Rig Veda 10.152.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 152, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.152
- Rishi
- As above for RV 10.152
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
स्वस्तिदा विशस्पतिर्वृत्रहा विमृधो वशी । वृषेन्द्रः पुर एतु नः सोमपा अभयंकरः ॥
svastidā́ viśáspátir vṛtrahā́ vimṛdhó vaśī́ | vṛ́ṣendráḥ púra etu naḥ somapā́ abhayáṃkaraḥ ||
इंद्र भलाई देने वाला है। वो लोगों का नेता है। उसने वृत्र को मारा, दुश्मनों को हराया। हे इंद्र, तुम हमारे आगे चलो। तुम सोम रस पियो, तुम डर दूर करो और हमारे लिए रास्ता बनाओ।
Word by Word
- स्वस्तिदा
- welfare-giving, bestowing well-beingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण (कर्तृपदस्य) / कर्ता-सम्बन्धीRoot स्वस्ति-द (प्रातिपदिक: स्वस्ति ‘welfare’ + द (कृदन्त, दा-धातु ‘देने’))
- विशस्पतिः
- lord of the clans (Viśaspati)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (स्तुत्य देवता) / सम्बोधनार्थक-कर्तृRoot विशस्-पति (प्रातिपदिक: विशस् ‘clans/settlements’ + पति ‘lord’)
- वृत्रहा
- slayer of VṛtraAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण (विशस्पतिः) / कर्तृ-गुणRoot वृत्र-हन् (प्रातिपदिक: वृत्र ‘obstructor’ + हन् ‘to slay’; बहुव्रीहि/तत्पुरुष-समास, कृदन्त-स्वरूप)
- विमृधः
- hostile forces, adversariesNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (येषां निग्रहः/जयः)Root वि-मृध् (प्रातिपदिक: विमृध् ‘hostile/contending forces’; नपुंसक/पुं?—RV में प्रायः पुंलिङ्ग बहुवचन रूप)
- वशी
- mighty, having controlAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण (विशस्पतिः) / कर्तृ-गुणRoot वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक: वशिन् ‘controlling, masterful’)
- वृषेन्द्रः
- bull-like Indra, vigorous IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (स्तुत्य देवता) / पूर्वपद-विशेषित कर्ताRoot वृषन्-इन्द्र (समास: वृषन् ‘bull-like, vigorous’ + इन्द्र)
- पुरः
- in front, forthIndeclinableअव्यय (दिशा/स्थानवाचक)Role अधिकारण (दिशा/स्थान: ‘अग्रे’)Root पुरस् (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थक: ‘in front, forth’)
- एतु
- let (him) go/comeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ/विधिलिङ्-सदृश), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (गमन)Root इ (धातु: इ ‘to go’)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (अस्माकम्) / लाभ-सम्बन्धीRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमपाः
- Soma-drinkerNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (स्तुत्य देवता) / विशेषणार्थक नामRoot सोम-पा (प्रातिपदिक: सोम ‘Soma’ + पा ‘drinker’; कृदन्त/समास)
- अभयङ्करः
- making (us) fearless, fear-dispellingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण (सोमपाः/इन्द्रः) / कर्तृ-गुणRoot अ-भय-कर (प्रातिपदिक: अभय ‘fearlessness’ + कर ‘making’; कृदन्त)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): स्वस्तिदा | विशस्पतिः | वृत्रहा | विमृधः | वशी | वृषेन्द्रः | पुरः | एतु | नः | सोमपाः | अभयङ्करः । 1) विशस्पति॑र्वृत्र॒हा → विशस्पतिः + वृत्रहा (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + व् → र्)
- 2) वृषेन्द्र॑: → वृषेन्द्रः (विसर्ग-लेखन)
- 3) अभयंक॒रः → अभयङ्करः (अनुस्वारस्य परसवर्ण: ं + क → ङ्क)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is invoked as giver of well-being, lord of the peoples, slayer of Vṛtra, masterful remover of assaults. Let the Bull Indra, Soma-drinker and maker of fearlessness, go before us.
Inner meaning
Indra is the inner leader who grants svasti (well-being as wholeness) by governing the many ‘peoples’ (viśaḥ = our multiple parts and impulses). As Vṛtrahan he breaks the coverer—subconscient resistance that blocks the flow of light and force. ‘Going before’ means this illumined intelligence should lead every movement; ‘Soma-drinker’ indicates he is nourished by the delight/ānanda that descends when consciousness opens, and from that delight arises fearlessness.
Universal truth
True well-being is the harmony of the whole being under the leadership of higher intelligence, strengthened by inner delight; then fear and obstruction cannot rule.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying, Leadership, Fearlessness, Auspiciousness
The seer
- Rishi
- Anukramaṇī attribution uncertain across recensions for RV 10.152 (late Maṇḍala 10); hymn traditionally Indra-directed
- Other hymns
- RV 10.152.1, RV 10.152.3, RV 10.152.4, RV 10.152.5
Family tradition
Late Vedic protective and victory-oriented Indra stotra style; often used as a forward-leading (pura etu) invocation
Significance
The seer frames Indra not only as destroyer of obstruction but as the organizer of inner society (viśaḥ) and the bringer of fearless harmony (svasti, abhaya).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- svasti-dā (giver of well-being), viśas pati (lord of the peoples), vṛtra-han (slayer of the coverer), vimṛdha (disperser of assaults), vaśī (masterful), vṛṣan/vṛṣendra (bull-like, powerful), soma-pā (Soma-drinker), abhayaṃkara (maker of fearlessness)
- Related deities
- Soma, Maruts, Agni, Varuṇa (as ṛta)
Cosmic role
Leads the gods’ advance, breaks obstructions, restores the free circulation of luminous energies that sustain the worlds.
Inner power
Forward-leading discernment and courage that organizes the being and acts from delight rather than fear.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-pravara/lead-in protection; recited for safe advance and victory (symbolically and ritually)
स्व॒स्ति॒दा वि॒शस्पति॑र्वृत्र॒हा वि॑मृ॒धो व॒शी । वृषेन्द्र॑: पु॒र ए॑तु नः सोम॒पा अ॑भयंक॒रः ॥
स्व॒स्ति॒ऽदाः । वि॒शः । पतिः॑ । वृ॒त्र॒ऽहा । वि॒ऽमृ॒धः । व॒शी । वृषा॑ । इन्द्रः॑ । पु॒रः । ए॒तु॒ । नः॒ । सो॒म॒ऽपाः । अ॒भ॒य॒म्ऽक॒रः ॥
svasti-dāḥ | viśaḥ | patiḥ | vṛtra-hā | vi-mṛdhaḥ | vaśī | vṛṣā | indraḥ | puraḥ | etu | naḥ | soma-pāḥ | abhayam-karaḥ
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Processional and forceful; suitable for ‘pura etu’—a leading march rhythm.
Creates a sense of forward momentum and protection; energizes the will to proceed without hesitation.
- स्वस्तिदाः (svasti-dāḥ)
- Literal: giver of well-being. Symbolic: power that establishes integral harmony and auspiciousness in the being
- विशः पतिः (viśaḥ patiḥ)
- Literal: lord of the peoples/tribes. Symbolic: governor of the many parts of the personality—mind, life, body, subconscient
- वृत्रहा (vṛtra-hā)
- Literal: slayer of Vṛtra. Symbolic: breaker of the coverer—ignorance, inertia, repression, subconscient blockage
- विमृधः (vi-mṛdhaḥ)
- Literal: disperser of assaults. Symbolic: scattering of intrusive thoughts, attacks of doubt, hostile suggestions
- वशी (vaśī)
- Literal: masterful, self-possessed. Symbolic: sovereign control; mastery over reactions
- वृषेन्द्रः (vṛṣendraḥ)
- Literal: bull Indra. Symbolic: irresistible strength of illumined force
- पुरः एतु (pura etu)
- Literal: go in front. Symbolic: let higher discernment lead action before impulse
- सोमपाः (soma-pāḥ)
- Literal: Soma-drinker. Symbolic: mind that drinks delight; illumination sustained by ānanda
- अभयंकऱः (abhayaṃ-karaḥ)
- Literal: maker of fearlessness. Symbolic: inner courage born of clarity and delight
Protective ‘pura etu’ formula for processions/advances in ritual and life; invoked for svasti and abhayam in soma settings and general auspicious openings.
Before departures, beginnings, and confrontations; in modern practice before initiating a new project or entering difficult conversations
Invocation for Indra to ‘go before’; offering of soma/oblations in Vedic setting; in app use, a sankalpa (intention) followed by recitation
‘Lead me forward’ mantra: chant before stepping into fear-triggering situations to establish inner governance and courage.
svasti: su-asti ‘good being’ (state of well-being). vṛtra-han: vṛtra from √vṛ ‘to cover, obstruct’; han √han ‘to strike’—breaker of the covering. mṛdh: ‘hostile pressure/attack’ (Vedic). vaśī related to vaśa ‘control, mastery’. abhayam: a-bhaya ‘non-fear’; bhī √bhī ‘to fear’ (PIE *bʰeyh₂-).
Svasti as right-being, Fearlessness as spiritual condition, Indra as leader of the forward movement
Indra as viśas pati aligns the many parts to ṛta—right arrangement and right movement.
Fearlessness arises from seeing truly; false appearances lose their hold.
Breaking Vṛtra releases the waters/rays—life-force and knowledge—enabling renewal and growth.
Integral Yoga hermeneutic: Soma as ānanda sustaining illumination; Indra as mental god leading transformation.
Storm is the dynamic clearing of consciousness; Soma is inner sweetness/delight that feeds courage; ‘advance’ is progressive spiritual movement.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Indra goes before’ mythic pattern: the champion precedes the host, breaks obstruction (Vṛtra), and establishes fearlessness. Myth becomes sādhanā-instruction: place the illumined will in front of the nature so it clears hostile pressures.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- svasti (su-asti) parallels Indo-European ‘good-being’ compounds; bhaya from √bhī aligns with PIE fear root (*bʰeyh₂-). The inherited lexicon of fear and auspiciousness is integrated into a ritual-psychological technology: abhayam is not mere emotion but a produced state (kara ‘maker’).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi requests a concrete inner governance: Indra to lead (puraḥ etu), to give svasti, and to manufacture fearlessness. The reciprocity is explicit—Indra drinks soma (delight-force offered) and returns as protective, forward-driving power.
Place Indra ‘in front’: visualize a bright, clear intelligence leading your next action; feel the parts of you (viśaḥ) align behind it.
maṇipūra (vīrya/forward force)
Inhale: ‘svasti-dā’; exhale: ‘pura etu naḥ’ for 12 cycles, then sit in stillness
Forward-moving, fearless, harmonized energy.
When scattered, name the inner parts; then invoke Indra as viśas pati to coordinate them. Conclude by offering the action to Soma-delight—act from inner sweetness, not compulsion.
Rigvedic accenting with udātta peaks on key epithets (svasti-dāḥ, vṛtrahā, vṛṣendraḥ, somapāḥ) per śākhā tradition
Keep a forward-driving lift through ‘pura etu naḥ’; avoid dragging the cadence at line breaks.
svasti-dāḥ: clear ‘sv’ cluster; short a in -sti, viśas: palatal ś, not dental s, vṛtra-hā: vocalic ṛ (vṛ), retroflex ṭ in vṛtra, vimṛdhaḥ: vocalic ṛ again; dh aspirated, abhayaṃkaraḥ: anusvāra before k—‘a-bha-yaṃ-ka-raḥ’
Bright, leading, confident; steady breath support.
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