Sukta 41
Sukta 6.41
Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya (traditional for 6.41)
Indra
Triṣṭubh (probable)
अयं लघुरिन्द्रसूक्तः वज्रधरं देवं यज्ञं प्रति अक्रुद्धं समुपयातुं निमन्त्रयति, तस्मै च सुस्रुतं “स्वच्छं प्रवहन्तं” नवपीडितं सोमं पातुम्। सोमः इन्द्रस्य बलाय सिद्धः शक्तिवर्धको बिन्दुरिति स्तूयते। हविषा हृष्टं इन्द्रं संग्रामेषु जनानां मध्ये च रक्षां दातुं प्रार्थयते।
Mantras
Mantra 1
अहेळमान उप याहि यज्ञं तुभ्यं पवन्त इन्दवः सुतासः । गावो न वज्रिन्त्स्वमोको अच्छेन्द्रा गहि प्रथमो यज्ञियानाम् ॥
अहेळमान उप याहि यज्ञं; तुभ्यं पवन्त इन्दवः सुतासः। गावो न वज्रिन् स्वमोको अच्छ—इन्द्र आगहि, प्रथमो यज्ञियानाम्॥
Mantra 2
या ते काकुत्सुकृता या वरिष्ठा यया शश्वत्पिबसि मध्व ऊर्मिम् । तया पाहि प्र ते अध्वर्युरस्थात्सं ते वज्रो वर्ततामिन्द्र गव्युः ॥
या ते काकुत् सुकृता या वरिष्ठा यया शश्वत् पिबसि मध्व ऊर्मिम्। तया पाहि; प्र ते अध्वर्युरस्थात्; सं ते वज्रो वर्तताम् इन्द्र गव्युः॥
Mantra 3
एष द्रप्सो वृषभो विश्वरूप इन्द्राय वृष्णे समकारि सोमः । एतं पिब हरिवः स्थातरुग्र यस्येशिषे प्रदिवि यस्ते अन्नम् ॥
एष द्रप्सो वृषभो विश्वरूप इन्द्राय वृष्णे समकारि सोमः। एतं पिब हरिवः; स्थातर् उग्र—यस्येशिषे प्रदिवि, यस्ते अन्नम्॥
Mantra 4
सुतः सोमो असुतादिन्द्र वस्यानयं श्रेयाञ्चिकितुषे रणाय । एतं तितिर्व उप याहि यज्ञं तेन विश्वास्तविषीरा पृणस्व ॥
हे इन्द्र! सुतः सोमोऽसुतात् वस्याञ्; अयम् एव श्रेयान् चिकीर्तुषे रणाय। एतं यज्ञम् उप तितिर्वन् याहि; तेन विश्वाः तविषीर् अस्मासु आपृणस्व।
Mantra 5
ह्वयामसि त्वेन्द्र याह्यर्वाङरं ते सोमस्तन्वे भवाति । शतक्रतो मादयस्वा सुतेषु प्रास्माँ अव पृतनासु प्र विक्षु ॥
हे इन्द्र! त्वां ह्वयामसि—अर्वाङ् याहि; ते तन्वे सोमोऽरं भवाति। हे शतक्रतो! सुतेषु मादयस्व; पृतनासु अस्मान् अव, विक्षु च प्र अव।
Inside Sukta 41
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct invitation: Indra is asked to come to the sacrifice without wrath, as Soma streams are prepared for him.
- Development
The hymn intensifies the offering’s meaning by portraying Soma as a potent, many-formed ‘bull-drop’ fashioned for Indra, urging him to drink and take his seat/stance in power.
- Climax
Indra’s exhilaration by Soma is explicitly sought—his firm, formidable presence is invoked as the decisive aid that reaches even the ‘forward heaven.’
- Where it settles
The praise resolves into practical petitions: protect us in battles and safeguard us among the peoples.
The deity: Indra
- In the VedaIndra is the thunderbolt-wielder (vajrin), lord of tawny steeds (harivaḥ), foremost among the worship-worthy, who comes to the yajña to drink Soma and to bestow strength and victory.
- Cosmic functionHe embodies victorious power that breaks obstacles, secures space for life and order, and supports the community through protection in battle and stability among peoples.
- Inner significanceIndra signifies awakened will-force and courageous clarity: the capacity to overcome inner resistance, stabilize resolve, and protect one’s ‘tribe’ of faculties when challenged.
The seer
- Bharadvāja BārhaspatyaBharadvāja gotra; Bārhaspatya (descendant/line connected with Bṛhaspati) · Principal seer of much of Maṇḍala 6, noted for vigorous Indra-hymns and for a clear sacrificial voice that links Soma-offering with protection and victory.
Famous verses
gāvo na ... svam oko ("like cows to their own home")
एष द्रप्सो वृषभो विश्वरूप इन्द्राय वृष्णे समकारि सोमः । एतं पिब हरिवः स्थातरुग्र यस्येशिषे प्रदिवि यस्ते अन्नम् ॥śatakrato mādayasvā suteṣu
Attributes of the deity
- Vajra-bearing (thunderbolt power)
- Soma-drinker (strengthened by the offering)
- Harivaḥ (lord of tawny steeds)
- Śatakratu (of a hundred powers/skills)
- Protector in battle and among peoples
- Foremost of the yajñiya (worthy of worship)
Also by this seer
- Major authorship within Rigveda Maṇḍala 6 (Bharadvāja family book)
- Numerous hymns to Indra, Agni, and allied deities in RV 6
- Bharadvāja lineage prominence in later Vedic tradition as a foundational ṛṣi-family (gotra) for ritual transmission
The rite, step by step
- Prepare and press Soma; clarify/strain so the drops ‘flow clear’ (pavante indavaḥ).
- Invite Indra to approach the yajña calmly and directly, like cows returning to their home.
- Offer Soma with voiced praise, affirming it as made ready for Indra’s strength.
- Request Indra to drink, become exhilarated (mādayasva), and to ‘stand firm’ in support.
- Conclude with petitions for protection in battles and among the clans/peoples.
Offerings
- Pressed and strained Soma (suta/pavamāna drops)
- Accompanying praise (stotra/śastra as verbal offering)
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks Indra to come to the sacrifice without anger, drink the freshly pressed Soma, and then give protection—especially in battles and social conflicts.
Soma is presented as the empowering offering made ready for Indra; by drinking it, Indra becomes exhilarated and is invoked to act with firm, victorious strength.
Indra can represent decisive will and courage. The hymn becomes a prayer for clarity and strength to overcome obstacles and to safeguard one’s life and community under pressure.
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