Rig Veda · Mandala 1 · Sukta 54
Rig Veda 1.54 — Indra
Deity: Indra. Rishi family (Mandala 1): Diverse seers — Madhuchchhandas, Medhatithi, Shunahshepa, Hiranyastupa and others. This Sukta contains 11 verses presented below in Devanagari Sanskrit, IAST romanisation, and Ralph T. H. Griffith's English translation. Click any verse to read a fuller explanation.
Verses
Rig Veda 1.54.1
मा नो अस्मिन मघवन पर्त्स्वंहसि नहि ते अन्तः शवसः परीणशे | अक्रन्दयो नद्यो रोरुवद वना कथा न कषोणीर्भियसा समारत
mā no asmin maghavan pṛtsvaṃhasi nahi te antaḥ śavasaḥ parīṇaśe | akrandayo nadyo roruvad vanā kathā na kṣoṇīrbhiyasā samārata
URGE us not, Maghavan, to this distressful fight, for none may comprehend the limit of thy strength. Thou with fierce shout hast made the woods and rivers roar: did not men run in crowds together in their fear?
Rig Veda 1.54.2
अर्चा शक्राय शाकिने शचीवते शर्ण्वन्तमिन्द्रं महयन्नभि षटुहि | यो धर्ष्णुना शवसा रोदसी उभे वर्षा वर्षत्वा वर्षभो नय्र्ञ्जते
arcā śakrāya śākine śacīvate śṛṇvantamindraṃ mahayannabhi ṣṭuhi | yo dhṛṣṇunā śavasā rodasī ubhe vṛṣā vṛṣatvā vṛṣabho nyṛñjate
Sing hymns of praise to Śakra, Lord of power and might; laud thou and magnify Indra who heareth thee, Who with his daring might, a Bull exceeding strong in strength, maketh him master of the heaven and earth.
Rig Veda 1.54.3
अर्चा दिवे बर्हते शूष्यं वचः सवक्षत्रं यस्य धर्षतो धर्षन मनः | बर्हच्छ्रवा असुरो बर्हणा कर्तः पुरो हरिभ्यां वर्षभो रथो हि षः
arcā dive bṛhate śūṣyaṃ vacaḥ svakṣatraṃ yasya dhṛṣato dhṛṣan manaḥ | bṛhacchravā asuro barhaṇā kṛtaḥ puro haribhyāṃ vṛṣabho ratho hi ṣaḥ
Sing forth to lofty Dyaus a strength-bestowing song, the Bold, whose resolute mind hath independent sway. High glory hath the Asura, compact of strength, drawn on by two Bay Steeds: a Bull, a Car is he.
Rig Veda 1.54.4
तवं दिवो बर्हतः सानु कोपयो.अव तमना धर्षता शम्बरं भिनत | यन मायिनो वरन्दिनो मन्दिना धर्षच्छितां गभस्तिमशनिं पर्तन्यसि
tvaṃ divo bṛhataḥ sānu kopayo.ava tmanā dhṛṣatā śambaraṃ bhinat | yan māyino vrandino mandinā dhṛṣacchitāṃ ghabhastimaśaniṃ pṛtanyasi
The ridges of the lofty heaven thou madest shake; thou, daring, of thyself smotest through Śambara, When bold with gladdening juice, thou warredst with thy bolt, sharp and two-edged, against the banded sorcerers.
Rig Veda 1.54.5
नि यद वर्णक्षि शवसनस्य मूर्धनि शुष्णस्य चिद वरन्दिनोरोरुवद वना | पराचीनेन मनसा बर्हणावता यदद्या चित कर्णवः कस्त्वा परि
ni yad vṛṇakṣi śvasanasya mūrdhani śuṣṇasya cid vrandinororuvad vanā | prācīnena manasā barhaṇāvatā yadadyā cit kṛṇavaḥ kastvā pari
When with a roar that fills the woods, thou forcest down on wind's head the stores which Śuṣṇa kept confined, Who shall have power to stay thee firm and eager-souled from doing still this day what thou of old hast done?
Rig Veda 1.54.6
तवमाविथ नर्यं तुर्वशं यदुं तवं तुर्वीतिं वय्यंशतक्रतो | तवं रथमेतशं कर्त्व्ये धने तवं पुरो नवतिं दम्भयो नव
tvamāvitha naryaṃ turvaśaṃ yaduṃ tvaṃ turvītiṃ vayyaṃśatakrato | tvaṃ rathametaśaṃ kṛtvye dhane tvaṃ puro navatiṃ dambhayo nava
Thou helpest Narya, Turvaśa, and Yadu, and Vayya's son Turvīti, Śatakratu! Thou helpest horse and car in final battle thou breakest down the nine-and-ninety castles.
Rig Veda 1.54.7
स घा राजा सत्पतिः शूशुवज्जनो रातहव्यः परति यः शासमिन्वति | उक्था वा यो अभिग्र्णाति राधसा दानुरस्मा उपरा पिन्वते दिवः
sa ghā rājā satpatiḥ śūśuvajjano rātahavyaḥ prati yaḥ śāsaminvati | ukthā vā yo abhighṛṇāti rādhasā dānurasmā uparā pinvate divaḥ
A hero-lord is he, King of a mighty folk, who offers free oblations and promotes the Law, Who with a bounteous guerdon welcomes hymns of praise: for him flows down the abundant stream below the sky.
Rig Veda 1.54.8
असमं कषत्रमसमा मनीषा पर सोमपा अपसा सन्तु नेमे | ये त इन्द्र ददुषो वर्धयन्ति महि कषत्रं सथविरं वर्ष्ण्यं च
asamaṃ kṣatramasamā manīṣā pra somapā apasā santu neme | ye ta indra daduṣo vardhayanti mahi kṣatraṃ sthaviraṃ vṛṣṇyaṃ ca
His power is matchless, matchless is his wisdom; chief, through their work, be some who drink the Soma, Those, Indra, who increase the lordly power, the firm heroic strength of thee the Giver.
Rig Veda 1.54.9
तुभ्येदेते बहुला अद्रिदुग्धाश्चमूषदश्चमसा इन्द्रपानाः | वयश्नुहि तर्पया काममेषामथा मनो वसुदेयाय कर्ष्व
tubhyedete bahulā adridughdhāścamūṣadaścamasā indrapānāḥ | vyaśnuhi tarpayā kāmameṣāmathā mano vasudeyāya kṛṣva
Therefore for thee are these abundant beakers Indra's drink, stone-pressed juices held in ladles. Quaff them and satisfy therewith thy longing; then fix thy mind upon bestowing treasure.
Rig Veda 1.54.10
अपामतिष्ठद धरुणह्वरं तमो.अन्तर्व्र्त्रस्य जठरेषुपर्वतः | अभीमिन्द्रो नद्यो वव्रिणा हिता विश्वा अनुष्ठाः परवणेषु जिघ्नते
apāmatiṣṭhad dharuṇahvaraṃ tamo.antarvṛtrasya jaṭhareṣuparvataḥ | abhīmindro nadyo vavriṇā hitā viśvā anuṣṭhāḥ pravaṇeṣu jighnate
There darkness stood, the vault that stayed the waters’ flow: in Vṛtra's hollow side the rain-cloud lay concealed. But Indra smote the rivers which the obstructer stayed, flood following after flood, down steep declivities.
Rig Veda 1.54.11
स शेव्र्धमधि धा दयुम्नमस्मे महि कषत्रं जनाषाळिन्द्र तव्यम | रक्षा च नो मघोनः पाहि सूरीन राये च नः सवपत्या इषे धाः
sa śevṛdhamadhi dhā dyumnamasme mahi kṣatraṃ janāṣāḷindra tavyam | rakṣā ca no maghonaḥ pāhi sūrīn rāye ca naḥ svapatyā iṣe dhāḥ
So give us, Indra, bliss-increasing glory give us great sway and strength that conquers people. Preserve our wealthy patrons, save our princes; vouchsafe us wealth and food with noble offspring.
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