Rig Veda 2.17.8: Mandala 2, Sukta 17, Mantra 8
Sukta 2.17
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
भोजं त्वामिन्द्र वयं हुवेम ददिष्ट्वमिन्द्रापांसि वाजान् । अविड्ढीन्द्र चित्रया न ऊती कृधि वृषन्निन्द्र वस्यसो नः ॥
bhójāṃ tvām indra vayáṃ huvema dadíṣ ṭvám indrāpā́ṃsi vā́jān | avíḍḍhīndra citráyā na ū́tī́ kṛdhí vṛṣann indra vásyaso naḥ ||
हे इंद्र, हम तुम्हे बुलाते हैं क्योंकि तुम सब कुछ देते हो। तुम काम और ताकत दोनों देते हो। इंद्र, हमारे लिए रास्ता बना दो, अपनी मदद से। हम इतने स्ट्रांग बना दो कि हमें अच्छी लाइफ मिले।
Word by Word
- भो॒जम्
- bountiful, generousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (त्वाम् का विशेषण)Root भोज (प्रातिपदिक; √भुज्/भुज् ‘भोग/पालन’ से)
- त्वाम्
- youPronounद्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वयम्
- wePronounप्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- हुवेम
- may we call/invokeVerbलोट् (वेदिक: आज्ञार्थ/आशीर्लिङ्-प्राय), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √ह्वे (ह्वयति/ह्वयते) ‘आह्वान’
- ददिष्ट्वम्
- grant (do give)Verb (injunctive/benedictive-like form)मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (आशीर्वचन/प्रार्थना: ‘देहि’ के अर्थ में)Role क्रियाRoot √दा ‘देने’ (ददाति) + -इष्ट (इच्छार्थ/आशीर्वादात्मक कृत्) ; वेदिक संधि-रूप
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद्
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र
- अपांसि
- works, deedsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अपस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘कर्म/कार्य/कृत्य’)
- वाजान्
- prizes, strengths, boonsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (अपांसि के साथ समुच्चित)Root वाज (प्रातिपदिक; ‘बल/अन्न/विजय-पुरस्कार’)
- अविड्ढि
- help, find (for us), come to aidVerbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √विद्/√विन्द् (वेदिक: ‘प्राप्ति/सहायता’ अर्थ में) ; अव- उपसर्ग
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र
- चित्रया
- with bright/wondrousAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करण (ऊती के साधन/विशेषण-रूप)Root चित्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- to us / ourPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (our/to us)Root अस्मद्
- ऊती
- aid, protectionNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot ऊति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सहायता/रक्षा’)
- कृधि
- make, doVerbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √कृ ‘करणे’
- वृषन्
- O bull-like (mighty one)Noun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘वृषभ/वीर्यवान्’)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र
- वस्यसः
- of the better (good), of prosperityNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (वेदिक प्रयोग), षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (नः के साथ: ‘हमारे लिए श्रेष्ठ (वस्तु/भाग)’)Root वस्यस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘श्रेष्ठता/उत्तमता/समृद्धि’)
- नः
- for usPronounचतुर्थी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद्
Sandhi Notes
- संधि-विच्छेद (मुख्य): (1) भो॒जं त्वामि॑न्द्र → भो॒जम् + त्वाम् + इन्द्र (सम्बोधन)
- (2) हु॑वेम द॒दिष्ट्वमि॒न्द्रापां॑सि॒ वाजा॑न् → हु॒वेम + द॒दिष्ट्वम् + इन्द्र + अपांसि + वाजान्
- (3) अ॒वि॒ड्ढी॑न्द्र → अविड्ढि + इन्द्र
- (4) न ऊ॒ती → नः + ऊती
- (5) वृ॑षन्निन्द्र → वृषन् + इन्द्र
- (6) वस्य॑सो नः → वस्यसः + नः
- (स्वर/उदात्त-चिह्न पाठानुसार; पद-विभाग में मूल पद-रूप रखे गए हैं।)
The meaning
Outer meaning
We call you, Indra, as the Enjoyer/Lord; you give the works and the vāja (victorious strength). Pierce through for us with your bright, varied help; make us possessors of a better state.
Inner meaning
Indra is invoked as Bhoja—the conscious Enjoyer who can rightly possess the plenitudes. He grants apāṃsi (effective works) and vāja (the driving force of victory and accomplishment). The prayer ‘pierce through’ asks the illumined mind to break the inner resistances and open passages in consciousness, aided by a many-sided, luminous support (citrā ūtī), so the being can enter a ‘better’ (vasyas) condition—higher harmony and power.
Universal truth
True achievement comes when the awakened intelligence breaks through inner blocks and reorganizes action with luminous help—then work becomes effective and life moves into a better, freer order.
Themes
invocation, aid and protection, victory-force, removal of obstacles
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada Bhārgava
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.17, RV 2.18
Family tradition
Seer-poetry that couples illumination (Indra) with practical transformation—works (apāṃsi) and victorious force (vāja) as signs of inner conquest.
Significance
The rishi’s emphasis is not passive contemplation but luminous action: the divine mind must ‘pierce’ resistances so the whole life can become a bearer of the better state.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Bhoja (Enjoyer/Lord), Vṛṣan (Bull of power), Dātṛ (giver, implied)
- Related deities
- Agni (will that executes), Soma (bliss that supports), Maruts (forces that aid Indra)
Cosmic role
Grants victorious force and effective works; breaks open obstructions and leads toward a higher condition.
Inner power
Illuminative breakthrough—decisive intelligence that penetrates inertia and confusion and releases dynamic capacities.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation in Soma liturgy; prayer for victory and effective works.
भो॒जं त्वामि॑न्द्र व॒यं हु॑वेम द॒दिष्ट्वमि॒न्द्रापां॑सि॒ वाजा॑न् । अ॒वि॒ड्ढी॑न्द्र चि॒त्रया॑ न ऊ॒ती कृ॒धि वृ॑षन्निन्द्र॒ वस्य॑सो नः ॥
भो॒जम् । त्वाम् । इ॒न्द्र॒ । व॒यम् । हु॒वे॒म॒ । द॒दिः । त्वम् । इ॒न्द्र॒ । अपां॑सि । वाजा॑न् । अ॒वि॒ड्ढि । इ॒न्द्र॒ । चि॒त्रया॑ । नः॒ । ऊ॒ती । कृ॒धि । वृ॒ष॒न् । इ॒न्द्र॒ । वस्य॑सः । नः॒ ॥
bhojam | tvām | indra | vayam | huvema | dadiḥ | tvam | indra | apāṃsi | vājān | avi ḍḍhi | indra | citrayā | naḥ | ūtī | kṛdhi | vṛṣan | indra | vasyasaḥ | naḥ
44
4×11 (approx.)
Energetic, martial; strong imperative cadence (aviḍḍhi, kṛdhi).
Energizes will and confidence; feels like a forward thrust through inner blockage.
- bhojam
- Literal: enjoyer, lord. Symbolic: the conscious soul-mind that can possess without bondage
- vājān
- Literal: vāja-forces, prizes, strengths. Symbolic: victorious energy of accomplishment; dynamic spiritual power
- apāṃsi
- Literal: works, deeds. Symbolic: effective actions of the transformed nature (karma under light)
- aviḍḍhi
- Literal: pierce through!. Symbolic: break the cover; open blocked channels; decisive penetration of ignorance
- citrayā ūtī
- Literal: with bright/varied help. Symbolic: multi-form illumination and guidance adapting to the seeker’s needs
- vṛṣan
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: abundant generative power; forceful sovereignty of Indra
- vasyasaḥ
- Literal: of the better (state). Symbolic: higher condition of being—more truth, freedom, felicity
Indra-invocation at Soma offering; request for aid and ‘vāja’ (victorious energy) for the sacrificer
During Indra calls in pressing/oblation sequences; also suitable before undertaking demanding work.
Chant with offering; intention for breakthrough and strength.
Use as a ‘before action’ mantra: call for clarity + force, especially when stuck or procrastinating.
vāja: connected with strength/impulsion and victorious plenitude; in Vedic usage ranges across ‘prize/food’ but psychologically ‘fullness of force’ (rooted in notions of vigor). from √vidh ‘to pierce’ (IE parallels in ‘wound’/pierce semantic field). ūti from √av/√ū? in Vedic denotes protective help—functionally the saving power that carries through obstacles.
vāja as force-plenitude, effective works (apāṃsi) aligned with R̥ta, help (ūti) as grace/assistance of the luminous power
Indra’s gifts make works align with ṛta—effective, harmonious action.
citrā ūtī is truth-light in many forms, guiding action.
Progress by conquest of obstruction: evolution advances by breakthroughs that release forces.
Integral yoga reading: illumination (Indra) transforms works (apāṃsi) and releases vāja.
Lightning = sudden decisive insight; bull = abundant life-force under divine governance; rays = varied guidance adapting to need.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘opening of the obstructed way’ mythologem: Indra is asked to pierce through with luminous aid. Outer: breaking forts/obstacles; inner: breaking resistance of inertia/ignorance so the works (apāṃsi) and force-plenitudes (vājāḥ) can manifest.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √hū ‘invoke/call’ aligns with archaic IE cultic calling; √dā ‘give’ is pan-IE (PIE *deh₃-). √vidh ‘pierce’ belongs to widespread IE ‘strike/pierce’ semantics. The verse balances vocatives + imperatives (huvema, aviḍḍhi, kṛdhi), a typical Indo-European hymn grammar of summons → epithet → request.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Reciprocal empowerment: the rishi acknowledges Indra as giver of both ‘works’ and ‘force-plenitudes’ and asks for decisive intervention (piercing). The offering-word seeks to draw Indra’s śakti into the human field so the aspirant becomes ‘vasyas’—capable of a higher, better ordering of life.
Breakthrough meditation: focus on one obstruction (fear, doubt, inertia) and invoke Indra’s ‘piercing’ light.
Manipura (force, vīrya) guided by Ajna (illumination).
Brisk_energetic: 20–40 rounds of kapalabhati (if suitable), then stillness; alternatively strong exhale emphasis for ‘piercing’.
From tamasic blockage to rajasic thrust, then sattvic clarity under higher mind.
Chant on an exhale with a felt ‘vajra’ line from brow to navel, breaking the block; then pause and receive citrā ūtī—images/insights of next right action.
Maintain strong udatta on imperatives (aviḍḍhi, kṛdhi) and on Indra vocatives; keep cadence crisp.
Emphasize: bhojaṃ tvām indra, vājān, aviḍḍhi indra, citrayā ūtī, vṛṣann indra, vasyaso.
aviḍḍhi: double ḍḍh—retroflex ḍ with aspirated release., citrayā: palatal c; keep ‘tr’ cluster clear., vṛṣan: vocalic ṛ and retroflex ṣ., vasyasaḥ: keep ‘sy’ conjunct clean; final visarga as soft breath.
Bright, forceful, commanding; clean consonants for the ‘piercing’ effect.
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