Rig Veda 1.61.6: Mandala 1, Sukta 61, Mantra 6
Sukta 1.61
- Rishi
- Gautama
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
अस्मा इदु त्वष्टा तक्षद्वज्रं स्वपस्तमं स्वर्यं रणाय । वृत्रस्य चिद्विदद्येन मर्म तुजन्नीशानस्तुजता कियेधाः ॥
asmā́ íd u tváṣṭā takṣád vájraṃ svápastamaṃ svaryáṃ raṇā́ya | vṛtrásya cid vidád yéna márma tújan nīśā́nas tujatā́ kiyedhā́ḥ ||
त्वष्टा ने इंद्र के लिए वज्र बनाया। वो काम में एकदम परफेक्ट था और लड़ाई के लिए चमकता था। इंद्र ने उससे वृत्र की कमज़ोरी ढूँढ ली। फिर वो राजा बन के दुश्मनों को मारा और उनकी ताकत तोड़ दी।
Word by Word
- अस्मै
- to him (for him)Pronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं (सर्वनाम), चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद्
- इदु
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic/asseverative)Root इदु (निपात) < इद्
- त्वष्टा
- Tvaṣṭṛ (the divine artisan)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot त्वष्टृ (देवनाम)
- तक्षत्
- fashioned, hewedVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot तक्ष्
- वज्रम्
- the thunderboltNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वज्र
- स्वपस्तमम्
- most skillful/most effectiveAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; तमप्-प्रत्यय (superlative)Role कर्म (विशेषण)Root स्वपस् (प्रा.)
- स्वर्यम्
- heaven-winning, bringing lightAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (विशेषण)Root स्वर्य (प्रा.) < स्वर
- रणाय
- for battleNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजनRoot रण
- वृत्रस्य
- of VṛtraNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot वृत्र (देव/असुर-नाम)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableनिपात (concessive/emphatic)Root चित् (निपात)
- विदत्
- found, discoveredVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot विद्
- येन
- by whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (instrumental)Role करणRoot यद्
- मर्म
- vital spot, vulnerable pointNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot मर्मन्
- तुजन्
- thrusting, smitingKṛdanta (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root तुज्
- ईशानः
- ruling, being lordKṛdanta (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root ईश् / ईशान (प्रा.)
- तुजता
- with/through (his) smitingKṛdanta (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole करण/सहकारRoot तुज्
- कियेधाः
- the restrainer/withholder (epithet, esp. of Indra)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण (उपपद)Root कियेधा (प्रा.)
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved sandhi: अस्मा इदु → अस्मै इदु (dative of अस्मद् before vowel)
- तक्षद्वज्रम् → तक्षत् वज्रम् (final -d of aorist 3sg becomes -t before voiceless v-)
- चिद्विदद्येन → चित् विदत् येन (चित् + aorist विदत् + instrumental येन)
- तुजन्नीशानः → तुजन् ईशानः (participle + vowel-initial word)
- तुजता कियेधाः kept as two padas
The meaning
Outer meaning
For him Tvaṣṭṛ fashioned the thunderbolt, most perfect in workmanship and luminous for battle. With it Indra found Vṛtra’s vital point and, as sovereign, smote the smiters and shattered the obstructing powers.
Inner meaning
Tvaṣṭṛ (the divine Fashioner) forms the vajra: the perfectly shaped instrument of discriminating force—an illumined will made exact and effective. This is the yogic weapon of insight and decisive action. With it Indra discovers the marma (vital knot) of Vṛtra: the precise point where obstruction holds consciousness (habit, fear, inertia, falsehood). As īśāna (sovereign master) the illumined mind presses forward, strikes the striking impulses (reactive forces), and breaks the ‘kiyedhāḥ’—the limiting powers that diminish and bind the being.
Universal truth
Transformation succeeds when consciousness develops a precise instrument: clear discernment joined with force of will. Then resistance is not fought blindly; its key mechanism is seen and dismantled, restoring freedom and light.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying, divine artisan crafts the weapon, finding the vital knot
The seer
- Rishi
- Gautama (Gautamāḥ)
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 1.61, RV 1.62
Family tradition
A seer-line attentive to the craft of mantra and the psychology of victory—how the divine powers shape instruments (vajra) for inner conquest.
Significance
This verse highlights the Aurobindonian theme: the gods are powers of consciousness; Tvaṣṭṛ ‘fashions’ capacities, Indra uses them to pierce the knot of resistance.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Tvaṣṭṛ)
- Epithets
- ईशान (Īśāna, sovereign), स्वराट् (Svarāṭ, self-ruler) [Indra’s type], वृत्रहन् (Vṛtrahan, slayer of the Coverer)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Viṣṇu
Cosmic role
Indra wields the light-weapon to release hidden waters/lights; Tvaṣṭṛ provides the formed power/instrument.
Inner power
Indra: illumined intelligence with force; Tvaṣṭṛ: shaping intelligence that perfects the faculties for sadhana.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra in Soma rites; also used in martial/strength invocations within śrauta settings.
अ॒स्मा इदु॒ त्वष्टा॑ तक्ष॒द्वज्रं॒ स्वप॑स्तमं स्व॒र्यं१॒॑ रणा॑य । वृ॒त्रस्य॑ चिद्वि॒दद्येन॒ मर्म॑ तु॒जन्नीशा॑नस्तुज॒ता कि॑ये॒धाः ॥
अ॒स्मै । इत् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । त्वष्टा॑ । त॒क्ष॒त् । वज्र॑म् । स्वपः॑ऽतमम् । स्व॒र्य॑म् । रणा॑य । वृ॒त्रस्य॑ । चि॒त् । वि॒दत् । येन॑ । मर्म॑ । तु॒जन् । ईशा॑नः । तु॒ज॒ता । कि॒ये॒धाः ॥
asmai | it | oṃ | iti | tvaṣṭā | takṣat | vajram | svapaḥ-tamam | svaryam | raṇāya | vṛtrasya | cit | vidat | yena | marma | tujan | īśānaḥ | tujatā | kiyedhāḥ
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4 × ~11
Hammering and incisive; suited to ‘striking’ imagery and decisive turns.
Elicits sharpness and courage; supports a clean inner cut through confusion or heaviness.
- त्वष्टा (tvaṣṭā)
- Literal: the fashioner/artisan deity. Symbolic: formative intelligence shaping faculties for spiritual action
- वज्रम् (vajram)
- Literal: thunderbolt/diamond weapon. Symbolic: decisive discriminative force; indestructible clarity
- स्वपस्तमम् (svapastamam)
- Literal: most perfect in work. Symbolic: right-formed inner instrument; skill in application of force
- स्वर्यम् (svaryam)
- Literal: luminous, belonging to svar. Symbolic: mind-weapon made of light (illumination), not anger
- रणाय (raṇāya)
- Literal: for battle. Symbolic: for the inner conflict of growth against inertia and falsehood
- वृत्रस्य (vṛtrasya)
- Literal: of Vṛtra. Symbolic: of the Coverer—subconscient resistance, obscurity
- मर्म (marma)
- Literal: vital point, vulnerable spot. Symbolic: core knot of the obstruction (root pattern)
- ईशानः (īśānaḥ)
- Literal: sovereign, ruler. Symbolic: mastery of consciousness; the governing Self in action
- कियेधाः (kiyedhāḥ)
- Literal: diminishers/obstructors. Symbolic: limiting forces that reduce the soul’s amplitude
Core Indra-Vṛtra complex in Soma ritual; recited to invoke victorious force against obstruction
During Indra offerings, especially when invoking Vṛtra-slaying and victory.
Recitation with oblation; mental visualization of vajra as luminous discernment.
For breaking addictions/compulsions: identify the ‘marma’ (trigger/root belief) and apply steady luminous will rather than reactive struggle.
tvaṣṭṛ from √tvaṣ/√tvakṣ ‘to fashion, form’ (artisan semantics). takṣ- is PIE *teks- ‘craft’. vájra- ‘bolt’ linked to √vaj ‘be strong’ and vāja field of force; here ‘decisive luminous force’. vṛtra- from √vṛ ‘to cover, obstruct’ → obstruction/covering of light (psychological ignorance). marma ‘vital point’ from √mṛ ‘die’? but in usage ‘secret vulnerable spot’.
battle of Light vs. obstruction (avidyā-covering as vṛtra), Rita restored by decisive action
Vṛtra is the anti-ṛta force; vajra restores right flow by removing the cover.
‘Finding the marma’ is the discovery of truth in the mechanism of falsehood.
Release of blocked currents (waters/lights) through the fashioned instrument of consciousness.
Yoga of transformation: knowledge-force (jñāna-śakti) acting as effective power.
Lightning = sudden clear discrimination; battle = sustained tapas; Vṛtra = inert subconscient mass; marma = psychological knot.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Vṛtra-slaying complex: Tvaṣṭṛ forges the vajra; Indra finds Vṛtra’s marma and shatters the obstructers. Inner sense: the fashioned power of concentrated will-illumination discovers the subconscious ‘knot’ where ignorance holds and breaks it, restoring free movement of light and force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- takṣ- (craft) from PIE *teks- (Greek τέκτων, Latin texō). The ‘obstruction/covering’ notion in vṛtra- from √vṛ aligns with widespread IE imagery of ‘covering’ as darkness/ignorance (cf. metaphorical ‘cover’ in many traditions), though direct lexical cognates vary.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recalls the archetypal victory as assurance and method: the same sovereign force (īśāna) can operate in the seeker when invoked. The hymn is both remembrance and activation—calling the crafted vajra of insight to strike the inner obstruction.
Visualize a luminous vajra at the brow cutting through one specific obscuring thought-pattern; then rest in clarity.
ājñā
Brisk but controlled exhale emphasis (kapālabhāti-light variant) for 30–60 seconds, then quiet sitting; avoid strain.
Decisive, luminous, fearless attention.
Name the obstruction without drama; ask inwardly for the ‘crafted’ right instrument (skillful means), then apply one clean act of truth (a decision, a renunciation, a clarified perception).
Vedic accents per recension; especially keep clarity on tvaṣṭā takṣad and vṛtrasya cid vidad.
Do not rush consonant clusters: tvaṣ-ṭā, tak-ṣad, svap-as-tam-am; keep udātta lift on key verbs.
Retroflex ṣ in tvaṣṭā and takṣad, vṛ- in vṛtrasya with syllabic ṛ, Maintain aspiration in vidhyad? (not here) but keep clear dh in vidad, kiyedhāḥ
Bright, cutting, and controlled; avoid shouting—force should feel ‘luminous’.
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