Rig Veda 10.65.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 65, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.65
- Devata
- Indrāgnī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
इन्द्राग्नी वृत्रहत्येषु सत्पती मिथो हिन्वाना तन्वा समोकसा । अन्तरिक्षं मह्या पप्रुरोजसा सोमो घृतश्रीर्महिमानमीरयन् ॥
indrāgnī vṛtrahátyeṣu sátpatī mithó hinvānā́ tanvā́ samókasā | antárikṣaṃ mahyā́ paprúr ójasā sómo ghṛtaśrī́r mahimā́nam ī́rayan ||
इंद्र और अग्नि दोनों बड़े हैं। दोनों मिलकर काम करते हैं और एक ही जगह रहते हैं। इनकी ताकत से आसमान और धरती के बीच का पूरा हिस्सा भरा हुआ है। सोम भी इनके साथ है और इनकी बड़ाई को और बड़ा बना रहा है। यह तीनों बहुत ताकतवर हैं।
Word by Word
- इन्द्राग्नी
- Indra and AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) (द्वन्द्व-समास)
- वृत्रहत्येषु
- in the slayings of Vṛtra / in Vṛtra-killing battlesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot वृत्रहत्य (प्रातिपदिक) < वृत्र + हत्य (हत्/हन्-धातु से)
- सत्पती
- the two true lordsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot सत्पति (प्रातिपदिक) < सत् + पति (तत्पुरुष)
- मिथः
- mutually, with each otherIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकरणRoot मिथस् (अव्यय)
- हिन्वाना
- impelling, urging onVerb (Participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), कर्तरि; प्रथमा, द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (इन्द्राग्नी/सत्पती के विशेषणरूपेण)Role कर्तृRoot हिन्/हि (धातु) ‘प्रेरणे’
- तन्वा
- with (their) body / with their own selvesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot तनू (प्रातिपदिक)
- समोकसा
- sharing the same dwelling, of one abodeAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (द्वन्द्वस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot समोकस् (प्रातिपदिक) < सम् + ओकस् ‘आवास/गृह’
- अन्तरिक्षम्
- the midspace, atmosphereNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- मह्या
- with greatness, mightilyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot मही (प्रातिपदिक)
- पप्रुर्
- they have filled / pervadedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद), 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन; (पप्रुर् = पप्रुः संहितायाम्)Role कर्तृRoot पॄ/पॢ (धातु) ‘पूरणे/व्याप्तौ’
- ओजसा
- with strength, by mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमः
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- घृतश्रीः
- having ghee as splendor / ghee-brightAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot घृतश्री (प्रातिपदिक) < घृत + श्री (तत्पुरुष)
- महिमानम्
- greatness, majestyNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईरयन्
- setting in motion, arousing, impellingVerb (Participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), कर्तरि; प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (सोमः कर्ता)Role कर्तृRoot ईर्/ईरय् (धातु) ‘प्रेरणे/चोदने’
Sandhi Notes
- (1) इन्द्रा॒ग्नी = इन्द्र + अग्नी (द्वन्द्व; संहितायां दीर्घः). (2) वृत्र॒हत्ये॑षु = वृत्रहत्य + एषु (सप्तमी-बहु). (3) सत्प॑ती = सत्पती (द्विवचन प्रथमा/सम्बोधन). (4) हि॑न्वा॒ना = हिन्वानौ (शतृ-कृदन्तस्य द्विवचन-प्रथमा; संहितापाठे -आ). (5) त॒न्वा॒३॑ = तन्वा (तृतीया-एक). (6) समो॑कसा = समोकसा (द्विवचन; ‘सम-ओकस्’). (7) प॑प्रु॒रोज॑सा = पप्रुः + ओजसा
- विसर्गः/रुत्व-परिणामः संहितायां ‘पप्रुर्’ इति. (8) घृत॒श्रीर्म॑हि॒मान॑मी॒रय॑न् = घृतश्रीः + महिमानम् + ईरयन्
- ‘श्रीः’ का विसर्गः ‘म’ पूर्वे ‘र्’ (रुत्व) भवति: घृतश्रीर्म्…
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra and Agni, lords in battles that slay Vṛtra, urge each other and dwell together; with their strength they fill the midworld; Soma, shining with ghee, proclaims their greatness.
Inner meaning
Indra (illumined mind) and Agni (psychic will) are the two chief allies in the inner conquest: will as the executor and light as the revealer. ‘Vṛtrahatyeṣu’ points to repeated inner victories over the Coverer—habitual obscurity, inertia, subconscient resistance. ‘Samokasā’ indicates they act from one home: a unified consciousness where will and light are not divided. Their force fills the antarikṣa—the intermediate field between physical and pure mind—meaning the vital-mental region is pervaded and transformed. Soma, the delight-consciousness, ‘ghṛtaśrīḥ’ (radiant with clarified light/delight), lifts up their greatness: bliss confirms and magnifies the power of will and illumination, making the victory stable and attractive to the whole being.
Universal truth
Transformation requires both luminous understanding and steadfast will; when they cooperate, the troubled mid-region of life and mind becomes filled with strength. Delight is not a byproduct but a sustaining power that enlarges and confirms spiritual effort.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying (inner), Divine collaboration, Expansion of the midworld
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.65.1, Rig Veda 10.65.3, Rig Veda 10.65.4, Rig Veda 10.65.5
Significance
A classic Aurobindonian dyad: Agni–Indra as the indispensable pair for inner victory—aspiration-force and illumined intelligence acting from one integrated center.
The deity
- Devata
- Indrāgnī (dual), with Soma as supporting power
- Epithets
- satpatī (true lords), vṛtrahan (Vṛtra-slayer, implied), samokasā (dwelling together), ghṛtaśrīḥ (Soma: radiant with clarified splendor)
- Related deities
- Maruts (often accompany Indra), Brahmaṇaspati (supports mantra-force), Sarasvatī (supports inspired speech)
Cosmic role
Indra releases the light and powers held back by obstruction; Agni carries the offering and enforces the ascent; Soma provides the delight that makes the gods grow and the worlds widen.
Inner power
A coordinated engine of sadhana: aspiration (Agni) + illumination (Indra) + delight (Soma) transforming the intermediate nature (antarikṣa).
In ritual
Where it is used
Indrāgnī and Soma praise in soma-yajña; supports the inner ‘vṛtra-hatya’ as removal of obstruction before offering.
इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्नी वृ॑त्र॒हत्ये॑षु॒ सत्प॑ती मि॒थो हि॑न्वा॒ना त॒न्वा॒३॒॑ समो॑कसा । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षं॒ मह्या प॑प्रु॒रोज॑सा॒ सोमो॑ घृत॒श्रीर्म॑हि॒मान॑मी॒रय॑न् ॥
इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्नी इति॑ । वृ॒त्र॒ऽहत्ये॑षु । सत्प॑ती॒ इति॒ सत्ऽप॑ती । मि॒थः । हि॒न्वा॒ना । त॒न्वा॑ । सम्ऽओ॑कसा । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । महि॑ । आ । प॒प्रुः॒ । ओज॑सा । सोमः॑ । घृ॒त॒ऽश्रीः । म॒हि॒मान॑म् । ई॒रय॑न् ॥
indrāgnī iti | vṛtra-hatyeṣu | satpatī itisat-patī | mithaḥ | hinvānā | tanvā | sam-okasā | antarikṣam | mahi | ā | papruḥ | ojasā | somaḥ | ghṛta-śrīḥ | mahimānam | īrayan
Vigorous and forward-driving, with coupling phrases (mitho hinvānā, samokasā) that create a sense of teamwork.
Energizes resolve and clears mental fog; evokes a strong ‘battle-for-light’ mood without agitation when chanted steadily.
- इन्द्रा॒ग्नी (indrāgnī)
- Literal: Indra and Agni. Symbolic: illumined mind + psychic will acting as a single combined force
- वृत्रहत्येṣu (vṛtrahatyeṣu)
- Literal: in the slayings of Vṛtra. Symbolic: repeated acts of breaking inner obstruction/covering
- सत्पती (satpatī)
- Literal: true lords/masters of the good (sat). Symbolic: governing powers aligned with truth-being, not ego-force
- मिथो हिन्वाना (mitho hinvānā)
- Literal: urging each other mutually. Symbolic: reciprocal reinforcement of will and illumination
- समोकसा (samokasā)
- Literal: dwelling in one home. Symbolic: unified seat in consciousness; integration of faculties
- अन्तरिक्षम् (antarikṣam)
- Literal: midworld/atmosphere. Symbolic: vital-mental field where impulses and thoughts circulate
- ओजसा (ojasā)
- Literal: by force/energy. Symbolic: spiritual strength, effective power of consciousness
- सोमः (somaḥ)
- Literal: soma. Symbolic: divine delight/ananda that seals and magnifies realization
- घृतश्रीः (ghṛtaśrīḥ)
- Literal: splendid with ghee. Symbolic: radiant with clarified light/delight; luminous sweetness
- महिमानम् ईरयन् (mahimānam īrayan)
- Literal: raising/proclaiming greatness. Symbolic: uplifting the stature of the inner powers; intensifying their action
Indrāgnī and Soma praise in soma-yajña; supports the inner ‘vṛtra-hatya’ as removal of obstruction before offering.
Suitable as a protective/strengthening recitation before demanding work, study, or inner practice
Invocation of Indra-Agni for overcoming obstacles; offering of soma/delight inwardly to magnify their action.
Use when facing procrastination, confusion, or emotional turbulence: call Agni (will) and Indra (clarity) to fill the ‘midworld’ of the day; then invoke Soma as gratitude/delight.
vṛtrá from √vṛ ‘cover, obstruct’ → the Coverer (ignorance/obstruction). han/hatyā from √han ‘to strike, slay’ (PIE *gʷhen- ‘kill’). ojas from √vaj/√oj ‘vigor’ (ojas as concentrated force). ghṛtá from √ghṛ ‘to sprinkle/anoint’ → clarified butter; symbolically ‘clarified’ light/delight. antárikṣa: ‘between’ (antar) + ‘dominion/space’ (īkṣ/ṛkṣ debated) → mid-region.
Vṛtra as obstruction/ignorance, Union of will and force (Agni+Indra), Soma as delight that magnifies divine action
Vṛtra represents the anti-ṛta resistance; Indra-Agni restore ṛta by releasing and organizing the energies in the middle realm.
‘Satpatī’ implies governance by truth-being rather than desire-driven force.
Cosmic action proceeds by releasing withheld powers and filling the intermediary space with ordered force; delight amplifies creation.
Integral-Vedic psychology: worlds as states of consciousness; gods as operative powers within them.
Fire/thunder = will and illumination; atmosphere = vital-mental field; ghee = clarified luminous substance; soma = bliss-current that nourishes the gods within.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Vṛtra-slaying mythologem: Indra-Agni break the Coverer (psychologically, the constricting ignorance), enabling the midplane of the being (antarikṣa) to be filled with force; Soma’s delight intensifies and stabilizes the greatness achieved.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √han ‘slay’ aligns with PIE *gʷhen- (cf. Greek phónos ‘slaughter’ via related formations; Sanskrit han- is a clear IE reflex). sat- ‘being’ is from PIE *h₁es- ‘to be’ (cf. Latin est, English is).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi invokes the paired gods as a single operational unit in the inner battle; their ‘one dwelling’ mirrors the practitioner’s needed integration of will (Agni) and conquering force (Indra), while Soma supplies the sustaining joy that makes the conquest enduring.
Unify aspiration and clarity to break inner resistance; then rest in delight to stabilize the gain.
Dynamic concentration moving from effort to luminous expansion in the vital-mental field.
On inhale, feel Agni rising as steady will in the heart; on exhale, feel Indra’s clear light in the forehead; after recitation, invoke Soma as a cool sweetness descending through the system, enlarging calm strength.
Use the Vedic accent marks from the saṃhitā tradition; emphasize the compound indrāgnī as a single unit, then articulate key action-words (vṛtrahatyeṣu, hinvānā, papruḥ, īrayan).
Keep ‘vṛtrahatyeṣu’ crisp; give a slight lift on udātta syllables; avoid swallowing consonant clusters (ndr, gny, trh).
vṛtra: vocalic ṛ clearly (vṛ-), not ‘vri’, hinvānā: nasal + vā long ā, antarikṣam: kṣ as a single conjunct, ghṛta: gh + vocalic ṛ; keep retroflex ṭ, īrayan: long ī at start
Firm, bright, battle-ready but controlled; do not shout—let intensity come from precision.
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