Hymn to Indra
Rigveda X.113 is a sūkta (hymn of praise) from Maṇḍala 10 of the Rigveda, one of the 1,028 hymns organized within the ten books of the oldest Veda. The Rigveda was composed approximately 1700–1100 BCE in Vedic Sanskrit and preserved through oral transmission across millennia.
This is a Good Works Translation produced by the New Tianmu Anglican Church from the Sanskrit of the Śākala recension.
Heaven and Earth, of one accord with all the gods, lent strength to his stormy might.
As he journeyed, forging his greatness and the power that is Indra's own, he waxed strong upon the draught of soma, the steadfast one did grow.
Viṣṇu lent his arm to Indra’s might, hastening unto the honeyed plant.
Together with the gods, when Vr̥tra fell beneath their hand, the bounteous Indra stood forth, meet to be chosen.
Thou, weapon-bearer, didst take thy stand 'gainst Vr̥tra, the winding foe, in battle’s hour, to win the hymn of praise.
The gathered Maruts, each in flesh and force, did swell thy might and Indrian sway, O valiant one.
Newborn, he cast down the challengers.
The hero looked toward manly strength and strife.
He clave the stone; the gushing streams he loosed, and held aloft the spacious sky by cunning hand.
Then Indra, full master of his might, did spread the realms of Earth and Heaven apart.
With joy unbridled, he cast down the iron mace, belov’d of Mitra and of holy Varuṇa.
The stormful ones made haste unto his wrathful strength, to the battle-fury of the daring one, when the stout-hearted smote Vr̥tra,
who held the waters fast, yet dwelt in murky gloom.
The twain who first drew nigh to works of valour stood forth in their might, each in his warlike stead.
Dark smoke was flung o’er him that was overthrown.
By such high deeds, Indra became lord of the foremost call.
All the gods then raised thy bullish might with fair-spoken praise and soma’s aid.
Thou didst devour the serpent Vr̥tra, felled by thy hand, as fire devoureth the withered meal with flaming maw.
With well-set words and songful tongue, speak thou of fellowship well shown, and pray that such be shown to us.
Indra, famed for conquering Dhuni and Cumuri for Dabhīti, hearkened to the trustful heart that gave with open hand.
Now thou—bring forth to us good steeds in store, by which men shall name me wise in riddling speech.
Guide us through hard and straitened ways with ease.
Find us a ford this day, where all is broad and bright.
Colophon
This hymn is drawn from the Śākala recension of the Rigveda, composed approximately 1700–1100 BCE. This is a Good Works Translation produced by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, translated independently from the Sanskrit. Reference translations consulted during original translation are to be documented during audit.
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text: ṛgveda X.113
Sanskrit source text from the Aufrecht edition (1877) via GRETIL (Van Nooten & Holland input). Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.
tam asya dyāvāpṛthivī sacetasā viśvebhir devair anu śuṣmam āvatām |
yad ait kṛṇvāno mahimānam indriyam pītvī somasya kratumām̐ avardhata || 1 ||
tam asya viṣṇur mahimānam ojasāṁśuṁ dadhanvān madhuno vi rapśate |
devebhir indro maghavā sayāvabhir vṛtraṁ jaghanvām̐ abhavad vareṇyaḥ || 2 ||
vṛtreṇa yad ahinā bibhrad āyudhā samasthithā yudhaye śaṁsam āvide |
viśve te atra marutaḥ saha tmanāvardhann ugra mahimānam indriyam || 3 ||
jajñāna eva vy abādhata spṛdhaḥ prāpaśyad vīro abhi pauṁsyaṁ raṇam |
avṛścad adrim ava sasyadaḥ sṛjad astabhnān nākaṁ svapasyayā pṛthum || 4 ||
ād indraḥ satrā taviṣīr apatyata varīyo dyāvāpṛthivī abādhata |
avābharad dhṛṣito vajram āyasaṁ śevam mitrāya varuṇāya dāśuṣe || 5 ||
indrasyātra taviṣībhyo virapśina ṛghāyato araṁhayanta manyave |
vṛtraṁ yad ugro vy avṛścad ojasāpo bibhrataṁ tamasā parīvṛtam || 6 ||
yā vīryāṇi prathamāni kartvā mahitvebhir yatamānau samīyatuḥ |
dhvāntaṁ tamo 'va dadhvase hata indro mahnā pūrvahūtāv apatyata || 7 ||
viśve devāso adha vṛṣṇyāni te 'vardhayan somavatyā vacasyayā |
raddhaṁ vṛtram ahim indrasya hanmanāgnir na jambhais tṛṣv annam āvayat || 8 ||
bhūri dakṣebhir vacanebhir ṛkvabhiḥ sakhyebhiḥ sakhyāni pra vocata |
indro dhuniṁ ca cumuriṁ ca dambhayañ chraddhāmanasyā śṛṇute dabhītaye || 9 ||
tvam purūṇy ā bharā svaśvyā yebhir maṁsai nivacanāni śaṁsan |
sugebhir viśvā duritā tarema vido ṣu ṇa urviyā gādham adya || 10 ||
Source Colophon
Sanskrit text of the Rigveda, Śākala recension. The standard scholarly edition is the Bombay Oriental (Vishva Bandhu, 5 vols., 1963–66). IAST transliteration available from GRETIL (Göttingen Register of Electronic Texts in Indian Languages) and Vedaweb (University of Cologne). Both sources are open access. IAST transliteration from the Aufrecht edition (1877) via GRETIL (Van Nooten & Holland input, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
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