Rig Veda 4.21.10: Mandala 4, Sukta 21, Mantra 10
Sukta 4.21
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
एवा वस्व इन्द्रः सत्यः सम्राड्ढन्ता वृत्रं वरिवः पूरवे कः । पुरुष्टुत क्रत्वा नः शग्धि रायो भक्षीय तेऽवसो दैव्यस्य ॥
evā́ vásva índraḥ satyáḥ samrā́ḍ dhántā vṛtráṃ vári-vaḥ pūráve karitikaḥ | puru-stuta krátvā naḥ śágdhi rāyó bhakṣīyá té ’vaso daívyasya ||
এভাবেই, হে বসু-স্বরূপ ইন্দ্র! তুমি সত্য, তুমি সম্রাট্—বৃত্র-হন্তা, পূরুর জন্য বরিবস্ (প্রশস্ত অবকাশ/উপকার) সৃষ্টিকারী। হে পুরু-স্তুত! তোমার ক্রতু (সঙ্কল্পশক্তি) দ্বারা আমাদের সহায় কর, যাতে আমরা তোমার দৈব্য অবস্ (দিব্য রক্ষা) এবং রয়ঃ (সমৃদ্ধি/পূর্ণতা)-এর ভাগ লাভ করতে পারি।
Word by Word
- एवा
- just so; indeedIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic particle)Root एव
- वस्वः
- of the good/wealthy one (Vasu)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root वसु
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र
- सत्यः
- true; faithfulAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (इन्द्रः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root सत्य
- सम्राट्
- sovereign kingNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (apposition to इन्द्रः)Root सम्राज्
- हन्ता
- slayerAgent-noun (kṛdanta) / Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि तृच् (हन् + तृच् → हन्तृ > हन्ता)Role कर्तृ (agent)Root हन्
- वृत्रम्
- VṛtraNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वृत्र
- वरिवः
- free space; favor; roomNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Vedic form; ‘wide space/room, free course, favor’)Role कर्म (thing sought/asked)Root वरिवस्
- पूरवे
- to PūruNounपुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot पूरु
- कः
- who? (indeed/ever)Pronoun (interrogative) / particleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (interrogative: ‘who?’; in Vedic often rhetorical/emphatic)Role कर्तृ/सम्बोधन-प्राय (rhetorical)Root क
- पुरुष्टुत
- much-praisedAdjective (vocative epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य)Role सम्बोधनRoot पुरु-स्तुत
- क्रत्वा
- by (your) power/resolveNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot क्रतु
- नः
- of us; ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद्
- शग्धि
- help; be able to aidVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे) परस्मैपद; मध्यम पुरुष एकवचन; Vedic imperative formRole क्रियाRoot शक्
- रायः
- of wealth; of richesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (Vedic ‘rāy-’); षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot राय्/रायि (रे/रयि) → रायः
- भक्षीय
- may I enjoy/partakeVerbविधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ्; उत्तम पुरुष एकवचन (optative: ‘may I partake’)Role क्रियाRoot भज् (भक्ष् as desiderative/causative nuance in Vedic usage) → भक्षीय
- ते
- of you; yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद्
- अवसः
- of help; of protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अवस्
- दैव्यस्य
- divineAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (agreeing with अवसः)Role सम्बन्धRoot दैव्य
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (principal): तेऽवसो → ते अवसः (अ + अ → ’ avagraha). Other words are already in pada-like form
- accents in the supplied saṃhitā text are not reproduced in the pada list
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is praised as good, true, sovereign, slayer of Vṛtra, maker of wide space for Pūru. The poet asks Indra to help by his will so they may enjoy his divine protection and riches.
Inner meaning
Indra as Satya-Samrāṭ is the sovereign luminous intelligence that rules the inner kingdom when truth governs. ‘Slayer of Vṛtra’ is the breaking of the Coverer—habit, fear, inertia, subconscient obstruction. ‘Varivas’ (wide room) is the widened consciousness where the being can breathe and act freely. Pūru can be read as the ‘fullness’ or the human collectivity/personality seeking expansion; Indra makes space for that growth. The request is for help by kratú—directed will/intelligent resolve—so the seeker may partake (bhakṣīya) of divine protection (daivya avas) and inner abundance (rāyas) as strength, clarity, and joy.
Universal truth
When truth-led intelligence governs, it destroys inner obstruction and creates spaciousness; then protection and abundance are not external favors but natural consequences of alignment with the higher will.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying, widening into vastness, seeking divine protection, spiritual abundance (rayi)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.17, Rig Veda 4.23, Rig Veda 4.24
Family tradition
The Vāmadeva hymns often stress Indra’s kingship and truth-power as inner governance rather than mere battlefield might.
Significance
Vāmadeva frames Indra as the inner sovereign who widens the being and makes the human nature capable of divine protection.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Vasva (the Good/Wealth-bringer), Satya (True), Samrāṭ (Sovereign), Vṛtrahan (slayer of Vṛtra), Puruṣṭuta (much-praised)
- Related deities
- Varuṇa (Satya/Ṛta), Mitra, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods, opening the way for the powers of Light by defeating the Coverer and establishing spacious order.
Inner power
Truth-governed intelligence that clears obstruction, widens consciousness, and protects the seeker with steady force.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra in Soma rites; also suitable as a general victory/protection invocation
ए॒वा वस्व॒ इन्द्र॑: स॒त्यः स॒म्राड्ढन्ता॑ वृ॒त्रं वरि॑वः पू॒रवे॑ कः । पुरु॑ष्टुत॒ क्रत्वा॑ नः शग्धि रा॒यो भ॑क्षी॒य तेऽव॑सो॒ दैव्य॑स्य ॥
ए॒व । वस्वः॑ । इन्द्रः॑ । स॒त्यः । स॒म्ऽराट् । हन्ता॑ । वृ॒त्रम् । वरि॑वः । पू॒रवे॑ । क॒रिति॑ कः । पुरु॑ऽस्तुत । क्रत्वा॑ । नः॒ । श॒ग्धि॒ । रा॒यः । भ॒क्षी॒य । ते । अव॑सः । दैव्य॑स्य ॥
eva | vasvaḥ | indraḥ | satyaḥ | sam-rāṭ | hantā | vṛtram | varivaḥ | pūrave | karitikaḥ | puru-stuta | kratvā | naḥ | śagdhi | rāyaḥ | bhakṣīya | te | avasaḥ | daivyasya
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Regal and declarative in the first half; turns to supplication in the second
Builds confidence and inner sovereignty, then channels it into a focused prayer for help.
- वस्वः (vasvaḥ)
- Literal: good, wealthy. Symbolic: power that carries inner plenitude
- सत्यः (satyaḥ)
- Literal: true. Symbolic: illumination aligned with Truth-Consciousness
- सम्राट् (samrāṭ)
- Literal: sovereign king. Symbolic: central governing light in the being
- वृत्रम् (vṛtram)
- Literal: Vṛtra, the coverer. Symbolic: subconscient resistance; darkness that blocks the flow
- वरिवः (varivaḥ)
- Literal: wide space, free room. Symbolic: widened consciousness; liberated field for action
- क्रत्वा (kratvā)
- Literal: by will/resolve. Symbolic: directed spiritual intention; luminous volition
- अवसः (avasaḥ)
- Literal: help, protection. Symbolic: supporting grace/power that sustains the ascent
- दैव्यस्य (daivyasya)
- Literal: divine. Symbolic: belonging to the higher plane of consciousness
Indra hymn used in Soma offerings; invokes Vṛtra-slaying aspect for removal of obstacles and attainment of rayi/avasa
When invoking Indra as Vṛtrahan and protector during offerings
Recitation with oblations; calling for ‘varivas’ (free space) and avas (help)
For times of pressure or constriction: chant to widen the mind and break inner resistance before important work.
satya from sat ‘being’ (√as ‘to be’) → ‘true’ as faithful to essential being. samrāṭ ‘fully ruling’ (sam + rāj) indicates integral sovereignty in consciousness. vṛtra from √vṛ ‘to cover, obstruct’ → obstruction/covering (ignorance). varivas ‘wide room’ (from √vṛ in a different extension: ‘space/choice/opening’) becomes inner wideness. kratu ‘will, intelligent resolve’ is the executive power of thought-becoming-action.
Satya (truth), sovereignty of consciousness (samrāṭ), removal of ignorance (vṛtra)
Indra as satya-samrāṭ embodies rule by Ṛta—right order becomes inner governance.
Satya here is not moralism but effective truth-power that accomplishes.
Cosmic victory that opens space for growth; expansion as a creative act.
Integral psychological theism (deities as operative principles of consciousness)
From constricted mind to open, sky-like awareness under a truth-centered sovereignty.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Vṛtra-slaying as the archetype of breaking inner obstruction and creating varivas (wide space) for the human field (Pūru). The victory is recast as spiritual liberation into vastness and truthful sovereignty.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- rāj/samrāṭ reflects the Indo-European ‘king/ordering’ lexeme family (*h₃rḗǵs). vṛtra from √vṛ ‘cover’ parallels wider IE metaphors of ignorance as covering/veiling. The formula ‘slayer of obstruction → maker of wide space’ is a shared heroic-to-cosmic semantic move.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi appeals to Indra’s kratu (effective will) for direct assistance, seeking participation (bhakṣīya) in divine avas (protective grace) and rayi (fullness). The bond is aspirational: praise invites the sovereign power to act within the seeker.
Establish an inner ‘sovereign seat’ (samrāṭ) at the crown/brow; visualize breaking a knot of darkness (vṛtra) and feel spaciousness (varivas).
ājñā
brisk_energetic 3 rounds of kapalabhati (if suitable), then quiet inhalations imagining widening space
Victorious clarity; expansive steadiness
When resistance arises, name it as Vṛtra; invoke Indra’s truth-force; act from kratú—one clear intention held steadily until space opens.
Follow marked Vedic accent text for exact svaras; emphasize satyaḥ, samrāṭ, vṛtram, varivaḥ with clear udatta lift where indicated.
First pāda firm and regal; second pāda strong on vṛtram/varivaḥ; soften into prayer on śagdhi and bhakṣīya.
samrāḍ (final ḍ), vṛtram (vṛ = vocalic ṛ), puruṣṭuta (retroflex ṣṭ), śagdhi (palatal ś), daivyasya (ai diphthong)
commanding then supplicatory, ending with confident quiet
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