Rig Veda Sukta 35
Mandala 3Sukta 3511 Mantras

Sukta 35

Sukta 3.35

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina (Maṇḍala 3 general attribution; Sukta 35 also in Viśvāmitra collection)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

本赞歌以急切之情邀请因陀罗来饮苏摩:召唤他那黄褐色的骏马驾上战车,请他迅速前来,饮用已榨取并陈设在祭草(barhis)上的苏摩。诗人称颂因陀罗为最具男子气概的战利品夺取者,能击碎如弗利陀罗般的障碍,并祈求他赐予胜利、在竞赛与争斗中护佑,以及聚敛财富。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 3.35

Mantras

Mantra 1

तिष्ठा हरी रथ आ युज्यमाना याहि वायुर्न नियुतो नो अच्छ । पिबास्यन्धो अभिसृष्टो अस्मे इन्द्र स्वाहा ररिमा ते मदाय ॥

两匹黄骝啊,稳立于车,既已系轭;如同乘御尼由特(niyut)之风神伐由(Vāyu)般,来临于我等之前。饮此为我等榨出的苏摩精髓(soma-essence);因陀罗啊,娑嚩诃(svāhā)——此我等奉献于汝,使汝欢悦,增益汝之醉力与威能。

Mantra 2

उपाजिरा पुरुहूताय सप्ती हरी रथस्य धूर्ष्वा युनज्मि । द्रवद्यथा सम्भृतं विश्वतश्चिदुपेमं यज्ञमा वहात इन्द्रम् ॥

为那多受呼唤者(puru-hūta),近而迅疾——我将这两匹黄骝系于车辕之上。奔驰如赴四方汇聚、备办周全之会集,愿你们把因陀罗载来,来到此祭(yajña)之前。

Mantra 3

उपो नयस्व वृषणा तपुष्पोतेमव त्वं वृषभ स्वधावः । ग्रसेतामश्वा वि मुचेह शोणा दिवेदिवे सदृशीरद्धि धानाः ॥

引领我等亲近吧,二位雄健者,饮热力者;而汝亦然,雄牛啊,自具威能者,请护佑。让马得以啮草;就在此处解下那对赤红者之轭。日复一日,食那与汝相应之谷粒与供粮。

Mantra 4

ब्रह्मणा ते ब्रह्मयुजा युनज्मि हरी सखाया सधमाद आशू । स्थिरं रथं सुखमिन्द्राधितिष्ठन्प्रजानन्विद्वाँ उप याहि सोमम् ॥

我以梵力(brahman)为你套上那对黄褐骏马——以圣言相系,迅疾的同伴,共赴同饮的狂喜。因陀罗啊,稳稳登上这坚固而安乐的战车;你既知且明,近前来就此苏摩(Soma)。

Mantra 5

मा ते हरी वृषणा वीतपृष्ठा नि रीरमन्यजमानासो अन्ये । अत्यायाहि शश्वतो वयं तेऽरं सुतेभिः कृणवाम सोमैः ॥

愿别的祭主莫挽留你那两匹雄健的黄褐骏马,行进时背阔而强。越过他们,常常来到我们这里;我们以榨取的苏摩(Soma)为你备办相称的丰足。

Mantra 6

तवायं सोमस्त्वमेह्यर्वाङ्छश्वत्तमं सुमना अस्य पाहि । अस्मिन्यज्ञे बर्हिष्या निषद्या दधिष्वेमं जठर इन्दुमिन्द्र ॥

这苏摩(Soma)属于你;请向我们而来,永远一次又一次,怀着欢悦之心饮它。在此祭仪中,于供席(barhis)上就座,把这光滴(indu)安置在你腹中吧,因陀罗。

Mantra 7

स्तीर्णं ते बर्हिः सुत इन्द्र सोमः कृता धाना अत्तवे ते हरिभ्याम् । तदोकसे पुरुशाकाय वृष्णे मरुत्वते तुभ्यं राता हवींषि ॥

为你已铺设圣草坐席;因陀罗啊,苏摩已榨;谷粒已备,供你那两匹黄褐之力享用。归于那觉知之宅、具多般威能的雄强者,偕同摩卢特者啊,诸祭供奉献于你。

Mantra 8

इमं नरः पर्वतास्तुभ्यमापः समिन्द्र गोभिर्मधुमन्तमक्रन् । तस्यागत्या सुमना ऋष्व पाहि प्रजानन्विद्वान्पथ्या अनु स्वाः ॥

此苏摩,诸壮者——群山与诸水——为你同心造成;因陀罗啊,使之以光牛之辉而甘蜜。以欢悦之心前来,崇高者啊,饮之;洞知者啊,循行那正道——本属你自身的道路。

Mantra 9

याँ आभजो मरुत इन्द्र सोमे ये त्वामवर्धन्नभवन्गणस्ते । तेभिरेतं सजोषा वावशानोऽग्नेः पिब जिह्वया सोममिन्द्र ॥

因陀罗啊,那些你在苏摩中与之分享的摩卢特——他们使你增长,成为你的众团——与他们同心同声、热切渴慕,因陀罗啊,以阿耆尼之舌饮此苏摩。

Mantra 10

इन्द्र पिब स्वधया चित्सुतस्याग्नेर्वा पाहि जिह्वया यजत्र । अध्वर्योर्वा प्रयतं शक्र हस्ताद्धोतुर्वा यज्ञं हविषो जुषस्व ॥

因陀罗啊,请以你自身的神圣威能饮这所榨取的苏摩;或以阿耆尼之舌而饮,受祭者啊。或是,释迦啊,请从阿德婆梨优所亲手陈设者受纳;或从呼多梨领受祭仪,悦纳此供献之祭品。

Mantra 11

शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥

为我等之安泰,我们在此争战之重任中呼唤那施赐丰厚的因陀罗——在赢得丰盈之战中最具男儿之勇者。愿他听我等呼声;为援助而威猛,于诸战阵中斩杀诸障碍者;他是聚敛财富的胜利征服者。

Inside Sukta 35

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A brisk summons: Indra’s tawny horses are urged to stand ready and the god is called to come like Vāyu with his teams to drink Soma.

  2. Development

    The hymn reiterates that the Soma is Indra’s rightful portion, inviting him to the barhis and praising his readiness to hear and help in struggle.

  3. Climax

    Indra is envisioned receiving the luminous drop (indu) into his belly—Soma as the energizing power that fuels his victorious might against obstructions.

  4. Where it settles

    It closes with a welfare-prayer: the community calls Indra, fierce and responsive, to slay the Vṛtras and to secure the gathered riches of victory.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is celebrated as Maghavan (the bounteous giver), the thunder-wielding hero who drinks Soma, rides with tawny horses, hears the singer’s call, and destroys Vṛtra and other obstructing powers.
  • Cosmic functionHe releases the blocked waters/light, restores movement and order by breaking obstruction, and secures victory and abundance for the community through divine force allied with ritual speech and Soma.
  • Inner significanceIndra represents the awakened will and courageous intelligence that breaks inner inertia, fear, and limitation; Soma becomes the clarifying rapture that empowers decisive action and victorious growth.

The seer

  • Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthin (Viśvāmitra gotra) · A royal-turned-seer and central composer of Maṇḍala 3; renowned for Indra-centered victory hymns and for shaping the Viśvāmitra poetic-sacrificial voice in the Rigveda.

Famous verses

indra svāhā
Verse 3.35.1Sets the ritual scene and the hymn’s core action—yoking the tawny steeds, summoning Indra swiftly, and offering Soma with svāhā for his empowering ecstasy.Read verse 3.35.1 →
तवायं सोमस्त्वमेह्यर्वाङ्छश्वत्तमं सुमना अस्य पाहि । अस्मिन्यज्ञे बर्हिष्या निषद्या दधिष्वेमं जठर इन्दुमिन्द्र ॥
Verse 3.35.6A clear Soma-entitlement and seating formula: ‘This Soma is yours’; Indra is asked to sit on the barhis and take the indu into his belly—classic Soma-invitation theology.Read verse 3.35.6 →
vājāsātau
Verse 3.35.11Concluding battle-prayer: Indra is invoked for well-being in the ‘bearing of the struggle’, as the fiercest helper who slays obstructers and wins riches.Read verse 3.35.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Maghavan (bountiful bestower)
  • Vṛtrahan (slayer of obstruction)
  • Soma-drinker
  • Swift chariot with tawny steeds (harī)
  • Protector in battles (samatsu)
  • Giver of vāja (winning power and plenitude)

Also by this seer

  • Primary authorship of much of Rigveda Maṇḍala 3 (Viśvāmitra collection)
  • Indra hymns emphasizing Soma-invitation, martial protection, and vāja (victorious plenitude)
  • Tradition associates the Viśvāmitra lineage with later Vedic lore and śrauta transmission of praise-poetry (stotra/śastra) styles

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the ritual space and seat of grass (barhis) for the deity’s arrival.
  • Press and clarify Soma; announce the offering as ‘for Indra’.
  • Invite Indra to come swiftly with his tawny steeds and chariot; request attentive hearing.
  • Offer Soma with svāhā and praise-tokens (stoma), asking Indra to ‘place the drop’ within his belly.
  • Petition for protection in contests, the slaying of obstacles, and the winning of wealth; conclude with a final call for well-being and victory.

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma (andu/indu)
  • Ghee/oblations accompanying svāhā (as customary supports)
  • Barhis (grass seat) and praise (stotra) as honor-offerings

Frequently Asked Questions

It invites Indra to the Soma sacrifice, asks him to drink the pressed Soma, and requests his help for victory, protection in conflicts, and prosperity.

The tawny steeds (harī) are a standard sign of Indra’s swift arrival; calling them emphasizes speed, readiness, and the god’s immediate response to the ritual summons.

On the outer level it refers to Indra defeating hostile powers that block success; inwardly it symbolizes breaking inner resistance—fear, inertia, and limitation—so strength and clarity can flow.

Ask anything about Sukta 35 of the Rig Veda

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