Sukta 40
Sukta 5.40
Atri (Ātreya) (Mandala 5 context; RV 5.40 also Atri-associated)
Indra (Soma-pati, Vṛtrahantama)
Gayatri (probable refrain-like compact form; exact meter not guaranteed from provided data)
अयं सूक्तः सोमपतेः परमस्य वृत्रहन्तमस्येन्द्रस्याह्वानं करोति—स सुतं सोमं शीघ्रमागच्छतु, यजमानं च जयबलसमृद्ध्या परिपोषयतु। अनन्तरं प्रसिद्धमात्रिकथां प्रकटयति—असुरः स्वर्भानुः सूर्यं तमसा पिधत्ते, लोकाः सम्मोहं यान्ति; अथात्रयः प्रज्ञया मन्त्रशक्त्या च निगूढं सूर्यं पुनरुद्धरन्ति, प्रकाशं ऋतं च पुनः स्थापयन्ति।
Mantras
Mantra 1
आ याह्यद्रिभिः सुतं सोमं सोमपते पिब । वृषन्निन्द्र वृषभिर्वृत्रहन्तम ॥
आ याह्यद्रिभिः सुतं सोमं सोमपते पिब । वृषन्निन्द्र वृषभिर्वृत्रहन्तम ॥
Mantra 2
वृषा ग्रावा वृषा मदो वृषा सोमो अयं सुतः । वृषन्निन्द्र वृषभिर्वृत्रहन्तम ॥
वृषा ग्रावा वृषा मदो वृषा सोमोऽयं सुतः। वृषन्निन्द्र वृषभिर्वृत्रहन्तम उप नः आगच्छ, यथा अस्मासु ऊर्जस्वी आनन्दो जयति।
Mantra 3
वृषा त्वा वृषणं हुवे वज्रिञ्चित्राभिरूतिभिः । वृषन्निन्द्र वृषभिर्वृत्रहन्तम ॥
वृषा त्वा वृषणं हुवे वज्रिन् चित्राभिरूतिभिः। वृषन्निन्द्र वृषभिर्वृत्रहन्तम उप नः आगच्छ, अस्मासु जयिनीं ऊर्जां निधेहि।
Mantra 4
ऋजीषी वज्री वृषभस्तुराषाट् छुष्मी राजा वृत्रहा सोमपावा । युक्त्वा हरिभ्यामुप यासदर्वाङ्माध्यंदिने सवने मत्सदिन्द्रः ॥
ऋजीषी वज्री वृषभस्तुराषाट् छुश्मी राजा वृत्रहा सोमपावाऽ। युक्त्वा हरिभ्याम् उप यासदर्वाङ् माध्यंदिने सवने मत्सदिन्द्रः॥
Mantra 5
यत्त्वा सूर्य स्वर्भानुस्तमसाविध्यदासुरः । अक्षेत्रविद्यथा मुग्धो भुवनान्यदीधयुः ॥
हे सूर्य, यदा त्वां स्वर्भानुरासुरस्तमसाविध्यत्, तदा भुवनानि सर्वाणि मुग्धानीवाभवन्; यथा अक्षेत्रविद् मूढः पन्थानं न वेत्ति, तथा सम्यग् दीप्तीन् न व्यदधात्।
Mantra 6
स्वर्भानोरध यदिन्द्र माया अवो दिवो वर्तमाना अवाहन् । गूळ्हं सूर्यं तमसापव्रतेन तुरीयेण ब्रह्मणाविन्ददत्रिः ॥
अथ, हे इन्द्र, यदा स्वर्भानोर्मायाः दिवोऽधो वर्तमाना अवाहन्, तदा अत्रिर्ऋषिः तुरीयेण ब्रह्मणा ऋतापव्रतेन तमसा गूढं सूर्यं अविन्दत्।
Mantra 7
मा मामिमं तव सन्तमत्र इरस्या द्रुग्धो भियसा नि गारीत् । त्वं मित्रो असि सत्यराधास्तौ मेहावतं वरुणश्च राजा ॥
हे अत्रे, तवायं सन् ईर्ष्याद्रुग्धो भयसा मा निन्ये निपात्यताम्। त्वं मित्रोऽसि सत्यराधाः; तौ मेहावतम्—मित्रश्च वरुणश्च राजा—इह मां पालयताम्।
Mantra 8
ग्राव्णो ब्रह्मा युयुजानः सपर्यन्कीरिणा देवान्नमसोपशिक्षन् । अत्रिः सूर्यस्य दिवि चक्षुराधात्स्वर्भानोरप माया अघुक्षत् ॥
ग्राव्णो ब्रह्मा युयुजानः सपर्यन् कीरिणा देवान् नमसोपशिक्षन् । अत्रिः सूर्यस्य दिवि चक्षुराधात् स्वर्भानोः अप माया अघुक्षत् ॥
Mantra 9
यं वै सूर्यं स्वर्भानुस्तमसाविध्यदासुरः । अत्रयस्तमन्वविन्दन्नह्यन्ये अशक्नुवन् ॥
यं वै सूर्यं स्वर्भानुस्तमसाविध्यदासुरः । अत्रयस्तमन्वविन्दन्नह्यन्ये अशक्नुवन् ॥
Inside Sukta 40
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct, urgent invitation: Indra is called to the freshly pressed Soma to drink and awaken victorious force in the worshippers.
- Development
The hymn expands from ritual invocation to cosmic drama—darkness strikes the Sun, and the worlds become disoriented like one who has lost the field-path.
- Climax
The Atris ‘follow and find’ the hidden Sun—none others can—signaling the decisive turning from obscuration to recovered light.
- Where it settles
Order is re-established through seer-power aligned with Indra’s victory; the hymn’s purpose returns to empowerment, protection, and renewed brightness for the community.
The deity: Indra with an embedded Sūrya-restoration episode
- In the VedaIndra is hailed as the bull-like hero who drinks Soma, delights in strength, and breaks obstructing powers; he is repeatedly invoked to come to the pressing and make the sacrificer victorious. In the hymn’s narrative layer, the restoration of Sūrya from Svàrbhānu’s darkness is celebrated through Atri-seer power, aligning Indra’s victory motif with the return of light.
- Cosmic functionHe upholds ṛta by shattering obstruction (Vṛtra/covering darkness), releasing light and vital flow, and ensuring the regular return of brightness and order in the worlds.
- Inner significanceIndra signifies awakened will and luminous courage that defeats inner ‘coverings’—fear, confusion, inertia—so the mind’s sun (clarity) reappears and right orientation is restored.
The seer
- Atri (Ātreya); traditionally Atri Bhāuma for RV 5.40Ātreya (Atri-gotra) · One of the primeval ṛṣis (saptaṛṣi), famed in the Rig Veda for mantra-power that restores cosmic order—especially the tradition of ‘finding’ the Sun during the Svàrbhānu darkness (eclipse motif).
Famous verses
ā yāhy adribhiḥ sutaṃ somaṃ somapate piba
svarbhānus tamasāvidhyat
atrayas tam anv avindan
Attributes of the deity
- Soma-drinker (Soma-pati)
- Vṛtra-slayer (Vṛtrahantama)
- Bull-like vigor (vṛṣan)
- Bestower of victory and strength
- Restorer of light/order through overcoming obscuration
- Swiftly invoked guest of the sacrifice
Also by this seer
- Atri/Ātreya hymns in Rig Veda Mandala 5 (a major family book associated with the Atris)
- Later Vedic-Itihāsa-Purāṇic memory of Atri as a foundational seer and progenitor of the Ātreya line
- Atri traditions connected with solar restoration and protective/clarifying prayers in ritual recitation lineages
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and seat the deity through preliminary invocations (āhvāna).
- Press Soma with stones (adri), strain and ready it for offering.
- Invite Indra explicitly as Soma-pati to come and drink (as in 5.40.1).
- Offer Soma with accompanying mantras; request vṛṣan-strength and victory over obstacles.
- Recite the Svàrbhānu–Sūrya episode as a charm of restoration: from bewilderment to recovered light (5.40.5, 5.40.9).
- Conclude with thanksgiving and reaffirmation of restored order and protection for the sacrificer/community.
Offerings
- Soma juice (primary)
- Ghee/clarified butter (supporting oblation)
- Optional: grains/cakes used alongside Soma rites in broader sequences
Frequently Asked Questions
It begins as a Soma-invocation to Indra for strength and victory, and it also preserves a famous story where darkness covers the Sun and the Atris restore the lost light.
Svàrbhānu is described as an Asuric being who strikes the Sun with darkness, causing confusion in the worlds—often understood as a Vedic eclipse motif or a symbol of cosmic obstruction.
The hymn says the Atris ‘followed and found’ the hidden Sun when others could not, presenting the seer-family’s mantra-power as capable of restoring clarity, order, and light.
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