Rig Veda Sukta 17
Mandala 2Sukta 174 Mantras

Sukta 17

Sukta 2.17

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava) (traditional attribution for RV 2.17)

Devata

Indra (with Agni/Vahni as operative power in the imagery)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 2.17; verse length and cadence consistent)

这首简短的特里什图布(Triṣṭubh)体因陀罗赞歌,颂扬他广阔无边的主宰权,日益扩展以包容一切世界;并赞美他得胜的威力,在宇宙中确立光明与秩序。诗中以“火之力”(阿耆尼/瓦赫尼,Agni/Vahni)为其运作的象征:它伸展两界,并将被撕裂的黑暗“缝合”,由此使光与连贯性得以成立。随后诗人祈求赐予vāja(胜利之力)、护佑,以及为歌者带来丰厚的dakṣiṇā(酬礼/赠礼)。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.17

Mantras

Mantra 4

अधा यो विश्वा भुवनाभि मज्मनेशानकृत्प्रवया अभ्यवर्धत । आद्रोदसी ज्योतिषा वह्निरातनोत्सीव्यन्तमांसि दुधिता समव्ययत् ॥

于是,那以其广大而增长、覆临一切世界者——成就主宰之功者——凭前进的冲势而扩展。他以光明张布两界(天地);把黑暗的裂隙缝合之时,那驱策的火力将它们压合为一体的连贯。

Mantra 7

अमाजूरिव पित्रोः सचा सती समानादा सदसस्त्वामिये भगम् । कृधि प्रकेतमुप मास्या भर दद्धि भागं तन्वो येन मामहः ॥

如孩童依偎父母,安住于同一觉知之居,我自共同的座处来到你前,婆伽(Bhaga)啊。为我们成就明澈的洞见;按其分量使之临近;赐予我们具身之我以正当之份,使我们由此得以增长于福乐。

Mantra 8

भोजं त्वामिन्द्र वयं हुवेम ददिष्ट्वमिन्द्रापांसि वाजान् । अविड्ढीन्द्र चित्रया न ऊती कृधि वृषन्निन्द्र वस्यसो नः ॥

因陀罗啊,我们呼唤你——赐享者、丰盈之主;唯你赐下诸业(āpāṃsi)与胜力之瓦阇(vāja)。因陀罗啊,以你光辉而多彩的护佑为我们贯穿开路;雄牛般的因陀罗啊,使我们得享更善、更丰之境。

Mantra 9

नूनं सा ते प्रति वरं जरित्रे दुहीयदिन्द्र दक्षिणा मघोनी । शिक्षा स्तोतृभ्यो माति धग्भगो नो बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

如今,因陀罗啊,愿那慷慨的达克希那(dakṣiṇā)为歌者挤出,作为你相应的回赐。请教示诸赞颂者;愿我们的福神薄伽(Bhaga)不被焚损。愿我们在集会(vidatha)中宣说广大之言,富有英雄之力(suvīra)。

Inside Sukta 17

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Indra is invoked as the powerful lord and enjoyer of plenitudes, the giver of vāja and effective works.

  2. Development

    The hymn magnifies his cosmic action: by vastness he grows over all worlds, and through luminous force the two realms are stretched and stabilized.

  3. Climax

    The striking image of Vahni/Fire-Power “sewing” the rents of darkness into coherence—light establishing unity and order.

  4. Where it settles

    The poet turns to practical boons: piercing help, better fortune, a milked-out dakṣiṇā for the singer, and the ability to speak the Vast in assembly with heroic strength.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is celebrated as the mighty lord (īśāna), the giver of vāja and works (apāṃsi), the breaker-through (aviḍdhi) who brings wide light and victory to the worshipper.
  • Cosmic functionHe expands and stabilizes the worlds, overcomes obstructing darkness and constraint, and releases the powers of increase—strength, wealth, and victorious momentum.
  • Inner significanceIndra represents the awakened will and heroic force that breaks inner obstruction, gathers scattered energies into coherence, and establishes clarity (light) over confusion (darkness).

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada family of Maṇḍala 2) · Principal seer of most of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2, famed for Indra hymns that combine martial victory with cosmic ordering imagery.

Famous verses

sīvyan tamāṃsi ("sewing the darkness")
Verse 2.17.4Central cosmological verse: Indra’s vast expansion over all worlds and the luminous ‘sewing’ of darkness via Vahni, expressing establishment of order and clarity.Read verse 2.17.4 →
citrayā na ūtī ("with your bright/varied help")
Verse 2.17.8Core petition: Indra as bhoja (enjoyer/lord) and giver of vāja; asks for ‘bright, varied’ protection and a higher state of well-being.Read verse 2.17.8 →
bṛhad vadema ("may we speak the Vast")
Verse 2.17.9Ritual-social payoff: requests the bounteous dakṣiṇā as Indra’s answering gift to the singer and prays to preserve Bhaga (share of fortune) and speak bṛhat (the Vast) in assembly.Read verse 2.17.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Vajra-bearing power and breakthrough force
  • Lordship and mastery (īśāna)
  • Bestower of vāja (victorious energy) and prosperity
  • Protector with “bright/varied” aid (citrā ūtī)
  • Cosmic expander who establishes light and order

Also by this seer

  • Majority of RV Maṇḍala 2 (many sūktas traditionally ascribed to Gṛtsamada)
  • Multiple Indra-stutis in Mandala 2 emphasizing vāja, protection, and patronage (dakṣiṇā)
  • Hymns that frequently link Indra’s victory to the widening of the worlds and the establishment of light

The rite, step by step

  • Kindle and steady the sacred fire (Agni) as the carrier of the hymn.
  • Prepare the Soma or principal oblation; recite the Triṣṭubh verses as Indra is invited to partake.
  • Praise Indra’s cosmic deeds (expansion of worlds, establishment of light) to align the rite with ṛta (order).
  • Make the specific petitions: vāja, protection, breakthrough help, and a generous dakṣiṇā for the jaritṛ (singer).
  • Conclude with a communal aspiration: to speak the “Vast” in the assembly and gain heroic offspring/powers (suvīra).

Offerings

  • Soma libation (where applicable)
  • Ghee/clarified butter into Agni
  • Oblations of grain/cakes per household or śrauta setting
  • Dakṣiṇā (gifts/fees) to officiants/singers

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Indra’s supreme power that spreads over all worlds and establishes light and order, then asks him for strength (vāja), protection, and prosperity for the worshippers.

The hymn keeps Indra as the main deity, but uses “Vahni” (Fire-Power) as the operative image of luminous force—showing how Indra’s power works to extend light and bind the worlds into coherence.

It is a poetic way of saying that the divine power repairs the ‘rips’ of confusion and obstruction, joining what is scattered into unity and establishing clarity and stability (light) in the cosmos and in life.

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