Rig Veda · Mandala 4 · Sukta 17
Rig Veda 4.17 — Indra
Deity: Indra. Rishi family (Mandala 4): Vamadeva Gautama and his lineage. This Sukta contains 21 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 4.17.1
तवम महां इन्द्र तुभ्यं ह कषा अनु कषत्रम मंहना मन्यत दयौः | तवं वर्त्रं शवसा जघन्वान सर्जः सिन्धूंर अहिना जग्रसानान
tvam mahāṃ indra tubhyaṃ ha kṣā anu kṣatram maṃhanā manyata dyauḥ | tvaṃ vṛtraṃ śavasā jaghanvān sṛjaḥ sindhūṃr ahinā jaghrasānān
Rig Veda 4.17.2
तव तविषो जनिमन रेजत दयौ रेजद भूमिर भियसा सवस्य मन्योः | रघायन्त सुभ्वः पर्वतास आर्दन धन्वानि सरयन्त आपः
tava tviṣo janiman rejata dyau rejad bhūmir bhiyasā svasya manyoḥ | ṛghāyanta subhvaḥ parvatāsa ārdan dhanvāni sarayanta āpaḥ
Heaven trembled at the birth of thine effulgence; Earth trembled at the fear of thy displeasure. The stedfast mountains shook in agitation . the waters flowed, and desert spots were flooded.
Rig Veda 4.17.3
भिनद गिरिं शवसा वज्रम इष्णन्न आविष्क्र्ण्वानः सहसान ओजः | वधीद वर्त्रं वज्रेण मन्दसानः सरन्न आपो जवसा हतव्र्ष्णीः
bhinad ghiriṃ śavasā vajram iṣṇann āviṣkṛṇvānaḥ sahasāna ojaḥ | vadhīd vṛtraṃ vajreṇa mandasānaḥ sarann āpo javasā hatavṛṣṇīḥ
Hurling his bolt with might he cleft the mountain, while, putting forth his strength, he showed his vigour. He slaughtered Vṛtra with his bolt, exulting, and, their lord slain, forth flowed the waters swiftly.
Rig Veda 4.17.4
सुवीरस ते जनिता मन्यत दयौर इन्द्रस्य कर्ता सवपस्तमो भूत | य ईं जजान सवर्यं सुवज्रम अनपच्युतं सदसो न भूम
suvīras te janitā manyata dyaur indrasya kartā svapastamo bhūt | ya īṃ jajāna svaryaṃ suvajram anapacyutaṃ sadaso na bhūma
Thy Father Dyaus esteemed himself a hero: most noble was the work of Indra's Maker, His who begat the strong bolt's Lord who roareth, immovable like earth from her foundation.
Rig Veda 4.17.5
य एक इच चयावयति पर भूमा राजा कर्ष्टीनाम पुरुहूत इन्द्रः | सत्यम एनम अनु विश्वे मदन्ति रातिं देवस्य गर्णतो मघोनः
ya eka ic cyāvayati pra bhūmā rājā kṛṣṭīnām puruhūta indraḥ | satyam enam anu viśve madanti rātiṃ devasya ghṛṇato maghonaḥ
He who alone o’erthrows the world of creatures, Indra the peoples' King, invoked of many- Verily all rejoice in him, extolling the boons which Maghavan the God hath sent them.
Rig Veda 4.17.6
सत्रा सोमा अभवन्न अस्य विश्वे सत्रा मदासो बर्हतो मदिष्ठाः | सत्राभवो वसुपतिर वसूनां दत्रे विश्वा अधिथा इन्द्र कर्ष्टीः
satrā somā abhavann asya viśve satrā madāso bṛhato madiṣṭhāḥ | satrābhavo vasupatir vasūnāṃ datre viśvā adhithā indra kṛṣṭīḥ
All Soma juices are his own for ever, most gladdening draughts are ever his, the Mighty, Thou ever wast the Treasure-Lord of treasures: Indra, thou lettest all folk share thy bounty.
Rig Veda 4.17.7
तवम अध परथमं जायमानो ऽमे विश्वा अधिथा इन्द्र कर्ष्टीः | तवम परति परवत आशयानम अहिं वज्रेण मघवन वि वर्श्चः
tvam adha prathamaṃ jāyamāno 'me viśvā adhithā indra kṛṣṭīḥ | tvam prati pravata āśayānam ahiṃ vajreṇa maghavan vi vṛścaḥ
Moreover, when thou first wast born, O Indra, thou struckest terror into all the people. Thou, Maghavan, rentest with thy bolt the Dragon who lay against the waterfloods of heaven.
Rig Veda 4.17.8
सत्राहणं दाध्र्षिं तुम्रम इन्द्रम महाम अपारं वर्षभं सुवज्रम | हन्ता यो वर्त्रं सनितोत वाजं दाता मघानि मघवा सुराधाः
satrāhaṇaṃ dādhṛṣiṃ tumram indram mahām apāraṃ vṛṣabhaṃ suvajram | hantā yo vṛtraṃ sanitota vājaṃ dātā maghāni maghavā surādhāḥ
The ever-slaying, bold and furious Indra, the bright bolt's Lord, infinite, strong and mighty, Who slayeth Vṛtra and acquireth booty, giver of blessings, Maghavan the bounteous:
Rig Veda 4.17.9
अयं वर्तश चातयते समीचीर य आजिषु मघवा शर्ण्व एकः | अयं वाजम भरति यं सनोत्य अस्य परियासः सख्ये सयाम
ayaṃ vṛtaś cātayate samīcīr ya ājiṣu maghavā śṛṇva ekaḥ | ayaṃ vājam bharati yaṃ sanoty asya priyāsaḥ sakhye syāma
Alone renowned as Maghavan in battles, he frighteneth away assembled armies. He bringeth us the booty that he winneth may we, well-loved, continue in his friendship.
Rig Veda 4.17.10
अयं शर्ण्वे अध जयन्न उत घनन्न अयम उत पर कर्णुते युधा गाः | यदा सत्यं कर्णुते मन्युम इन्द्रो विश्वं दर्ळ्हम भयत एजद अस्मात
ayaṃ śṛṇve adha jayann uta ghnann ayam uta pra kṛṇute yudhā ghāḥ | yadā satyaṃ kṛṇute manyum indro viśvaṃ dṛḷham bhayata ejad asmāt
Renowned is he when conquering and when slaying: 'fis he who winneth cattle in the combat. When Indra hardeneth his indignation all that is fixed and all that moveth fear him.
Rig Veda 4.17.11
सम इन्द्रो गा अजयत सं हिरण्या सम अश्विया मघवा यो ह पूर्वीः | एभिर नर्भिर नर्तमो अस्य शाकै रायो विभक्ता सम्भरश च वस्वः
sam indro ghā ajayat saṃ hiraṇyā sam aśviyā maghavā yo ha pūrvīḥ | ebhir nṛbhir nṛtamo asya śākai rāyo vibhaktā sambharaś ca vasvaḥ
Indra hath won all kine, all gold, all horses,—Maghavan, he who breaketh forts in pieces; Most manly with these men of his who help him, dealing out wealth and gathering the treasure.
Rig Veda 4.17.12
कियत सविद इन्द्रो अध्य एति मातुः कियत पितुर जनितुर यो जजान | यो अस्य शुष्मम मुहुकैर इयर्ति वातो न जूत सतनयद्भिर अभ्रैः
kiyat svid indro adhy eti mātuḥ kiyat pitur janitur yo jajāna | yo asya śuṣmam muhukair iyarti vāto na jūta stanayadbhir abhraiḥ
What is the care of Indra for his Mother, what cares he for the Father who begat him? His care is that which speeds his might in conflicts, like wind borne onward by the clouds that thunder.
Rig Veda 4.17.13
कषियन्तं तवम अक्षियन्तं कर्णोतीयर्ति रेणुम मघवा समोहम | विभञ्जनुर अशनिमां इव दयौर उत सतोतारम मघवा वसौ धात
kṣiyantaṃ tvam akṣiyantaṃ kṛṇotīyarti reṇum maghavā samoham | vibhañjanur aśanimāṃ iva dyaur uta stotāram maghavā vasau dhāt
Maghavan makes the settled man unsettled: he scatters dust that he hath swept together, Breaking in pieces like Heaven armed with lightning: Maghavan shall enrich the man who lauds h;m.
Rig Veda 4.17.14
अयं चक्रम इषणत सूर्यस्य नय एतशं रीरमत सस्र्माणम | आ कर्ष्ण ईं जुहुराणो जिघर्ति तवचो बुध्ने रजसो अस्य योनौ
ayaṃ cakram iṣaṇat sūryasya ny etaśaṃ rīramat sasṛmāṇam | ā kṛṣṇa īṃ juhurāṇo jigharti tvaco budhne rajaso asya yonau
He urged the chariot-wheel of Sūrya forward: Etaśa, speeding on his way, he rested. Him the black undulating cloud bedeweth, in this mid-air's depth, at the base of darkness,
Rig Veda 4.17.15
असिक्न्यां यजमानो न होता
asiknyāṃ yajamāno na hotā
As in the night the sacrificing priest.
Rig Veda 4.17.16
गव्यन्त इन्द्रं सख्याय विप्रा अश्वायन्तो वर्षणं वाजयन्तः | जनीयन्तो जनिदाम अक्षितोतिम आ चयावयामो ऽवते न कोशम
ghavyanta indraṃ sakhyāya viprā aśvāyanto vṛṣaṇaṃ vājayantaḥ | janīyanto janidām akṣitotim ā cyāvayāmo 'vate na kośam
Eager for booty, craving strength and horses, we-singers stir Indra, the strong, for friendship, Who gives the wives we seek, whose succour fails not, to hasten, like a pitcher to the fountain.
Rig Veda 4.17.17
तराता नो बोधि दद्र्शान आपिर अभिख्याता मर्डिता सोम्यानाम | सखा पिता पित्र्तमः पित्णां कर्तेम उलोकम उशते वयोधाः
trātā no bodhi dadṛśāna āpir abhikhyātā marḍitā somyānām | sakhā pitā pitṛtamaḥ pitṇāṃ kartem ulokam uśate vayodhāḥ
Be thou our guardian, show thyself our kinsman, watching and blessing those who pour the Soma; As Friend, as Sire, most fatherly of fathers giving the suppliant vital strength and freedom.
Rig Veda 4.17.18
सखीयताम अविता बोधि सखा गर्णान इन्द्र सतुवते वयो धाः | वयं हय आ ते चक्र्मा सबाध आभिः शमीभिर महयन्त इन्द्र
sakhīyatām avitā bodhi sakhā ghṛṇāna indra stuvate vayo dhāḥ | vayaṃ hy ā te cakṛmā sabādha ābhiḥ śamībhir mahayanta indra
Be helping Friend of those who seek thy friendship . give life, when lauded, Indra, to the singer. For, Indra, we the priests have paid thee worship, exalting thee with these our sacrifices.
Rig Veda 4.17.19
सतुत इन्द्रो मघवा यद ध वर्त्रा भूरीण्य एको अप्रतीनि हन्ति | अस्य परियो जरिता यस्य शर्मन नकिर देवा वारयन्ते न मर्ताः
stuta indro maghavā yad dha vṛtrā bhūrīṇy eko apratīni hanti | asya priyo jaritā yasya śarman nakir devā vārayante na martāḥ
Alone, when Indra Maghavan is lauded, he slayeth many ne’er-resisted Vṛtras. Him in whose keeping is the well-loved singer never do Gods or mortals stay or hinder.
Rig Veda 4.17.20
एवा न इन्द्रो मघवा विरप्शी करत सत्या चर्षणीध्र्द अनर्वा | तवं राजा जनुषां धेह्य अस्मे अधि शरवो माहिनं यज जरित्रे
evā na indro maghavā virapśī karat satyā carṣaṇīdhṛd anarvā | tvaṃ rājā januṣāṃ dhehy asme adhi śravo māhinaṃ yaj jaritre
E’en so let Maghavan, the loud-voiced Indra, give us true blessings, foeless, men's upholder. King of all creatures, give us glory amply, exalted glory due to him who lauds thee.
Rig Veda 4.17.21
नू षटुत इन्द्र नू गर्णान इषं जरित्रे नद्यो न पीपेः | अकारि ते हरिवो बरह्म नव्यं धिया सयाम रथ्यः सदासाः
nū ṣṭuta indra nū ghṛṇāna iṣaṃ jaritre nadyo na pīpeḥ | akāri te harivo brahma navyaṃ dhiyā syāma rathyaḥ sadāsāḥ
Now, Indra! lauded, glorified with praises, let power swell high like rivers for the singer. For thee a new hymn, Lord of Bays! is fashioned. May we, car-borne, through song be victors ever.
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