Rig Veda 8.33.17: Mandala 8, Sukta 33, Mantra 17
Sukta 8.33
- Rishi
- Medhātithi Kāṇva
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Hasya (mirth)
इन्द्रश्चिद्घा तदब्रवीत्स्त्रिया अशास्यं मनः । उतो अह क्रतुं रघुम् ॥
índraś cid ghā tád abravīt striyā́ aśā́syaṃ mánaḥ | utó áha krátum raghúm ||
इंद्र ने खुद कहा था। औरतों का दिमाग हुकुम से नहीं चलता। लेकिन उनमे भी एक जल्दी से काम करने की इच्छा होती है। ऐसे ही हमारे अंदर जो भी बात है, वो जबरदस्ती नहीं मानता। वो अपनी मर्ज़ी से जल्दी चल पड़ता है।
Word by Word
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्
- even; indeedIndeclinableअव्यय (emphatic particle)Root चित् (निपात/अव्यय)
- घ
- indeed; surelyIndeclinableअव्यय (emphatic particle)Root घ (निपात/अव्यय)
- तत्
- that (this statement/thing)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अब्रवीत्
- said; spokeVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot ब्रू (धातु)
- स्त्रियाः
- of a womanNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (वैदिक-रूप: स्त्रियाः)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
- अशास्यम्
- not to be ruled/controlled; ungovernableAdjective (verbal derivative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole विशेषण (मनः-विशेषण)Root √शास् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय) → शास्य; नञ्-पूर्वक: अ-शास्य
- मनः
- mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (अस्ति/भवति इति गम्यते) / विषयRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उतो
- and also; moreoverIndeclinableअव्यय (copulative/continuative particle)Root उ + तो (निपात-समूह; वैदिक अव्यय)
- अह
- indeed; surelyIndeclinableअव्यय (emphatic particle, often with assertions)Root अह (निपात/अव्यय)
- क्रतुम्
- resolve; will; plan; intelligenceNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (understood object: ‘(he knows/observes) the resolve’ etc.)Root क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- रघुम्
- swift; quickAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole विशेषण (क्रतुम्-विशेषण)Root रघु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठ: इन्द्र॑श्चिद्घा॒ तद॑ब्रवीत्स्त्रि॒या अ॑शा॒स्यं मन॑: । उ॒तो अह॒ क्रतुं॑ र॒घुम् ॥ पद-विच्छेद (sandhi resolution): इन्द्रः | चित् | घ | तत् | अब्रवीत् | स्त्रियाः | अशास्यम् | मनः | उतो | अह | क्रतुम् | रघुम् | मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) इन्द्रः + चित् → इन्द्रश्चित् (विसर्ग-लोप, श्च्-आदेश) (2) तत् + अब्रवीत् → तदब्रवीत् (त् + अ → द्, जश्त्व) (3) अब्रवीत् + स्त्रियाः → अब्रवीत्स्त्रियाः (त् + स् संयोग)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Even Indra said: the mind of a woman is not to be ruled by command; yet it also has a swift will.
Inner meaning
‘Striyāḥ manaḥ’ is the receptive, plastic, feeling-nature (not a social statement, but a psychological symbol). It cannot be transformed by coercion (‘aśāsyam’), because receptivity closes under force. Yet when won by right approach—illumination, patience, delight—it shows ‘raghu kratu’: a swift, ready will that collaborates powerfully. The mantra teaches the yogic art: do not tyrannize the receptive parts; invite them into consent, and they move quickly.
Universal truth
Lasting inner change comes through consent and right influence, not compulsion; receptivity, once harmonized, becomes a rapid ally of growth.
Themes
psychology of mind and will, Indra as authority of insight, kratu (will-power)
The seer
- Rishi
- Medhātithi Kāṇva
- Lineage
- Kāṇva
- Other hymns
- RV 8.33 (hymn context)
Family tradition
Kāṇva poetry often includes sharp psychological observations embedded in Indra praise.
Significance
A practical teaching on inner governance: persuasion by light and delight is superior to force in transforming the receptive nature.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- speaker as authority (indraś cid)
- Related deities
- Soma (delight that wins consent), Agni (steady aspiration)
Cosmic role
Embodiment of illumined intelligence that knows the laws of inner movement and victory.
Inner power
Discriminating wisdom of the higher mind: knowing when to apply force and when to win consent.
In ritual
Where it is used
Didactic-psychological aside within Indra praise; usable as a reflective mantra on how the powers of consciousness respond in sacrifice: not by compulsion but by right approach (r̥ta).
इन्द्र॑श्चिद्घा॒ तद॑ब्रवीत्स्त्रि॒या अ॑शा॒स्यं मन॑: । उ॒तो अह॒ क्रतुं॑ र॒घुम् ॥
इन्द्रः॑ । चि॒त् । घ॒ । तत् । अ॒ब्र॒वी॒त् । स्त्रि॒याः । अ॒शा॒स्यम् । मनः॑ । उ॒तो इति॑ । अह॑ । क्रतु॑म् । र॒घुम् ॥
indraḥ | cit | gha | tat | abravīt | striyāḥ | aśāsyam | manaḥ | uto iti | aha | kratum | raghum
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Likely 3 pādas of ~8 syllables (compressed)
Conversational yet pointed; like a remembered saying.
Encourages gentleness and skill in self-discipline; reduces harsh inner control.
- स्त्रियाः (striyāḥ)
- Literal: of a woman. Symbolic: receptive, affective, plastic nature in the being
- अशास्यम् (aśāsyam)
- Literal: not governable by orders. Symbolic: cannot be transformed by coercive mental control
- मनः (manaḥ)
- Literal: mind. Symbolic: sense-mind/feeling-mind, the receptive instrument
- क्रतु (kratu)
- Literal: will, resolve. Symbolic: effective consenting will when receptivity aligns
- रघु (raghu)
- Literal: swift, quick. Symbolic: rapid responsiveness once the right key is found
Didactic-psychological aside within Indra praise; usable as a reflective mantra on how the powers of consciousness respond in sacrifice: not by compulsion but by right approach (r̥ta).
Within the hymn as an illustrative maxim; not a standalone ritual formula.
Didactic praise—showing Indra’s insight into mind and will.
Helpful for meditation training: stop forcing the mind; shift to inviting attention through breath, mantra, and delight.
aśā́sya (√śās ‘rule/command’) negated: indicates a domain not accessible to coercive control. krátu from √kṛ ‘to do/make’ with sense of ‘effective will/intelligence’ (the power that makes action possible). raghú ‘swift’ (cf. √raṃh ‘hasten’) indicates rapid efficacy once alignment is achieved.
non-coercive alignment with R̥ta, kratu as effective intelligence, feminine/receptive consciousness (symbolic)
Right order includes right means: coercion disturbs r̥ta in the psyche; right influence restores it.
Truth acts by illumination and consent, not by violence against nature.
Vedic psychological yoga: transformation by harmonizing parts of nature under higher light.
No nature image: the field is the inner polity—receptive mind and executive will learning right relationship.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A ‘gnomic Indra’ mythologem: Indra as the revealer of a law of consciousness. The feminine mind (receptive power) cannot be forced by command, but once won/attuned it carries a swift kratu—effective will.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √śās ‘govern’ continues an Indo-Iranian governance lexicon (Avestan xšaē- ‘rule’ is parallel in semantic sphere though not direct cognate). kratu as ‘effective intelligence’ is an archaic Vedic category, comparable to IE notions where ‘craft/doing’ (PIE *kwer-/*ker- domains) becomes ‘counsel/power to act’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi cites Indra’s utterance as revealed law. Indra is not only invoked for boons but recognized as the knower of the inner mechanics of will and mind—thereby guiding the seeker’s method of approach.
Transform the receptive mind by invitation: mantra + gentle attention + delight.
svādhiṣṭhāna (receptivity/affect)
Soothing nāḍī-śodhana or lengthened exhale to invite consent of the feeling-mind.
Relaxed receptivity with readiness to act.
When the mind resists, stop commanding; repeat the verse 7 times, then offer a small pleasant focus (light at brow, heart warmth). Notice how will becomes ‘raghu’ when resistance dissolves.
Mark udātta on índraḥ / ábravīt / mānáḥ / krátum; keep svarita slides audible but not exaggerated.
Let the quote-like opening (indraś cid ghā) be slightly lifted; soften on aśāsyam; quicken slightly on raghum.
(indraś cid ghā): maintain sandhi ś+c as ‘ścid’ flow, (aśāsyam): long ā; ś as palatal, (raghum): light gh, not hard g
Gentle, instructive, lightly smiling tone without theatricality.
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