Rig Veda 8.62.5: Mandala 8, Sukta 62, Mantra 5
Sukta 8.62
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
धृषतश्चिद्धृषन्मनः कृणोषीन्द्र यत्त्वम् । तीव्रैः सोमैः सपर्यतो नमोभिः प्रतिभूषतो भद्रा इन्द्रस्य रातयः ॥
dhṛṣatáś cid dhṛṣán manaḥ kṛṇóṣīndra yát tvám | tīvráiḥ sómaiḥ saparyató námo-bhiḥ pratibhū́ṣato bhadrā́ índrasya rātáyaḥ ||
Selbst dem Kühnen machst du den Sinn noch kühner, o Indra, wenn man dich mit scharfem Soma verehrt und mit Huldigungen, die das Wesen zur Bereitschaft schmücken. Heilvoll sind Indras Gaben.
Word by Word
- धृषतः
- from the bold/impetuous (one)Adjective (used substantively)Masculine, Ablative singularRole ApādānaRoot धृष्
- चित्
- even, indeedIndeclinableParticleRoot चित् (particle)
- धृषन्
- O bold oneAdjective (vocative epithet)Masculine, Vocative singularRole SambodhanaRoot धृष्
- मनः
- mind, intentionNounNeuter, Accusative singularRole KarmaRoot मनस्
- कृणोषि
- you make, you renderVerbPresent (Vedic), 2nd person singular, ParasmaipadaRoot कृ
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)Masculine, Vocative singularRole SambodhanaRoot इन्द्र
- यत्
- which (that)Pronoun/relativeNeuter, Accusative singular (correlative to मनः)Role KarmaRoot यद्
- त्वम्
- youPronoun1st/2nd? (Vedic) Personal pronoun, Nominative singular (2nd person)Role KartāRoot त्वद्
- तीव्रैः
- with sharp/strongAdjectiveMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental pluralRole KaraṇaRoot तीव्र
- सोमैः
- with Soma-pressingsNounMasculine, Instrumental pluralRole KaraṇaRoot सोम
- सपर्यतः
- of the worshipping (one)Verb (participle)Present active participle, Masculine, Genitive singular (agreeing with an implied ‘of the worshipper’)Role Kartā (of implied agent)Root सपर्य (धातु: सपर्य्/सपर्च् ‘to worship, serve’)
- नमोभिः
- with obeisancesNounNeuter, Instrumental pluralRole KaraṇaRoot नमस्
- प्रतिभूषतः
- of the adorning/embellishing (one)Verb (participle)Present active participle, Masculine, Genitive singular (parallel to सपर्यतः)Role Kartā (of implied agent)Root प्रतिभूष् (प्रति + भूष् ‘to adorn, make splendid’)
- भद्राः
- auspicious, goodAdjectiveFeminine, Nominative pluralRole Kartā (predicate/subject)Root भद्र
- इन्द्रस्य
- of IndraNoun (proper)Masculine, Genitive singularRole Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandhaRoot इन्द्र
- रातयः
- gifts, bestowalsNounFeminine, Nominative pluralRole KartāRoot राति
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): धृषतश्चिद् → धृषतः + चित् (final -स् of abl.sg. becomes -ः before c-; particle cit)
- धृषन्मनः → धृषन् + मनः
- कृणोषीन्द्र → कृणोषि + इन्द्र (i + i → ī in saṃhitā)
- यत्त्वम् → यत् + त्वम् (t + t → tt)
- सोमैः सपर्यतो → सोमैः + सपर्यतः (saṃhitā often shows -o for -aḥ before voiced consonant; underlying gen.sg. -तः)
- नमोभिः प्रति॒भूष॑तो → नमोभिः + प्रतिभूषतः (same gen.sg. -तः underlying)
The meaning
Outer meaning
You make the mind of the daring even more daring, O Indra, when you are served with keen Soma and with acts of homage that prepare one for you. Auspicious are Indra’s gifts.
Inner meaning
Indra intensifies courage in the mental being: he turns bold aspiration into invincible resolve. ‘Tīvraiḥ somaiḥ’ are strong draughts of Soma—inner bliss-essence and clarifying delight—that sharpen perception and will. ‘Namobhiḥ pratibhūṣataḥ’ indicates reverent self-preparation: humility, alignment, readiness of the whole nature. When bliss and reverence serve illumination, the mind becomes fearless and capable of decisive inner battle against obscurity.
Universal truth
Courage grows when consciousness is nourished by joy and disciplined by reverence. Right intensity (not harshness) makes the mind strong and steady.
Themes
courage, Soma-intensity, inner-preparation, mind-transformation
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.62.4, Rig Veda 8.62.6
Significance
This verse explicitly links Indra’s action to the transformation of mind (manas) through Soma (ānanda) and namas (reverent alignment)—a concise map of Vedic yoga: joy + surrender → fearless illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- dhṛṣan-kṛt (maker of daring—implied)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Maruts
Cosmic role
Giver of vīrya and victorious mentality; receiver of Soma who becomes active in the worlds.
Inner power
Power to fortify the mind’s courage and decisiveness when the being is filled with bliss and rightly offered.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-offering praise: Indra is served with Soma and homage
धृ॒ष॒तश्चि॑द्धृ॒षन्मन॑: कृ॒णोषी॑न्द्र॒ यत्त्वम् । ती॒व्रैः सोमै॑: सपर्य॒तो नमो॑भिः प्रति॒भूष॑तो भ॒द्रा इन्द्र॑स्य रा॒तय॑: ॥
धृ॒ष॒तः । चि॒त् । धृ॒षत् । मनः॑ । कृ॒णोषि॑ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । यत् । त्वम् । ती॒व्रैः । सोमैः॑ । स॒प॒र्य॒तः । नमः॑ऽभिः । प्र॒ति॒ऽभूष॑तः । भ॒द्राः । इन्द्र॑स्य । रा॒तयः॑ ॥
dhṛṣataḥ | cit | dhṛṣat | manaḥ | kṛṇoṣi | indra | yat | tvam | tīvraiḥ | somaiḥ | saparyataḥ | namaḥ-bhiḥ | prati-bhūṣataḥ | bhadrāḥ | indrasya | rātayaḥ
44
4 × ~11
Intensifying, with a strong mid-verse surge (tīvraiḥ somaiḥ...)
Stokes inner fire and confidence while keeping a devotional tone through namas.
- धृषतः (dhṛṣataḥ)
- Literal: of the daring. Symbolic: aspiring nature willing to confront darkness
- धृषन् मनः (dhṛṣan manaḥ)
- Literal: daring mind. Symbolic: fearless, decisive intelligence
- तीव्रैः सोमैः (tīvraiḥ somaiḥ)
- Literal: with keen/strong Somas. Symbolic: intense bliss-essence that sharpens consciousness
- सपर्यतः (saparyataḥ)
- Literal: serving, worshipping. Symbolic: active offering of energies to the higher power
- नमोभिः (namobhiḥ)
- Literal: with acts of homage. Symbolic: humility, surrender of ego-claim
- प्रतिभूषतः (pratibhūṣataḥ)
- Literal: of one who adorns/prepares oneself. Symbolic: inner readiness; disciplined receptivity
- रातयः (rātayaḥ)
- Literal: gifts. Symbolic: boons of courage, clarity, victorious joy
Soma-service verse: asserts the transformative effect of intense Soma and reverent preparation on the mental courage empowered by Indra.
During Soma libations and Indra stotras; suitable for daily practice when courage is needed
Offering Soma (outer) / offering joy and energies (inner) with reverence
Chant before confronting fear, procrastination, or self-doubt; pair with a brief gratitude practice (namo) to stabilize intensity.
dhṛṣ- from √ 'to dare, be bold'. manas from PIE *men- 'think' (English mind). tīvrá 'sharp, strong' (semantic of intensity). sapary- 'to honor/serve' connected to ritual attendance. prati-bhūṣ- 'to adorn/prepare' (√ 'adorn, equip'), implying inner readiness/fitness.
transmutation of mind into courage, preparation of the vessel (pratibhūṣa), intensity (tīvra) as catalytic tapas-like pressure
Right intensity guided by reverence keeps force aligned with r̥ta rather than ego.
Fearlessness is a sign of truth-contact; the mind becomes ‘daring’ by alignment with the real.
Transmutation of mental energy through bliss into a higher instrument of action.
Integral Yoga resonance: ānanda as fuel for transformation; surrender as condition for higher force.
Soma = inner delight/nectar; ‘keen’ = concentrated ānanda that clarifies; homage = lowering of ego so the higher can act.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the increaser of courage: he not only wins battles but manufactures daring in the mind. The inner myth is the forging of a fearless mental instrument through Soma-delight and disciplined homage.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- manas aligns with PIE *men- (mind/think). The semantic pairing of sharpened drink (tīvra soma) with heightened daring reflects inherited Indo-European poetic logic linking intoxicating/energizing libation to heroic arousal.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi describes a conditional reciprocity: when the aspirant serves with intensity and prepares the vessel, Indra responds by reshaping the very texture of mind into boldness—an inner yogic mechanism expressed in ritual language.
Combine courage (dhṛṣat) with bliss (soma) and humility (namo) to invite Indra’s strengthening of mind.
anahata
moderate: inhale feeling Soma-coolness in the heart; exhale offering ‘namo’ and letting courage rise to the brow
Fearless clarity with sweetness
Before chanting, recall one fear; then evoke a subtle inner sweetness (Soma) and offer it upward. Chant the verse 3–9 times; after each, pause and notice the mind becoming simpler, bolder, less reactive.
Svara not supplied; emphasize the intensifier ‘tīvraiḥ somaiḥ’ with a clear lift; keep ‘namo-bhiḥ’ reverent and slightly softened.
Mark the contrast: dhṛṣataḥ → dhṛṣan manaḥ (increase). Give a firm cadence on ‘kṛṇoṣi indra’.
dhṛṣataḥ/dhṛṣan: retroflex ṣ; vocalic ṛ clear., kṛṇoṣi: retroflex ṇ; long o., tīvraiḥ: long ī; avoid ‘tivrai’., pratibhūṣataḥ: retroflex ṣ; long ū.
Energetic but warm; avoid harshness—let Soma ‘sweeten’ the tone
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
