Rig Veda · Mandala 1 · Sukta 56
Rig Veda 1.56 — Indra
Deity: Indra. Rishi family (Mandala 1): Diverse seers — Madhuchchhandas, Medhatithi, Shunahshepa, Hiranyastupa and others. This Sukta contains 6 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 1.56.1
एष पर पूर्वीरव तस्य चम्रिषो.अत्यो न योषामुदयंस्त भुर्वणिः | दक्षं महे पाययते हिरण्ययं रथमाव्र्त्या हरियोगं रभ्वसम
eṣa pra pūrvīrava tasya camriṣo.atyo na yoṣāmudayaṃsta bhurvaṇiḥ | dakṣaṃ mahe pāyayate hiraṇyayaṃ rathamāvṛtyā hariyoghaṃ ṛbhvasam
FOR this man's full libations held in ladles, he hath roused him, eager, as a horse to meet the mare. He stays his golden car, yoked with Bay Horses, swift, and drinks the Soma juice which strengthens for great deeds.
Rig Veda 1.56.2
तं गूर्तयो नेमन्निषः परीणसः समुद्रं न संचरणे सनिष्यवः | पतिं दक्षस्य विदथस्य नू सहो गिरिं न वेना अधि रोह तेजसा
taṃ ghūrtayo nemanniṣaḥ parīṇasaḥ samudraṃ na saṃcaraṇe saniṣyavaḥ | patiṃ dakṣasya vidathasya nū saho ghiriṃ na venā adhi roha tejasā
To him the guidance-following songs of praise flow full, as those who seek gain go in company to the flood. To him the Lord of power, the holy synod's might, as to a hill, with speed, ascend the loving ones.
Rig Veda 1.56.3
स तुर्वणिर्महानरेणु पौंस्ये गिरेर्भ्र्ष्टिर्न भराजते तुजा शवः | येन शुष्णं मायिनमायसो मदे दुध्राभूषु रामयन नि दामनि
sa turvaṇirmahānareṇu pauṃsye ghirerbhṛṣṭirna bhrājate tujā śavaḥ | yena śuṣṇaṃ māyinamāyaso made dudhraābhūṣu rāmayan ni dāmani
Victorious, great is he; in manly battle shines, unstained with dust, his might, as shines a mountain peak; Wherewith the iron one, fierce e’en against the strong, in rapture, fettered wily Śushṇa fast in bonds.
Rig Veda 1.56.4
देवी यदि तविषी तवाव्र्धोतय इन्द्रं सिषक्त्युषसं न सूर्यः | यो धर्ष्णुना शवसा बाधते तम इयर्ति रेणुं बर्हदर्हरिष्वणिः
devī yadi taviṣī tvāvṛdhotaya indraṃ siṣaktyuṣasaṃ na sūryaḥ | yo dhṛṣṇunā śavasā bādhate tama iyarti reṇuṃ bṛhadarhariṣvaṇiḥ
When Strength the Goddess, made more strong for help by thee, waits upon Indra as the Sun attends the Dawn, Then. he who with his might unflinching kills the gloom stirs up the dust aloft, with joy and triumphing.
Rig Veda 1.56.5
वि यत तिरो धरुणमच्युतं रजो.अतिष्ठिपो दिव आतासुबर्हणा | सवर्मीळ्हे यन मद इन्द्र हर्ष्याहन वर्त्रं निरपामौब्जो अर्णवम
vi yat tiro dharuṇamacyutaṃ rajo.atiṣṭhipo diva ātāsubarhaṇā | svarmīḷhe yan mada indra harṣyāhan vṛtraṃ nirapāmaubjo arṇavam
When thou with might, upon the framework of the heaven, didst fix, across, air's region firmly, unremoved, In the light-winning war, Indra, in rapturous joy, thou smotest Vṛtra dead and broughtest floods of rain.
Rig Veda 1.56.6
तवं दिवो धरुणं धिष ओजसा पर्थिव्या इन्द्र सदनेषु माहिनः | तवं सुतस्य मदे अरिणा अपो वि वर्त्रस्य समया पाष्यारुजः
tvaṃ divo dharuṇaṃ dhiṣa ojasā pṛthivyā indra sadaneṣu māhinaḥ | tvaṃ sutasya made ariṇā apo vi vṛtrasya samayā pāṣyārujaḥ
Thou with thy might didst grasp, the holder-up of heaven, thou who art mighty also in the seats of earth. Thou, gladdened by the juice, hast set the waters free, and broken Vṛtra's stony fences through and through.
Want to hear this Sukta chanted? Subscribe to Pro for
full audio recitations of every verse, on-demand AI commentary, and verse
search across the entire Rig Veda.