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Apratiratha Suktam

अप्रतिरथ सूक्तम् in English · English

🕉️ vedic·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Morning, before facing a great challenge or contest; during yajnas for victory and protection·📜 Rigveda 10.103

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Apratiratha Suktam (Rigveda 10.103) is a stirring Vedic battle hymn invoking Indra as the invincible warrior 'without a rival' (apratiratha), who single-handedly conquers a hundred armies. Composed by the seer Apratiratha Aindra, it calls upon Indra, Brihaspati and the Maruts to shatter enemy forces, protect one's own army and lead it to victory. It has been recited since ancient times before war and to invoke strength, courage and triumph over every adversity.

Origin & Story

Rigveda 10.103 · Rishi Apratiratha Aindra (and Vihavya), of the line of Indra · Vedic period (c. 1500–1200 BCE)

This hymn belongs to the tenth Mandala of the Rigveda and is traditionally ascribed to the seer Apratiratha, 'the one without a rival in battle'. It is a war-song par excellence, exhorting warriors to fight under the banner of Indra, the invincible champion, supported by Brihaspati and the Maruts. In later tradition it is grouped among the hymns recited for victory, protection and the routing of enemies, and is associated with martial and royal rites.

✦ As told in scripture

Tradition holds that armies that marched to the recitation of this hymn, placing Indra at their head and the Maruts in the vanguard, were filled with irresistible courage and put their foes to flight; it is therefore invoked to turn back hostile forces and to grant victory against great odds.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Om Āśuḥ śiśāno vṛṣabho na bhīmo ghanāghanaḥ kṣobhaṇaś carṣaṇīnām Saṁkrandano 'nimiṣa ekavīraḥ śataṁ senā ajayat sākam indraḥ

Meaning:Swift and keen as a whetted weapon, terrible as a bull, the smiter who strikes again and again, the agitator of peoples; the roarer, ever-wakeful, the one peerless hero — Indra conquered a hundred armies all at once.

Verse 2

Saṁkrandanenānimiṣeṇa jiṣṇunā yutkāreṇa duścyavanena dhṛṣṇunā Tad indreṇa jayata tat sahadhvaṁ yudho nara iṣuhastena vṛṣṇā

Meaning:With the roaring, unwinking, ever-victorious, irresistible and bold one — through that Indra conquer, overpower (the foe), O warriors, with the arrow-handed mighty god.

Verse 3

Sa iṣuhastaiḥ sa niṣaṅgibhir vaśī saṁsraṣṭā sa yudha indro gaṇena Saṁsṛṣṭajit somapā bāhuśardhy ugradhanvā pratihitābhir astā

Meaning:He, arrow in hand, with his quiver-bearers, the master; he who joins the battle, Indra with his host; the conqueror in close fight, the Soma-drinker, strong of arm, of the fierce bow, who shoots with well-aimed shafts.

Verse 4

Bṛhaspate pari dīyā rathena rakṣohāmitrāṁ apabādhamānaḥ Prabhañjan senāḥ pramṛṇo yudhā jayann asmākam edhy avitā rathānām

Meaning:O Brihaspati, fly around us in your chariot, slaying the demons and driving away our foes; shattering their armies, crushing them in battle, victorious — be the protector of our chariots.

Verse 5

Indra āsāṁ netā bṛhaspatir dakṣiṇā yajñaḥ pura etu somaḥ Devasenānām abhibhañjatīnāṁ jayantīnāṁ maruto yantv agram

Meaning:Indra be the leader of these (our forces); may Brihaspati, the sacrificial gift, the yajna and Soma go before us; and may the Maruts march at the front of the divine armies that shatter the foe and win the victory.

Verse 6

Om Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

āśuḥ śiśānaḥ🔊Swift, and sharpening himself (as a weapon is whetted)

vṛṣabho na bhīmo🔊Terrible / formidable like a bull

ghanāghanaḥ🔊The smiter who strikes again and again

kṣobhaṇaś carṣaṇīnām🔊The agitator / shaker of (hostile) peoples

saṁkrandanaḥ🔊He who makes (the foe) cry out / roars in battle

animiṣa ekavīraḥ🔊Unwinking (ever-vigilant), the one peerless hero

śataṁ senā ajayat sākam indraḥ🔊Indra conquered a hundred armies all at once

jiṣṇunā🔊With the ever-victorious one

duścyavanena dhṛṣṇunā🔊With the immovable (hard to dislodge) and bold one

tad indreṇa jayata🔊Through that Indra, conquer (your foes)

tat sahadhvaṁ🔊Endure and overpower (the enemy)

yudho nara iṣuhastena🔊O fighting men, with the arrow-handed (Indra)

vaśī🔊The controller, master of himself and others

saṁsraṣṭā sa yudha🔊The marshaller / joiner of battles

ugradhanvā🔊He of the mighty / fierce bow

bṛhaspate pari dīyā rathena🔊O Brihaspati, fly around (us) with your chariot

rakṣohāmitrāṁ apabādhamānaḥ🔊Slayer of demons, driving away the foes

prabhañjan senāḥ🔊Shattering the (hostile) armies

asmākam edhy avitā rathānām🔊Be the protector of our chariots (forces)

maruto yantv agram🔊May the Maruts march at the front (of our victorious armies)

Benefits of Chanting अप्रतिरथ सूक्तम्

✦

Invokes Indra's invincible valour for victory in righteous battles and struggles

✦

Traditionally recited before war or any difficult contest for triumph over the enemy

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Bestows courage, fearlessness and the resolve to overcome overwhelming odds

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Calls upon Brihaspati and the Maruts for protection of one's own forces and allies

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Dispels fear and rallies strength in the face of adversaries and obstacles

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Used in Vedic homas for success, security and the defeat of hostile forces

How to Chant अप्रतिरथ सूक्तम्

Repetitions3times

Best TimeMorning, before facing a great challenge or contest; during yajnas for victory and protection

Recite with vigour and a heroic spirit, ideally with Vedic svara if learnt. Begin with 'Om' and chant the verses, dwelling on Indra as the unconquered champion. Visualise courage rising within and obstacles being scattered like routed armies. Conclude with the Shanti Paath. Suited for moments that demand bravery, leadership and decisive action.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete अप्रतिरथ सूक्तम् written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a Vedic battle hymn at Rigveda 10.103, attributed to the seer Apratiratha Aindra. 'Apratiratha' means 'one who has no rival in battle' — an epithet of Indra. The hymn invokes Indra, Brihaspati and the Maruts for victory and protection in war.

Apratiratha means 'the matchless warrior' or 'one against whom no opposing chariot (rival) can stand'. It describes Indra as the unconquerable hero who single-handedly overcomes a hundred armies.

It has been recited since Vedic times before going into battle, and more broadly to invoke courage, strength and victory before any great undertaking or contest, and in homas for protection from enemies.

Primarily Indra, the warrior-king of the gods, along with Brihaspati (the divine preceptor who shatters demons) and the Maruts (the storm-gods who march at the front of the victorious armies).