected across several Rigvedic hymns
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the vedi and spread the barhis (sacred seat) for the deity.
- Kindle Agni and establish the rite with orderly recitation.
- Press Soma with the grāvā (pressing-stone) and prepare the libation.
- Chant the ark/śloka and recite the uktha to invite Indra.
- Offer Soma and accompanying oblations while requesting increase of wealth, vigor, and victory.
- Conclude with praise acknowledging Indra’s delight in the well-performed rite and the resulting plenitude.
Offerings
- Soma libation
- Ghee/clarified butter in the fire
- Barhis (ritual grass) as the deity’s seat
Frequently Asked Questions
That prosperity and strength come when a person is supported by Indra and performs the rite rightly—abundance then ‘flows’ like waters filling a river.
It points to an older myth where hidden wealth and light are recovered from hoarders (Pani). This serves as a model for how divine power and right effort release what is blocked.
A Soma sacrifice: barhis is spread, chants resound, Soma is pressed with stones, and the inspired priest sings. The hymn says Indra especially delights in that worship.
Ask anything about Sukta 83 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
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.
