Rig Veda Sukta 52
Mandala 8Sukta 5210 Mantras

Sukta 52

Sukta 8.52

Devata

Indra

这首出自迦ṇ婆(Kāṇva)传承的因陀罗赞歌,追忆他在摩奴、毗婆斯梵与特利陀的上古祭仪中欣然饮苏摩、悦纳颂赞,以此邀请神临至当下的苏摩榨取祭。诗中颂扬因陀罗为赐予财富与增长者(rāyaḥ、poṣa),并在结尾呈现一幅异象:因陀罗发动广大丰盈之势,使大地与太阳相谐;苏摩的光明力量令他欢欣振奋。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.52

Mantras

Mantra 1

यथा मनौ विवस्वति सोमं शक्रापिबः सुतम् । यथा त्रिते छन्द इन्द्र जुजोषस्यायौ मादयसे सचा ॥

如同在摩奴与毗婆斯伐特之处,你曾饮那榨取的苏摩,噢强力者;如同在特里塔那里,噢因陀罗,你曾悦纳那颂歌——如今也请你前来,与我们同欢而醉悦。

Mantra 2

पृषध्रे मेध्ये मातरिश्वनीन्द्र सुवाने अमन्दथाः । यथा सोमं दशशिप्रे दशोण्ये स्यूमरश्मावृजूनसि ॥

在普里沙陀罗、在梅提亚、在摩多利施梵之处,噢因陀罗,当苏摩涌流时你曾欢悦。正如你——噢十唇者、十臂者——以轭缰使奔行归正;愿你也凭苏摩使我们的行程归于正直。

Mantra 3

य उक्था केवला दधे यः सोमं धृषितापिबत् । यस्मै विष्णुस्त्रीणि पदा विचक्रम उप मित्रस्य धर्मभिः ॥

那位安置纯净颂辞者,那位以无畏之力饮苏摩者——为他,毗湿奴依弥特罗的法则迈出三步;由此确立有序的广大,以成就胜利。

Mantra 4

यस्य त्वमिन्द्र स्तोमेषु चाकनो वाजे वाजिञ्छतक्रतो । तं त्वा वयं सुदुघामिव गोदुहो जुहूमसि श्रवस्यवः ॥

因陀罗啊,百力之主(Śatakratu),你在我们的颂歌(stoma)中欣悦,在胜力与丰盛的vāja中欣悦;我们呼唤你——如善于挤乳者从多乳之牛汲取——愿我们由此汲出光辉的名声之光线,并得内在的闻知。

Mantra 5

यो नो दाता स नः पिता महाँ उग्र ईशानकृत् । अयामन्नुग्रो मघवा पुरूवसुर्गोरश्वस्य प्र दातु नः ॥

那赐与我们者,于我们即成我们的父:广大、强驱、成就主宰之作。愿那威猛的慷慨者(Maghavān)启行其路,赐我们牛群的光明涌流,并赐迅疾行力之诸能。

Mantra 6

यस्मै त्वं वसो दानाय मंहसे स रायस्पोषमिन्वति । वसूयवो वसुपतिं शतक्रतुं स्तोमैरिन्द्रं हवामहे ॥

凡你,婆苏(Vasu),为施与而倾注那推动的慷慨者,他便驱策财富之增益与充盛。我们这些求真富者,以整饬的颂歌(stoma)呼唤因陀罗——财富之主、百力之主(Śatakratu)。

Mantra 7

कदा चन प्र युच्छस्युभे नि पासि जन्मनी । तुरीयादित्य हवनं त इन्द्रियमा तस्थावमृतं दिवि ॥

你从不曾在向前的奋进中失却力量;你守护两重“出生”。第四位的阿底提耶啊,你的呼唤与因陀罗之威能,安立为不死,居于觉知之天。

Mantra 8

यस्मै त्वं मघवन्निन्द्र गिर्वणः शिक्षो शिक्षसि दाशुषे । अस्माकं गिर उत सुष्टुतिं वसो कण्ववच्छृणुधी हवम् ॥

你赐予谁——慷慨的因陀罗、喜于颂歌者——以正当的增长,我们便属于那位奉献者。婆苏啊,请听我们的言辞与端美的赞颂;请听这呼唤,如同你曾听见迦ṇ婆族而使其振起。

Mantra 9

अस्तावि मन्म पूर्व्यं ब्रह्मेन्द्राय वोचत । पूर्वीॠतस्य बृहतीरनूषत स्तोतुर्मेधा असृक्षत ॥

古老的灵感之思已被唱起;神圣之言已向因陀罗宣说。广阔的ṛta之颂声回响而出,歌者的慧力被释放,流入其洪流。

Mantra 10

समिन्द्रो रायो बृहतीरधूनुत सं क्षोणी समु सूर्यम् । सं शुक्रासः शुचयः सं गवाशिरः सोमा इन्द्रममन्दिषुः ॥

因陀罗使广大的丰饶运行起来——使大地与太阳同归一和。明净而光辉的苏摩之力,与“牛”(光线)相调,令因陀罗欢悦;使澄明、广大与照耀在求道者中合而为一。

Inside Sukta 52

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    An invitation to Indra grounded in precedent: “as you drank then, drink now,” linking present ritual to primordial sacrifices.

  2. Development

    Indra is praised as the generous lord of wealth who, when he bestows, causes prosperity and increase to surge; the poets call him with ordered hymns.

  3. Climax

    A unitive vision: Indra sets vast plenitudes in motion and brings earth and sun into a single harmony as bright, pure Soma powers exhilarate him.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into assurance that the invoked Indra—pleased by Soma and chant—will actualize abundance, clarity, and forward movement for the sacrificer.

The deity: Indra

  • In the VedaIndra is praised as Śakra (the Mighty), Śatakratu (of a hundred powers/stratagems), and Vasupati (lord of riches), who comes to the Soma, accepts the chant (chandas), and bestows abundance and victory.
  • Cosmic functionHe releases and sets in motion the great plenitudes—strengthening order in the world, energizing prosperity, and driving forward increase (poṣa) through his might allied with Soma.
  • Inner significanceIndra signifies awakened will and victorious clarity: the inner power that drinks the Soma of concentrated aspiration, accepts disciplined mantra, and breaks inertia so that growth, courage, and luminous order can advance.

The seer

  • Kaṇva (Kāṇva tradition)Kāṇva (Kaṇva gotra / Kāṇva śākhā tradition) · A principal seer-line of the Rig Veda noted for powerful Indra-Soma hymns and for a direct, ritual-facing style of invocation that links present offerings to archetypal ancient sacrifices.

Famous verses

यथा मनौ विवस्वति सोमं शक्रापिबः सुतम् । यथा त्रिते छन्द इन्द्र जुजोषस्यायौ मादयसे सचा ॥
Verse 8.52.1Establishes the hymn’s core strategy: invoking Indra through remembered archetypal sacrifices (Manu/Vivasvat; Trita) to draw him to the present Soma and chant.Read verse 8.52.1 →
vasupatiṃ śatakratuṃ
Verse 8.52.6Summarizes Indra’s boon-giving theology: whom Indra impels to generosity, that person advances increase and plenitude; it also names Indra as Vasupati and Śatakratu.Read verse 8.52.6 →
समिन्द्रो रायो बृहतीरधूनुत सं क्षोणी समु सूर्यम् । सं शुक्रासः शुचयः सं गवाशिरः सोमा इन्द्रममन्दिषुः ॥
Verse 8.52.10Culminating integrative verse portraying Indra’s cosmic coordination—vast riches set in motion, earth and sun harmonized—through the exhilaration of bright, pure Soma.Read verse 8.52.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Mighty (Śakra)
  • Hundred-powered/skillful (Śatakratu)
  • Giver of wealth and increase (rāyaḥ, poṣa)
  • Soma-lover and praise-acceptor
  • World-harmonizer (aligning earth and sun in the hymn’s vision)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 8 (many Kāṇva hymns to Indra, Soma, Agni, and the Maruts)
  • Numerous Indra stotras emphasizing dāna (generosity), śatakratu (hundred powers), and Soma exhilaration
  • Associated in later Vedic memory with the Kāṇva ritual-poetic heritage preserved across recensions

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the sacred space and seat the deity in intention (āvāhana) with Indra-focused praise.
  • Press/strain Soma (or offer Soma-substitute in later practice) while reciting verses that recall Indra’s ancient drinkings with Manu/Vivasvat and Trita.
  • Offer the Soma to Indra with repeated calls and structured hymns (stoma), emphasizing his generosity and lordship of riches.
  • Conclude with verses of integration: affirming the setting-in-motion of ‘great riches’ and the harmonizing of earth and sun through Indra’s exhilaration.

Offerings

  • Soma (pressed and strained), or ritual substitute where Soma is unavailable
  • Ghee/oblations into fire (as accompanying offerings)
  • Praise-hymns (stoma) as the primary ‘offering of speech’

Frequently Asked Questions

It calls Indra to the present Soma offering by reminding him of earlier sacrifices where he gladly drank and accepted praise, and it asks him to activate prosperity, strength, and growth for the worshipper.

They represent revered ancient ritual settings; by citing them, the poets connect today’s sacrifice to a timeless pattern, strengthening the invitation for Indra to come and be pleased again.

It poetically describes Indra’s power to create harmony and coordinated order in the world—an image of abundance and clarity becoming aligned when Soma and mantra awaken divine strength.

Ask anything about Sukta 52 of the Rig Veda

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