Rig Veda 7.21.10: Mandala 7, Sukta 21, Mantra 10
Sukta 7.21
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
स न इन्द्र त्वयताया इषे धास्त्मना च ये मघवानो जुनन्ति । वस्वी षु ते जरित्रे अस्तु शक्तिर्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
sá na indra tváyatāyā íṣe dhās tmanā́ ca yé maghávāno junánti | vasvī́ ṣú te jaritré astu śaktír yūyáṃ pāta svastíbhiḥ sádā naḥ ||
हे इंद्र, हमारे लिए वो ताकत बना दे जो तुझ तक ले आए। जो लोग तेरे लिए हवन करते हैं, उनको भी अपनी शक्ति दे। जो तेरे गुण गाते हैं, उनके पास पूरी सामता होनी चाहिए। तुम हमेशा हमें अपनी शक्ति से बचाओ।
Word by Word
- सः
- he (that one = Indra)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (स्तुत्य/सम्बोधन-प्रसङ्गे ‘सः’ = ‘he/that one’ इन्द्रः)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- for us / ourPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक) — ‘our/to us’Role सम्प्रदान (हित-सम्बन्धः) / षष्ठी-सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वयतायै
- for (our) turning toward you / for devotion to youNoun (abstract) / Adjective-used-substantivelyस्त्रीलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदान (उद्देश्यः: ‘for/unto being on your side’)Root त्वयत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘त्वयत्’ = ‘towards you/your side’, Vedic)
- इषे
- for nourishment / for refreshmentNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम् (Vedic dative)Role सम्प्रदानRoot इष् / इषा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘refreshment, nourishment, impulse’)
- धाः
- place / bestowVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot धा (धातु)
- त्मना
- by yourself / with your own powerNounपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोगः (Vedic), तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role करण (means: ‘by yourself/with your own self’)Root त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; Vedic ‘self, person, by oneself’)
- च
- andIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role समुच्चयRoot च (निपात)
- ये
- whoPronoun (relative)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (जुनन्ति-क्रियायाः)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- मघवानः
- bountiful onesAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ-विशेषणम्Root मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bountiful, generous’)
- जुनन्ति
- impel / urgeVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot जु / जुन् (धातु; Vedic ‘to urge on, impel, set in motion’)
- वस्वी
- wealth-bringing / richAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/विशेष्य-विशेषण (शक्तिः इत्यस्य)Root वस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘rich in goods, wealthy’)
- षु
- indeed / surelyIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role निपात (बलवर्धनम्)Root सु (निपात; Vedic emphatic/asseverative particle)
- ते
- yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचनम् (enclitic) — ‘your’Role षष्ठी-सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जरित्रे
- to the singer/praiserNounपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदानRoot जरितृ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘singer, praiser’)
- अस्तु
- let there beVerbलोट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot अस् (धातु)
- शक्तिः
- power / abilityNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (अस्तु-क्रियायाः)Root शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
- यूयम्
- you (all)Pronounप्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (पात-क्रियायाः)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पात
- protectVerbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot पा (धातु; ‘to protect’)
- स्वस्तिभिः
- with blessings / with well-beingNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role करण (means: ‘with blessings/with welfare’)Root स्वस्ति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘well-being, blessing’)
- सदा
- alwaysIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role काल-अधिकरणRoot सदा (अव्यय)
- नः
- usPronounद्वितीया, बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक) — ‘us’Role कर्म (पात-क्रियायाः)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (sandhi-resolved): सः | नः | इन्द्र | त्वयतायै | इषे | धाः | त्मना | च | ये | मघवानः | जुनन्ति || वस्वी | षु | ते | जरित्रे | अस्तु | शक्तिः | यूयम् | पात | स्वस्तिभिः | सदा | नः || 1) स न॑ → सः (विसर्ग-लोपः पदसंहितायाम्)
- 2) त्वय॑ताया इ॒षे → त्वयतायै इषे (आ + इ → ऐ; दैवत्य-हितार्थे चतुर्थी)
- 3) धा॒स्त्मना॑ → धाः त्मना (धाः = लोट् 2sg; ततः त्मना इति तृतीया)
- 4) वस्वी॒ षु → वस्वी सु/षु (Vedic particle ‘su’ often written षु after sibilant coloring)
- 5) शक्तिर्यू॒यं → शक्तिः यूयम् (विसर्गः + य् → र्-आदेशः: शक्तिर् + यूयम्)
- 6) स्व॒स्तिभि॒: सदा॑ → स्वस्तिभिः सदा (विसर्गः = ः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet asks Indra to establish for the community an impulse directed toward him; Indra’s own power energizes those who kindle his bounties. The singer asks for a lasting, wealthy strength for the praiser and for continual protection by the gods with well-being.
Inner meaning
The seeker prays that the illumined Mind (Indra) found in us the right upward drive (iṣ) that turns the whole nature toward the Divine. When the inner “bounteous powers” (maghavānaḥ) are kindled—our capacities for courage, clarity, and right action—Indra’s own being (tmanā) becomes the support and multiplier. The ‘rich strength’ for the jaritṛ (the one who voices aspiration) is a stable spiritual capacity (śakti) to hold illumination in life; “yūyam” hints that Indra works with allied powers (Maruts/Adityas) to keep the seeker in a field of swasti—harmonized rightness and protection.
Universal truth
True progress depends on a consecrated impulse that turns consciousness toward the higher Light; when aspiration is steady, higher intelligence and its allied forces establish enduring capacity and a protected harmony in life.
Themes
aspiration toward the Divine, empowerment, protection blessing, capacity for the praiser
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.18 (Vasiṣṭha–Indra), RV 7.19 (Indra), RV 7.20 (Indra), RV 7.23 (Indra)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha family book (Maṇḍala 7) emphasizing sovereign harmony (ṛta), protection, and the ascent by inspired speech (vāc).
Significance
Vasiṣṭha represents the seer of ordered vastness (vasu/vasu-like plenitude) and a disciplined, luminous speech that calls down Indra’s clarities into embodied life.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Maghavan (bounteous), Śatakratu (of a hundred powers), Vṛtrahan (slayer of the Coverer), Purandara (breaker of obstacles)
- Related deities
- Maruts, Adityas, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Releaser of the waters/light; establishes victorious order by breaking resistance and opening the paths of increase.
Inner power
Illumined Mind-force that brings decisive clarity, courage, and effective action; it turns aspiration into realized power (śakti).
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotras in Soma-yajña contexts; also general protective invocations within Śrauta offerings.
स न॑ इन्द्र॒ त्वय॑ताया इ॒षे धा॒स्त्मना॑ च॒ ये म॒घवा॑नो जु॒नन्ति॑ । वस्वी॒ षु ते॑ जरि॒त्रे अ॑स्तु श॒क्तिर्यू॒यं पा॑त स्व॒स्तिभि॒: सदा॑ नः ॥
सः । नः॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । त्वऽय॑तायै । इ॒षे । धाः॒ । त्मना॑ । च॒ । ये । म॒घऽवा॑नः । जु॒नन्ति॑ । वस्वी॑ । सु । ते॒ । ज॒रि॒त्रे । अ॒स्तु । श॒क्तिः । यू॒यम् । पा॒त॒ । स्व॒स्तिऽभिः॑ । सदा॑ । नः॒ ॥
saḥ | naḥ | indra | tva-yatāyai | iṣe | dhāḥ | tmanā | ca | ye | magha-vānaḥ | junanti | vasvī | su | te | jaritre | astu | śaktiḥ | yūyam | pāta | svasti-bhiḥ | sadā | naḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Strong, forward-driving cadence suited to invocation and victorious resolve.
Builds an ascending pressure of aspiration; stabilizes the will and evokes a sense of protected power.
- इषे (iṣe)
- Literal: impulse, refreshment, energizing force. Symbolic: the upward drive of aspiration; dynamic will that seeks the higher consciousness
- त्वयताया (tvayatāyā)
- Literal: toward thee. Symbolic: orientation of the whole being toward the Divine Mind/Light
- त्मना (tmanā)
- Literal: by thyself, by thy own being. Symbolic: the direct descent/support of the divine consciousness, not merely external aid
- मघवानः (maghavānaḥ)
- Literal: bounteous ones / possessors of gifts. Symbolic: inner powers and faculties that become channels of the Divine’s abundance
- जुनन्ति (junanti)
- Literal: they impel, kindle, set in motion. Symbolic: awakening and energizing the soul-forces through practice and offering
- शक्तिः (śaktiḥ)
- Literal: power, capacity. Symbolic: stable spiritual capability to hold and execute illumination
- स्वस्तिभिः (svastibhiḥ)
- Literal: with well-beings, auspiciousnesses. Symbolic: harmonizing protections of the higher powers; right arrangement of life-forces (ṛta in action)
Concluding protective and empowerment prayer within an Indra-stotra; suitable as an iṣṭi for establishing iṣ (impulsion) and svasti (well-being) for the yajamāna.
During Indra praise sequences in Soma pressing/offerings; as a protective concluding sentiment.
Recitation with offering/mental offering of aspiration (iṣ) and request for swasti.
Use as a daily intention-setting mantra: align will toward the higher, ask for enduring capacity, and invoke protective harmony before work or sādhanā.
tvayatā- (toward-thee-ness) expresses directed aspiration: not merely devotion but a vector of consciousness. iṣ- from √iṣ 'to impel, invigorate'—inner energizing current. śakti- from √śak 'be able'—capacity as spiritual competence. svasti- (su+asti 'good being') is not luck but a stable harmony of the being; yūyam (plural) suggests Indra together with supporting divine forces guarding the seeker.
iṣ (impulsion of the soul-nature), svasti (harmonized well-being), śakti (effective capacity)
Swasti implies the lived harmony of ṛta—forces arranged rightly around the seeker.
‘Abiding śakti’ points to truth-held power: capacity that does not collapse under outer movements.
Increase and establishment (dhāḥ) of divine force within the human instrument.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent by aspiration and descent by divine support.
A steady inner current turning upward, surrounded by harmonizing safeguards of the higher consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is 'installation of power': Indra is asked to place iṣ (impulsion) oriented toward him, granting śakti to the jaritṛ and surrounding the community with svasti. It is a rite of inner consecration after struggle.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhā 'set, place' reflects PIE *dʰeh₁- (cf. Greek títhēmi). √pā 'protect' has Indo-Iranian continuations (Avestan pā- 'protect'), often linked to PIE *peh₂- 'protect, pasture'. svasti (su+asti) parallels Indo-European 'well-being' formations built on 'be' (PIE *h₁es-).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks not only for gifts but for a reconfiguration of inner direction (tvayatā). The reciprocity is: praise and kindling (junanti) offered by the maghavānaḥ; Indra returns installed impetus, capacity, and protective harmony for the collective.
Offer the will upward: feel a clear inner drive turning toward the higher Mind; invite stable capacity and protective harmony.
ājñā (illumined mind) / maṇipūra (will-force)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) while repeating key phrase ‘tvayatāyā iṣe dhāḥ’.
Collected aspiration moving into quiet confidence.
Begin with a brief inward offering (Agni as will), then invoke Indra to ‘establish’ the impulse; end by resting in swasti—harmonized quiet strength.
Vedic tri-svara (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as per Śākala tradition; key udātta lifts on vocatives like ‘índra’ and emphatic particles.
Keep vocatives clear (índra); sustain long vowels in ‘tvayatāyā’ and ‘svastibhíḥ’; avoid flattening udātta peaks.
Pronounce ‘tvayatāyā’ with clear ‘tva-ya-’ (no ‘th’)., ‘iṣe’ = ‘i-she’ with retroflex-free ‘ṣ’ (tongue slightly back)., ‘jaritre’ with soft ‘tr’ cluster., ‘svastibhiḥ’ final visarga audible but light (ḥ).
Steady, resonant, prayerful with a firm cadence on each pāda end.
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