Rig Veda 8.40.1: Mandala 8, Sukta 40, Mantra 1
Sukta 8.40
- Rishi
- Nabhāka
- Devata
- Indrāgnī
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
इन्द्राग्नी युवं सु नः सहन्ता दासथो रयिम् । येन दृळ्हा समत्स्वा वीळु चित्साहिषीमह्यग्निर्वनेव वात इन्नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
indrā́gnī yuváṃ sú naḥ sáhantā dā́satho rayím | yéna dṛḷhā́ samátsv ā́ vīḷú cít sāhiṣīmáhy agnír vanéva vā́ta ín nábhantām anyaké samé ||
इंद्र और अग्नि, तुम दोनों बहुत ताकतवर हो। हम माँगते हैं कि तुम हमें धन और सुख दो। तुम्हारी मदद से हम लड़ाई में जीतेंगे, चाहे दुश्मन कितना भी स्ट्रॉंग हो। अग्नि अंदर की आग है, जैसे हवा जंगल में चलती है, वैसे ही वो दुश्मनों को भगा देगी।
Word by Word
- इन्द्राग्नी
- O Indra and AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root इन्द्र + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) (द्वन्द्व-समास)
- युवम्
- you twoPronounप्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सु
- well, indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRoot सु (निपात/उपसर्गवत् अव्यय)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदान (हितार्थे) / सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सहन्ता
- overpowering, conqueringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/सम्बोधन, द्विवचन (युवम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot सह् (धातु) → सहन्त् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त, शतृ)
- दासथः
- you two giveVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot दा (दाने) (धातु)
- रयिम्
- wealthNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रयि (प्रातिपदिक)
- येन
- by whichPronounतृतीया, एकवचन (नपुंसक/पुं—प्रयोगे ‘येन’)Role करणRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- दृळ्हाः
- firm, steadfastAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (अन्तर्निहिताः ‘वयम्/वीराः’ इत्यादयः) / विशेषणRoot दृळ्ह (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; √दृंह्/दृढ् ‘स्थिरीकरणे’ से)
- समत्सु
- in battlesNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot समत्सु (सम्+अत्सु/मत्सु) ‘युद्धेषु’ (प्रातिपदिक-रूप)
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableअव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वीळु
- the hard (stronghold/obstacle)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (कर्मरूपे) अथवा अव्ययीभाववत्Role कर्म (साहिषीमहि इत्यस्य)Root वीळु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘दृढ/कठिन/दुर्जय’ अर्थे, RV-विशेष)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्ययRoot चित् (निपात)
- साहिषीमहि
- we may overcome / we overcomeVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot सह् (धातु) → सह् (लिट्/लुङ्-प्रयोगेषु) ; अत्र: लट्, आत्मनेपद, 1पु, बहुवचन (वेदिक-रूप ‘साहिषीमहि’ = ‘सहामहे’)
- अग्निः
- AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वनेव
- like (fire) in a forestIndeclinable (comparative phrase)अव्यय (इव), ‘वने’ = सप्तमी एकवचनRole अधिकरण/उपमानRoot वन (प्रातिपदिक) + इव (उपमा-अव्यय)
- वातः
- windNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (उपमान-कर्तृ) / सह-कर्तृRoot वात (प्रातिपदिक; √वा ‘गत्यादौ’)
- इत्
- indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRoot इत्/इद् (निपात; बलार्थ/निश्चयार्थ)
- नभन्ताम्
- let them burst forth / smite / break throughVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), तृतीयपुरुष, द्विवचन (इन्द्राग्नी इत्यस्य)Role क्रियाRoot नभ् (हिंसागत्योः/विदारणे) (धातु)
- अन्यके
- in another (place/quarter)Adjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (स्थाने/विषये)Role अधिकरणRoot अन्यक (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अन्य’ का वेदिक-विस्तार)
- समे
- in the level (ground) / in the encounterNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot सम (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- सन्धि-विच्छेद (मुख्य): इन्द्रा॑ग्नी = इन्द्र + अग्नि (द्वन्द्व)
- न॒: = नः
- सह॑न्ता॒ = सहन्ता (युवम्-विशेषण)
- दास॑थो = दासथः
- येन॑ = येन
- समत्स्वा = समत्सु + आ
- वी॒ळु चि॑त् = वीळु + चित्
- साहिषी॒मह्य॒ग्निः = साहिषीमहि + अग्निः
- वने॑व = वने + इव
- वात॒ इन्नभ॑न्ताम् = वातः + इत् + नभन्ताम्
- अन्य॒के स॑मे = अन्यके + समे
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra and Agni, grant us plenitude by which we may win firm battles and overcome even the hard-to-pierce; may Agni like a wind in a forest drive away the others in the struggle.
Inner meaning
Indra (illumined Mind) and Agni (divine Will) together are the twin overcomers: the seeing power and the executing force. They bestow rayi—not mere wealth but an inner plenitude of energies, lights, and harmonized capacities—so the seeker can prevail in ‘firm-set battles’ (dṛḻhā samatsu: entrenched habitual resistances). The image of Agni as wind in a forest suggests a swift, pervasive purification: the Fire-force moves through the tangled vital nature, clearing obscurity and scattering hostile formations.
Universal truth
When clarity (illumined mind) and sincere will (transforming fire) act together, entrenched difficulties yield; inner abundance grows as obstacles are dispersed.
Themes
invocation, inner battle (samat), bestowal of rayi (plenitude), repulsion of hostile forces
The seer
- Rishi
- Nabhāka (traditional attribution for RV 8.40)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.40.1-4 (this sequence)
Family tradition
Associated with the Nābhāka/Nabhāka lineage in Maṇḍala 8 (Aurobindonian reading: a seer of battle-mantras seeking victorious illumination).
Significance
Nabhāka’s refrain-like closure emphasizes a disciplined yoga of struggle: invoke the divine allies, gain plenitude, and scatter the hostile movements from the field.
The deity
- Devata
- Indrāgnī (Indra + Agni)
- Epithets
- sahantā (overcomers), nara (heroes, implied)
- Related deities
- Maruts (forces aiding Indra), Soma (bliss empowering Indra), Bṛhaspati (word/vision breaking the cave)
Cosmic role
Joint powers of illumination and transformative action; they open paths, break obstacles, and establish victorious order.
Inner power
Indra brings decisive light and force of truth; Agni applies it as steady tapas and purification through the whole nature.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indrāgnī offerings in soma rites and victory/protection contexts
इन्द्रा॑ग्नी यु॒वं सु न॒: सह॑न्ता॒ दास॑थो र॒यिम् । येन॑ दृ॒ळ्हा स॒मत्स्वा वी॒ळु चि॑त्साहिषी॒मह्य॒ग्निर्वने॑व॒ वात॒ इन्नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥
इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ इति॑ । यु॒वम् । सु । नः॒ । सह॑न्ता । दास॑थः । र॒यिम् । येन॑ । दृ॒ळ्हा । स॒मत्ऽसु॑ । आ । वी॒ळु । चि॒त् । स॒हि॒षी॒महि॑ । अ॒ग्निः । वना॑ऽइव । वाते॑ । इत् । नभ॑न्ताम् । अ॒न्य॒के । स॒मे॒ ॥
indrāgnī iti | yuvam | su | naḥ | sahantā | dāsathaḥ | rayim | yena | dṛḷhā | samat-su | ā | vīḷu | cit | sahiṣīmahi | agniḥ | vanāiva | vāte | it | nabhantām | anyake | same
48
4 pādas of ~12 syllables (needs strict count from saṃhitā with sandhi)
Martial, expansive; suited to ‘battle’ imagery and forward thrust.
Energizes courage and momentum; the wind-Agni simile gives a felt sense of sweeping clearance.
- इन्द्रा॑ग्नी (indrāgnī)
- Literal: Indra and Agni. Symbolic: illumined mind + divine will in a single coordinated action
- सहन्ता (sahantā)
- Literal: overcomers. Symbolic: powers that endure, conquer, and transform resistance
- रयिम् (rayim)
- Literal: wealth, plenitude. Symbolic: inner richness: light, force, joy, capacity
- समत्सु (samatsu)
- Literal: in battles/contests. Symbolic: inner struggle against obscurity and inertia
- वीळु (vīḻu)
- Literal: hard to pierce/firm stronghold. Symbolic: dense subconscient knots, resistant formations
- अग्निर्वनेव वातः (agnir vane iva vātaḥ)
- Literal: Agni like wind in a forest. Symbolic: purifying force sweeping through vital complexity
- नभन्ताम् अन्यके (nabhantām anyake)
- Literal: let the others be driven away. Symbolic: expel hostile thoughts, impulses, and adverse forces
Indrāgnī śastra/stotra context in Soma rites (general); used as an invocation for joint Indra–Agni aid in contests and the gaining of rayi (exact Śrauta assignment varies by śākhā tradition).
Before or during contest/struggle motifs in ritual recitation; also as protective refrain in hymn cycles
Invocation with offering (ghee/soma) for strength and removal of adversities
Use before demanding tasks: invoke clarity (Indra) + will (Agni), then visualize obstacles dispersing like dry leaves in wind.
Key roots: √sah ‘to endure, overpower’ (sahantā ‘overcoming’; sahiṣīmahi optative ‘may we prevail’). rayí- from √rā/√rai ‘to give, bestow; wealth/abundance’ → interpreted as plenitude of being/powers rather than material goods. dṛḷhá- ‘firm’ from √dṛh ‘to make firm’. samát- ‘encounter, battle’ from sam-√mad/√at? (traditional: samat ‘meeting, conflict’). vīḷú- ‘hard to pierce/close’ (obstruction/cover). nabhantām (injunctive/imperative sense) from √nabh ‘to burst, drive away/scatter’ (Vedic usage: to repel/disperse).
Ṛta as right victory/order in conflict, inner yajña (sacrificial transformation), overcoming of obstruction (āvaraṇa) to manifest truth-force
Victory in samatsu is framed as restoration of right order against the coverer-forces.
Indra’s power is truth-force that makes the ‘hard-to-pierce’ yield.
Order emerges through conflict: light and will carve pathways through resistant nature.
Integral-psychological Veda: deities as powers of consciousness engaged in evolution.
Forest = complex vital nature; wind = sweeping prāṇa-force; fire = transformative tapas moving through prāṇa.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The paired powers Indra–Agni grant rayi and enable victory in samat (‘encounters’), including against the vīḷu (‘hard, close-barred’ obstruction). Mythically this echoes the recurrent Vedic pattern: divine allies empower the sacrificer to break sealed resistances and drive away rival/hostile forces; psychologically it is the breach of the inner ‘cover’ that blocks light and force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sah ‘overcome/endure’ aligns with PIE *seǵʰ-/*seh₂gʰ- (strength/endurance; semantic field of victory-through-force). dṛḷhá from √dṛh relates to PIE *derǵʰ- ‘firm, strong’ (cf. English ‘durable’ via Latin durus is parallel in meaning, though not a direct cognate chain). Indra as a reflex of an Indo-Iranian storm/victory figure parallels Avestan Indra (demonized), showing inherited mythic vocabulary with divergent theology.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi speaks as an aspirant seeking a reciprocal exchange: praise/invocation (implicit yajña) calls the devatā to ‘give’ (dāsathaḥ) rayi; the boon is not passive wealth but an operative power ‘by which’ (yena) the human side can accomplish victory. The devatā thus becomes an inner ally—Indra as illumined force and Agni as executing will—driving out competing movements ‘in the same field’ (same).
Unite illumined discernment (Indra) with steady transformative will (Agni).
Ājñā (Indra’s clarity) + Maṇipūra (Agni’s force).
Brisk-energetic but controlled: inhale on invocation, exhale on ‘nabhantām’ visualizing dispersal.
Dynamic concentration; victorious wideness.
Recall a current ‘firm battle’ (habit/fear); invoke Indra for light on the knot; invoke Agni to burn through it; end by imagining a wind of fire clearing the inner forest.
Vedic three-tone; exact udātta placement to be taken from śākala-pāṭha svara text for RV 8.40.
Keep compound indrāgnī as a single invocation; emphasize long vowels in rayīm/vīḻu/sāhiṣīmahi.
In (in-drāg-nī), keep conjunct drāg clean; do not insert extra vowel, In (sā-hi-ṣī-ma-hi), keep retroflex ṣ and long ī, In (vaneva), articulate as va-ne-va (not ‘vanēva’)
Commanding and bright; stronger on battle-words (samatsu, vīḻu).
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