After inviting the elemental forces of Fire and Wind, the Rigveda 1.4 turns to the king of the gods himself: the mighty and heroic Indra. This sukta, Rigveda 1.4, is a classic hymn of praise and invitation, filled with admiration for Indra’s power and a heartfelt plea for him to join the Soma sacrifice and bestow his blessings upon the worshippers.
Introduction & Context
This hymn establishes Indra’s supreme importance in the Vedic ritual, particularly in the context of the Soma offering. He is not just a guest, but the most celebrated and eagerly awaited participant.
- Deity (Devata): Indra, the king of the Devas, god of thunder, storms, and war.
- Rishi (Seer): Madhuchhandas Vaishvamitra (the same seer as the first three hymns).
- Meter (Chhandas): Gayatri.
- Significance: Indra is the most lauded deity in the Rigveda 1.4, with more hymns dedicated to him than any other. He is the dragon-slayer of the Vedas, the heroic champion who defeated the great serpent Vritra to release the life-giving waters for mankind. This hymn is a perfect introduction to his primary characteristics: his immense power, his love for the Soma drink, and his special relationship with those who sing his praises.
The Hymn (Sūkta) Rigveda 1.4
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
सुरूपकृत्नुमूतये सुदुघामिव गोदुहे । जुहूमसि द्यविद्यवि ॥१॥
उप नः सवना गहि सोमस्य सोमपाः पिब । गोदा इद्रेवतो मदः ॥२॥
अथा ते अन्तमानां विद्याम सुमतीनाम् । मा नो अति ख्य आ गहि ॥३॥
परेहि विग्रमस्तृतमिन्द्रं पृच्छा विपश्चितम् । यस्ते सखिभ्य आ वरम् ॥४॥
उत ब्रुवन्तु नो निदो निरन्यतश्चिदारत । दधाना इन्द्र इद्दुवः ॥५॥
उत नः सुभगाँ अरिर्वोचेयुर्दस्म कृष्टयः । स्यामेदिन्द्रस्य शर्मणि ॥६॥
एंवामसि श्रवाय्यं सहस्रिणं पुरुष्टुतम् । इन्द्रं सहस्रसातमम् ॥७॥
नू चित्सहोजा अमृतो नि तुन्दते । होता यद् दूतः अभवत् ॥८॥
इमा उ त्वा पुरूवसो गिरो वर्धन्तु या मम । पावकवर्णाः शुचयो विपश्चितः ॥९॥
यस्य त्वमिन्द्र स्तोमेषु इह श्रुण्वते महे । सद्यो वर्धस्व सुवीर्यः ॥१०॥Transliteration
surūpakṛtnumūtaye sudughāmiva goduhe | juhūmasi dyavi-dyavi ||1||
upa naḥ savanā gahi somasya somapāḥ piba | godā idrevato madaḥ ||2||
athā te antamānāṁ vidyāma sumatīnām | mā no ati khya ā gahi ||3||
parehi vigramastṛtamindraṁ pṛcchā vipaścitam | yaste sakhibhya ā varam ||4||
uta bruvantu no nido niranyataścidārata | dadhānā indra idduvaḥ ||5||Dharma uta naḥ subhagām̐ arirvoceyurdasma kṛṣṭayaḥ | syāmedindrasya śarmaṇi ||6||
eṁvāmasi śravāyyaṁ sahasriṇaṁ puruṣṭutam | indraṁ sahasrasātamam ||7||
nū citsahojā amṛto ni tundate | hotā yad dūtaḥ abhavat ||8||
imā u tvā purūvaso giro vardhantu yā mama | pāvakavarṇāḥ śucayo vipaścitaḥ ||9||
yasya tvamindra stomeṣu iha śruṇvate mahe | sadyo vardhasva suvīryaḥ ||10||English Translation
1. Day by day we invoke for our aid the one of beautiful form, the creator, as a milkman calls a good-milking cow.
2. O drinker of Soma, come to our offerings and drink the Soma; the intoxication of the glorious one is indeed wealth-giving.
3. Then may we, who are near you, know your benevolent intentions. Do not disregard us; come hither.
4. Go and ask of Indra, the wise and unassailable hero, who is best to your friends.
5. Let our enemies say we are without restraint, but let those who serve Indra with praise be free from blame.
6. O wonder-worker, may our people declare us blessed. May we ever be in the grace and protection of Indra.
7. We praise the glorious, thousand-fold, much-praised Indra, the greatest winner of a thousand spoils.
8. Now, the immortal one, born of strength, does not fail when he becomes the messenger of the Hotri priest.
9. O you of many riches, may these praises of mine strengthen you—praises that are pure, purifying, and wise.
10. O Indra, you who are great, listen to our praises and grow immediately in strength and heroism.
The Hymn’s Meaning: A Verse-by-Verse Breakdown
Each Rigveda hymn whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
Verses 1-3 (The Invitation)
The hymn begins with a charming and rustic simile: the rishi calls to Indra day after day with the same eagerness a milkman calls his best milking cow. It’s an image of reliable, daily sustenance. The call is direct: “O Soma-drinker (`Somapāḥ`), come to our offerings and drink.” The hymn emphasizes that Indra’s intoxication (`madaḥ`) from the Soma is not a negative thing; it is what empowers him to be generous and bestow wealth upon the worshipper. The plea is intimate, asking to be considered among Indra’s closest friends.
Verses 4-6 (The Hero and His Friends)
This section praises Indra as the unassailable hero (`astṛtam`) and the wise one (`vipaścitam`). It makes a powerful social statement, contrasting those who serve Indra with those who do not. The rishi declares that even if their enemies slander them, those who are devoted to Indra will be blameless. The ultimate desire is to be in “Indrasya śarmaṇi”—the grace, protection, and blessed shelter of Indra.
Verses 7-10 (Praise and Empowerment)
The praise for Indra intensifies. He is lauded with epic titles: “thousand-fold” (`sahasriṇaṁ`), “much-praised” (`puruṣṭutam`), and the “greatest winner of a thousand spoils” (`sahasrasātamam`). The final verses reveal a core concept of the Vedic sacrifice: a reciprocal relationship. The rishi offers his pure, purifying praises (`pāvakavarṇāḥ śucayo`) with the explicit goal of strengthening Indra (`vardhantu`). The hymn concludes with the belief that when Indra hears these praises, he will “grow immediately in strength and heroism” (`sadyo vardhasva suvīryaḥ`), enabling him to perform his mighty deeds and protect the worshipper.
Summary & Significance
Rigveda 1.4 is a perfect introduction to the character of Indra, the quintessential Vedic hero-god. The hymn is not just a one-sided plea but a description of a powerful, symbiotic relationship. The worshipper offers Soma and heartfelt praise, and in return, Indra, invigorated by these offerings, provides protection, wealth, and blessings. It’s a dynamic where the human and the divine empower each other.
This hymn beautifully illustrates the Vedic concept that our words of praise are not empty flattery; they are a form of sacred energy that can strengthen and sustain the gods themselves. In our own lives, how can the act of expressing genuine praise and gratitude—whether to the divine, to nature, or to each other—be a source of strength and positive energy for both the giver and the receiver?
Read Next: Rigveda 1.5: A Hymn to Indra
