Rig Veda 2.11.9: Mandala 2, Sukta 11, Mantra 9
Sukta 2.11
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
इन्द्रो महां सिन्धुमाशयानं मायाविनं वृत्रमस्फुरन्निः । अरेजेतां रोदसी भियाने कनिक्रदतो वृष्णो अस्य वज्रात् ॥
índro mahā́ṃ síndhum āśáyānaṃ māyāvínaṃ vṛtrám asphuran níḥ | árejetāṃ ródasī bhiyāné kaníkradato vṛ́ṣṇo asya vájrāt ||
इंद्र ने उस बड़े पानी को तोड़ दिया जो दबा हुआ था। वृत्र नाम का एक राक्षस था जो जादू-जादू कर रहा था, इंद्र ने उसे बाहर निकाल के मारा। आसमान और धरती दोनों डर गए। जब इंद्र की बिजली चमकी, तो गूँज जैसी आवाज़ आई।
Word by Word
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- महान्
- greatAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रः-विशेषण)Role कर्तृ (कर्तृ-विशेषण)Root महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सिन्धुम्
- the river/stream (Sindhu)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (अस्फुरत् इत्यस्य)Root सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
- आशयानम्
- lying (there), abidingParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्यय (आ-शी + शतृ) ; ‘lying/abiding’Role कर्म (वृत्रम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root आ-शी (धातु) → आशय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- मायाविनम्
- possessing magic/illusion, craftyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वृत्रम्-विशेषण)Role कर्म (कर्म-विशेषण)Root मायाविन् (प्रातिपदिक; माया + विन्)
- वृत्रम्
- Vṛtra (the obstructer)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्फुरत्
- struck, shatteredVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘he struck/smashed/made burst’Role क्रिया (कर्म-प्रवर्तक)Root स्फुर् (धातु)
- निः
- out, forthIndeclinableअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (वियोग/बहिर्गमन-भाव)Root निः (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- अरेजेताम्
- (the two) trembledVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘the two trembled’Role क्रियाRoot रेज् (धातु)
- रोदसी
- Heaven and EarthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वेदे प्रायः), प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (अरेजेताम् इत्यस्य)Root रोदसी (प्रातिपदिक; द्वन्द्व/द्विवचन-रूप ‘heaven-and-earth’)
- भियाने
- fearing, in dreadParticiple (Adjective)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्यय (आत्मनेपदी) ‘fearing’Role कर्तृ (कर्तृ-विशेषण; रोदसी)Root भी (धातु) → भियान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- कनिक्रदतः
- of (him) roaring repeatedlyParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्यय ‘roaring repeatedly’ (अस्य इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root कनि-क्रद् (धातु; पुनरुक्त/तीव्रार्थक), क्रद् (धातु)
- वृष्णः
- of the bull-like one, of the mighty oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (अस्य इत्यनेन सह: ‘of the bull/strong one’)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्य
- of himPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वज्रात्
- from/at (the blow of) the thunderboltNounपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचनRole अपादान (हेतुतः/निमित्ततः: ‘from/at the impact of the thunderbolt’)Root वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविच्छेद): इन्द्रः | महान् | सिन्धुम् | आशयानम् | मायाविनम् | वृत्रम् | अस्फुरत् | निः | अरेजेताम् | रोदसी | भियाने | कनिक्रदतः | वृष्णः | अस्य | वज्रात् । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) इन्द्रो॑ = इन्द्रः (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते) । (2) म॒हां = महान् (न्-लोप/अनुस्वार-लेखन-परम्परा; पदान्त ‘-न्’)
- (3) सिन्धु॑मा॒शया॑नम् = सिन्धुम् + आशयानम् (म् + आ → मा)
- (4) वृ॒त्रम॑स्फुरन् = वृत्रम् + अस्फुरत् (म् + अ → म; त्/न्-लेखनभेदः संहितायाम्)
- (5) अस्फुर॒न्निः = अस्फुरत् + निः (त् + न → न्न्; संहितायां समन्वयः)
- (6) अरे॑जेतां॒ रोद॑सी = अरेजेताम् + रोदसी (म् + र → म्-लोप/अनुस्वार-प्रवृत्तिः; पदविभागे अरेजेताम् | रोदसी)
- (7) कनि॑क्रदतो॒ वृष्णो॑ = कनिक्रदतः + वृष्णः (ः + व → ओ/उदात्त-स्वरित-प्रभावयुक्तः संहितारूपः; पदे वृष्णः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra smites the vast flood held back by the illusion-working Vṛtra; Heaven and Earth tremble at the Bull’s thunder as the vajra is released.
Inner meaning
The illumined Mind-Power (Indra) breaks the subconscient obstruction (Vṛtra, the Coverer) that lies upon the great inner current (mahān sindhu—vast flow of consciousness/force). When the divine thunderbolt of discerning will (vajra) is discharged, the whole field of our embodied awareness (rodasī—heaven and earth: mind and life/body) shakes as the old supports of ignorance collapse.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires a decisive act of illumination that shatters entrenched resistance; when truth-force strikes, the entire psyche reorganizes, and the previously dammed energy becomes a liberating flood.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying, release-of-waters, victory-over-darkness, cosmic-response, inner-battle (knowledge vs. ignorance)
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.1, Rig Veda 2.11, Rig Veda 2.12, Rig Veda 2.13
Family tradition
Bhṛgu-line seer-poets; hymns often emphasize victorious divine powers that open the ways of ṛta and the release of light/wealth (rāyas).
Significance
Gṛtsamada’s vision frequently turns the outer battle of Indra into an inner conquest: the breaking of obstruction, release of the ‘waters’ and ‘cows’ (lights), and establishment of right movement (ṛta) in the seeker.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- vṛṣan (Bull), śūra (Hero), vajrin (Thunderbolt-bearer), vṛtrahan (Slayer of Vṛtra)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Maruts, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstructions; releaser of waters and light; establisher of victorious order against chaotic resistance.
Inner power
Illumined mind-force that strikes through confusion, fear, and inertia, restoring free flow of consciousness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotras within Soma-yajña sequences (Indra-Vṛtra victory motifs).
इन्द्रो॑ म॒हां सिन्धु॑मा॒शया॑नं माया॒विनं॑ वृ॒त्रम॑स्फुर॒न्निः । अरे॑जेतां॒ रोद॑सी भिया॒ने कनि॑क्रदतो॒ वृष्णो॑ अस्य॒ वज्रा॑त् ॥
इन्द्रः॑ । म॒हाम् । सिन्धु॑म् । आ॒ऽशया॑नम् । मा॒या॒ऽविन॑म् । वृ॒त्रम् । अ॒स्फु॒र॒त् । निः । अरे॑जेताम् । रोद॑सी॒ इति॑ । भि॒या॒ने इति॑ । कनि॑क्रदतः । वृष्णः॑ । अ॒स्य॒ । वज्रा॑त् ॥
indraḥ | mahām | sindhum | āśayānam | māyāvinam | vṛtram | asphurat | niḥ | arejetām | rodasī iti | bhiyāne iti | kanikradataḥ | vṛṣṇaḥ | asya | vajrāt
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Forceful, forward-driving, suited to declaration and conquest.
Builds heroic momentum; the cadence supports a felt ‘strike’—useful for inner resolve and breaking tamasic heaviness.
- इन्द्र (indra)
- Literal: Indra, lord of heaven, wielder of the vajra. Symbolic: Divine Mind; illumined intelligence and victorious mental force
- सिन्धु (sindhu)
- Literal: river, flood, oceanic stream. Symbolic: Vast flow of consciousness/energy; released life-force or truth-current
- आशयानम् (āśayānam)
- Literal: lying, reposing, held down. Symbolic: Suppressed potential; powers lying bound in the subconscient
- मायाविन् (māyāvin)
- Literal: illusion-weaving, magician. Symbolic: Ignorance’s power to distort, fabricate, and mislead perception
- वृत्र (vṛtra)
- Literal: the obstructer/coverer. Symbolic: Subconscient resistance that blocks light and flow
- वज्र (vajra)
- Literal: thunderbolt. Symbolic: Decisive truth-stroke; indomitable discriminative force
- रोदसी (rodasī)
- Literal: Heaven and Earth. Symbolic: Mind and life/body; the whole subjective-objective field
- वृषन् (vṛṣan)
- Literal: Bull. Symbolic: Potent virile energy of the divine force; irresistible strength
Indra-invocation within Soma sacrifice (e.g., Agniṣṭoma/pressing context): verses supporting Indra’s Vṛtra-slaying power and Soma-drinking, used to intensify the call for victorious force and release of the ‘waters’.
During Soma pressing/offerings and Indra invocations for victory and release of powers.
Recitation/chant with offering of soma/oblations while invoking Indra’s vajra-force.
Use as a mantra of ‘inner breakthrough’ when facing fear, inertia, or mental fog; chant before demanding work or decisive life changes.
Key terms: vṛtra- (from √vṛ ‘to cover, obstruct’) = Coverer; māyāvin- (māyā ‘measuring/forming power’, in hostile sense ‘deceptive construction’) indicates veiling formations; síndhu- ‘stream, flood’ extends from physical river to ‘flow’ of waters (āpaḥ) = currents of consciousness; vájra- ‘thunderbolt/diamond’ linked to √vaj/√vajr ‘to be strong, strike’ → concentrated irresistible force; asphurat (aor. of √sphur ‘to strike, burst forth, quiver’) conveys rupture and release; ródasī (dual) Heaven-and-Earth, often read psychologically as mind-plane and physical foundation responding to the divine act.
Rita as the re-establishment of right flow/order through the breaking of obstruction, māyā as veiling formation opposed to truth-revelation, liberation of the waters as emergence of truth-conscious force
Indra’s strike restores ṛta by removing the cover that blocks the true flow.
Truth becomes effective power (vajra) when ignorance (māyā) is pierced.
Release of the waters/stream as a recurrent creation motif: order emerges when obstruction is broken.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: evolution of consciousness through successive breakthroughs.
Waters = liberated consciousness-force; thunder/vajra = revelatory impact; trembling of heaven/earth = reconfiguration of mind and embodied life under a higher power.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Vṛtra-slaying and release-of-waters mythologem: Indra breaks the Coverer (vṛtra-) who lies upon the great flood (sindhu). In the inner sense, this is the bursting open of blocked consciousness-currents by the illumined force (Indra) using vajra as the decisive will of revelation, restoring the right movement aligned with ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vṛtra- from √vṛ ‘cover’ aligns with PIE *wer- ‘to cover/enclose’ (cf. English ‘warp’ in sense of covering/turning; Greek eírgō ‘enclose’ is semantically parallel though not a direct cognate claim here). sindhu- ‘stream’ participates in the widespread Indo-Iranian hydronymic vocabulary (cf. Avestan hindu-), pointing to an inherited poetic formula of ‘released waters’. vajra- as thunder-weapon corresponds typologically to PIE storm-god armaments (Baltic Perkūnas, Slavic Perun, Norse Thor), where the ‘striking’ implement is a formulaic marker of sovereignty through force.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer’s speech presents Indra not as a distant nature-power but as an active inner ally: the hymn recalls the archetypal victory to invoke the same breaking-force in the human vessel. The reciprocity is implicit: the rishi offers recognition and right utterance (brahman/uktha) that ‘calls’ Indra’s action; Indra responds by releasing the blocked flow (waters/light), stabilizing the cosmic-psychic order (ṛta) in the sacrificer.
Invoke Indra as inner clarity that breaks the ‘cover’ over energy and inspiration; visualize a decisive downward strike of light through the forehead into the heart and navel.
ājñā
Brisk energetic
Vigilant, luminous, victorious (sattva with dynamic force).
Before chanting, name the inner ‘Vṛtra’ (fear, procrastination, doubt). Chant 9 or 27 times, then sit 3–5 minutes sensing the released ‘stream’ moving freely through mind and body.
Vedic svaras as in Śākala tradition: maintain udatta peaks on accented syllables (e.g., índro, síndhum), with anudatta lows and svarita falls where marked; avoid flattening the cadence.
Let the main udatta carry the ‘strike’ words: indrá-, síndhum, vṛtrám, vájrāt; keep pāda-end slightly lengthened without adding extra svara.
vṛtra: pronounce ṛ clearly (vṛ-tra), not ‘virtra’., vajrāt: long ā in -rāt, crisp jra cluster., kanikradato: keep the repeated ‘k’ crisp; do not swallow middle syllables.
Firm, resonant, slightly percussive on ‘vajra/vṛtra’ consonant clusters.
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