Rig Veda 2.20.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 20, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.20
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
तमु स्तुष इन्द्रं तं गृणीषे यस्मिन्पुरा वावृधुः शाशदुश्च । स वस्वः कामं पीपरदियानो ब्रह्मण्यतो नूतनस्यायोः ॥
tám u stuṣé índraṃ táṃ gṛṇīṣe yásmin purā́ vāvṛdhúḥ śā́śaduś ca | sá vásvaḥ kā́maṃ pī́parad iyānó brahmaṇyató nū́tanasya ā́yoḥ ||
मैं इंद्र की स्तुति करता हूँ। वो जिसमें पुराने लोग बड़े हुए और स्टेबल रहे। वो चलता रहता है और धन की इच्छा पूरी करता है। जो ब्रह्मन ढूंढता है, नया आदमी, सबकी इच्छा पूरी करता है।
Word by Word
- तम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उ
- indeed / andIndeclinableनिपातः (अव्ययम्)Root उ (निपात)
- स्तुषे
- I praiseVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Root स्तु (धातु)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- तम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गृणीषे
- I sing/praiseVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Root गॄ (गृण्) (धातु)
- यस्मिन्
- in whomPronounपुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरा
- formerly / of oldIndeclinableकालवाचक-अव्ययम्Root पुरा (अव्यय)
- वावृधुः
- they have grown/strengthenedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्श), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root वृध् (धातु)
- शाशदुः
- they have praised / laudedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्श), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root शंस्/शास् (वैदिक; ‘शाशद्’ इति लिट्-रूपम्, स्तुत्यर्थे)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्Root च (निपात)
- स
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वस्वः
- of wealthNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम् (धनस्य/वसुनः)Role सम्बन्धRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- कामम्
- desire / wishNounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot काम (प्रातिपदिक)
- पीपरत्
- he filled/satisfiedVerbलङ् (अनद्यतन-भूत), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root पॄ (धातु; वैदिक-गुणित-प्रत्यययुक्तं ‘पीपर’ = कारण/तीव्र-प्रयोगः)
- इयानः
- going / advancingParticipleवर्तमानकृदन्तः (शतृ-प्रायः वैदिक-रूपम्), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot इ (धातु) → इयान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- ब्रह्मण्यतः
- from the brahman-loving (worshipper)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी एकवचनम्Role अपादानRoot ब्रह्मण्यत् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ब्रह्मन्’ + यत्, ‘ब्रह्म-प्रिय/ब्रह्म-सेवी’)
- नूतनस्य
- of the newAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot नूतन (प्रातिपदिक)
- आयॊः
- of the two lifetimes / of life (dual)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचनम् (वैदिक; ‘आयुः’ द्वयोर्—जीवितयोः/आयुषोः)Role सम्बन्धRoot आयु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (वैदिक-सन्धि-विग्रह): तमु → तम् + उ
- स्तुष इन्द्रं → स्तुषे इन्द्रम् (ए/इ संधि-प्रयोगः पदपाठे पृथक्)
- यस्मिन्पुरा → यस्मिन् + पुरा (न् + प्)
- शाशदुश्च → शाशदुः + च (विसर्ग-सन्धिः)
- वस्व: → वस्वः (विसर्गः)
- पीपरदिया॒नो → पीपरत् + इयानः (त् + इ → दि/द्य् प्रकारः वैदिक-सन्धिः/संहितापाठ-रूपम्)
- ब्रह्मण्यतो → ब्रह्मण्यतः (विसर्ग-लोपः संहितायाम्)
- नूतनस्या॒योः → नूतनस्य + आयोः (अ + आ → आ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
I praise Indra, hymn Indra, in whom the ancients grew and found firm abiding. Moving, he fulfils the desire for the wealth of being of the brahman-seeker, of the ever-new Arya.
Inner meaning
Indra is the perennial field where the ‘ancients’ (pūrā) grew—earlier realizers established themselves in his illumination and found stable attainment (śāśaduḥ). Yet he is also iyānaḥ—ever-moving, not static: the divine Mind continually advances the seeker. He fulfils the kāma of vasu: not mere material wealth, but the ‘wealth of being’—stable luminous capacities, wideness, joy, and power. For the brahmaṇyataḥ (one who seeks brahman: the inspired word and the vast Reality it opens), Indra grants ever-new realizations (nūtanasya āyoḥ): the Arya is the progressive soul, always renewing its ascent.
Universal truth
True spiritual attainment is both stable and ever-renewing: one abides in a realized light, yet the journey continues with fresh unfoldings. The highest ‘wealth’ is an enriched being aligned with truth and inspiration.
Themes
tradition and renewal, fulfillment of aspiration, wealth as fullness of being (vasu)
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.20.1, RV 2.20.3
Family tradition
A lineage of inspired speech and Indra-realization; stresses continuity with the ancients and the ever-new progress of the Arya.
Significance
Bridges tradition and progress: stable realization (śāśaduḥ) plus dynamic unfolding (iyānaḥ) as the mark of true Indra-consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- pūrveṣām vardhana (he in whom the ancients grew—by sense), iyāna (ever-moving), vasu-kāma-pūra (fulfiller of the desire for wealth of being—by sense)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (brahman/inspired word), Soma (inner wealth of delight), Agni (progressive flame)
Cosmic role
Supports evolutionary growth of consciousness; establishes stable illumination while driving further ascent.
Inner power
Dynamic illumined intelligence that both stabilizes and renews realization; fulfils the soul’s true aspiration for being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise within Soma rites; affirmation of Indra as fulfiller of true desire for the brahman-seeker.
तमु॑ स्तुष॒ इन्द्रं॒ तं गृ॑णीषे॒ यस्मि॑न्पु॒रा वा॑वृ॒धुः शा॑श॒दुश्च॑ । स वस्व॒: कामं॑ पीपरदिया॒नो ब्र॑ह्मण्य॒तो नूत॑नस्या॒योः ॥
तम् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । स्तु॒षे॒ । इन्द्र॑म् । तम् । गृ॒णी॒षे॒ । यस्मि॑न् । पु॒रा । व॒वृ॒धुः । शा॒श॒दुः । च॒ । सः । वस्वः॑ । काम॑म् । पी॒प॒र॒त् । इ॒या॒नः । ब्र॒ह्म॒ण्य॒तः । नूत॑नस्य । आ॒योः ॥
tam | oṃ iti | stuṣe | indram | tam | gṛṇīṣe | yasmin | purā | vavṛdhuḥ | śāśaduḥ | ca | saḥ | vasvaḥ | kāmam | pīparat | iyānaḥ | brahmaṇyataḥ | nūtanasya | āyoḥ
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4 × ~11
Solemn affirmation with a forward glide; combines reverence (praise) with movement (iyānaḥ).
Instils faith in the path’s lineage and confidence in ongoing progress; settles the mind into steady aspiration.
- स्तुषे / गृणीषे (stuṣe / gṛṇīṣe)
- Literal: I praise / I hymn. Symbolic: active affirmation that opens channels to higher consciousness
- पुरा (purā)
- Literal: formerly, the ancients. Symbolic: earlier realized states/forebears in consciousness; perennial tradition of realization
- ववृधुः (vāvṛdhuḥ)
- Literal: grew, increased. Symbolic: expansion of consciousness under illumination
- शाशदुः (śāśaduḥ)
- Literal: became firm, found abiding. Symbolic: stabilization of realization; steady establishment
- इयानः (iyānaḥ)
- Literal: going, moving. Symbolic: ever-progressing force; dynamic guidance
- वस्वः (vasvaḥ)
- Literal: of wealth, of the vasu. Symbolic: wealth of being—stable powers and joys
- कामम् (kāmam)
- Literal: desire. Symbolic: soul’s true intention/aspiration for fulfilment
- ब्रह्मण्यतः (brahmaṇyataḥ)
- Literal: one devoted to brahman/sacred word. Symbolic: seeker of inspired truth and vast consciousness
- नूतनस्य आयोः (nūtanasya āyoḥ)
- Literal: of the ever-new Arya. Symbolic: progressive soul-force, always renewing the ascent
Praise of Indra as the ancient-confirmed power who still fulfills the brahman-seeker
Mid/late in hymn sequence to confirm Indra’s established power and his continuing action for the sacrificer.
Recitation as praise and request for fulfilment; offerings continue with strengthened intention.
Chant when seeking both stability and growth—after a plateau or when consolidating new realizations into life.
√vṛdh ‘grow’ (PIE *werdʰ-). √pṝ ‘fill, satisfy’ in pīparat (intensive/causative nuance). ā́yu/ā́rya sense: ā́yu as ‘living being, man’ connected with vitality; ‘ever-new’ indicates perpetual renewal of the seeker’s formation.
brahman (power of the inspired word/true formulation), continuity of tradition (purā) and ever-new realization (nūtana)
Abiding is not stagnation but establishment in ṛta—stable rightness that supports further evolution.
Brahman here is the luminous word and the vast truth it reveals; Indra empowers its seeker.
Evolutionary creation: consciousness grows, stabilizes, and then advances again—ever-new Arya as the creative principle in humanity.
Aurobindonian evolutionary spirituality: tradition of attainment + perpetual newness of realization.
Movement = progressive unfolding of consciousness; treasure = stable inner capacities and joys; ancient growth = perennial spiritual heritage within the psyche.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘ancient power confirmed by the fathers’ mythologem: Indra is the same force in whom the forebears grew and became established, yet he acts freshly for the present seeker.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vṛdh ‘grow’ (vāvṛdhuḥ) continues PIE *werdʰ-. The formula ‘tam… tam…’ (anaphora) is a common archaic Indo-European praise device.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi positions himself in a lineage (purā) while claiming living access: Indra fulfills the brahmaṇyata (word-truth seeker), giving ‘vasu’ not as mere goods but as fullness answering aspiration (kāma).
Contemplate Indra as the illumined field where ‘the ancients’ in you have grown; invite both stability and fresh movement.
sahasrāra (vastness) with ājñā (illumined guidance)
Slow exhale emphasis (inhale 4, exhale 8) to feel abiding; then a slightly quicker cycle to feel iyānaḥ (movement).
Stable wideness with a subtle forward pull toward new realization.
Chant 3 times; after each, sit silently and note: (1) what is stable, (2) what is moving, (3) what true ‘wealth of being’ is being asked for.
Rigvedic accents; keep a dignified rise on índram and a gentle elongation on iyānaḥ and nūtanasyāyoḥ to convey ‘ever-new’.
Pāda 1–2: reverent, steady; pāda 3–4: slightly more flowing to express movement and fulfilment.
tam u stuṣe: sandhi—keep ‘u’ light, gṛṇīṣe: retroflex ṛ; long ī, vāvṛdhuḥ: long ā; vocalic ṛ, śāśaduś: śā-śa; final ś crisp, pīparat: long ī; roll r lightly, brahmaṇyato: ṇ retroflex; avoid ‘brahman-yato’ break
Reverent, resonant, slightly expansive; allow space after each pāda.
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