Rig Veda 2.14.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 14, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.14
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
अध्वर्यवो य उरणं जघान नव चख्वांसं नवतिं च बाहून् । यो अर्बुदमव नीचा बबाधे तमिन्द्रं सोमस्य भृथे हिनोत ॥
ádhvaryavo yá uraṇáṃ jaghā́na náva ca cakhvā́ṃsaṃ navatíṃ ca bāhū́n | yó árbudam áva nīcā́ babā́dhe tám índraṃ sómasya bhṛthé hinota ||
पंडित लोग, इंद्र ने उरण को मारा। उसने नौ लोगों को और नब्बे हाथों को भी हराया। उसने अर्बुद को ज़मीन में दबा दिया। अब इंद्र को सोम के साथ आगे बढ़ा दो। वो इसके लायक है।
Word by Word
- अध्वर्यवः
- O Adhvaryu priestsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान) / कर्तृ (वाक्य-प्रवर्तक)Root अध्वर्यु- (प्रातिपदिक) < अध्वर-
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उरणम्
- Uraṇa (a foe/demon; proper name)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot उरण- (प्रातिपदिक)
- जघान
- slewVerbलिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot हन् (धातु)
- नव
- nineIndeclinableअव्यय (संख्यावाचक)Role विशेषण (परिमाण)Root नव (संख्या)
- चख्वांसम्
- Cakhvāṃsa (a foe; proper name)Adjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot चख्वांस्- (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √चख्/√चक्ष् ‘to see/appear’ से परफेक्ट-भागवत् ‘-वांस्’)
- नवतिम्
- ninetyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole विशेषण (परिमाण)Root नवति- (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRole समुच्चयRoot च (निपात)
- बाहून्
- arms (forearms); (here: ninety arms)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot बाहु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्बुदम्
- Arbuda (a foe/demon; proper name)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अर्बुद- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अव
- down; awayIndeclinableउपसर्ग (अधः/अपकर्षे)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot अव (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- नीचाः
- downwards; lowAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोगः)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot नीच- (प्रातिपदिक)
- बबाधे
- pressed down; smote; subduedVerbलिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot बाध् (धातु)
- तम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (स्तुत्य-देवता-निर्देशः)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (हिनोति-क्रियायाः)Root इन्द्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमस्य
- of SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (भृथे-सम्बन्धः)Root सोम- (प्रातिपदिक)
- भृथे
- in the bearing/bringing; at the offering (of Soma)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot भृत- (प्रातिपदिक; √भृ ‘to bear/bring’ से)
- हि
- indeed; forIndeclinableनिपात (हेतौ/निश्चये)Role सम्बन्ध-बोधकRoot हि (निपात)
- हिनोत
- impel (you all); set in motionVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot हि (धातु; ‘to impel/set in motion’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): अध्वर्यवः | यः | उरणम् | जघान | नव | चख्वांसम् | नवतिम् | च | बाहून् | यः | अर्बुदम् | अव | नीचाः | बबाधे | तम् | इन्द्रम् | सोमस्य | भृथे | हि | हिनोत । मुख्य संधि/रूप-टिप्पणी: (1) ‘अध्वर्यवो’ = ‘अध्वर्यवः’ (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते ओ-कारः, संहितायाम्). (2) ‘तमिन्द्रम्’ = ‘तम् इन्द्रम्’ (म् + इ → मि). (3) ‘नीचा’ पदे संहितापाठे दीर्घ/स्वर-चिह्नः
- पदपाठानुसारं ‘नीचाः’ (क्रियाविशेषणवत्) ग्रहणीयम्. (4) ‘चख्वांसम्’ कृत्प्रत्ययान्त ‘-वांस्’ (परफेक्ट-भागवत्) रूपम्
- यहाँ नामवत् शत्रु-विशेषः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Adhvaryus are reminded of Indra who smote Uraṇa, the nine Cakhvāṃsas, and the ninety arms; who thrust down Arbuda low beneath. They are told to impel that Indra forward in the bearing of Soma.
Inner meaning
The catalog of foes and multiplicity of ‘arms’ symbolises complex, many-branched resistances—habitual formations with numerous extensions into life and mind. Indra’s victory is the power to cut through not only a single obstruction but a whole network. Arbuda being thrust down ‘nīcā’ indicates the relegation of hostile impulses back into the lower subconscient where they lose governing power. ‘Hino ta’—impel Indra in Soma-bearing—means: when bliss is carried steadily in the being, it propels illumination forward; Soma becomes the vehicle that advances the indric force through successive conquests.
Universal truth
Deep transformation requires confronting networks of resistance, not isolated symptoms; sustained joy and essence (not mere struggle) is what carries the power of illumination forward.
Themes
Indra’s victories, subduing obstruction, Soma-bearing
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Āṅgirasa)
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 2.12 (victory catalogue), RV 2.14.2-3
Family tradition
Gṛtsamada’s Indra hymns often enumerate victories: not mere mythology, but a map of inner conquest over layered resistances.
Significance
The seer teaches perseverance: illumination can subdue even multi-armed, entrenched patterns when Soma (ananda) is steadily borne and offered.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Śatrū-han (slayer of foes, implied), Vajrin (implied), Vīra
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Maruts
Cosmic role
Champion who defeats hostile powers and secures the field for the gods/higher forces; advances the sacrifice’s success.
Inner power
Victorious intelligence-force capable of dismantling complex habitual networks and pushing consciousness forward.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma praise during Soma bearing/bringing (bhṛti) and offering
अध्व॑र्यवो॒ य उर॑णं ज॒घान॒ नव॑ च॒ख्वांसं॑ नव॒तिं च॑ बा॒हून् । यो अर्बु॑द॒मव॑ नी॒चा ब॑बा॒धे तमिन्द्रं॒ सोम॑स्य भृ॒थे हि॑नोत ॥
अध्व॑र्यवः । यः । उर॑णम् । ज॒घान॑ । नव॑ । च॒ख्वांस॑म् । न॒व॒तिम् । च॒ । बा॒हून् । यः । अर्बु॑दम् । अव॑ । नी॒चा । ब॒बा॒धे । तम् । इन्द्र॑म् । सोम॑स्य । भृ॒थे । हि॒नो॒त॒ ॥
adhvaryavaḥ | yaḥ | uraṇam | jaghāna | nava | cakhvāṃsam | navatim | ca | bāhūn | yaḥ | arbudam | ava | nīcā | babādhe | tam | indram | somasya | bhṛthe | hinota
11
4×11; enumerative first half (names/numbers) and imperative close
Drumbeat listing of conquests leading into a pushing-forward cadence.
Creates determination and momentum; helps the listener feel that entrenched patterns can be overpowered.
- उरणम् (uraṇam)
- Literal: Uraṇa (name of foe). Symbolic: a specific obstructive formation; hardened limitation
- नव चख्वांसम् (nava cakhvāṃsam)
- Literal: nine Cakhvāṃsas. Symbolic: repeated patterns/collective resistances; multiplicity of obstacles
- नवतिं बाहून् (navatiṃ bāhūn)
- Literal: ninety arms. Symbolic: many-armed grasp of desire/habit; numerous extensions of obstruction
- अर्बुदम् (arbudam)
- Literal: Arbuda (name of foe). Symbolic: a massive coagulation of inertia; a ‘lump’ of subconscient blockage
- नीचा बबाधे (nīcā babādhe)
- Literal: thrust down low. Symbolic: subordination of hostile forces below the threshold of governance
- सोमस्य भृथे (somasya bhṛthe)
- Literal: in the bearing/carrying of Soma. Symbolic: sustained carriage of bliss/essence through life—making it operative
- हिनोत (hinota)
- Literal: impel, set in motion, urge on. Symbolic: advance the illumined force; intensify the forward movement of transformation
Indra praise during Soma-bearing/offerings; recitation strengthens the sense of Indra’s overcoming of multiple resistances.
When Soma is carried/presented and Indra is urged to advance and accept it; also as a victory-affirmation.
Recitation accompanying Soma transport/handling and the urging of Indra to come forward.
Use as a mantra for breaking entrenched habits: chant before a difficult change, pairing it with a concrete ‘Soma-bearing’ practice (consistent joy, gratitude, or devotion carried through the day).
√bādh ‘press, oppress, subdue’ → babādhe ‘he crushed down’: a verb of forceful repression of obstruction. Arbuda is elsewhere associated with a massive swelling/heap; symbolically a coagulated formation in the subconscient. bhṛti/bhṛthe from √bhṛ ‘bear, carry’ indicates the rite as a ‘carrying’ of Soma-force.
subjugation of lower formations (nīcā), multiplicity of obstacles (numerical intensification)
Victory restores right order by removing distorters from positions of influence.
Truth-force is not only revelatory but executive: it subdues and reorganises the lower nature.
Evolution by conquest: higher consciousness advances by pushing down inertia and freeing the field.
Integral Yoga psychology: transformation of the subconscient and habitual networks through illumined force supported by ananda.
Multiplicity = complex samskaric patterns; ‘downward’ = relegation to lower subconscious; ‘bearing’ = sustained practice carrying essence through life.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Catalogue of Indra’s victory-myths: repeated slayings/subduings of named obstructors. Inner sense: the illumined force overcomes both single and massed resistances (nine, ninety arms), pushing the obstructive formations down into their proper lower place.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The repeated ‘he who smote’ (yo ... jaghāna) formula parallels IE hero-poetry catalogues (anaphoric relative clauses). √bhṛ ‘bear’ is a core IE root (cf. English ‘bear’), showing deep inheritance in ritual diction (‘bearing’ the offering).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi uses remembrance of past victories as a present lever: because Indra has subdued such resistances, the priests can ‘impel’ him in Soma-bearing now—inviting the same conquering energy to operate in their current inner battle.
Target a network of habits (‘ninety arms’): see its branches; invoke Indra to cut the roots and push it down from authority in the mind.
maṇipūra
strong, steady exhale with brief breath retention after exhale (bahya kumbhaka, gentle) to feel ‘thrusting down’ inertia; then normalise breath.
Forceful clarity and forward momentum.
Write one entrenched pattern with its ‘arms’ (triggers, thoughts, actions). Chant; on ‘nīcā babādhe’ feel the pattern losing its grip; on ‘hinota’ commit to one concrete Soma-bearing act (carry joy/devotion through a specific task).
Keep enumerations steady and metrical; avoid speeding up on numbers; maintain correct udatta rises on key verbs (jaghāna, babādhe, hinota).
Slightly mark the list (uraṇaṃ… nava… navatiṃ…) with even beats; give a decisive emphasis to ‘hinota’.
‘cakhvāṃsaṃ’ preserve khv cluster; nasal ṃ before s., ‘navatiṃ’ dental n and clear v; final ṃ nasalised., ‘babādhe’ long ā; do not shorten., ‘bhṛthe’ vocalic ṛ and aspirated th.
Martial, forward-driving, controlled intensity; end with a commanding but reverent tone.
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