Rig Veda 8.21.1: Mandala 8, Sukta 21, Mantra 1
Sukta 8.21
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
वयमु त्वामपूर्व्य स्थूरं न कच्चिद्भरन्तोऽवस्यवः । वाजे चित्रं हवामहे ॥
vayám u tvā́m apūrvyá sthūráṃ na kác cid bháranto 'vasyávaḥ | vā́je citráṃ havāmahe ||
Nosotros, buscando tu amparo, te invocamos —a ti, siempre nuevo— llevando la ofrenda como un sólido sostén que no falla; y por el vāja, la plenitud de la fuerza, llamamos a tu poder brillante y multiforme.
Word by Word
- वयम्
- wePronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं (त्रिलिङ्ग), प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उ
- indeed, surelyIndeclinable (particle)निपात; अर्थे—एव/खलु (emphatic)Root उ (निपात)
- त्वाम्
- you (as object)Pronounत्रिलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अपूर्व्य
- O unprecedented/peerless oneAdjective (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अपूर्व्य (अ- + पूर्व्य < पूर्व) (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- स्थूरम्
- the strong/stout oneAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot स्थूर (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinable (particle)निषेध/उपमा-निपात; अत्र—उपमार्थे ‘like/as’Root न (निपात)
- कच्चित्
- at all? (perhaps?)Indeclinable (interrogative particle)प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय; ‘किम् + चित्’ प्रकारःRoot कच्चित् (निपात-समुदाय)
- भरन्तः
- bearing, bringingParticiple (present active)शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त, प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘carrying/bearing’Role कर्तृ (वयम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root √भृ (भरणे) → भरत् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ)
- अवस्यवः
- seeking help/favorNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘help-seeking/desirous of aid’Role कर्तृ (वयम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root अवस्/अवस्य (इच्छा/सहायता/रक्षा) → अवस्यु (इच्छार्थक-प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजे
- in the contest/for the prize (vāja)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot वाज (पुं-प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्रम्
- the brilliant/wondrous oneAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot चित्र (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- हवामहे
- we invoke/call uponVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √ह्वा (आह्वाने) (वेद. √हू) → हवामहे
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: (1) व॒यमु॒ → वयम् + उ (निपात-सन्धिः; म् + उ = मु). (2) कच्चि॒द्भर॑न्तो → कच्चित् + भरन्तः (त् + भ = द्भ; पदान्त-त् परे घोषे ‘द्’). (3) भरन्तोऽव॒स्यव॑: → भरन्तः + अवस्यवः (विसर्ग + अ = ‘ओऽ’/‘ोऽ’ रूप; RV orthography). (4) वाजे॑ चि॒त्रं → वाजे + चित्रम् (सन्धि नहीं; पदच्छेद). Accent marks preserved as in Saṃhitā
- pada-forms given without accent for morphological clarity
The meaning
Outer meaning
We call Indra, the ever-new, seeking protection, bearing our offering as on a firm, unfailing support; for vāja (plenitude of force/victory) we invoke his bright, manifold power.
Inner meaning
The seeker-souls (vayam) turn to Indra—the ever-renewing divine Mind-power that never becomes obsolete (apūrvya). They carry the inner oblation (bharantaḥ: aspiration, will, self-offering) and lean on a ‘solid’ foundation (sthūram) that does not collapse—stable faith and luminous strength. They invoke Indra’s citra (many-colored, richly-varied) energy so that vāja may manifest: a victorious increase of effective force in the consciousness, enabling progress in works and inner battles.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress depends on a stable inner support and a continual renewal of aspiration; when the mind aligns with higher illumination, force becomes plenitude—effective, joyful capacity rather than strain.
Themes
invocation, strength and victory, renewal of power, soma context
The seer
Significance
The ‘unknown rishi’ motif itself fits the psychology of Book 8: the mantra speaks from a collective seeker-consciousness (vayam), emphasizing shared aspiration rather than a single named lineage—suggesting an impersonal movement of the inner sacrifice where Indra’s force is universally accessible.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- apūrvya (ever-new), citra (bright, manifold), avitar (deliverer/protector—implied by avasyavaḥ)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Maruts, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstructions, giver of vāja (victorious plenitude), establisher of luminous order by releasing the hidden lights.
Inner power
Illuminated mind-force that turns aspiration into effective power; the dynamic intelligence that supports and carries the seeker through resistance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma offerings in the Soma sacrifice (general Indra-invocation)
व॒यमु॒ त्वाम॑पूर्व्य स्थू॒रं न कच्चि॒द्भर॑न्तोऽव॒स्यव॑: । वाजे॑ चि॒त्रं ह॑वामहे ॥
व॒यम् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । त्वाम् । अ॒पू॒र्व्य॒ । स्थू॒रम् । न । कत् । चि॒त् । भर॑न्तः । अ॒व॒स्यवः॑ । वाजे॑ । चि॒त्रम् । ह॒वा॒म॒हे॒ ॥
vayam | oṃ iti | tvām | apūrvya | sthūram | na | kat | cit | bharantaḥ | avasyavaḥ | vāje | citram | havāmahe
Pragātha/Brhatī-type (Book 8 frequently uses pragātha-like structures)
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Likely 2 long lines (pragātha style) rather than strict 4 pādas; cadence emphasizes invocation + purpose clause.
Weighty, supportive rhythm (matching sthūram), with a bright lift on vāje citram.
Builds steadiness and confidence first, then releases a forward surge of luminous force—good for beginning an Indra-focused session.
- अपूर्व्य (apūrvya)
- Literal: ever-new, unprecedented. Symbolic: the divine consciousness that renews itself and exceeds past formations; fresh illumination
- स्थूरम् (sthūram)
- Literal: solid, strong, massive. Symbolic: unshakable inner foundation (faith, steadiness, grounded will) supporting the sacrifice
- भरन्तः (bharantaḥ)
- Literal: bearing, carrying (offering). Symbolic: carrying the inner oblation—aspiration, attention, self-giving into the practice
- अवस्यवः (avasyavaḥ)
- Literal: seeking protection/help. Symbolic: the soul’s turning toward the higher Power for guidance and guarding
- वाज (vāja)
- Literal: prize, strength, plenitude, victory. Symbolic: increase of effective spiritual force; victorious energy for right action
- चित्रम् (citra)
- Literal: bright, variegated, wondrous. Symbolic: multi-form illumination—many rays of insight and capability from Indra
Soma-invocation opening: calling Indra for strength and victorious force (vāja), typical of Soma pressing and offering sequences.
During Indra stotras/śastras or invitatory moments calling Indra for strength and victory
Calling the deity while presenting oblations; mentally ‘bearing’ the offering with steadiness
Use before demanding work or sādhanā: a short invocation to establish inner support and call for effective force (vāja).
apūrvyá ‘new, not-before’ (a- + pūrva). sthūrá ‘solid’ from √sthūl/adj. ‘thick’. √bhṛ ‘bear’ (PIE *bʰer-). √av ‘help’ → avasyu ‘desirous of aid’. vā́ja- ‘prize/food’ but in inner reading ‘fullness of force’, tied to vigor/strength semantics in Vedic usage.
renewal (apūrva) as perpetual divine freshness, vāja as energy of accomplishment, protective aid (ava)
Indra’s ‘support that does not fail’ symbolizes alignment with Ṛta—stable law of progress.
The ever-new power suggests Satya as living revelation rather than fixed dogma.
Release and increase: illumination manifests as a growing plenitude (vāja).
Proto-Vedāntic / Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent through illumination and force.
A stable inner ‘pillar’ of will supports the ascent; brightness is the many-rayed insight that yields victorious capacity.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘calling the ever-new Indra for vāja’: Indra is the inexhaustible power that supports accomplishment. Psychologically, it is the summoning of decisive will and luminous force to uphold the seeker’s effort and make the inner offering effective.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √hū (havāmahe ‘we invoke’) continues PIE *ǵʰewH-/*ǵʰuH- ‘call, invoke’ proposed for Indo-Iranian (exact reconstructions vary). √bhṛ is solid PIE (*bʰer-). The formulaic pairing of ‘bearing’ (bhṛ) and ‘invoking’ (hū) is characteristic of inherited Indo-European ritual-poetic diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi approaches as avasyu—one who needs protection—and simultaneously as bearer of the offering (bhárantaḥ). The reciprocity: human effort and offering are carried upward; Indra’s response is to provide the firm support and the victorious plenitude (vāja).
Invoke Indra as the illumined mind-power that stabilizes and energizes your work and aspiration.
Manipura (will/force) with Ajna (illumination)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) while mentally offering the breath as ‘bhar-’ (carrying)
Collected, steady, upward-striving (tapas with clarity).
Begin by feeling a firm inner support in the spine; then call a ‘fresh’ light into the mind; end by affirming vāja as calm, effective power in action.
Default Rigvedic accenting: identify udatta on key invocatory words (tvām, apūrvya, vāje, citram); svarita follows udatta; anudatta elsewhere (exact śākhā-dependent).
Lift the tone slightly on ‘tvām’, ‘apūrvya’, ‘vāje’, ‘citraṃ’; keep ‘na kac cid’ softer and level to convey ‘unfailing’.
Keep ‘apūrvya’ as a-pūr-vya (clear long ū)., In ‘sthūraṃ’, sustain long ū; retroflex/ dental clarity is less critical than vowel length., ‘havāmahe’: ha-vā-ma-he, long ā.
Steady, chest-supported, brightening on ‘vāje citram’.
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