Rig Veda 2.19.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 19, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.19
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सो अप्रतीनि मनवे पुरूणीन्द्रो दाशद्दाशुषे हन्ति वृत्रम् । सद्यो यो नृभ्यो अतसाय्यो भूत्पस्पृधानेभ्यः सूर्यस्य सातौ ॥
só apratī́ni mánave purū́ṇī́ndro dāśad dāśúṣe hánti vṛtrám | sadyó yó nṛ́bhyo atasā́yyo bhū́t paspṛdhānébhyaḥ sū́ryasya sātáu ||
इंद्र ने मनु को बहुत सारी ऐसी चीज़ें दी हैं जो कोई रोक नहीं सकता। जो लोग देंगे, उनके लिए वो वृत्र को मारता है। वो ऐसे ही दुनिया के आगे बढ़ता है, कोई उससे जीत नहीं सकता। सूरज जीतने के लिए वो दुश्मनों पे हावी हो जाता है।
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अप्रतिनी
- irresistible, unopposableAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः द्वितीया बहुवचनम् (नपुंसक-बहुवचनरूपेणापि व्याख्येयम्; पदपाठे ‘अप्रतीनी’ इति) — ‘पुरूणी’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्Role कर्मRoot अ-प्रतिनी (प्रातिपदिक; नकारार्थक उपसर्ग अ- + प्रतिनी)
- मनवे
- to Manu / for mankindNounपुंलिङ्गः चतुर्थी एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदानRoot मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरूणी
- many (gifts/boons)Adjective (substantivized: ‘many (things)’)स्त्रीलिङ्गः द्वितीया बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot पुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- दाशत्
- gave, bestowedVerbलुङ् (अorist) परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot दाश् (धातु; ‘to give, bestow’)
- दाशुषे
- to the worshipper / to the giverNoun (participle used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः चतुर्थी एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदानRoot दाश्वस्/दाशुष् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √दाश् ‘to worship/give’ → ‘giver/worshipper’)
- हन्ति
- slaysVerbलट् परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot हन् (धातु; ‘to slay’)
- वृत्रम्
- Vṛtra (the obstructor)Nounपुंलिङ्गः द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सद्यः
- immediatelyIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role अधिकारण (काल) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot सद्यस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नृभ्यः
- to menNounपुंलिङ्गः पञ्चमी/चतुर्थी बहुवचनम् (अत्र दत्तिअर्थे चतुर्थी)Role सम्प्रदानRoot नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अतसाय्यः
- not to be overcome, unconquerableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः प्रथमा एकवचनम् (यः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root अ-तसाय्य (प्रातिपदिक; नकारार्थक अ- + तसाय्य ‘to be overcome/pressed down’)
- भूत्
- becameVerbलुङ् (अorist) परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot भू (धातु; ‘to be, become’)
- पस्पृधानेभ्यः
- to the contending (rivals)Noun/Adjective (participle used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः चतुर्थी बहुवचनम्Role सम्प्रदानRoot पस्पृधान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्पृध् ‘to contend, vie’ → ‘contending’)
- सूर्यस्य
- of the SunNounपुंलिङ्गः षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- सातौ
- in the winning / in the contest for victoryNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः सप्तमी एकवचनम्Role अधिकारणRoot साति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘winning, gaining, victory’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): सः | अप्रतीनी | मनवे | पुरूणी | इन्द्रः | दाशत् | दाशुषे | हन्ति | वृत्रम् || सद्यः | यः | नृभ्यः | अतसाय्यः | भूत् | पस्पृधानेभ्यः | सूर्यस्य | सातौ || 1) ‘सो’ = ‘सः’ + ‘अ’ (विसर्गलोपः/ओ-आदेशः)
- 2) ‘पुरूणीन्द्रः’ इति संहितायां ‘पुरूणी’ + ‘इन्द्रः’ (स्वर-सन्धिः; इकारादौ)
- 3) ‘दाशद्दाशुषे’ = ‘दाशत्’ + ‘दाशुषे’ (त् + द् → द्द्)
- 4) ‘भूत्पस्पृधानेभ्यः’ = ‘भूत्’ + ‘पस्पृधानेभ्यः’ (त् + प्)
- 5) ‘अतसाय्यो भूत्’ = ‘अतसाय्यः’ + ‘भूत्’ (विसर्गलोपः/ओ-आदेशः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra gives Manu many irresistible gifts; he slays Vṛtra for the giver (the sacrificer). He becomes at once unconquerable for men in the winning of the Sun against hostile strivers.
Inner meaning
Indra, the illumined Mind-Power, bestows on the human seeker (Manu = the mental being aspiring to the Truth) many forces that cannot be overpowered (apratīni). For the one who offers (dāśuṣ) the inner sacrifice, Indra strikes down Vṛtra—the covering inertia and obscurity that blocks the flow of light. Then the seeker becomes immediately “unassailable” (atasāyyaḥ) in the decisive battle for Sūrya: the supramental light/Truth-vision. The ‘hostile strivers’ are the mixed impulses and subconscient resistances that contend against illumination.
Universal truth
When aspiration and offering are sincere, a higher intelligence awakens that breaks the inner resistance and makes the being resilient; then truth-vision is won even amid opposition.
Themes
Boons to Manu, Slaying of Vṛtra, Winning of the Sun, Unconquerability
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (traditionally connected with the Bhṛgu-line; Gṛtsamada is often placed in the Bhārgava/Āṅgirasa milieu in later tradition)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.12 (Indra hymn, famous for repeated ‘sa janāsa indraḥ’), RV 2.20 (Indra’s victories and gifts), RV 2.24 (Bṛhaspati/inner word-power themes)
Family tradition
Gṛtsamada hymns (RV 2.1–2.43) emphasize the disciplined forging of thought (manman) into brahman (effective word) to call down Indra’s illumining force.
Significance
Gṛtsamada’s voice is that of the craftsman-seer: the mantra is a shaped instrument to break coverings and win the solar truth; praise is not flattery but a technology of consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Śūra (heroic), Vṛtrahan (slayer of the Coverer), Maghavan (bounteous), Sūrya-sātā (winner of the Sun)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Uṣas, Agni, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Releaser of the Light and the Waters; champion of the gods in the cosmic battle that restores ṛta (right order).
Inner power
Illumined Mind and decisive Will that cleaves obstruction, establishes clarity, courage, and victorious discernment.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra śastra/stotra within Soma-yajña settings (generic Indra praise used in pressing sequences)
सो अ॑प्र॒तीनि॒ मन॑वे पु॒रूणीन्द्रो॑ दाशद्दा॒शुषे॒ हन्ति॑ वृ॒त्रम् । स॒द्यो यो नृभ्यो॑ अत॒साय्यो॒ भूत्प॑स्पृधा॒नेभ्य॒: सूर्य॑स्य सा॒तौ ॥
सः । अ॒प्र॒तीनि॑ । मन॑वे । पु॒रूणि॑ । इन्द्रः॑ । दा॒श॒त् । दा॒शुषे॑ । हन्ति॑ । वृ॒त्रम् । स॒द्यः । यः । नृऽभ्यः॑ । अ॒त॒साय्यः॑ । भूत् । प॒स्पृ॒धा॒नेभ्यः॑ । सूर्य॑स्य । सा॒तौ ॥
saḥ | apratīni | manave | purūṇi | indraḥ | dāśat | dāśuṣe | hanti | vṛtram | sadyaḥ | yaḥ | nṛ-bhyaḥ | atasāyyaḥ | bhūt | paspṛdhānebhyaḥ | sūryasya | sātau
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Forward-driving, martial cadence with strong mid-line caesura typical of Triṣṭubh.
Builds courage and pressure for breakthrough; supports a ‘cutting through’ mental concentration.
- मनवे (manave)
- Literal: to Manu. Symbolic: to the human seeker / mental being that founds the inner law
- अप्रतीनि (apratīni)
- Literal: irresistible, not to be withstood. Symbolic: powers of consciousness that withstand doubt, inertia, and attack
- दा॒शुषे (dāśuṣe)
- Literal: to the giver, worshipper. Symbolic: one who offers will, works, and delight into the inner yajña
- वृत्रम् (vṛtram)
- Literal: Vṛtra, the obstructer. Symbolic: the Coverer: subconscious resistance, ignorance, inertia blocking the Light
- सूर्यस्य सातौ (sūryasya sātau)
- Literal: in the winning of the Sun. Symbolic: in the conquest of truth-illumination / supramental seeing
- अतसाय्यः (atasāyyaḥ)
- Literal: unconquerable. Symbolic: inner invincibility born of aligned will and illumined mind
Victory-affirmation within Indra hymn: assures immediate unconquerability in the contest for the Sun (illumination), useful in rites seeking overcoming of rivals/obstacles.
During Soma pressing and recitation of Indra hymns for victory and release of powers.
Offering Soma/oblations with praise to invoke Indra’s help against obstruction.
Recite before difficult inner work (breaking habits, fear, procrastination) as a call for decisive illumination.
manu: archetypal 'man' (√ 'think'); symbol of the mental being destined for law (Manu as lawgiver). / vṛtra: 'coverer' (√ 'cover'); obstruction. sāti: 'winning, gaining' from √/ 'to gain, win'. ni apratīni: a- + pratī 'opposed' (from √ i?); 'without opponent'.
Manu as prototype of the mental-human order, illumination (Sūrya) as attainment, obstruction (Vṛtra) and hostile forces (paspṛdh)
Indra’s victory restores ṛta by removing the covering that distorts perception and action.
Sūrya as satya-dṛṣṭi (truth-seeing) becomes accessible when obstruction is slain.
Release of hidden light/powers from confinement; victory as a creative act that widens consciousness.
Proto-Vedāntic and Yogic symbolism (Aurobindo/Kashyap style): ascent from mind to truth-light through inner battle.
dawn-to-sunrise transition (implicit in ‘winning the Sun’)
Sun = truth-illumination; battle = inner conflict between aspiration and resistance; gifts = awakened faculties (faith, clarity, force).
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The 'winning of the Sun' as the prize of the battle: Indra destroys Vṛtra so that illumination can be attained. The enemies are not merely human rivals but hostile inner forces that contest the emergence of light.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The opposition 'coverer' vs. 'sun/light won' reflects an inherited IE polarity of darkness/obstruction vs. luminous order. Manu as archetypal man connected to √man is a hallmark of Indo-European anthropological vocabulary centered on mind/thought.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi frames offering (dāśuṣ) as the condition that invites Indra’s decisive help: Indra slays the obstruction for the giver and grants an immediate state of being 'not conquerable'—a psychological assurance for the seeker engaged in the contest for illumination.
Invoke the ‘Indra-force’ in the mind to cut through confusion and resistance; concentrate on a bright solar point above the brow.
ājñā (brow center)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) while mentally repeating key words: indraḥ… hanti vṛtram… sūryasya sātau.
From rajasic struggle to sattvic clarity and poised victorious will.
Offer the day’s effort inwardly (dāśuṣe-bhāva), then identify the ‘coverer’ (habit/fear), and affirm a single clear action under the light of truth.
Use Vedic svara as per śākha tradition (udātta peaks on key verbs like hanti; svarita on following syllables); exact notation depends on the recension.
Lean on semantic peaks: indraḥ | hanti vṛtram | sūryasya sātau. Keep pāda breaks clear.
vṛtram: crisp ‘vṛ’ with syllabic ṛ, sūryasya: ‘sūr-ya’ two beats, avoid ‘surya’ flattening, apratīni: long ī in -tī-, paspṛdhānebhyaḥ: articulate cluster ‘spr̥dh’ gently, don’t drop ṛ
Firm, bright, slightly martial; end each pāda with controlled release.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
