Rig Veda 8.13.7: Mandala 8, Sukta 13, Mantra 7
Sukta 8.13
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
प्रत्नवज्जनया गिरः शृणुधी जरितुर्हवम् । मदेमदे ववक्षिथा सुकृत्वने ॥
pratnávaj janayā gíraḥ śṛṇudhī jaritúr hávam | máde-made vavakṣithā su-kṛ́tvane ||
Wie in alter Zeit lass die Worte neu erstehen; höre den Ruf des Sängers. In jedem Rausch, in jeder Woge der Wonne wirst du mächtiger — dem, der das Gute und Rechte wirkt, zum Heil.
Word by Word
- प्रत्नवत्
- as of old, in the ancient wayAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत्—‘प्रत्नवत्’ = ‘प्राचीनवत्/पूर्ववत्’)Role Adhikaraṇa (रीत्यर्थे/प्रकारे—‘पूर्ववत्’)Root प्रत्नवत् (प्रत्न + -वत्)
- जनय
- generate, produceVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)Root जन् (धातु) → जनय (णिच्-प्रयोगः)
- गिरः
- songs, hymnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role Kartā (जनय—‘स्तोत्राणि’ कर्तृभावेन)Root गिर् (स्त्री) ‘वाक्/स्तोत्रम्’
- शृणुधी
- hear, listenVerbलोट्, आत्मनेपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (वेदिक-आज्ञा-रूपम्)Role Kriyā (सम्बोधन-प्रयुक्ता)Root श्रु (धातु)
- जरितुः
- of the singer/praiserNounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role Sambandha (हवम्—‘स्तोतुः’)Root जरितृ (पुं) ‘स्तोतृ’
- हवम्
- call, invocationNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role Karma (शृणुधी—श्रवणस्य विषयः)Root हव (पुं/नपुं) ‘आह्वानम्/आहूतिः’
- मदे
- in the exhilaration (of soma)Nounपुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्Role Adhikaraṇa (काल/अवस्थायाम्—‘मदे’)Root मद (पुं) ‘मदः/उत्साहः/सोममदः’
- मदे
- in each exhilarationNounपुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (पुनरुक्तिः—विततार्थे ‘मदे मदे’)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot मद (पुं)
- ववक्षिथा
- you have carried/brought (you have borne)Verbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/अनुभूतार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)Root वह्/वक्ष् (धातु; वेदिक-पर्यायः ‘वह्’ = वहति ‘to carry/bring’)
- सुकृत्वने
- to the good-doer (benefactor)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्गे चतुर्थी एकवचनम्Role Sampradāna (दातृ/लाभार्थे—‘सुकृत्वने’)Root सु-कृत्वन् (प्रातिपदिकम्; ‘सु’ + कृत्वन् ‘doing/act’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: प्रत्नवत् | जनय | गिरः | शृणुधी | जरितुः | हवम् | मदे | मदे | ववक्षिथा | सुकृत्वने । 1) प्रत्नवज्जनया = प्रत्नवत् + जनय (त् + ज → ज्ज)
- 2) गिरः शृणुधी—विसर्गः पदान्ते स्थितः (संहितायां ‘गिरः’)
- 3) जरितुः हवम्—षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः
- 4) मदे मदे—सप्तमी पुनरुक्तिः ‘प्रत्येकमदे’
The meaning
Outer meaning
Bring forth the ancient-like hymns; hear the singer’s call. In each ecstasy you grow stronger, for the doer of the good work.
Inner meaning
Reawaken the perennial mantric inspiration (pratnavat)—not novelty but the timeless Word. Indra is asked to listen to the sincere call. In every wave of inner delight/rapture (made-made), the illumined Power increases (vavakṣithā), supporting the one who practices right action (su-kṛtvane): the integrally ‘good work’ of transformation aligned to truth.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress is renewed by returning to timeless inspiration; joy rightly held increases strength and supports right works.
Themes
Indra-invocation, Soma-ritual (inner ecstasy), Mantric manifestation, Growth of divine force in the human vessel
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.13.1-8, Rig Veda 1.20 (Indra grows by soma—mada theme), Rig Veda 3.62 (gāyatrī: timeless utterance—conceptual resonance of pratna)
Significance
Links three essentials of integral practice: perennial mantra (pratna), sincere call (havam), and right work (su-kṛt) empowered by increasing joy (mada).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- hearer of the call (śṛṇudhi), one who grows in mada (made-made vavakṣitha)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Strengthens with soma-ecstasy and returns that strength as help for right action and victory.
Inner power
Dynamic illumination that amplifies with joy; empowers ethical-effective action as part of the sacrifice.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra stotra within soma context; renewal of praise and request for response.
प्र॒त्न॒वज्ज॑नया॒ गिर॑: शृणु॒धी ज॑रि॒तुर्हव॑म् । मदे॑मदे ववक्षिथा सु॒कृत्व॑ने ॥
प्र॒त्न॒ऽवत् । ज॒न॒य॒ । गिरः॑ । शृ॒णु॒धि । ज॒रि॒तुः । हव॑म् । मदे॑ऽमदे । व॒व॒क्षि॒थ॒ । सु॒ऽकृत्व॑ने ॥
pratna-vat | janaya | giraḥ | śṛṇudhi | jarituḥ | havam | made--made | vavakṣitha | su-kṛtvane
Call-and-response; first half evokes, second half swells with repeated ‘made-made’ emphasis.
Revives inspiration and enthusiasm; supports sustained right effort with joy rather than strain.
- प्रत्नवत् (pratna-vat)
- Literal: like the ancient, in the old way. Symbolic: timeless inspiration; perennial truth of the mantra
- जनय (janaya)
- Literal: generate, bring forth. Symbolic: evoke living word-power again in consciousness
- गिरः (giraḥ)
- Literal: hymns/utterances. Symbolic: mantric formations that build and open inner states
- हवम् (havam)
- Literal: call, invocation. Symbolic: the soul’s cry that attracts the higher power
- मदे-मदे (made-made)
- Literal: in each intoxication/ecstasy. Symbolic: in each rise of ananda/enthusiasm as soma-delight
- ववक्षिथा (vavakṣithā)
- Literal: you have grown/you increase. Symbolic: Indra’s power intensifies as joy and offering deepen
- सुकृत्वने (su-kṛtvane)
- Literal: for the good-doer/right-worker. Symbolic: for the practitioner of right action—works aligned with truth and inner sacrifice
Soma-invocation setting: used as a call for the deity to hear the stotra and increase through the soma-rapture (mada), supporting the sacrificer’s inner and outer plenitude.
When renewing chants (stotra) and inviting Indra’s strengthening presence during offerings.
Generate hymns; call; invite hearing; affirm Indra’s increase through soma.
Use to refresh practice when it becomes mechanical: ‘make the ancient utterance new again’; align joy with right work.
Key verbal forms: janaya = causative/imperative ‘cause to be born’ from √jan; śṛṇudhī = 2nd sg. imperative of √śru; vavakṣitha = perfect 2nd sg. (intensive sense ‘you have waxed/strengthened repeatedly’) from a growth-root (traditionally aligned with √vṛdh ‘to increase’, with RV-specific perfect formation). Semantic pivot: gir ‘speech’ in RV often functions as luminous formulation (mantric thought) rather than mere sound; su-kṛtvan foregrounds inner right-doing (formation of the being) rather than external merit.
ṛta (right order) via su-kṛtvan (right-doing aligned to truth-order), mantra as manifestation (janaya giraḥ) of inspired knowledge
su-kṛt is rita in action—right doing supported by illumined force.
pratna points to the timeless true word that can be regenerated in each age and each sitting.
Renewal: the ancient becomes newly born through the human voice; strength increases through delight.
Karma-yoga prototype in Vedic form (su-kṛt) empowered by ananda and illumination.
Soma-ecstasy becomes waves of inner joy; ‘hearing the call’ becomes intuitive responsiveness; ‘ancient hymns’ become archetypal truths reawakened.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘waxing’ of Indra through mada (soma-ecstasy) and his answering of the call: the recurring RV mythic pattern where the god grows by the offered delight and then becomes effective as power of victory and right action. Here it is interiorized: the divine force increases within successive intensities of consciousness (made-made).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √śru ‘hear’ continues PIE *ḱleu- ‘to hear, be famed’ (cf. Greek klýō, English ‘loud’ via *ḱleu- derivatives; and ‘śravas’ fame). √jan ‘generate’ aligns with PIE *ǵenh₁- ‘beget’ (Latin gignō, Greek gígnomai). The verse links ‘hearing’ (reception by the deity) with ‘generation’ (manifestation of inspired speech), a typical Indo-European poetics of fame/utterance and divine response.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- A reciprocal economy of consciousness: the singer (jaritṛ) offers awakened speech (giraḥ) and invocation (havam); the deity responds by ‘hearing’ and by increasing his effective force through the offered ecstasy (mada). The phrase su-kṛtvane implies the sought return is not mere gain but the establishment of right formation/action in the sacrificer—Indra as inner power that enables the good work aligned with ṛta.
Regenerate the timeless mantra-force; call sincerely; let joy increase strength for right action.
anāhata (joy/devotion)
gentle nāḍī-śodhana before chanting; then chant on even exhalations to stabilize ‘mada’ as calm joy.
Enthusiastic steadiness—joy that empowers disciplined action.
Before daily duties, chant to align action with rita: recall one ‘right work’ you must do today. Let the repetition ‘made-made’ remind you to renew joy repeatedly without losing clarity.
Notated svara unavailable; keep a marked rhythmic emphasis on the repetition made-made; slight lift on śṛṇudhī and vavakṣithā.
Phrase clearly: pratnavaj janayā giraḥ | śṛṇudhī jaritur havam || made-made vavakṣithā | su-kṛtvane ||
pratnavat: keep cluster tn clear., śṛṇudhī: retroflex ṇ and long ī., jaritur: flap r lightly; avoid ‘jareetur’., vavakṣithā: articulate kṣ distinctly.
Inviting in first half; stronger and more triumphant in second half (made-made).
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