Rig Veda · Mandala 7 · Sukta 21
Rig Veda 7.21 — Indra
Deity: Indra. Rishi family (Mandala 7): Vasishtha and his lineage. This Sukta contains 10 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 7.21.1
असावि देवं गोर्जीकमन्धो नयस्मिन्निन्द्रो जनुषेमुवोच | बोधामसि तवा हर्यश्व यज्ञैर्बोधा न सतोममन्धसो मदेषु
asāvi devaṃ ghoṛjīkamandho nyasminnindro januṣemuvoca | bodhāmasi tvā haryaśva yajñairbodhā na stomamandhaso madeṣu
Rig Veda 7.21.2
पर यन्ति यज्ञं विपयन्ति बर्हिः सोममादो विदथे दुध्रवाचः | नयु भरियन्ते यशसो गर्भादा दूर उपब्दो वर्षणोन्र्षाचः
pra yanti yajñaṃ vipayanti barhiḥ somamādo vidathe dudhravācaḥ | nyu bhriyante yaśaso ghṛbhādā dūra upabdo vṛṣaṇonṛṣācaḥ
On to the rite they move, the grass they scatter, these Soma-drinkers eloquent in synod. Hither, for men to grasp, are brought the press-stones, far-thundering, famous, strong, that wait on heroes.
Rig Veda 7.21.3
तवमिन्द्र सरवितवा अपस कः परिष्ठिता अहिना शूर पूर्वीः | तवद वावक्रे रथ्यो न धेना रेजन्ते विश्वा कर्त्रिमाणि भीषा
tvamindra sravitavā apas kaḥ pariṣṭhitā ahinā śūra pūrvīḥ | tvad vāvakre rathyo na dhenā rejante viśvā kṛtrimāṇi bhīṣā
Indra, thou settest free the many waters that were encompassed, Hero, by the Dragon. Down rolled, as if on chariots borne, the rivers: through fear of thee all things created tremble.
Rig Veda 7.21.4
भीमो विवेषायुधेभिरेषामपांसि विश्वा नर्याणि विद्वान | इन्द्रः पुरो जर्ह्र्षाणो वि दूधोद वि वज्रहस्तो महिनाजघान
bhīmo viveṣāyudhebhireṣāmapāṃsi viśvā naryāṇi vidvān | indraḥ puro jarhṛṣāṇo vi dūdhod vi vajrahasto mahinājaghāna
Skilled in all manly deeds the God terrific hath with his weapons mastered these opponents. Indra in rapturous joy shook down their castles he slew them in his might, the Thunder-wielder.
Rig Veda 7.21.5
न यातव इन्द्र जूजुवुर्नो न वन्दना शविष्ठ वेद्याभिः | स शर्धदर्यो विषुणस्य जन्तोर्मा शिश्नदेवा अपि गुरतं नः
na yātava indra jūjuvurno na vandanā śaviṣṭha vedyābhiḥ | sa śardhadaryo viṣuṇasya jantormā śiśnadevā api ghurtaṃ naḥ
No evil spirits have impelled us, Indra, nor fiends, O Mightiest God, with their devices. Let our true God subdue the hostile rabble: let not the lewd approach our holy worship.
Rig Veda 7.21.6
अभि करत्वेन्द्र भूरध जमन न ते विव्यं महिमानं रजांसि | सवेना हि वर्त्रं शवसा जघन्थ न शत्रुरन्तंविविदद युधा ते
abhi kratvendra bhūradha jman na te vivyaṃ mahimānaṃ rajāṃsi | svenā hi vṛtraṃ śavasā jaghantha na śatrurantaṃvividad yudhā te
Thou in thy strength surpassest Earth and Heaven: the regions comprehend not all thy greatness. With thine own power and might thou slewest Vṛtra: no foe hath found the end of thee in battle.
Rig Veda 7.21.7
देवाश्चित ते असुर्याय पूर्वे.अनु कषत्राय ममिरे सहांसि | इन्द्रो मघानि दयते विषह्येन्द्रं वाजस्य जोहुवन्त सातौ
devāścit te asuryāya pūrve.anu kṣatrāya mamire sahāṃsi | indro maghāni dayate viṣahyendraṃ vājasya johuvanta sātau
Even the earlier Deities submitted their powers to thy supreme divine dominion. Indra wins wealth and deals it out to other's: men in the strife for booty call on Indra.
Rig Veda 7.21.8
कीरिश्चिद धि तवामवसे जुहावेशानमिन्द्र सौभगस्य भूरेः | अवो बभूथ शतमूते अस्मे अभिक्षत्तुस्त्वावतो वरूता
kīriścid dhi tvāmavase juhāveśānamindra saubhaghasya bhūreḥ | avo babhūtha śatamūte asme abhikṣattustvāvato varūtā
The humble hath invoked thee for protection, thee, Lord of great felicity, O Indra. Thou with a hundred aids hast been our Helper: one who brings gifts like thee hath his defender.
Rig Veda 7.21.9
सखायस्त इन्द्र विश्वह सयाम नमोव्र्धासो महिना तरुत्र | वन्वन्तु समा ते.अवसा समीके.अभीतिमर्यो वनुषां शवांसि
sakhāyasta indra viśvaha syāma namovṛdhāso mahinā tarutra | vanvantu smā te.avasā samīke.abhītimaryo vanuṣāṃ śavāṃsi
May we, O Indra, be thy friends for ever, eagerly, Conqueror, yielding greater homage. May, through thy grace, the strength of us who battle quell in the shock the onset of the foeman.
Rig Veda 7.21.10
स न इन्द्र तवयताया ...
sa na indra tvayatāyā ...
Place us by food which thou hast given, O Indra, us and the wealthy patrons who command us. Let thy great power bring good to him who lauds thee. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.
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.