Rig Veda 7.18.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 18, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.18
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
राजेव हि जनिभिः क्षेष्येवाव द्युभिरभि विदुष्कविः सन् । पिशा गिरो मघवन्गोभिरश्वैस्त्वायतः शिशीहि राये अस्मान् ॥
rājéva hí janíbhiḥ kṣéṣyevā́va dyúbhir abhí vidúṣ kavíḥ sán | piśā́ gíro maghavan góbhiḥ áśvais tvāyatáḥ śiśīhi rāyé asmā́n ||
तुम राजा की तरह लोगों पे राज करते हो। तुम जो भी जानते हो, उससे सबको रोशनी देते हो। हे दाने वाले, अपनी बातों और अपने धन से हमें भी आगे बढ़ाओ। हमें भी शक्ति और संपत्ति दो।
Word by Word
- राजा
- kingNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole (उपमान) —Root राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √राज्
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableनिपातRoot हि
- जनिभिः
- by births; by generationsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot जनि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘जन्म/जनन’) < √जन्
- क्षेषि
- you dwell / you ruleVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (परस्मैपद) — वैदिक रूप ‘क्षेषि’Role Kartā (क्रिया)Root √क्षि (क्षयति/क्षेति ‘to dwell, rule, abide’)
- इव
- as, likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव
- आवः
- as a help; as protectionNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (वैदिक) अथवा अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग ‘आवः’ = ‘सहायत्वेन’Role (उपमान/भाव) —Root अव्/आव (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सहाय/रक्षा’) < √अव्
- द्युभिः
- by lights; by days/brightnessesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot द्युभ्/द्यु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘द्युत्/प्रकाश/दिव्’) < √द्युत्
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अभि
- विदुष्
- knowing, wiseAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: विदुष्)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक) < √विद्
- कविः
- seer, poetNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सन्
- beingVerbवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root √अस् (भू) → सन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- पिशा
- with adornment; splendidlyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (वैदिक) / क्रियाविशेषणवत् ‘पिशा’ = ‘शोभया’Role Karaṇa (रीत्या)Root पिश्/पिशा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अलंकार/वर्णन-शोभा’) < √पिश् (‘to adorn, form’)
- गिरः
- songs, hymnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot गिर् (प्रातिपदिक) < √गॄ/गिर् (‘to sing, utter’)
- मघवन्
- O bountiful one (Indra)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole Sampradāna (सम्बोधन)Root मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्र-विशेषण)
- गोभिः
- with cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्वैः
- with horsesNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वा
- youPronounद्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- यतः
- from which; therefore/wherebyIndeclinableअव्यय (हेतौ/यतस्) अथवा कृदन्त-सम्बद्ध रूपRole Apādāna/Hetu (कारण)Root √या (याति) → यत (भूत कृदन्त) / यतस् (अव्यय) — वैदिक प्रयोग
- शिशीहि
- sharpen; strengthenVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole Kartā (आज्ञा)Root √शा/√शि (शिशाति ‘to sharpen, whet; make strong’)
- राये
- for wealthNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot राय्/राय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘धन’)
- अस्मान्
- usPronounद्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): राजे॑व → राजा इव
- जनि॑भि॒: → जनिभिः
- क्षेष्ये॒व → क्षेषि इव
- आव॒ → आवः (वैदिक रूप)
- द्युभि॑र॒भि → द्युभिः अभि
- विदुष्क॒विः → विदुष् कविः
- मघव॒न्गोभि॒रश्वै॑स् → मघवन् गोभिः अश्वैः
- त्वाय॒तः → त्वा यतः. (स्वरचिह्न मूलपाठानुसार; पदरूपे सामान्यतः अनुदात्त/उदात्त-चिह्न पृथक् न दर्शित.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is praised as a king who rules peoples; as a knowing poet-seer he encompasses with his luminous days. With shining words, with cows and horses, O bountiful one, sharpen us who seek you, for wealth.
Inner meaning
Indra governs the inner kingdom like a king among the faculties; as kavi and viduṣ he surrounds the being with ‘days’ (dyu)—periods of illumination. The mantra asks Indra to ‘sharpen’ (śiśīhi) the seeker: refine perception and will. ‘Piśā giro’ are bright, incisive mantric words; ‘cows and horses’ again are knowledges and energies. The goal is rāyaḥ—not mere possession but plenitude of being and effective spiritual wealth.
Universal truth
Illumination is a disciplined sovereignty: when the higher mind rules and refines us, our speech becomes luminous, our knowledge fruitful, our energy effective, and life turns toward true abundance.
Themes
Indra kingship, illumined speech, empowerment, spiritual wealth
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.18, RV 7.19, RV 7.20
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s Indra hymns often combine praise of Indra’s sovereignty with a practical request: refine and empower the human instrument.
Significance
The seer emphasizes Indra not only as victor but as educator of the faculties—sharpening mind, speech, and energy for the soul’s wealth.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Rājā (king-like), Viduṣ (knower), Kavi (seer-poet), Maghavan (bountiful)
- Related deities
- Sarasvatī (inspired speech), Bṛhaspati (word-force), Maruts (dynamic energies), Soma (bliss supporting illumination)
Cosmic role
Sovereign of the luminous world; giver of victorious increase; inspirer of seer-speech; releaser of light and waters.
Inner power
Governing illumination that refines the instrument (śiśīhi), making thought and speech incisive and action forceful.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise in Soma rites; also royal/communal prosperity prayers
राजे॑व॒ हि जनि॑भि॒: क्षेष्ये॒वाव॒ द्युभि॑र॒भि वि॒दुष्क॒विः सन् । पि॒शा गिरो॑ मघव॒न्गोभि॒रश्वै॑स्त्वाय॒तः शि॑शीहि रा॒ये अ॒स्मान् ॥
राजा॑ऽइव । हि । जनि॑ऽभिः । क्षेषि॑ । ए॒व । अव॑ । द्युऽभिः॑ । अ॒भि । वि॒दुः । क॒विः । सन् । पि॒शा । गिरः॑ । म॒घ॒ऽव॒न् । गोभिः॑ । अश्वैः॑ । त्वा॒ऽय॒तः । शि॒शी॒हि॒ । रा॒ये । अ॒स्मान् ॥
rājāiva | hi | jani-bhiḥ | kṣeṣi | eva | ava | dyu-bhiḥ | abhi | viduḥ | kaviḥ | san | piśā | giraḥ | magha-van | gobhiḥ | aśvaiḥ | tvāyataḥ | śiśīhiḥrāyeḥasmān
44
4 × ~11
Majestic opening simile (‘rājeva’) followed by incisive imperatives (‘śiśīhi’); a mix of sovereignty and sharpening.
Builds a sense of inner kingship and mental keenness; stimulates clarity and energetic readiness.
- राजेव (rājeva)
- Literal: like a king. Symbolic: sovereign organizing power of higher mind over the inner realm
- जनिभिः (janibhiḥ)
- Literal: with peoples/creatures. Symbolic: multiplicity of inner parts—thoughts, impulses, habits
- क्षेषि (kṣeṣi)
- Literal: you rule, dwell in dominion. Symbolic: stable governance of consciousness
- द्युभिः (dyubhiḥ)
- Literal: with days/lights. Symbolic: successive illuminations; clarity-intervals that surround and protect
- विदुष् (viduṣ)
- Literal: knowing. Symbolic: gnostic discernment; right understanding
- कविः (kaviḥ)
- Literal: seer-poet. Symbolic: inspired intuition shaping true speech and vision
- पिशा गिरः (piśā giraḥ)
- Literal: adorned/bright words. Symbolic: mantric speech that clarifies and energizes
- मघवन् (maghavan)
- Literal: bountiful. Symbolic: giver of inner plenitude and victorious increase
- गोभिः (gobhiḥ)
- Literal: with cows. Symbolic: with rays of knowledge/illumination
- अश्वैः (aśvaiḥ)
- Literal: with horses. Symbolic: with dynamic life-energies for action
- शिशीहि (śiśīhi)
- Literal: sharpen, whet, strengthen. Symbolic: refine the instrument—mind and will—into a keen, effective force
- राये (rāye)
- Literal: for wealth. Symbolic: for fullness of being; spiritual prosperity and right enjoyment
- अस्मान् (asmān)
- Literal: us. Symbolic: the integral being seeking transformation
Praise and petition for empowerment: Indra to strengthen worshippers for rāy (abundance) using the energies of word and gift
During Indra-focused stotras; before demanding undertakings requiring clarity and strength.
Stuti plus request for empowerment and wealth (rāya).
Chant before study, leadership decisions, or disciplined sadhana: ask Indra to govern the inner multiplicity and sharpen discernment.
√kṣi ‘dwell/rule’ frames Indra’s kingship as stable lordship in the being. dyu (day/sky/light) connects Indra’s governance to luminous time/illumination. kavi is the inspired seer faculty. √śiś ‘whet’ (śiśīhi) is a striking psychological verb: make us keen/fit instruments. rāy (rayi) is not mere material wealth but fullness and abundance of being. go/aśva symbolism continues: lights and forces as Indra’s gifts.
kavi (seer-consciousness), speech as formative power (gir), rāy as plenitude of being
Indra’s rule aligns the many inner ‘peoples’ with ṛta; illumination becomes order.
True speech (piśā giraḥ) and true knowledge (viduṣ) are satya in expression.
The world is upheld by luminous ‘days’—periodic revelations that shape evolution; speech as a creative power.
Mantra-psychology: vāc as force; Indra as illumined mind shaping and governing.
daybreak-to-daylight (implied by ‘dyubhiḥ’)
Days = illuminations; sun = higher mind; cows = knowledges; horses = energies; king = central governing consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as king and kavi: sovereign force joined with illumined knowledge, governing by light (dyu). The petition ‘śiśīhi’ casts Indra as the one who sharpens the human instrument—mythically the giver of horses/cows, psychologically the awakener of energies and illuminations for rāy (plenitude).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dyu ‘sky/day’ reflects PIE *dyew- (cf. Latin diēs, Greek Zeus from *Dyēus). √kṣi ‘dwell/rule’ continues an Indo-Iranian governance lexicon. The sharpening verb √śiś (onomatopoetic/iterative feel) highlights Vedic’s expressive verbal system for inner transformation.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi approaches as ‘tvāyataḥ’—turned toward Indra—offering ‘piśā giras’ (brightened speech). In return he asks Indra to make the community keen and capable for rāy. Speech and orientation are the human contribution; sharpening and abundance are the divine response.
Invoke Indra’s sovereign clarity to organize the inner parts and sharpen discernment and speech.
ājñā (clarity) and viśuddha (luminous speech)
3-stage breath: inhale to brow (dyu/illumination), hold briefly (viduṣ/kavi), exhale through throat (piśā giraḥ) with a clear tone.
Keen, governed, luminous; readiness for decisive, dharmic action.
Observe the ‘many peoples’ within (conflicting impulses). Offer them to Indra’s kingship. Ask for one sharpening: a clearer priority, a truer word, a cleaner action. End by visualizing ‘dyubhiḥ’—a ring of light-days surrounding the mind.
Svara not supplied; highlight the simile opening ‘rājeva’ with a lifted onset; keep ‘śiśīhi’ as a clear imperative peak; resolve on ‘asmān’.
Mark a pause after ‘san’ (kaviḥ san); then deliver the request phrase with rising intensity to ‘śiśīhi’.
rājeva: long ‘ā’; ‘ev’ not ‘eiv’, kṣeṣi: ‘kṣ’ conjunct crisp; short ‘e’, viduṣ: final ‘ṣ’ retroflex; keep ‘u’ short, piśā: ‘ś’ palatal; long ‘ā’, śiśīhi: both ‘śi’ clear; long ‘ī’ in hī
Clear, ringing, slightly forceful—like a command to awaken power.
5
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.
