Sukta 22
Sukta 2.22
Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
Jagatī (likely; hymn 2.22 is predominantly Jagatī with a refrain-like cadence)
इन्द्रस्यास्य लघुस्तोत्रे विष्णुना सह पिष्टं सोमं पीत्वा देवस्य महावेगः शक्त्युत्कर्षश्च स्तूयते। सोमः ‘सत्यः’ दिव्यः शक्तिरिव निरूप्यते, यः ‘सत्यं’ इन्द्रं नित्यं विश्वसनीयतया सहानुगच्छति। इन्द्रस्य बलवृद्धिः, यजमानाय दानशीलता, तथा प्राचीनं कर्म—अपां विमोचनं, जीवनस्य पुनःस्थापनं, देवऋतस्य च प्रतिष्ठापनम्—प्रशंस्यते।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
त्रिकद्रुकेषु महिषो यवाशिरं तुविशुष्मस्तृपत्सोममपिबद्विष्णुना सुतं यथावशत् । स ईं ममाद महि कर्म कर्तवे महामुरुं सैनं सश्चद्देवो देवं सत्यमिन्द्रं सत्य इन्दुः ॥
त्रिकद्रुकेषु महिष इव महाबलः तुविशुष्मा इन्द्रः यवाशिरं सोमं विष्णुना सुतं यथावशं पपौ। ततः सः महत् कर्म कर्तुं ममाद—महार्णवं महद् उरु च; सत्य इन्दुः सत्यं इन्द्रं अन्वसश्चत्—देवो देवं सश्चन्।
Mantra 2
अध त्विषीमाँ अभ्योजसा क्रिविं युधाभवदा रोदसी अपृणदस्य मज्मना प्र वावृधे । अधत्तान्यं जठरे प्रेमरिच्यत सैनं सश्चद्देवो देवं सत्यमिन्द्रं सत्य इन्दुः ॥
अथ सः त्विषीमान् अभ्योजसा क्रिविं अभ्ययात्, युधा अभवत्; अस्य मज्मना रोदसी अपृणत्, प्र च वावृधे। अथ अन्यं जठरे अधत्त, तं च प्रामुञ्चत्; सत्य इन्दुः सत्यं इन्द्रं अन्वसश्चत्—देवो देवं सश्चन्।
Mantra 3
साकं जातः क्रतुना साकमोजसा ववक्षिथ साकं वृद्धो वीर्यैः सासहिर्मृधो विचर्षणिः । दाता राधः स्तुवते काम्यं वसु सैनं सश्चद्देवो देवं सत्यमिन्द्रं सत्य इन्दुः ॥
साकं जातः क्रतुना साकमोजसा ववक्षिथ साकं वृद्धो वीर्यैः सासहिर्मृधो विचर्षणिः । दाता राधः स्तुवते काम्यं वसु सैनं सश्चद्देवो देवं सत्यं इन्द्रं सत्य इन्दुः ॥
Mantra 4
तव त्यन्नर्यं नृतोऽप इन्द्र प्रथमं पूर्व्यं दिवि प्रवाच्यं कृतम् । यद्देवस्य शवसा प्रारिणा असुं रिणन्नपः । भुवद्विश्वमभ्यादेवमोजसा विदादूर्जं शतक्रतुर्विदादिषम् ॥
तव त्यन्नर्यं नृतोऽप इन्द्र प्रथमं पूर्व्यं दिवि प्रवाच्यं कृतम् । यद्देवस्य शवसा प्रारिणा असुं रिणन्नपः । भुवद्विश्वमभ्यादेवमोजसा विदादूर्जं शतक्रतुर्विदादिषम् ॥
Inside Sukta 22
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Indra’s Soma-drinking in the ‘three pressings’ (trikadruka), with Soma pressed in association with Viṣṇu, establishing the ritual-mythic setting.
- Development
Indra’s power and heroic capacity are described as growing together with will (kratu) and force (ojas), emphasizing his mastery over conflict and his generosity to the worshipper.
- Climax
The primeval exploit: by divine might he breaks open the waters, frees the life-breath, and transforms the undivine into the divine through victorious power.
- Where it settles
The hymn settles into the boon motif—finding nourishment and impulse—implying that Indra’s cosmic victory becomes the sacrificer’s renewed vitality and prosperity.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaSoma is portrayed as “true” and godlike, cleaving to Indra, while Viṣṇu is the sacral ally in the pressing and enabling of Indra’s great act.
- Cosmic functionChampion of cosmic order: he breaks obstruction, releases life-sustaining waters, and turns what is ‘undivine’ toward the divine by force and right victory.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and courage that, when energized by disciplined inspiration (Soma) and right pervasion/support (Viṣṇu), breaks inner blockages, restores vitality, and yields both material and spiritual ‘nourishment’ (ūrj) and ‘impulse’ (iṣ).
The seer
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family of Mandala 2) · Principal seer of much of the Second Maṇḍala, renowned for Indra-centered hymns that combine ritual exactness (Soma-pressing imagery) with mythic theology (waters released, order restored).
Famous verses
sainaṃ saścad devo devaṃ satyam indraṃ satya induḥ
sākaṃ jātaḥ kratunā sākam ojasā
तव त्यन्नर्यं नृतोऽप इन्द्र प्रथमं पूर्व्यं दिवि प्रवाच्यं कृतम् । यद्देवस्य शवसा प्रारिणा असुं रिणन्नपः । भुवद्विश्वमभ्यादेवमोजसा विदादूर्जं शतक्रतुर्विदादिषम् ॥Attributes of the deity
- Soma-empowered strength
- Victorious over resistance and assaults
- Liberator of waters and life-breath
- Giver of bounty to the praiser
- Upholder of truth and divine order
- Linked companionship with Soma (satya induḥ) and Viṣṇu
Also by this seer
- Majority of Rigveda Maṇḍala 2 hymns attributed to Gṛtsamada or the Gṛtsamada family
- Notable Indra praises in RV 2.11–2.19 (Gṛtsamada cycle to Indra)
- Hymns to Agni and allied deities within Maṇḍala 2 reflecting Bhārgava ritual-poetic style
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the Soma with pressing and purification; mix with adjuncts (e.g., barley) as prescribed by the rite.
- Invoke Indra with praise of his Soma-drinking and heroic growth; recall his ancient deed of releasing the waters.
- Offer the Soma libation into the fire (or via the Soma offering sequence) while reciting the verses with the refrain-like cadence.
- Conclude with petitions for rādhas (bounty), ūrj (nourishment), and iṣ (impulsion), aligning the sacrificer with Indra’s victorious order.
Offerings
- Soma juice (pressed, purified, offered as libation)
- Barley-mixture/adjunct (yavāśira) as indicated in the hymn imagery
- Ghee (as accompanying offering in the broader fire-rite context)
Frequently Asked Questions
It says Indra becomes fully powerful through Soma, accomplishes great cosmic deeds like releasing the waters, and then rewards the worshipper with desired wealth and strength.
Soma is the sacred drink that energizes Indra, and Viṣṇu is shown as a close ritual-cosmic ally in the pressing and in enabling Indra’s great work.
It expresses a bond of reliability and right order: the purified, truthful inspiration (Soma) naturally accompanies and supports the truthful power of Indra, ‘god cleaving to god.’
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