Rig Veda 7.33.4: Mandala 7, Sukta 33, Mantra 4
Sukta 7.33
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
जुष्टी नरो ब्रह्मणा वः पितॄणामक्षमव्ययं न किला रिषाथ । यच्छक्वरीषु बृहता रवेणेन्द्रे शुष्ममदधाता वसिष्ठाः ॥
júṣṭī naro bráhmaṇā vaḥ pitṝṇā́m ákṣam avyáyaṃ ná kilā riṣātha | yác chakvarī́ṣu bṛhatā́ ravéṇéndre śúṣmam ádad hātā vasiṣṭhāḥ ||
Log tumhe apne baap-dada ke kaaran pasand karte the. Tumne dharam ko kabhi toda nahi, woh pakka tha. Jab tumne bade awaaz se Indra ki taakat badhayi, Vashishth rishiyon ne usme bal bhara.
Word by Word
- जुष्टी
- favour, gracious acceptanceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (वाक्ये ‘जुष्टी’ कर्तृवत्—‘अनुग्रह/प्रसाद’ विषयः) अथवा विशेष्य-भावेRoot जुष्टि- (प्रातिपदिक; √जुष् ‘सेव्/तुष्’ से भाव) अथवा जुष्टि- ‘अनुग्रह/प्रसाद/सेवा’
- नरः
- men, heroesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā (सम्बोधन/उद्देश्य-समूहः) अथवा ‘वः’ इत्यस्य विशेष्यःRoot नर-
- ब्रह्मणा
- by/with sacred hymn (prayer)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot ब्रह्मन्-
- वः
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) अथवा दत्त-प्रयोगे चतुर्थी-भावः; अत्र ‘वः’ = ‘your’Role Sampradāna/सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) — ‘you/your’Root युष्मद्- (सर्वनाम)
- पितॄणाम्
- of the Fathers (ancestors)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive) — ‘of the fathers/ancestors’Root पितृ-
- अक्षमम्
- unassailable, not to be harmedAdjectiveपुं/नपुंसक, द्वितीया एकवचन (विशेषण-रूपेण) अथवा नपुंसक प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; अत्र ‘अक्षमम्’ = ‘अक्षय्य/अवध्य’ इत्यर्थे ‘अ-क्षम’ (अ-क्षम्य) प्रयोगःRole Karma (रिषाथ इत्यस्य कर्म-भावे ‘(किमपि) अक्षमम्… न रिषाथ’)Root अक्षम- (अ- + क्षम ‘able’)
- अव्ययम्
- imperishable, undecayingAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (अक्षमम् इत्यस्य सह विशेषणम्) अथवा विशेष्य-रूपेणRole Karma (विशेषण-सम्बन्धेन) अथवा गुण-निर्देशःRoot अव्यय- (अ- + व्यय ‘decay’)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न
- किल
- indeed, surelyIndeclinableनूनम्/खलु-प्रायः निपातःRoot किल
- रिषाथ
- you have harmed / you would harmVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद), मध्यमपुरुष बहुवचन; वैदिक-रूपः ‘रिषाथ’ (≈ ‘रिरिषथ/रिषथ’)Role क्रिया (कर्तृ = ‘यूयम्’ नरो/वः) ; कर्म = ‘अक्षमम् अव्ययम्’Root √रिष् (हिंसार्थे/क्षतौ)
- यत्
- when/that (because)Indeclinable/Relativeसम्बन्ध-प्रयोगः ‘यत्’ = ‘because/when/that which’Root यद्- (सर्वनाम) / यत् (सम्बन्ध-निपातः)
- शक्वरीषु
- in the Śakvarī (metres/verses)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (स्थान/विषय—‘शक्वरीषु’ = ‘in the śakvarī verses’)Root शक्वरी- (छन्दो/स्तुति-विशेषः; ‘शक्वरी’ नाम छन्दः/ऋचः)
- बृहता
- with great, loftyAdjectiveपुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया एकवचन (रवेण इत्यस्य विशेषणम्) अथवा नपुंसक तृतीयाRole Karaṇa (रवेण सह) / गुण-निर्देशःRoot बृहन्त्-
- रवेण
- with a roar/cry (loud sound)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot रव-
- इन्द्रे
- in/for IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (आश्रय/विषय—‘in/for Indra’)Root इन्द्र-
- शुष्मम्
- might, vigorNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot शुष्म-
- अदधाता
- they placed/put (bestowed)Verbलुङ् (आorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन; वैदिक रूप ‘अदधाता’ = ‘अ-धधात’ (रेडुप्लिकेटेड-आorist) ‘they placed/put’Role क्रिया; कर्तृ = ‘वसिष्ठाः’; कर्म = ‘शुष्मम्’; अधिकरण = ‘इन्द्रे’Root √धा (धारणे/स्थापने)
- वसिष्ठाः
- the Vasiṣṭhas (Vasiṣṭha seers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot वसिष्ठ- (ऋषि-नाम)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): जुष्टी | नरः | ब्रह्मणा | वः | पितॄणाम् | अक्षमम् | अव्ययम् | न | किल | रिषाथ | यत् | शक्वरीषु | बृहता | रवेण | इन्द्रे | शुष्मम् | अदधाता | वसिष्ठाः । प्रमुख-सन्धि: (1) नरो ब्रह्मणा = नरः + ब्रह्मणा (विसर्ग-लोपः/ओ-आदेशः) । (2) पितॄणामक्षम् = पितॄणाम् + अक्षमम् (म् + अ → म्-अ, संधि-सीमा) । (3) अव्ययं न = अव्ययम् + न (म् + न) । (4) यच्छक्वरीषु = यत् + शक्वरीषु (त् + श → च्छ, वैदिक ‘च्छ’ संधि) । (5) रवेणेन्द्रे = रवेण + इन्द्रे (अ + इ → ए) ।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Vasiṣṭhas are dear to men through their fathers’ brahman; they do not harm the imperishable axle. When, in śakvarī measures, with a great cry, they place strength in Indra.
Inner meaning
The seer-line is ‘beloved’ because it carries a transmitted spiritual power (pitṝṇām brahman)—not heredity of blood, but continuity of realized speech. They do not violate the imperishable axle: the unwavering pivot of ṛta, the stable law that holds the worlds and the yoga together. Through powerful rhythmic chant (śakvarī) and vast call (bṛhat rava), they install śuṣma—dynamic force—in the illumined Mind (Indra). Mantra here is a technology of consciousness: right rhythm + right intention awakens Indra-force.
Universal truth
Traditions remain life-giving when they protect the unchanging ethical-spiritual axis (truth, order, integrity). Sound and rhythm, when aligned with truth, can awaken courage and clarity in individuals and communities.
Themes
Power of mantra, Ṛta as axis, Ancestral brahman, Indra’s might awakened
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1 (Agni and the seer’s seat), RV 7.18 (Vasiṣṭha and Indra in conflict), RV 7.33 (self-testimony of the Vasiṣṭhas)
Family tradition
A hereditary-seer tradition where ‘fathers’ signify prior realizers; emphasis on preserving the axis of ṛta through correct mantra and conduct.
Significance
The Vasiṣṭha-line models ‘stability with power’: not ecstatic excess, but force grounded on an imperishable center. Their gift is to awaken Indra-strength without breaking the law of truth.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Bṛhat (vast) (implied by bṛhat rava), Vajrī (thunderbolt-bearer) (implied)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (lord of the Word), Agni (carrier of offerings/aspiration), Uṣas (awakening that Indra supports)
Cosmic role
Receives and magnifies the stotra; channels awakened force to overcome resistance and establish luminous order.
Inner power
Illumined dynamism—clarity that becomes effective power (śuṣma) without losing alignment to the inner axis.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-yajña stotra/śastra praising the efficacy of brahman; also applicable in lineage/ancestral remembrance contexts.
जुष्टी॑ नरो॒ ब्रह्म॑णा वः पितॄ॒णामक्ष॑मव्ययं॒ न किला॑ रिषाथ । यच्छक्व॑रीषु बृह॒ता रवे॒णेन्द्रे॒ शुष्म॒मद॑धाता वसिष्ठाः ॥
जुष्टी॑ । न॒रः॒ । ब्रह्म॑णा । वः॒ । पि॒तॄ॒णाम् । अक्ष॑म् । अ॒व्य॒य॒म् । न । किल॑ । रि॒षा॒थ॒ । यत् । शक्व॑रीषु । बृ॒ह॒ता । रवे॑ण । इन्द्रे॑ । शुष्म॑म् । अद॑धात । व॒सि॒ष्ठाः॒ ॥
juṣṭī | naraḥ | brahmaṇā | vaḥ | pitṝṇām | akṣam | avyayam | na | kila | riṣātha | yat | śakvarīṣu | bṛhatā | raveṇa | indre | śuṣmam | adadhāta | vasiṣṭhāḥ
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4 × ~11; ‘śakvarī’ indicates an expanded/ornamented melodic-metric mode in recitation.
Broad and sonorous; designed for a ‘great cry’ effect and installation of force.
Creates a stable center (akṣa) while building intensity; the listener feels grounded vigor rather than agitation.
- पितॄणाम् (pitṝṇām)
- Literal: of the fathers/ancestors. Symbolic: lineage of realized consciousness; accumulated tapas and mantra-knowledge
- ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā)
- Literal: by brahman. Symbolic: inspired word-force that calls and shapes inner realities
- अक्षम् अव्ययम् (akṣam avyayam)
- Literal: imperishable axle. Symbolic: the changeless pivot of ṛta; the steady center in yoga that must not be ‘injured’
- रिषाथ (riṣātha)
- Literal: you injure/harm. Symbolic: to deviate from truth by ego, excess, or wrong vibration
- शक्वरीषु (śakvarīṣu)
- Literal: in śakvarī metres/measures. Symbolic: special expansive chant-forms; rhythmic wideness that magnifies consciousness
- बृहता रवेण (bṛhatā raveṇa)
- Literal: with vast cry. Symbolic: the great call of the soul; expansive aspiration (mahān āhvāna)
- शुष्मम् (śuṣmam)
- Literal: force, vigor. Symbolic: spiritual dynamis—energized will and victorious intensity placed into Indra-consciousness
Self-referential validation of correct chant: the Vasiṣṭhas’ śakvarī performance ‘sets’ śuṣma in Indra while remaining aligned to the imperishable axle (Ṛta)
When invoking Indra’s strength through chant; in assemblies where collective voice is meant to ‘set force’ into the rite.
Chanted praise with strong vocal projection (rava) and metrical precision.
Group chanting for courage and coherence (teams, communities): keep a ‘steady axis’ (shared values) while raising collective energy through rhythm and unified voice.
akṣa ‘axle’ symbolizes the pivot of Ṛta—stable cosmic order (also ‘axis’ of the chariot of life). avyaya ‘imperishable’ underscores eternal law. śuṣma ‘impetuous might’ is the energized potency awakened in Indra through chant. √dhā ‘place’ (adadhāta) indicates that speech can ‘install’ power in the deity—i.e., evoke/activate a specific divine functioning.
Ṛta as imperishable axis (akṣa avyaya), mantra/chant as power-installation (brahman → śuṣma), ancestral continuity of inspired speech
The mantra explicitly safeguards ṛta (akṣa avyaya) while invoking power.
True speech is what makes brahman ‘beloved’ and effective.
Sound as formative power: placing śuṣma in Indra is like charging the cosmic intelligence with energy.
Mantra-śakti perspective aligned with Aurobindo: speech is a conscious force that must be yoked to ṛta.
Axle = inner spine/axis of awareness; roar = expansive prāṇa and aspiration; metre = regulated vibration shaping consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘axis of order’ mythologem: the imperishable axle stands for unwavering Ṛta; aligned chant does not damage it but rather empowers Indra—speech as lawful force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- akṣa relates to PIE *h₂eḱs- (‘axle’; cf. Latin axis). √dhā (PIE *dʰeh₁- ‘put, set’; cf. Greek títhēmi) underlies ‘placing’ power—showing inherited structural metaphors of installation/setting.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Vasiṣṭhas act as technicians of sacred force: by correct rhythmic utterance they ‘set’ śuṣma in Indra, while Indra’s acceptance (juṣṭī) confirms their alignment with ancestral brahman and the imperishable order.
Hold the ‘imperishable axle’—the witnessing center—while generating force through regulated mantra.
suṣumṇā-axis focus; ājñā for clarity, maṇipūra for śuṣma
Bhrāmarī-lite or humming exhale on ‘raveṇa’ to feel vibration; then silent pause at the end of each pāda to sense the ‘akṣa’.
Grounded intensity—calm power without strain.
Begin with 1 minute of spinal awareness (inner axis). Chant 11 times with steady pitch; on each repetition, feel ‘śuṣma’ gathering at the navel and rising to the brow as clear will.
RV accentuation; emphasize the long vowels in ‘avyayaṃ’ and the lift in ‘bṛhatā’.
Keep ‘akṣam avyayam’ as a single grounded phrase; expand volume slightly on ‘bṛhatā raveṇa’.
‘akṣam’: clear kṣ conjunct (not ‘aksham’ softened)., ‘śakvarīṣu’: keep ś (palatal) distinct from ṣ (retroflex)., ‘adadhātā’: articulate doubled dh with voiced aspiration., Maintain visarga in ‘naraḥ’ lightly before consonant.
Broad, open-throated but controlled; avoid shouting—aim for ‘vastness’ not harshness.
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