The Rigveda 1.5 continues the focus on the King of the Gods, marking the second consecutive sukta dedicated to Indra. This repetition is not an accident; it underscores Indra’s supreme importance in the Vedic pantheon. While the previous hymn praised his heroic power, Rigveda 1.5 takes on a more intimate and personal tone, appealing to Indra not just as a king, but as a divine friend (`sakha`).
Introduction & Context
This hymn is a direct and heartfelt plea for Indra’s presence and companionship at the sacred Soma ritual.
- Deity (Devata): Indra, the King of the Gods.
- Rishi (Seer): Madhuchhandas Vaishvamitra (the same seer as the first four hymns).
- Meter (Chhandas): Gayatri.
- Significance: This hymn emphasizes the personal and friendly relationship between the worshipper and the deity. It beautifully illustrates the Vedic belief that the gods are not just distant, powerful beings, but can be drawn into a close, supportive friendship through sincere devotion and the correct performance of the Yajna (sacrifice). The ultimate goal is to win Indra’s favor to gain `rayi` (wealth) and protection.
The Hymn (Sūkta) Rigveda 1.5
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
आ त्वेता नि षीदतेन्द्रमभि प्र गायत । सखायः स्तोमवाहसः ॥१॥
पुरूतमं पुरूणामीशानं वार्याणाम् । इन्द्रं सोमे सचा सुते ॥२॥
स घा नो योग आ भुवत्स राये स पुरन्ध्याम् । गमद्वाजेभिरा स नः ॥३॥
यस्य संस्थे न वृण्वते हरी समत्सु शत्रवः । तस्मा इन्द्राय गायत ॥४॥
सुतपाव्ने सुता इमे शुचयो यन्ति वीतये । सोमासो दध्याशिरः ॥५॥
त्वं सुतस्य पीतये सद्यो वृद्धो अजायथाः । इन्द्र ज्यैष्ठ्याय सुक्रतो ॥६॥
आ त्वा विशन्त्वाशवः सोमास इन्द्र गिर्वणः । शं ते सन्तु प्रचेतसे ॥७॥
त्वां स्तोमा अवीवृधन् त्वामुक्था शतक्रतो । त्वां वर्धन्तु नो गिरः ॥८॥
अक्षितोतिः सनेदिमं वाजमिन्द्रः सहस्रिणम् । यस्मिन्विश्वानि पौंस्या ॥९॥
मा नो मर्ता अभि द्रुहन्तनूनामिन्द्र गिर्वणः । ईशानो यवया वधम् ॥१०॥Transliteration
ā tvetā ni ṣīdatendramabhi pra gāyata | sakhāyaḥ stomavāhasaḥ ||1||
purūtamaṁ purūṇāmīśānaṁ vāryāṇām | indraṁ some sacā sute ||2||
sa ghā no yoga ā bhuvatsa rāye sa purandhyām | gamadvājebhirā sa naḥ ||3||
yasya saṁsthe na vṛṇvate harī samatsu śatravaḥ | tasmā indrāya gāyata ||4||
sutapāvne sutā ime śucayo yanti vītaye | somāso dadhyāśiraḥ ||5||
tvaṁ sutasya pītaye sadyo vṛddho ajāyathāḥ | indra jyaiṣṭhyāya sukrato ||6||
ā tvā viśantvāśavaḥ somāsa indra girvaṇaḥ | śaṁ te santu pracetase ||7||
tvāṁ stomā avīvṛdhan tvāmukthā śatakrato | tvāṁ vardhantu no giraḥ ||8||
akṣitotiḥ sanedimaṁ vājamindraḥ sahasriṇam | yasminviśvāni pauṁsyā ||9||
mā no martā abhi druhan tanūnāmindra girvaṇaḥ | īśāno yavayā vadham ||10||English Translation
1. Come, sit down, and sing forth to Indra, O friends, bearers of the song of praise.
2. To Indra, the most manifold of the manifold, the lord of precious things, together with the pressed Soma.
3. May he be with us in our effort, for wealth, for abundance. May he come to us with spoils of victory.
4. Sing to that Indra whose two bay horses the enemies in battle cannot check.
5. For the drinker of the pressed Soma, these pure Soma juices, mixed with curd, go for his enjoyment.
6. You, O Indra of good counsel, were born, immediately growing strong, for the drinking of the pressed Soma, for supremacy.
7. O Indra, lover of song, may these swift Soma juices enter you. May they be pleasant for you who are wise.
8. The songs of praise have strengthened you, O lord of a hundred powers, the recitations have strengthened you. May our words strengthen you.
9. May Indra of inexhaustible help win for us this thousand-fold prize, in which are all manly powers.
10. O Indra, lover of song, let no mortals bring harm to our bodies. As the lord, keep destruction far from us.
Each Rigveda hymn whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
The Rigveda 1.5 Hymn’s Meaning: A Thematic Breakdown
Verses 1-3 (An Invitation to a Friend)
The hymn begins with an exceptionally warm and friendly invitation. The rishi calls upon his fellow chanters as “sakhāyaḥ” (friends) and asks them to sit and sing to Indra together. The goal is clear: to have Indra join them for the `soma` offering and to ask for his help in their “yoga” (effort or endeavor), specifically for attaining `rāye` (wealth) and abundance.
Verses 4-6 (Praise of the Soma and the Drinker)
This section praises Indra’s unstoppable power, symbolized by his two bay horses (`harī`) that no enemy can restrain. It then shifts focus to the offering itself. The Soma juices are described as being `śucayo` (pure) and mixed with curd (`dadhyāśiraḥ`), prepared specifically for the `sutapāvne` (the drinker of the pressed Soma). The hymn beautifully states that Indra was born and grew strong for the very purpose of drinking the Soma and achieving supremacy.
Verses 7-10 (Empowerment and Protection)
Here, the hymn returns to the theme of reciprocal empowerment we saw in hymn 1.4. The rishi explicitly states that the songs of praise (`stomāḥ`) and recitations (`ukthā`) have always strengthened Indra, and he prays, “May our words strengthen you” (`tvāṁ vardhantu no giraḥ`). The desired result of this empowerment is twofold: first, that Indra will help them win a “thousand-fold prize” filled with manly powers, and second, that Indra will provide protection (`mā no martā abhi druhan`), keeping harm and destruction far away from his devoted worshippers.
Summary & Significance
Rigveda 1.5 deepens our understanding of Indra’s role in the Vedic world. While hymn 1.4 focused on his epic, heroic power, this hymn emphasizes a more personal, friendly, and transactional relationship. It portrays the sacrifice as a beautiful, symbiotic ritual: the worshippers offer their devotion and the sacred, strength-giving Soma, and in return, the empowered and pleased Indra offers his divine friendship, material wealth, and unwavering protection from all harm.
This hymn is built on the idea of strengthening a divine friend so they can, in turn, help you. In our own lives, how can the act of offering genuine support and praise to our friends and community build a stronger, more supportive network for everyone involved?
Read Next: Rigveda 1.6: A Hymn to Indra and the Maruts
