Rig Veda 1.80.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 80, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.80
- Rishi
- Gotama Rāhūgaṇa
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
स त्वामदद्वृषा मदः सोमः श्येनाभृतः सुतः । येना वृत्रं निरद्भ्यो जघन्थ वज्रिन्नोजसार्चन्ननु स्वराज्यम् ॥
sá tvā́ amadat vṛ́ṣā mádaḥ sómaḥ śyenā́bhṛtaḥ sutáḥ | yéna vṛtráṃ nír adbhyó jaghántha vajrinn ójasā́rcan ánu sva-rā́jyam ||
सोम पीला के बाज़ लाया, और इंद्र को खुशी मिली। उसी ताकत से इंद्र ने वृत्र को पानी से बाहर मारा। इंद्र अपना राज करने लगा।
Word by Word
- सः
- he (that one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → स-
- त्वाम्
- youPronounद्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अदद्
- gaveVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot दा (दाने)
- वृषा
- the bull (mighty one)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (अदद्-क्रियायाः विशेषण/सम्बोधन-भावः)Root वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मदः
- intoxication, exhilarationNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/विशेष्य (सोमस्य)Root मद (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमः
- Soma (the pressed drink)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्येनाभृतः
- brought by the falconAdjective (past passive participle)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; भृत = क्त-प्रत्ययान्तःRole करण (अभरण-कर्तृकरण-निर्देशः: ‘by the falcon’)Root श्येन + √भृ (भरणे) → भृत (कृदन्त)
- सुतः
- pressed, expressedAdjective (PPP)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role विशेषण (सोमस्य)Root √सु (सवने/प्रसवे; सोम-प्रसव) → सुत (कृदन्त)
- येन
- by whichPronounतृतीया, एकवचनम् (नपुंसकलिङ्ग-रूपम्)Role करणRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वृत्रम्
- VṛtraNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- निः
- out, forthIndeclinable (preverb)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot निः (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अद्भ्यः
- from the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी, बहुवचनम्Role अपादानRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक; जल) → अद्- (वेदिक-रूप)
- जघन्थ
- you slewVerbलिट् (perfect), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √हन् (हिंसागत्योः; वध)
- वज्रिन्
- O wielder of the thunderboltNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot वज्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ओजसा
- with strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role करणRoot ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्चन्
- praisingVerb (participle)वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/न्त्), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (अनु-क्रियायाः सहभावः)Root √अर्च् (पूजायाम्/स्तुतौ)
- अनु
- after, followingIndeclinableRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- स्वराज्यम्
- sovereignty, self-ruleNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म/प्राप्य (अनु-गमनस्य)Root स्वराज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: सः त्वाम् अदद् वृषा मदः सोमः श्येनाभृतः सुतः । येन वृत्रम् निः अद्भ्यः जघन्थ वज्रिन् ओजसा अर्चन् अनु स्वराज्यम् ॥ 1) स त्वा॑म् → सः + त्वाम् (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते)
- 2) मद॒: सोम॑: → मदः + सोमः (विसर्गः)
- 3) श्ये॒नाभृ॑तः → श्येन + आभृतः (आ- उपसर्गः √भृ; समास/सन्धिः: -a + ā-)
- 4) निर॒द्भ्यो → निः + अद्भ्यः (विसर्गः ‘र्’ आदेशः; निः + अ- → निर-)
- 5) वज्रि॒न्नोज॒सा → वज्रिन् + ओजसा (न् + ओ → न्नो; व्यञ्जन-सन्धिः)
- 6) ओज॒सार्च॒न् → ओजसा + अर्चन् (अ + अ → आ; स्वर-सन्धिः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The bull-like rapture Soma, pressed and brought by the eagle, exhilarated Indra. By it Indra smote Vṛtra forth from the waters, O Vajrin, by thy force, chanting into thy self-sovereignty.
Inner meaning
Soma-Ananda, once ‘pressed’ (made available through discipline) and ‘brought by the eagle’ (śyena = swift soaring power of the mind/soul that fetches the delight from the higher plane), becomes a strong, virile ecstasy (vṛṣā madaḥ) that gladdens and empowers the illumined mind (Indra). With this bliss-force, Indra can strike the Coverer not only in the earth-body but in the ‘waters’—the life and subconscient currents where the obstruction hides and re-forms. The victory is accompanied by ‘arcann’: the triumphant truth-vibration that stabilizes the new sovereignty.
Universal truth
When higher delight is consciously drawn down and integrated, illumination gains the strength to conquer resistance even in deep vital/subconscious layers, establishing stable inner mastery.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying, Soma brought by śyena, Release from the waters, Inner sovereignty
The seer
- Rishi
- Gotama Rāhūgaṇa (Gautama)
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 1.80.1, RV 1.80.3, RV 1.80.4
Family tradition
The Gotamas repeatedly link Soma’s descent with Indra’s victory; the ‘eagle’ motif signals a mystic ascent/descent dynamic in their symbolism.
Significance
This verse highlights the method: bring down higher Ananda (Soma) through the ‘eagle’ power, then use illumined force to clear resistance from the waters (life/subconscient), not merely from surface mind.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- vajrin, vṛtrahan (implied by action), śaviṣṭha (contextual epithet in the hymn)
- Related deities
- Soma, Maruts, Agni, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Releaser of the waters; champion who breaks the cover and restores flow and light.
Inner power
Illumined mind-force empowered by Ananda; capacity to act in deeper layers of being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma stotra in Soma sacrifice
स त्वा॑मद॒द्वृषा॒ मद॒: सोम॑: श्ये॒नाभृ॑तः सु॒तः । येना॑ वृ॒त्रं निर॒द्भ्यो ज॒घन्थ॑ वज्रि॒न्नोज॒सार्च॒न्ननु॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥
सः । त्वा॒ । अ॒म॒द॒त् । वृषा॑ । मदः॑ । सोमः॑ । श्ये॒नऽआ॑भृतः । सु॒तः । येन॑ । वृ॒त्रम् । निः । अ॒त्ऽभ्यः । ज॒घन्थ॑ । व॒ज्रि॒न् । ओज॑सा । अर्च॑न् । अनु॑ । स्व॒ऽराज्य॑म् ॥
saḥ | tvā | amadat | vṛṣā | madaḥ | somaḥ | śyena-ābhṛtaḥ | sutaḥ | yena | vṛtram | niḥ | at-bhyaḥ | jaghantha | vajrin | ojasā | arcan | anu | sva-rājyam
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables
Surging and wave-like; appropriate to the ‘waters’ theme and forceful release.
Creates an inner swell (Soma) followed by a decisive break (vajra), leaving a sense of freer flow.
- vṛṣā madaḥ
- Literal: bull-like intoxication/rapture. Symbolic: strong, life-affirming Ananda that energizes action without desire
- śyenābhṛtaḥ
- Literal: brought by the eagle. Symbolic: soaring faculty (higher mind/psychic flight) that brings down divine delight
- sutaḥ
- Literal: pressed. Symbolic: Ananda extracted by tapas and offered into the inner sacrifice
- vṛtraṃ
- Literal: Vṛtra. Symbolic: the Coverer—ignorance-resistance that blocks flow
- nir adbhyaḥ
- Literal: out from the waters. Symbolic: expelled from vital/subconscient currents; release of blocked life-force
- vajrin
- Literal: vajra-bearer. Symbolic: decisive illumined force cutting knots
Soma-pressing praise emphasizing Soma’s empowering of Indra for Vṛtra-smiting; recited to intensify the victorious force during Soma offering.
When offering Soma to Indra; especially in sequences celebrating Vṛtra-slaying and water-release
Praise and invitation; energizing the rite with triumphant affirmation
Chant when working to release emotional blockage or lethargy—invoke bliss first, then clarity and decisive action.
(śyena) ‘eagle/falcon’ from √śī/śyā?; in Soma myth the bird brings Soma from heaven—psychologically the swift higher faculty that retrieves delight from the supraconscient. (vṛtra) from √vṛ ‘to cover, obstruct’ (PIE *wer- ‘cover’) → the Coverer. (adbhyas) abl. pl. of ap-/ad- ‘waters’ (PIE *h₂ep-; cf. Latin aqua via different root, but IE water words are multiple; Vedic ap- is classic IE). √han (jaghantha) ‘to strike, slay’ (PIE *gʷhen-; cf. English bane via semantic shift?; Greek phén- in phoneúō ‘murder’).
release of the waters as liberation of consciousness-streams, Soma as delight fueling right action, svarājya as stabilized mastery after victory
Restoration of right flow (waters) is restoration of ṛta in the life-world.
Arcann (truth-chant) stabilizes the victory as a law of consciousness, not a momentary high.
Waters as original plenitude; obstruction as the knot that withholds manifestation; release as renewed creation.
Integral Yoga hermeneutic: descent of Ananda enables transformation of vital/subconscient.
Eagle = ascending/descending spiritual force; waters = life-energy and subconscious streams; Soma = delight; vajra = discriminating power.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Classic Vṛtra-slaying and waters-release: Soma (brought by śyena) intoxicates Indra, enabling him to strike the Coverer out of the waters. Psychologically, the higher-fetched delight empowers the decisive will to break the subconscient knot and free the obstructed streams of life and knowledge.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vṛtra- from √vṛ ‘cover’ parallels broader IE ‘cover/ward’ roots (PIE *wer-). ap-/ad- ‘waters’ continues PIE *h₂ep- (Hittite ḫāpa-, etc.). √han ‘slay’ reflects PIE *gʷhen- with cross-IE cognates (Greek phoneúō, Avestan jan-).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi highlights the enabling condition: Soma and its mythic retrieval (śyena) are offered/affirmed so Indra in the sacrificer becomes capable of victory. The exchange is explicit: Soma-pressing and chant → Indra’s empowered act → liberation and establishment of inner rule.
Draw down a ‘cool-bright’ delight, then direct illumined force to release blocked emotions/energies.
svādhiṣṭhāna (waters/vital flow) supported by ājñā (illumination)
Inhale imagining the ‘eagle’ lifting awareness upward; exhale letting Soma descend as calm joy; then one firm exhale on the Vṛtra-striking phrase
Joyful power with depth; clarity acting in the vital
If agitation arises, return to Soma-feel (quiet delight) before attempting ‘victory’; let the mantra’s ‘arcann’ be a steady inner chant that prevents relapse into old patterns.
Tri-svara chanting per śākhā; maintain clear accent on somaḥ, śyenābhṛtaḥ, vṛtraṃ, adbhyaḥ, vajrin, svarājyam (exact svara needs recensional marks).
Let ‘vṛṣā madaḥ somaḥ’ be voiced with uplifted vigor; make ‘nir adbhyo jaghantha’ firm and clipped; broaden the final cadence.
śyenābhṛtaḥ: palatal ‘śy’, long ē; ‘bhṛ’ with vocalic ṛ, vṛṣā: retroflex ‘ṣ’, adbhyaḥ: cluster ‘dbhy’—keep it together without inserting a vowel, jaghantha: aspirated ‘th’ at end
Exhilarated but controlled; ‘cool fire’ quality—joy with precision.
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