Mantra.Tips

Indra Suktam (Yo Jata Eva) Meaning — Line by Line

इन्द्र सूक्तम् (यो जात एव)

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Indra Suktam (Yo Jata Eva) with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Jump to a verse ▾
  1. Verse 1. Om Yo jāta eva prathamo manasvān
  2. Verse 2. Yo pṛthivīṁ vyathamānām adṛṁhad
  3. Verse 3. Yo hatvāhim ariṇāt sapta sindhūn
  4. Verse 4. Yenemā viśvā cyavanā kṛtāni
  5. Verse 5. Yaṁ smā pṛcchanti kuha seti ghoram
Verse 1#

Om Yo jāta eva prathamo manasvān

यो जात एव प्रथमो मनस्वान् देवो देवान्क्रतुना पर्यभूषत्। यस्य शुष्माद्रोदसी अभ्यसेतां नृम्णस्य मह्ना जनास इन्द्रः॥

Om Yo jāta eva prathamo manasvān Devo devān kratunā paryabhūṣat Yasya śuṣmād rodasī abhyasetāṁ Nṛmṇasya mahnā sa janāsa indraḥ

MeaningHe who, the very first and full of wisdom as soon as he was born, surpassed the gods in might; before whose force, by the greatness of his valour, heaven and earth tremble — he, O people, is Indra.

Verse 2#

Yo pṛthivīṁ vyathamānām adṛṁhad

यो पृथिवीं व्यथमानामदृंहद् यः पर्वतान्प्रकुपिताँ अरम्णात्। यो अन्तरिक्षं विममे वरीयो यो द्यामस्तभ्नात्स जनास इन्द्रः॥

Yo pṛthivīṁ vyathamānām adṛṁhad Yaḥ parvatān prakupitāṁ aramṇāt Yo antarikṣaṁ vimame varīyo Yo dyām astabhnāt sa janāsa indraḥ

MeaningHe who made firm the quaking earth, who set at rest the agitated mountains, who measured out the wide mid-air and upheld the heavens — he, O people, is Indra.

Verse 3#

Yo hatvāhim ariṇāt sapta sindhūn

यो हत्वाहिमरिणात्सप्त सिन्धून् यो गा उदाजदपधा वलस्य। यो अश्मनोरन्तरग्निं जजान संवृक्समत्सु जनास इन्द्रः॥

Yo hatvāhim ariṇāt sapta sindhūn Yo gā udājad apadhā valasya Yo aśmanor antar agniṁ jajāna Saṁvṛk samatsu sa janāsa indraḥ

MeaningHe who, having slain the serpent (Vritra), released the seven rivers, who drove out the hidden cattle by opening the cave of Vala, who generated fire between two stones and is the gatherer of spoils in battles — he, O people, is Indra.

Verse 4#

Yenemā viśvā cyavanā kṛtāni

येनेमा विश्वा च्यवना कृतानि यो दासं वर्णमधरं गुहाकः। श्वघ्नीव यो जिगीवाँल्लक्षमाद- दर्यः पुष्टानि जनास इन्द्रः॥

Yenemā viśvā cyavanā kṛtāni Yo dāsaṁ varṇam adharaṁ guhākaḥ Śvaghnīva yo jigīvāṁ lakṣam ādad Aryaḥ puṣṭāni sa janāsa indraḥ

MeaningHe by whom all these changing worlds were wrought, who drove the hostile dark hordes into hiding and humbled them; who, like a victorious gambler taking the stake, seizes the riches of his foe — he, O people, is Indra.

Verse 5#

Yaṁ smā pṛcchanti kuha seti ghoram

यं स्मा पृच्छन्ति कुह सेति घोरम् उतेमाहुर्नैषो अस्तीत्येनम्। सो अर्यः पुष्टीर्विज इवा मिनाति श्रद्धास्मै धत्त जनास इन्द्रः॥

Yaṁ smā pṛcchanti kuha seti ghoram utem āhur naiṣo astīty enam So aryaḥ puṣṭīr vija ivā mināti Śraddhāsmai dhatta sa janāsa indraḥ

MeaningThe awesome one of whom they ask 'Where is he?', and of whom some even say 'He is not'; who sweeps away the wealth of the foe like the throws of a gambler — have faith in him: he, O people, is Indra.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

यः जातः एव
yo jāta eva
He who, as soon as he was born / the very first to be born
प्रथमः मनस्वान्
prathamo manasvān
The foremost, full of intelligence and resolve
देवो देवान् क्रतुना पर्यभूषत्
devo devān kratunā paryabhūṣat
A god who surpassed / protected the other gods by his power and wisdom
यस्य शुष्मात्
yasya śuṣmād
By whose mighty force
रोदसी अभ्यसेताम्
rodasī abhyasetām
Heaven and earth tremble in awe
नृम्णस्य मह्ना
nṛmṇasya mahnā
By the greatness of his manly valour
स जनासः इन्द्रः
sa janāsa indraḥ
He, O people, is Indra (the recurring refrain)
पृथिवीं व्यथमानाम् अदृंहत्
pṛthivīṁ vyathamānām adṛṁhad
Who steadied the quaking earth and made it firm
पर्वतान् प्रकुपितान् अरम्णात्
parvatān prakupitāṁ aramṇāt
Who set at rest the agitated / trembling mountains
अन्तरिक्षं विममे वरीयः
antarikṣaṁ vimame varīyo
Who measured out the wide mid-air / atmosphere
द्याम् अस्तभ्नात्
dyām astabhnāt
Who propped up / supported the heavens
हत्वा अहिम्
hatvāhim
Having slain the serpent (Vritra, the demon of drought)
अरिणात् सप्त सिन्धून्
ariṇāt sapta sindhūn
He released / set flowing the seven rivers
गाः उदाजत्
gā udājad
He drove out the cows (the hidden waters/light)
अश्मनोः अन्तः अग्निं जजान
aśmanor antar agniṁ jajāna
Who generated fire from within the two stones
येन इमा विश्वा च्यवना कृतानि
yenemā viśvā cyavanā kṛtāni
By whom all these movable things / changing worlds were made
दासं वर्णम् अधरं गुहा अकः
dāsaṁ varṇam adharaṁ guhākaḥ
Who drove the hostile / dark hordes into hiding and subdued them
श्वघ्नी इव जिगीवान् लक्षम् आदत्
śvaghnīva yo jigīvāṁ lakṣam ādad
Who, like a winning gambler, takes the stake of his conquered foe
यं स्म पृच्छन्ति कुह सः इति
yaṁ smā pṛcchanti kuha seti
Of the awesome one about whom they ask, 'Where is he?'
उत इम् आहुः न एषः अस्ति इति
utem āhur naiṣo astīty
And some even say of him, 'He does not exist'
श्रद्धा अस्मै धत्त
śraddhāsmai dhatta
Have faith in him! (place your trust in him)

Origin & History

Source: Rigveda 2.12

Author: Rishi Gritsamada Shaunahotra (Bhargava Shaunaka)

Period: Vedic period (c. 1500–1200 BCE)

This celebrated hymn to Indra belongs to the second Mandala of the Rigveda, the family book of the seer Gritsamada. Across its verses Indra is extolled as the foremost of the gods, the slayer of the drought-demon Vritra, the liberator of the seven rivers and the cosmic hero who steadied the earth and propped up the heavens. The refrain 'Sa janasa Indrah' makes it one of the most memorable and oft-quoted hymns of the entire Veda.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Indra Suktam?
It is the hymn at Rigveda 2.12, composed by the seer Gritsamada, glorifying Indra, king of the gods. It is famous for the refrain 'Sa janasa Indrah' — 'He, O people, is Indra' — that closes each verse with a description of his heroic deeds.
What does 'Sa janasa Indrah' mean?
It means 'He, O people, is Indra.' After narrating each mighty act — slaying Vritra, releasing the rivers, propping up the sky — the seer points to the doer and declares to all people that this is Indra, urging recognition of and faith in him.
What is the story of Indra slaying Vritra?
Vritra was the serpent-demon who held back the cosmic waters, causing drought. Indra, wielding his thunderbolt (vajra), slew Vritra and released the seven rivers, restoring life and order — a central myth of the Rigveda symbolising the triumph of light and life over stagnation.
Why does the hymn say some people doubt Indra exists?
The fifth verse notes that some ask 'Where is he?' or even say 'He is not' — and answers them with 'Have faith in him; he is Indra.' It is a striking call to shraddha (faith) in the divine power that, though unseen, sustains all things.

Ready to start chanting?

See Benefits & How to Chant →