Rig Veda 4.41.4: Mandala 4, Sukta 41, Mantra 4
Sukta 4.41
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
इन्द्रा युवं वरुणा दिद्युमस्मिन्नोजिष्ठमुग्रा नि वधिष्टं वज्रम् । यो नो दुरेवो वृकतिर्दभीतिस्तस्मिन्मिमाथामभिभूत्योजः ॥
índrā yuváṃ varuṇā didyúm asmín ójiṣṭham ugrā ní vadhiṣṭaṃ vájram | yó no duḥ-évō vṛ́katiḥ dabhītís tásmin mimāthām abhi-bhū́ty ójaḥ ||
इंद्र और वरुण, तुम दोनों बहुत ताकतवर हो। इस इंसान के अंदर अपना सबसे तेज़ वज्र रख दो। जो भी हम में बुरी बात है, जो डर हमें परेशान करता है, उसपे अपनी ताकत से मार दो। उसे कुचल के रख दो।
Word by Word
- इन्द्रा
- O Indra (addressed together with another)Noun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- युवम्
- you twoPronounप्रथमाः, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वरुणा
- O Varuṇa (addressed together with Indra)Noun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- दिद्युम्
- a lightning(-like) flash / brillianceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot दिद्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मिन्
- in this (one/this place/this matter)Pronounसप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ओजिष्ठम्
- the strongest / most powerfulAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (superlative)Role विशेषण (कर्मणः)Root ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक) → ओजिष्ठ (superlative)
- उग्रा
- O you two fierce onesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- नि
- down, forth (as preverb)Indeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot नि (उपसर्ग)
- वधिष्टम्
- you two struck down / smoteVerbलुङ् (aorist), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (कर्तृ=युवम्)Root वध् (धातु) / वधि- (aorist stem)
- वज्रम्
- the thunderboltNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoRelative pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी (gen.), बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- दुरेवः
- ill-disposed, hostileAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole विशेषण (कर्तुः)Root दुरेव (प्रातिपदिक; दु: + एव)
- वृकतिः
- wolfish attack / tearing (as by a wolf)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (समुच्चित)Root वृकति (प्रातिपदिक)
- दभीतिः
- harm, injury, deceptionNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (समुच्चित)Root दभीति (प्रातिपदिक; from √दभ्/दम्भ् ‘to harm, deceive’)
- तस्मिन्
- in/against that (one)Pronounसप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- मिमाथाम्
- you two have crushed / churnedVerbलिट् (perfect), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (कर्तृ=युवम्)Root √मथ् (धातु) ‘to churn, crush, agitate’
- अभिभूत्योजः
- overpowering might / victorious strengthNoun (compound)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (क्रियायाः)Root अभिभूति-ओजस् (समास; अभि-√भू ‘overpower’ + ओजस् ‘might’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): इन्द्रा | युवम् | वरुणा | दिद्युम् | अस्मिन् | ओजिष्ठम् | उग्रा | नि | वधिष्टम् | वज्रम् || यः | नः | दुरेवः | वृकतिः | दभीतिः | तस्मिन् | मिमाथाम् | अभिभूति-ओजः । 1) ‘इन्द्रा … वरुणा … उग्रा’—द्विवचन सम्बोधन-रूपाणि (युगलदेवतासम्बोधन)
- 2) ‘अस्मिन्नोजिष्ठम्’ = अस्मिन् + ओजिष्ठम् (नकार-परसवर्ण/अनुस्वार-प्रयोगः संहितायाम्)
- 3) ‘अभिभूत्योजः’ = अभिभूति + ओजः (समास/सन्धि; -इ + ओ- → -यो- संहितायाम्)
- 4) ‘नि वधिष्टम्’—उपसर्ग ‘नि’ क्रियायोगे ‘वधिष्टम्’ (लुङ्, 2द्वि) इति।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra and Varuṇa are invoked to place within the worshipper the strongest, flashing thunderbolt, and to crush ill-will, predatory tearing, and deceptive fear with victorious power.
Inner meaning
Indra (illumined mind) and Varuṇa (vast, law-bearing consciousness) are asked to install in the adhāra (the being) a decisive inner force (vajra) that breaks the coverings: hostile impulses (dureva), the ‘wolfing’ predation of the vital nature (vṛkati), and the misleading fear that paralyzes aspiration (dabhīti). The mantra is an inner exorcism: not of outer enemies but of subconscient resistances that distort the yoga.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires both illumination and inner law: clear seeing (Indra) must be joined to truthful wideness and self-governance (Varuṇa). When these powers act together, fear and hostility lose their hold and the being gains conquering strength.
Themes
weapon of light (vajra), overcoming fear and deception, inner battle
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.26, RV 4.27, RV 4.18, RV 4.42
Family tradition
Vāmadeva’s hymns often move from outer praise to inner conquest—transforming conflict into yoga of illumination and truth (Aurobindonian reading).
Significance
Vāmadeva is a seer of expansive identity and inner kingship; his vision frequently unites Indra’s breakthrough with Varuṇa’s r̥ta-bound wideness, making him central for psychological interpretations of ‘victory over the coverer’.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa (dual)
- Epithets
- ugrā (mighty, formidable), ojiṣṭha (most forceful)
- Related deities
- Mitra, Agni, Soma, Ādityas
Cosmic role
Indra releases light and power by breaking obstructions; Varuṇa upholds r̥ta and the vast moral-cosmic order, binding falsehood and supporting truth.
Inner power
Indra: illumined intelligence and courageous force; Varuṇa: vastness, purity, self-rule, and truth-constraint that stabilizes realization.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Varuṇa praises in Soma-yajña contexts; also general protective/strengthening recitation.
इन्द्रा॑ यु॒वं व॑रुणा दि॒द्युम॑स्मि॒न्नोजि॑ष्ठमुग्रा॒ नि व॑धिष्टं॒ वज्र॑म् । यो नो॑ दु॒रेवो॑ वृ॒कति॑र्द॒भीति॒स्तस्मि॑न्मिमाथाम॒भिभू॒त्योज॑: ॥
इन्द्रा॑ । यु॒वम् । व॒रु॒णा॒ । दि॒द्युम् । अ॒स्मि॒न् । ओजि॑ष्ठम् । उ॒ग्रा॒ । नि । व॒धि॒ष्ट॒म् । वज्र॑म् । यः । नः॒ । दुः॒ऽएवः॑ । वृ॒कतिः॑ । द॒भीतिः॑ । तस्मि॑न् । मि॒मा॒था॒म् । अ॒भिऽभू॑ति । ओजः॑ ॥
indrā | yuvam | varuṇā | didyum | asmin | ojiṣṭham | ugrā | ni | vadhiṣṭam | vajram | yaḥ | naḥ | duḥ-evaḥ | vṛkatiḥ | dabhītiḥ | tasmin | mimāthām | abhi-bhūti | ojaḥ
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Driving and martial; suited for invocation of power and decisive action.
Energizes the chest and diaphragm; supports a ‘cutting through’ feeling—useful for inner clearing and courage.
- दिद्युम् (didyum)
- Literal: flashing, luminous. Symbolic: sudden inner lightning—revelatory force that makes the will effective
- वज्रम् (vajram)
- Literal: thunderbolt. Symbolic: decisive spiritual will/discriminative power that breaks obstruction
- ओजिष्ठम् (ojiṣṭham)
- Literal: most forceful. Symbolic: highest concentrated energy of the soul’s effort (ojas)
- दुःएवः (duḥ-evaḥ)
- Literal: ill-will, bad intent. Symbolic: hostile formations in the vital/emotional nature that oppose truth
- वृकति: (vṛkatiḥ)
- Literal: wolfing, tearing. Symbolic: predatory vital appetite that ‘tears’ consciousness and dissipates force
- दभीतिः (dabhītiḥ)
- Literal: deceptive fear. Symbolic: tamasic fear-suggestion that misleads and shrinks the being
- अभिभूत्योजः (abhibhūty-ojaḥ)
- Literal: overcoming strength. Symbolic: victorious spiritual energy that dominates lower movements
Protective and victory invocation within Soma rites; also adaptable as an apotropaic (warding) formula against inner/outer adversities.
During Soma offerings or Indra-related stotras; also as apotropaic (warding) prayer.
Recitation with offering (āhuti) or during pressing/chant sequences; intention of removing obstacles and securing victory.
Use as a protective mantra before meditation to clear fear, hostility, and mental agitation; suitable before difficult conversations or inner work.
vajrá- ‘thunderbolt’ is the iconic weapon of Indra; inwardly it is the concentrated force of illumination that breaks mental-vital knots. didyú- ‘shining, flashing’ relates to √dyut ‘shine, flash’. ojas- ‘strength’ from √uj/√ojas ‘vigour’. mimāthām from √math ‘to churn, crush’; used both for generating Soma (churning) and for crushing foes—here the crushing of hostile psychological formations.
inner purification (removal of duḥ-evaḥ), abhibhūti (spiritual conquest)
Varuṇa’s r̥ta provides the law by which Indra’s force becomes right and effective, not merely impulsive.
Truth as inner alignment; fear and ill-will are seen as falsehood-forces to be crushed.
The ‘thunderbolt’ motif echoes the primordial act of breaking the cover to release light and waters (psychologically: releasing consciousness and joy).
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindo): transformation through illumination + law of truth in the being.
Lightning/vajra = sudden decisive insight-force; storm = dynamic tapas; sky/ocean = wideness of consciousness and truth-order.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The vajra-mythologem: the divine thunderbolt is installed in the human field to crush hostile forces. The ‘foes’ are specified as inner distortions—ill-will, predatory tearing, and deceiving fear.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dyut ‘flash’ aligns with PIE *dyeu-/*di̯eu- ‘shine, sky’ (broad IE light/sky complex). √math ‘churn/crush’ shows the dual semantic of generating essence (Soma) and destroying obstruction—an IE poetic ambivalence of the same root-action.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks not merely for external victory but for an implanted divine capacity: the gods ‘set down’ the vajra in the seeker. The reciprocity is empowerment—divine force becomes an inner instrument of transformation.
Install the ‘vajra’ of clear will: observe fear/hostility as formations; invoke illumined mind (Indra) and truth-wide governance (Varuṇa) to dissolve them.
maṇipūra (will/ojas) with support of viśuddha (truth)
4-4-6 breathing: inhale 4 (receive force), hold 4 (set vajra), exhale 6 (crush fear); repeat 7 cycles.
From agitated/vital fear to steady courageous wideness.
Name the obstruction precisely (ill-will, predation, fear). On each repetition, feel a downward ‘setting’ of vajra into the navel-center, then a quiet widening in the chest/space of mind.
Follow Rigvedic udātta/anudātta/svarita per śākhā tradition; key lifts often occur on deity-names (índrā, váruṇā) and power-words (vájram, ójaḥ).
Keep udātta clear and slightly raised; avoid flattening the cadence in the second pāda where ‘ojiṣṭham…vajram’ carries the force.
: pronounce as did-yum (not ‘didiyum’), : vṛ-ka-ti (retroflex ṛ, clear ‘ka’), : da-bhī-tiḥ (long ī), : a-bhi-bhū-tyo-jaḥ (bhū long ū; jaḥ with visarga)
Firm, resonant, slightly forceful; end each pāda with controlled release.
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