Rig Veda 7.83.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 83, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.83
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra–Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Bhayankara
यत्रा नरः समयन्ते कृतध्वजो यस्मिन्नाजा भवति किं चन प्रियम् । यत्रा भयन्ते भुवना स्वर्दृशस्तत्रा न इन्द्रावरुणाधि वोचतम् ॥
yátrā naráḥ samáyante kṛtá-dhvajó yásminn ā́jā bhávati kíṃ caná priyám | yátrā bháyante bhúvanā svaḥ-dṛ́śas tátrā na indrāvaruṇā́dhi vocatam ||
जहाँ लड़ने वाले लोग अपने झंडे ले कर इकट्ठे होते हैं, वहाँ किसी को भी यह पसंद नहीं आता। वहाँ दुनिया भी काँप जाती है जो आसमान को देख सकती है। वहाँ से ऊपर बैठ के इंद्र और वरुण हमारे लिए सही रास्ता बताना। हमें ऐसा शब्द दो जो हमें ठीक करके चलाए।
Word by Word
- यत्र
- whereIndeclinableअव्यय (स्थानवाचक सम्बन्ध)Role अधिकारणRoot यत्र (प्रश्न/सम्बन्ध-अव्यय)
- नरः
- menNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot नर (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- togetherIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot सम् (उपसर्ग)
- अयन्ते
- they go/come (assemble)Verbलट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot इ (धातु: इ/ए ‘गच्छति’)
- कृतध्वजः
- having raised/arrayed bannersAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (नरः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root कृत-ध्वज (कृदन्त-समास; कृत < √कृ, ध्वज ‘ध्वज/केतु’)
- यस्मिन्
- in whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आजा
- contest/battleNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot आज (प्रातिपदिक; ‘आजा’ = nom. sg.)
- भवति
- becomes/isVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot भू (धातु)
- किम्
- any (whatsoever)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अव्ययीभाववत् ‘किंचन’)Role कर्म (प्रियम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root किम् (सर्वनाम)
- चन
- at all/anyIndeclinableनिपात (एव/अपि-भावे; ‘किं चन’ = ‘किंचन’)Root चन् (निपात)
- प्रियम्
- pleasant thing; dear (anything pleasant)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (न भवति इत्यस्य)Root प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्र
- whereIndeclinableअव्यय (स्थानवाचक)Role अधिकारणRoot यत्र (अव्यय)
- भयन्ते
- they fearVerbलट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot भी (धातु)
- भुवना
- worlds; beings/realmsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वर्दृशः
- heaven-seeing; having sight of heaven/lightAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (भुवना इत्यस्य विशेषणम्/अप्पोजिशन्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root स्वर्-दृश् (समास; स्वर् ‘स्वर्ग/प्रकाश’ + दृश् ‘दर्शक/दृष्टि’)
- तत्र
- thereIndeclinableअव्यय (स्थानवाचक)Role अधिकारणRoot तत्र (अव्यय)
- नः
- for us/ourPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदान (हितार्थे ‘for us’)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- इन्द्रावरुणा
- O Indra and VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र-वरुण (द्वन्द्व-समास)
- अधि
- over; concerningIndeclinableअव्यय/उपसर्ग (√वच् सह ‘अधि-’ = ‘over, concerning’)Root अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वोचतम्
- speak/say (you two)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot वच् (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): यत्रा → यत्र
- नरः (नर॑:)
- समयन्ते → सम् + अयन्ते (सम्-उपसर्गः + √इ लट् आ. 3pl)
- कृतध्वजो → कृतध्वजः (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते)
- यस्मिन्नाजा → यस्मिन् + आजा (न् + आ = न्ना)
- किं चन → किम् + चन (निपात-योगे ‘किंचन’)
- स्वर्दृशस्तत्रा → स्वर्दृशः + तत्र (विसर्ग-सन्धिः: ḥ + t → स्त)
- इन्द्रावरुणाधि → इन्द्रावरुणा + अधि (आ + अ = आ)
- वोचतम् = √वच् लोट् म.प. द्वि
The meaning
Outer meaning
On the battlefield where warriors gather under raised standards, where the clash is pleasing to none and even the heaven-seeing worlds tremble, the poet calls Indra–Varuṇa to speak from above and govern the situation.
Inner meaning
The “battle” is the inner crisis where many impulsions (naraḥ) assemble with fixed banners—ego-standards, opinions, fears, desires. When no movement feels ‘dear’ (priyam) and the whole being trembles, the seeker invokes Indra (illumined divine Mind) and Varuṇa (vast Truth-law, right order) to utter the higher directive (adhi vocatam): a descending command of clarity and conscience that steadies the mind and aligns action with ṛta.
Universal truth
In moments of intense inner conflict, the turning-point is not more struggle but a higher word of truth: illumination (Indra) joined with law and vastness (Varuṇa) reorganizes the forces and restores right direction.
Themes
crisis invocation, divine guidance, steadfastness in battle, inner command from above
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa line)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1 (Agni as inner priest), RV 7.86–7.89 (Varuṇa and truth-confession), RV 7.82–7.85 (Indra–Varuṇa alliance)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭhas—guardians of ṛta and brahman (mantric truth); strong Varuṇa-current with Indra as executive illumination.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision repeatedly joins truth-law (Varuṇa) with effective force (Indra): inner sincerity, confession, and rectification become the basis for victorious illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra–Varuṇa
- Epithets
- vasū (lords of wealth), ṛtasya gopā (guardians of ṛta—by implication), svardṛśa-sambandhin (connected to heaven-seeing planes)
- Related deities
- Mitra (harmony), Agni (inner will/priest), Bṛhaspati (mantric power)
Cosmic role
Indra releases the light and power by breaking obstructions; Varuṇa establishes the all-containing order, truth, and right measure—together they secure victory that is also harmony.
Inner power
Indra: decisive illumined intelligence and courage; Varuṇa: vastness, conscience, truth-binding law that corrects and stabilizes.
In ritual
Where it is used
Battle-protection and royal success prayers; also general śrauta invocations to Indra–Varuṇa for victory and right order
यत्रा॒ नर॑: स॒मय॑न्ते कृ॒तध्व॑जो॒ यस्मि॑न्ना॒जा भव॑ति॒ किं च॒न प्रि॒यम् । यत्रा॒ भय॑न्ते॒ भुव॑ना स्व॒र्दृश॒स्तत्रा॑ न इन्द्रावरु॒णाधि॑ वोचतम् ॥
यत्र॑ । नरः॑ । स॒म्ऽअय॑न्ते । कृ॒तऽध्व॑जः । यस्मि॑न् । आ॒जा । भव॑ति । किम् । च॒न । प्रि॒यम् । यत्र॑ । भय॑न्ते । भुव॑ना । स्वः॒ऽदृशः॑ । तत्र॑ । नः॒ । इ॒न्द्रा॒व॒रु॒णा॒ । अधि॑ । वो॒च॒त॒म् ॥
yatra | naraḥ | sam-ayante | kṛta-dhvajaḥ | yasmin | ājā | bhavati | kim | cana | priyam | yatra | bhayante | bhuvanā | svaḥ-dṛśaḥ | tatra | naḥ | indrāvaruṇā | adhi | vocatam
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Firm, forward-driving, suited to declaration and command in crisis
Builds steadiness and resolve; the cadence supports an ‘appeal → descent of guidance’ movement in the listener.
- यत्र (yatra)
- Literal: where. Symbolic: the psychological field/condition in which forces meet
- नरः (naraḥ)
- Literal: men/warriors. Symbolic: energies and faculties in the human being (mental, vital, physical) entering conflict
- समयन्ते (samayante)
- Literal: assemble, come together. Symbolic: convergence of inner impulses at a decisive moment
- कृतध्वजः (kṛtadhvajaḥ)
- Literal: having set up standards/banners. Symbolic: fixed self-assertions, ideologies, ego-signs under which impulses fight
- आजा (ājā)
- Literal: battle, contest. Symbolic: inner struggle for mastery and right movement
- प्रियम् (priyam)
- Literal: dear, pleasing. Symbolic: that which the soul can consent to; true glad assent
- भुवना (bhuvanā)
- Literal: worlds, planes of being. Symbolic: levels of consciousness within us
- स्वर्दृशः (svardṛśaḥ)
- Literal: heaven-seeing. Symbolic: parts of the being that can perceive higher light
- अधि वोचतम् (adhi vocatam)
- Literal: speak over/above. Symbolic: descending guidance from the higher mind/supramental law into the mind
Protective/strengthening verse for moments of danger and uncertainty; in ritual recitation, supports steadiness and right direction (adhi-vāk).
During soma-yāga sequences and protective recitations for leadership/collective struggle (contextual)
Āhvāna (invocation) and stuti (praise) seeking divine governance from ‘above’
Use as a mantra of inner governance during anxiety, conflict, or decision fatigue—invoke higher clarity and ethical order before action.
dhvája ‘banner’ from √dhvaj/related to ‘mark, sign’; used as outward sign and inward fixed aim. √vac ‘speak’ (PIE *wekʷ- ‘voice/speak’, cf. Latin vox). svaḥ ‘heaven’ (PIE *sweh₂l?; Vedic svar as luminous world). ā́jā from √aj ‘drive’ → contest as driven clash of forces.
guiding Word (vāc) as directive power, battle as inner tapas of transformation, planes of becoming (bhuvanā)
Indra acts to clear the path; Varuṇa restores alignment to ṛta after turbulence.
The ‘word from above’ is satya-vāk—truth that becomes effective guidance.
Re-ordering after chaos: the cosmos within is stabilized by higher law.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian): ascent to higher light and descent of governing truth.
Trembling ‘worlds’ symbolize shaken layers of consciousness; ‘heaven-seeing’ parts are the intuitive mind that can witness higher light even amid turmoil.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘battlefield where worlds tremble’ functions as the archetypal liminal zone: when the being enters decisive confrontation, the gods must ‘speak from above’—a mythic motif of divine command/word descending to stabilize and lead the human side.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vac ‘speak’ corresponds to PIE *wekʷ- (Latin vox, vocāre). The spatial preverb ádhi ‘over’ parallels PIE adhi ‘to, upon’ (Greek epi as functional parallel though not cognate; Indo-Iranian preserves adhi clearly).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks not primarily for weapons but for ‘speech from above’—the devatā’s directive intelligence. Indra-Varuṇa are approached as sovereign powers who can impose order and right decision upon a chaotic convergence of forces.
Invoke a descending ‘higher word’ to govern reactive impulses during inner conflict
ājñā (clarity/command)
Nādī-śodhana for 6–12 rounds, then slow exhale while mentally repeating ‘adhi vocatam’
From agitated rajas to steady sattva with a touch of higher intuition
When many impulses clash, pause; feel a vast, calm Varuṇa above the head and a bright Indra-force in the brow; ask for the single directive that aligns action with truth.
Mixed udatta/anudatta/svarita as per Ṛgvedic recitation; key lifts typically on devatā names and imperative.
Sustain the rise on ‘’ and give a clear terminal fall at ‘’. Avoid flattening the cadence of Triṣṭubh pādas.
(yatrā) elongate ā, (kṛtadhvajo): clear retroflex ṛ and aspirated dhv, (svardṛśaḥ): cluster ‘sv’ clean; ṛ in dṛ, (indrāvaruṇā): long ā in indrā; ṇ retroflex in varuṇa
Steady, commanding yet prayerful; let the last pāda feel like a descent of authority
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