Rig Veda 8.21.2: Mandala 8, Sukta 21, Mantra 2
Sukta 8.21
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
उप त्वा कर्मन्नूतये स नो युवोग्रश्चक्राम यो धृषत् । त्वामिद्ध्यवितारं ववृमहे सखाय इन्द्र सानसिम् ॥
úpa tvā kármann ūtáye sá no yúvográs cakrāma yó dhṛṣát | tvā́m íd dhy avitā́raṃ vavṛmáhe sákhāya indra sānasím ||
Zu dir, im Werk, zur Hilfe, ist in uns jene junge, gewaltige Kraft kühn vorangeschritten; denn dich allein erwählen wir zum Retter. O Indra, unser Gefährte, Spender des Gewinns, steh uns bei im siegreichen Erringen.
Word by Word
- उप
- near, towards; (as preverb) up toIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपात (अव्यय)Root उप (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- त्वा
- you (acc. sg.)Pronounद्वितीया एकवचन (अक्)Role KarmaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- कर्मन्
- O doer/worker (voc.)Nounसंबोधन एकवचन (नपुंसक)Root कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊतये
- for help, for aidNounचतुर्थी एकवचन (स्त्री)Role SampradānaRoot ऊति (प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- hePronounप्रथमा एकवचन (पुं)Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) / वैदिके सामान्यतः ‘our/us’Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- युवोग्रः
- the young fierce oneAdjective (compound)प्रथमा एकवचन (पुं); कर्मधारय-समासः ‘युवः उग्रः’Role Kartā (as qualifier of subject) / or predicate adjectiveRoot युव- (प्रातिपदिक) + उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- चक्राम
- I have stepped forth / I have comeVerbलिट् (परिप्रयोगे वैदिक-परफेक्ट), उत्तमपुरुष एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot क्रम् (धातु)
- यः
- whoPronounप्रथमा एकवचन (पुं)Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- धृषत्
- dares, is boldVerb (finite, injunctive/aoristic present in Vedic usage)वैदिक-प्रयोगः: धृष् ‘to be bold/dare’; रूपम् ‘धृषत्’ = 3rd sg. (परस्मैपद) injunctive/aoristic-present typeRoot धृष् (धातु)
- त्वाम्
- youPronounद्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपात (एव/खलु-अर्थे), वैदिक ‘it’Root इद्/इत् (निपात)
- हि
- for, indeedIndeclinableनिपात (कारण/निश्चयार्थ)Root हि (निपात)
- अवितारम्
- protector, helperNounद्वितीया एकवचन (पुं)Role KarmaRoot अवितृ (प्रातिपदिक; कर्तृ-नाम)
- ववृमहे
- we have chosenVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट), उत्तमपुरुष बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRoot वृ (धातु) ‘to choose’
- सखायः
- friends, comradesNounप्रथमा बहुवचन (पुं)Role KartāRoot सखि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)संबोधन एकवचन (पुं)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सानसिम्
- the giver of gain / winning oneNoun/Adjectiveद्वितीया एकवचन (स्त्री/विशेषणवत्); ‘सानसि’ = gaining, winning, bestowing gain (esp. booty/victory)Role Karma (apposition to त्वाम्/अवितारम्)Root सानसि (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (sandhi-resolved): उप | त्वा | कर्मन् | ऊतये | सः | नः | युवोग्रः | चक्राम | यः | धृषत् | त्वाम् | इत् | हि | अवितारम् | ववृमहे | सखायः | इन्द्र | सानसिम् । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) कर्मन् + ऊतये → कर्मन्नूतये (न् + ऊ = न्नू)
- (2) सः + नः → स नो (विसर्ग-लोपः/ओष्ठ्य-पूर्वे)
- (3) युवः + उग्रः → युवोग्रः (अ + उ → ओ)
- (4) त्वाम् + इत् → त्वामिद्ध् (म् + इ → मि; ‘it’ निपातः; पाठे ‘त्वामिद्ध्य’ इति, ‘हि’ सह संयोगः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
In the work, for help, the young and formidable force has advanced in daring; for you alone we choose as deliverer. O Indra, our comrade, bringer of gain, stand with us in conquest.
Inner meaning
Karman is not mere ritual action but the whole field of inner and outer works of transformation. The ‘young, formidable’ (yuva ugras) power is the awakened initiative in the seeker—newly born courage and energy pressing forward (cakrāma) against inertia. Yet the mantra insists: only Indra is chosen as avitā (deliverer)—the illumined mind-force that can rightly lead the battle and convert daring into true conquest (sānasi). Indra is invoked as sakhā (comrade): an intimate divine ally within, not a distant god.
Universal truth
Daring effort is necessary, but liberation requires alignment with higher intelligence; when the divine becomes an inner companion, action turns into conquest over limitation.
Themes
help in the work, divine companionship, victory and gain, bold advance
The seer
Significance
The voice is that of ‘companions’ (sakhāyaḥ): a band of seekers. The lack of a named rishi highlights the mantra’s usability as a communal sādhanā-cry—any aspirant group can adopt it in shared practice.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- avitā (deliverer), sakhā (comrade), sānasi (bringer of conquest/gain), ugra (formidable—reflected in the force he awakens)
- Related deities
- Maruts (impulsions/energies), Agni (will), Soma (bliss)
Cosmic role
Leads the gods (powers) in the battle for light; grants victory and right enjoyment through illumination.
Inner power
The decisive, discerning mind-force that turns raw energy into victorious, guided action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-invocation for success in undertaking; Soma setting where Indra is asked to aid the work
उप॑ त्वा॒ कर्म॑न्नू॒तये॒ स नो॒ युवो॒ग्रश्च॑क्राम॒ यो धृ॒षत् । त्वामिद्ध्य॑वि॒तारं॑ ववृ॒महे॒ सखा॑य इन्द्र सान॒सिम् ॥
उप॑ । त्वा॒ । कर्म॑न् । ऊ॒तये॑ । सः । नः॒ । युवा॑ । उ॒ग्रः । च॒का॒म॒ । यः । धृ॒षत् । त्वाम् । इत् । हि । अ॒वि॒तार॑म् । व॒वृ॒महे॑ । सखा॑यः । इ॒न्द्र॒ । सा॒न॒सिम् ॥
upa | tvā | karman | ūtaye | saḥ | naḥ | yuvā | ugraḥ | cakāma | yaḥ | dhṛṣat | tvām | it | hi | avitāram | vavṛmahe | sakhāyaḥ | indra | sānasim
Triṣṭubh-like (common for heroic, action-oriented Indra verses; exact verification limited)
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables (Triṣṭubh tendency), driving forward with martial cadence.
Propulsive, marching rhythm; strong caesuras support the sense of ‘advance’ (cakrāma).
Energizes resolve; evokes an inner ‘advance’ into work with a sense of divine camaraderie.
- कर्मन् (karman)
- Literal: work, action, rite. Symbolic: the transformative discipline—life and sādhanā as conscious work
- ऊतये (ūtaye)
- Literal: for help, aid. Symbolic: seeking descent of higher force into action
- युवा (yuva)
- Literal: young. Symbolic: newly awakened power, fresh initiative in consciousness
- उग्रः (ugraḥ)
- Literal: formidable, intense. Symbolic: strong tapas-energy needed to break resistance
- धृषत् (dhṛṣat)
- Literal: daring, bold. Symbolic: courage to confront inner darkness and habit
- अवितारम् (avitāram)
- Literal: protector, deliverer. Symbolic: the saving illumination that leads out of confusion
- सखा (sakhā)
- Literal: friend, comrade. Symbolic: the indwelling divine ally—intimate guidance
- सानसिम् (sānasim)
- Literal: winning, conquest, gain. Symbolic: victorious attainment—secured progress in consciousness
Indra called as avitā (protector) and sānasí (winner of gains) in the midst of the ‘work’—Soma rite and inner striving for victory.
At the commencement of a rite or at moments of calling Indra’s help for victory
Recitation while offering; psychologically, it is a vow of choosing Indra’s guidance over ego-force
Before starting difficult tasks or disciplined practice: recite to align ambition with higher discernment and invite ‘deliverance’ from confusion.
√vṛ ‘choose’ PIE *wel- ‘to will/choose’ (often compared). √san ‘gain’ (sānasí- ‘bringing gain’). √dhṛṣ ‘dare’ expresses the heroic psychology of Indra hymns: bold advance of will. karmán ‘work’ bridges ritual act and inner discipline.
karman as yoga of works (innerized yajña), heroic will (dhṛṣ), choice of the divine power (vṛ)
Work becomes victorious when aligned to Ṛta; Indra as avitā ensures action follows truth, not impulse.
Choosing Indra ‘alone’ signals exclusive reliance on truth-guidance over mixed motives.
Evolution through struggle: new force is born (yuva) and must be guided to conquer.
Integral Yoga-aligned: effort + descent of higher light in works.
The ‘advance’ is the progressive movement of consciousness; ‘youth’ is renewal; ‘comrade’ is the inner presence of guidance.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘Indra as chosen helper in the battle/work’: the young fierce power advances and selects Indra as deliverer. Inwardly, the seeker’s awakened force (yuvā ugraḥ) dares the transformation and aligns with the Indra-principle of victorious will.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √san ‘to win’ parallels an IE theme of ‘winning’ as sacred acquisition (compare Germanic ‘sinn’ is not cognate; but the victory/gain lexicon is pan-IE). √vṛ ‘choose’ is often connected with PIE *wel- (will), showing inherited conceptual linkage between will/choice and ritual alignment.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Indra is addressed as sakhā—comrade—indicating intimacy and shared enterprise. The rishi does not merely ask for gifts; he declares allegiance (‘we choose you’) and thus invites Indra’s force to act from within the work as the very power of conquest.
Offer your ‘work’ (karman) to the illumined mind; invoke Indra as inner guide and comrade.
Manipura (courage/drive) harmonized by Ajna (discernment)
Bhastrikā-light or 3 rounds of energizing breaths, then quiet nasal breathing while repeating ‘tvām id dhi avitāram vavṛmahe’.
Dynamic, forward-moving, yet surrendered to higher guidance.
Notice where effort becomes ego-push; on ‘tvām id dhi’, shift to receptivity; act again from clarity, not agitation.
Rigvedic accenting with rises on ‘upa tvā’, ‘ūtaye’, ‘tvām id’, ‘avitāram’, ‘indra’, ‘sānasim’ (exact svara per śākhā).
Make ‘upa tvā’ an inviting lift; give firm emphasis to ‘ugraś’; brighten on ‘tvām id dhi’; end with steady strength on ‘sānasim’.
‘cakrāma’ (ca-krā-ma): keep conjunct ‘kr’ crisp, long ā., ‘dhṛṣat’: retroflex ṛ; keep ‘ṣ’ clear., ‘vavṛmahe’: vav-ṛ-ma-he, vocalic ṛ distinct.
Clear, forward, slightly martial; avoid shouting—aim for controlled power.
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