Rig Veda 2.22.2: Mandala 2, Sukta 22, Mantra 2
Sukta 2.22
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अध त्विषीमाँ अभ्योजसा क्रिविं युधाभवदा रोदसी अपृणदस्य मज्मना प्र वावृधे । अधत्तान्यं जठरे प्रेमरिच्यत सैनं सश्चद्देवो देवं सत्यमिन्द्रं सत्य इन्दुः ॥
ádha tviṣī́māṃ abhý ójasā kríviṃ yudhā́bhavad ā́ ródasī apṛṇad asya májmanā prá vāvṛdhe | ádhattānyáṃ jaṭháre préṃ aricyata sá enaṃ saścad devó deváṃ satyám índraṃ satyá índuḥ ||
Luego, lleno de fulgor, con fuerza afrontó al Krivi y se hizo batalla; con su grandeza colmó los dos mundos y creció poderosamente. A otro lo puso en su vientre y lo derramó; y el Soma veraz siguió al Indra veraz, dios uniéndose al dios.
Word by Word
- अध
- then, thereafterIndeclinableअव्यय (काल/अनुक्रम-सूचक)Role Adhikaraṇa (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध/अनुक्रम)Root अध
- त्विषीमान्
- possessing brilliance/fiery energyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण-रूपेण कर्तृसम्बन्धी)Root त्विषीमन्त् (त्विष् + -ईमन् + -अन्त्)
- अभि
- towards, againstIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (दिशा/अभिमुखता)Root अभि
- ओजसा
- with strength, by mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot ओजस्
- क्रिविम्
- Kṛvi (a foe/hostile being; proper name of an adversary)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot क्रिवि
- युधा
- by fighting, in battleNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (इन्स्ट्रुमेण्टल-अव्ययीभाववत्: ‘युधा’ = ‘युद्धेन’)Role KaraṇaRoot युध्
- अभवत्
- became, proved (to be)Verbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot भू
- आ
- unto, completelyIndeclinableउपसर्गRole Adhikaraṇa (सम्प्राप्ति/आगमन-भाव)Root आ
- रोदसी
- the two worlds (heaven and earth)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचनRole KarmaRoot रोदसी (द्विवचन-प्रातिपदिकम्)
- अपृणत्
- filledVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot पॄ
- अस्य
- of him, hisPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (genitive)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम)
- मज्मना
- with greatness, with mightNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot मज्मन्
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (प्रवृत्ति/प्रसार)Root प्र
- वावृधे
- has grown, increasedVerbलिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot वृध्
- अध
- thenIndeclinableअव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अध
- अधत्त
- placed, putVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot धा
- अन्यम्
- anotherAdjective/Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अन्य
- जठरे
- in the belly, in the stomachNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot जठर
- प्र
- forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot प्र
- अमरिच्यत्
- was left behind / fell short / was abandonedVerbलुङ् (अorist), आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot मृच्/मरिच् (Vedic; ‘to let go/leave behind; to be lacking’)
- स
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- एनम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot एतद्/इदम् (सर्वनाम; एनद्-प्रयोग)
- सश्चत्
- followed, accompaniedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot सच्
- देवः
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot देव
- देवम्
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot देव
- सत्यम्
- true, realAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (विशेषणम्)Role Karma (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root सत्य
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इन्द्र
- सत्यः
- trueAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root सत्य
- इन्दुः
- Soma (the drop/juice)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot इन्दु
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution applied: त्विषी॑माँ → त्विषीमान् (nom.sg.m.)
- अ॒भ्योज॑सा → अभि + ओजसा
- भव॒दा → अभवत् + आ (final -t before vowel; pada split as अभवत् | आ)
- अपृणदस्य → अपृणत् + अस्य
- अध॑त्ता॒न्यं → अधत्त + अन्यम्
- प्रेम॑रिच्यत → प्र + अमरिच्यत
- सैनं → स + एनम्
- सश्चद्दे॒वो → सश्चत् + देवः. Accent marks in the input are noted but not re-assigned per pada here
The meaning
Outer meaning
Radiant Indra confronts the Krivi with force, becomes battle, fills the two worlds with his greatness and grows. He sets another in his belly and pours him forth; the true Soma follows the true Indra.
Inner meaning
After Soma-intoxication of truth, Indra’s radiance (tviṣī) meets the resisting formation (Krivi—symbol of a crooked/hostile power). He ‘becomes battle’: illumination turns into active force that fights obscurity in the nature. By his greatness he fills heaven and earth—mind and life/body—with a new amplitude. ‘He set another in his belly and poured him forth’ points to an inner assimilation and re-expression: Indra takes into himself a further power (often read as Soma or a new force of truth) and then releases it as an outflow into the system—an inner digestion and redistribution of divine energy. The refrain again asserts: when Indra is true, Soma remains true and adherent, sustaining the victory.
Universal truth
Spiritual growth requires confrontation with resistant patterns; true illumination must become force in action, assimilate higher energies, and re-emit them to transform the whole being.
Themes
Indra’s increase after Soma, expansion to the two worlds, combat with hostile power, Soma as companion power
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.22.1, Rig Veda 2.22.2, Rig Veda 2.22.3
Family tradition
A line that often encodes inner combat and conquest—turning illumination into victorious action and establishing wideness in both worlds.
Significance
The rishi maps a yogic sequence: drink of delight → confrontation with resistance → expansion of the two worlds → assimilation and redistribution of divine energy.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (accompanied by Soma)
- Epithets
- Tviṣīmān (radiant), Majmanvan (great), Satya (true)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Vishnu
Cosmic role
Warrior of light who defeats hostile powers and expands the worlds.
Inner power
Tapas of illumined intelligence—light that can fight, assimilate, and transform the vital-physical instrument.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma Soma-yajña recitation with refrain
अध॒ त्विषी॑माँ अ॒भ्योज॑सा॒ क्रिविं॑ यु॒धाभ॑व॒दा रोद॑सी अपृणदस्य म॒ज्मना॒ प्र वा॑वृधे । अध॑त्ता॒न्यं ज॒ठरे॒ प्रेम॑रिच्यत॒ सैनं॑ सश्चद्दे॒वो दे॒वं स॒त्यमिन्द्रं॑ स॒त्य इन्दु॑: ॥
अध॑ । त्विषि॑ऽमान् । अ॒भि । ओज॑सा । क्रिवि॑म् । यु॒धा । अ॒भ॒व॒त् । आ । रोद॑सी॒ इति॑ । अ॒पृ॒ण॒त् । अ॒स्य॒ । म॒ज्मना॑ । प्र । व॒वृ॒धे॒ । अध॑त्त । अ॒न्यम् । ज॒ठरे॑ । प्र । ई॒म् । अ॒रि॒च्य॒त॒ । सः । ए॒न॒म् । स॒श्च॒त् । दे॒वः । दे॒वम् । स॒त्यम् । इन्द्र॑म् । स॒त्यः । इन्दुः॑ ॥
adha | tviṣi-mān | abhi | ojasā | krivim | yudhā | abhavat | ā | rodasī iti | apṛṇat | asya | majmanā | pra | vavṛdhe | adhatta | anyam | jaṭhare | pra | īm | aricyata | saḥ | enam | saścat | devaḥ | devam | satyam | indram | satyaḥ | induḥ
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4 pādas × ~12 syllables
Long, wave-like lines with a martial surge in the middle; suited to ‘becoming battle’.
Energizes courage while preserving breadth; supports sustained effort without contraction.
- tviṣīmān
- Literal: full of radiance. Symbolic: mind lit by higher light, capable of decisive action
- ojasā
- Literal: by force. Symbolic: spiritual strength-energy supporting illumination
- krivi
- Literal: Krivi (name of foe). Symbolic: crooked resistance; hostile formation in the subconscient/vital
- yudhā abhavat
- Literal: became battle. Symbolic: illumination translating into active tapas/struggle for truth
- rodasī
- Literal: the two worlds (heaven and earth). Symbolic: mind and embodied life; higher and lower nature
- majmanā
- Literal: by greatness. Symbolic: the Vast (bṛhat) pouring into the being
- jaṭhara
- Literal: belly. Symbolic: inner cauldron of assimilation; vital-physical seat that digests energies
- pra aricyata
- Literal: poured forth. Symbolic: released a new stream of force/bliss into the system
- satya induḥ
- Literal: true Soma. Symbolic: stable Ananda grounded in truth
Soma-empowerment narrative: after drinking, Indra expands to fill the worlds and engages the hostile; suitable for Soma-day recitations emphasizing Indra’s increase (vāvṛdhe).
During savana-related praises emphasizing Indra’s combat and expansion after Soma.
Chanted as part of stotra/śastra; reinforces the mythic victory as a sacrificial efficacy.
Use when facing inner resistance (addiction, fear, inertia): chant to convert insight into force and to ‘pour forth’ renewed energy.
tviṣ ‘radiance, fiery energy’ (cf. √tviṣ ‘sparkle’). ojas ‘strength’ (vital force). majman ‘greatness’ from mah/maj semantic domain. √vṛdh ‘grow’ (PIE *werdʰ-; cf. English worth via different development is debated). √ric ‘empty, pour out’ (cf. ‘to release’).
growth of divine force (vṛdh), containment and outpouring of power (jaṭhara, √ric), truth-alignment (satya Soma with satya Indra)
Victory over the ‘crooked’ restores straightness—ṛta as right movement in the being.
The refrain implies that delight remains true only when action remains aligned to truth.
Expansion of the two worlds: a microcosmic ‘cosmicization’ of the individual nature.
Integral yoga reading: transformation of vital/physical through illumined force and Ananda.
unspecified
unspecified
Storm-battle = inner tapas against obstruction; pouring = release of energy after assimilation; sky/earth = mind/body-life being filled with greatness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The empowered god expands to fill the worlds and confronts an adversary; Soma is internalized and then poured forth as force. Inner sense: the delight-essence is assimilated (in the ‘belly’) and then released as victorious energy that enlarges the being (mind-life) and overcomes limiting formations.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The heaven-and-earth pair (rodasī) reflects an IE poetic dual cosmology. √dhā (adhatta) and √vṛdh (vāvṛdhe) are core IE inheritance verbs; the growth-after-drink motif parallels other IE ‘mead/strength’ poetic complexes.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi presents a process the sacrificer imitates inwardly: take in Soma (delight/clarity), let it increase force and widen consciousness, then ‘pour it forth’ as effective action. The refrain ‘true Soma follows true Indra’ indicates that truth-substance adheres only to truth-will.
Meet resistance with radiance: bring light to the exact knot, then apply steady force without anger.
Maṇipūra (assimilation/jaṭhara) supported by Ājñā (radiance/clarity)
Kapalabhati (gentle, 30–60 strokes) then silent breath to feel ‘pouring forth’ of energy; avoid if contraindicated.
Dynamic equanimity—forceful yet wide.
When a resistant impulse arises, locate it in the belly/solar plexus; inhale wideness, exhale a firm ‘no’; then invite a calm joy to replace the knot.
Keep udātta peaks crisp on action-words (ójasa, yúdhā, ródasī, prá vāvṛdhe); let the refrain settle as a mantra-seal.
Mark the turn at ‘adhattānyaṃ jaṭhare’ with a slight pause; articulate conjuncts clearly to avoid rushing Jagatī length.
tviṣīmān: retroflex ‘ṣ’, long ‘ī’, abhy ojasā: ‘bhy’ conjunct clean, kriviṃ: short ‘i’, nasal ‘ṃ’, rodasī: long ‘ī’, majmanā: ‘j’ soft, long ‘ā’, jaṭhare: retroflex ‘ṭh’ aspirated, aricyata: ‘cy’ conjunct, short vowels
martial but controlled; avoid harshness—power with wideness.
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