Rig Veda 1.100.19: Mandala 1, Sukta 100, Mantra 19
Sukta 1.100
- Rishi
- Vārṣāgira / Ṛjraśva tradition
- Devata
- Indra as advocate
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
विश्वाहेन्द्रो अधिवक्ता नो अस्त्वपरिह्वृताः सनुयाम वाजम् । तन्नो मित्रो वरुणो मामहन्तामदितिः सिन्धुः पृथिवी उत द्यौः ॥
viśvā́héndro adhi-vaktā́ no astv ápari-hvṛtāḥ sanuyā́ma vā́jam | tán no mitró váruṇo māmahaṅtām áditiḥ síndhuḥ pṛthivī́ utá dyáuḥ ||
इंद्र हमेशा हमारे साथ हो और हमारे लिए बोलने वाला हो। इससे हम कोई धोखा नहीं खाएंगे और पूरी ताकत पा लेंगे। मित्र और वरुण भी यही बढ़ा दें। अदिति, नदियाँ, धरती और आसमान, सब हमारे काम आएँ।
Word by Word
- विश्वा
- all (things)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचन (कर्मणि—‘सर्वाणि’)Role कर्मRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- हा
- indeed/ah!IndeclinableनिपातRoot हा (अव्यय; विस्मय/आह्वान-निपात)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अधिवक्ता
- advocate, spokesman, protector (one who speaks for)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण इन्द्रस्य)Root अधि-वक्तृ (कृदन्त; √वच् ‘वदने’ + तृच्; उपसर्ग अधि)
- नः
- of us/ourPronounषष्ठी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ = ‘अस्माकम्/नः’)Role सम्बन्ध (अधिवक्तुः—‘our’)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- अस्तु
- let (him) beVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ/आशीर्लिङ्ग-प्राय); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRoot √अस् (अस्ति-भवे)
- अपरिह्वृताः
- not deceived, not led astrayAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन (वयम्—‘we’)Role कर्तृ (वयम्)Root अ-परि-ह्वृत (कृदन्त/विशेषण; √ह्वृ/ह्वर् ‘वञ्चने/विपर्यये’ इति वैदिक; उपसर्ग परि; नञ्-प्रत्यय अ-)
- सनुयाम
- may we win/obtainVerbविधिलिङ्; उत्तमपुरुष; बहुवचनRoot √सन्/सन् (लाभे/प्राप्तौ; ‘to win, obtain’)
- वाजम्
- prize, booty, strength (victory-prize)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया/प्रथमा; एकवचन (अत्र ‘that (boon/thing)’—अन्वयेन)Role कर्म (मामहन्ताम् इत्यस्य)Root तद् (सर्वनाम)
- नः
- to usPronounचतुर्थी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ = ‘अस्मभ्यम्’)Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- मित्रः
- MitraNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वरुणः
- VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- मामहन्ताम्
- let the two honor/favor (us)Verbलोट्; प्रथमपुरुष; द्विवचन (मित्रावरुणौ)Root √मह्/मंह् (पूजायाम्/वर्धने; ‘to honor, to gladden, to favor’—वैदिक प्रयोग) + आ- (उपसर्ग)
- अदितिः
- AditiNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अदिति (प्रातिपदिक)
- सिन्धुः
- Sindhu (river/ocean)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिवी
- EarthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक निपातRoot उत (अव्यय)
- द्यौः
- Heaven, SkyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिक); प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot द्यौ/द्युस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (वैदिक-सन्धि-निरसन): विश्वा + हा + इन्द्रः (विश्वाहेन्द्रो = विश्वा हे/हा इन्द्रः; ‘हा’ निपातः) । अधिवक्ता + नः + अस्तु (अधिवक्ता नो अस्तु) । अप + अरिह्वृताः (अप॑रिह्वृताः = अप + अरिह्वृताः; ‘अ-’ नञर्थक-पूर्वपदत्वेन ‘अपरिह्वृताः’ इति संहितारूपम्) । सनुयाम + वाजम् । तत् + नः । मित्रः + वरुणः । मामहन्ताम् (आ-√मह्/मंह्, लोट् द्विवचन) । अदितिः + सिन्धुः + पृथिवी + उत + द्यौः ।
The meaning
Outer meaning
A closing benediction: may Indra be our continual advocate so we are not deceived and may win vāja (prize/strength). May Mitra-Varuṇa and the great cosmic supports—Aditi, the River, Earth and Heaven—magnify that gain for us.
Inner meaning
Indra as adhivaktā is the awakened illumined Mind within that “pleads” for the soul in the inner sacrifice—securing right discernment so the seeker is aparihvṛta (not led astray by the lower nature). The vāja is the plenitude of effective force: clarified will, courageous energy, and victorious capacity. Mitra (harmonizing light of right relation) and Varuṇa (vastness and law of truth) enlarge the inner attainment, while Aditi (the Infinite, undivided Consciousness) opens the being beyond limitation. Sindhu, Pṛthivī, Dyauḥ become inner planes: the streaming current of consciousness (Sindhu), the firm foundation of embodied practice (Earth), and the luminous mind-vault (Heaven).
Universal truth
Real progress requires an inner advocate—clear intelligence allied to truth—so that power is won without self-deception; and the gain becomes stable only when it is enlarged by harmony, law, and the widening into the Infinite across all planes of life.
Themes
protection from error, winning vāja, cosmic benediction
The seer
- Rishi
- Vārṣāgira / Ṛjraśva tradition (closing benediction style)
- Lineage
- Vārṣāgira (Aṅgiras-related tradition)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.100 (Indra hymn, closing verses), RV 1.101 (Kutsa Indra cycle nearby, similar benedictive cadence)
Family tradition
Associated with seer-lines that emphasize Indra’s victorious aid and concluding world-support benedictions (dyāvāpṛthivī, aditi, rivers).
Significance
A benediction that seals the inner conquest with wideness and protection—linking personal victory (Indra) to cosmic harmony (Mitra-Varuṇa) and infinity (Aditi).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Mitra-Varuṇa, Aditi, Sindhu, Earth, Heaven invoked)
- Epithets
- viśvāhā (ever, all days), adhivaktā (advocate)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Maruts, Dyāvāpṛthivī
Cosmic role
Indra grants victorious force and right guidance; Mitra-Varuṇa uphold harmony and truth-law; Aditi is the infinite matrix; Sindhu/Earth/Heaven are cosmic supports and movements.
Inner power
Indra: decisive illumination and courage; Mitra: unifying clarity; Varuṇa: vast purity and law; Aditi: liberation into the Infinite; Sindhu: streaming consciousness; Earth/Heaven: stable embodiment and luminous mind.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra within Soma-related praise; also suitable as concluding śānti/āśīḥ (benediction) after recitation.
वि॒श्वाहेन्द्रो॑ अधिव॒क्ता नो॑ अ॒स्त्वप॑रिह्वृताः सनुयाम॒ वाज॑म् । तन्नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो मामहन्ता॒मदि॑ति॒: सिन्धु॑: पृथि॒वी उ॒त द्यौः ॥
वि॒श्वाहा॑ । इन्द्रः॑ । अ॒धि॒ऽव॒क्ता । नः॒ । अ॒स्तु॒ । अप॑रिऽह्वृताः । स॒नु॒या॒म॒ । वाज॑म् । तत् । नः॒ । मि॒त्रः । वरु॑णः । म॒म॒ह॒न्ता॒म् । अदि॑तिः । सिन्धुः॑ । पृ॒थि॒वी । उ॒त । द्यौः ॥
viśvāhā | indraḥ | adhi-vaktā | naḥ | astu | apari-hvṛtāḥ | sanuyāma | vājam | tat | naḥ | mitraḥ | varuṇaḥ | mamahantām | aditiḥ | sindhuḥ | pṛthivī | uta | dyauḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Strong, forward-driving cadence suited to affirmation and sealing of a victory.
Builds confidence and steadiness; ends with expansive invocation that widens the listener into cosmic support.
- इन्द्र (indra)
- Literal: Indra, chief of the gods. Symbolic: Illumined Mind; force of conscious victory breaking obstruction
- अधिवक्ता (adhivaktā)
- Literal: advocate, pleader, spokesman. Symbolic: Inner discernment that argues for truth against confusion; guiding intelligence
- अपरिह्वृताः (aparihvṛtāḥ)
- Literal: not deceived, not misled. Symbolic: Freedom from ego-delusion and hostile suggestions; steadiness in sādhanā
- वाज (vāja)
- Literal: prize; strength; nourishment. Symbolic: Plenitude of force—effective power of realization and action
- मित्र (mitra)
- Literal: Mitra. Symbolic: Harmony, right relation, luminous goodwill that unites powers
- वरुण (varuṇa)
- Literal: Varuṇa. Symbolic: Vast truth-law (ṛta); purity, wideness, ethical-spiritual order
- अदिति (aditi)
- Literal: the Infinite; unboundness. Symbolic: Infinite Consciousness; release from limiting formations
- सिन्धु (sindhu)
- Literal: river; ocean; stream. Symbolic: Flow of consciousness and bliss-current; the great inner stream
- पृथिवी (pṛthivī)
- Literal: earth. Symbolic: Grounded embodiment; stable base for realization
- द्यौः (dyauḥ)
- Literal: heaven/sky. Symbolic: Luminous mind-plane; higher ideation and clarity
Concluding prayer for protection from error and for winning vāja; expands to Ādityas and cosmic supports, suitable as a sealing benediction in Soma sequences.
During Indra offerings in Soma yajña sequences; or as a closing verse to “secure” the fruit of praise.
Recitation with oblations/praise; mental offering of force and truth to the inner Indra.
Use as a daily closing prayer after meditation: invoke clear guidance (Indra) and wideness (Aditi) to prevent self-deception and stabilize gains.
adhi-vaktā (adhi + √vac 'speak' + agent -tṛ → 'one who speaks over/for', advocate); apari-hvṛta (a- + pari + √hvar/hvṛ 'to go astray, be crooked' → 'not perverted'); vā́ja (strength/prize; linked to √vaj 'be strong' / semantic of vigor and plenitude); √mah (māmahaṅtām) PIE *megʰ- 'great' (Greek megas, Latin magnus); Mitra from √mi 'to bind' (relation), Varuṇa from √vṛ 'to cover/encompass' (law as encompassing order); Aditi (a- 'not' + diti 'division' → undivided).
R̥ta guarded by Varuṇa and harmonized by Mitra, Aditi as undivided infinity, vāja as plenitude of force (inner accomplishment)
Mitra-Varuṇa enlarge the attainment by aligning it with ṛta—right law and harmony.
Aparihvṛta: not misled—truthfulness of perception and intention.
Widening from individual victory into the cosmic supports; integration of planes (river/earth/heaven).
Proto-Vedāntic wideness (Aditi) allied with ethical-cosmic order (Mitra-Varuṇa).
unspecified
unspecified
The flowing current of consciousness stabilizes upon the earth-base of practice and opens into the sky of luminous mind, all guarded by truth-order.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is guardianship and right winning: Indra as adhi-vaktā (advocate) prevents deception and enables the winning of vāja (plenitude of force). The cosmic order is then ratified by Mitra-Varuṇa and the great supports (Aditi, Sindhu, Earth, Heaven), indicating that inner victory must be stabilized within R̥ta’s total frame.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vac (vaktā) continues PIE *wekʷ- 'speak' (Latin vox, vocāre). √mah (māmahaṅtām) continues PIE *megʰ- 'great' (Greek megas, Latin magnus). dyáuḥ reflects PIE *dyew- 'bright sky' (Greek Zeus, Latin Iūpiter via *dyew-).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks for an inner juridical protection: Indra as the right-speaking power within, so the seeker is not turned aside. The response sought is vāja—effective fullness—then a universal confirmation by Mitra-Varuṇa and Aditi, showing that personal attainment must be harmonized with cosmic law and infinite consciousness.
Invoke the inner Indra as discerning advocate; offer confusion and desire-nets into truth-order; then widen into Aditi-consciousness.
ājñā (clarity/inner guidance) and anāhata (Mitra-harmony)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana 6–6 or 6–6–6 (inhale-hold-exhale) before chanting; then natural breath with attention on widening.
From focused discernment to expansive, quiet wideness.
Before decisions or inner difficulties: chant once slowly, then sit 3–5 minutes—feel the ‘advocate’ intelligence speak for truth; conclude by sensing the river of awareness widening into sky-like openness.
Vedic svara as in Śākala tradition: observe udatta peaks on key nouns (índraḥ, mítraḥ, váruṇaḥ) with intervening anudatta and occasional svarita; follow pada text for segmentation.
Keep clear word breaks: viśvāhā | indraḥ | adhivaktā | naḥ | astu || aparihvṛtāḥ | sanuyāma | vājam ||
Maintain retroflex ṇ in varuṇa; clear dental n in sindhu., Aparihvṛtāḥ: pronounce hvr as a light conjunct (h-vṛ)., Dyauḥ: glide ‘dy’ smoothly; visarga lightly released at end if present in your recensional style., Lengthen long vowels: viśvāhā, vājam, pṛthivī.
Steady, affirming, widening on the final list (Aditiḥ… dyauḥ).
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