Rig Veda 8.61.2: Mandala 8, Sukta 61, Mantra 2
Sukta 8.61
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
तं हि स्वराजं वृषभं तमोजसे धिषणे निष्टतक्षतुः । उतोपमानां प्रथमो नि षीदसि सोमकामं हि ते मनः ॥
táṃ hí sva-rā́jaṃ vṛṣabháṃ tám ójase dhiṣáṇe niṣ-tatakṣátuḥ | utópa-mā́nāṃ prathamó ní ṣīdasi sóma-kā́maṃ hí te mánaḥ ||
इंद्र अपना काम खुद चलाते हैं, बिल्कुल बैल की तरह ताकतवर। रिशियों ने उन्हे ताकत के लिए तैयार किया। सबमें सबसे बड़े बैठते हैं। उनका मन सोम पीने का है।
Word by Word
- तम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्Role कर्म (स्तुत्य/प्राप्त्य-वस्तु)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- हि
- indeed/forIndeclinableनिपातः (अव्ययम्)Root हि (निपात)
- स्वराजम्
- the self-ruling/sovereignNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्Role कर्म (तम् इति विशेषणम्)Root स्वराज् (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + राज्)
- वृषभम्
- bull (mighty one)Nounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्Role कर्म (तम् इति विशेषणम्)Root वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- तम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ओजसे
- for strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे चतुर्थी-एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदान (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजन-दत्तिः)Root ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- धिषणे
- the two Dhīṣaṇās (inspirations/insights)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-द्विवचनम्Role कर्तृ (निष्टतक्षतु इत्यस्य)Root धिषणा (प्रातिपदिक)
- निष्टतक्षतु
- have fashioned/formedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपदम्), प्रथमपुरुषः, द्विवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot तक्ष् (धातु; नि-उपसर्गेण)
- उत
- and/alsoIndeclinableनिपातःRoot उत (निपात)
- उपमानाम्
- of comparisons/likenessesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी-बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root उपमा (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रथमः
- the firstAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (नि षीदसि इत्यस्य)Root प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
- नि
- downIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot नि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- षीदसि
- you sit/settleVerbलट् (परस्मैपदम्), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot सद् (धातु; नि-उपसर्गेण)
- सोमकामम्
- desiring SomaAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्Role कर्म (मनः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root सोमकाम (प्रातिपदिक; सोम + काम)
- हि
- indeed/forIndeclinableनिपातःRoot हि (निपात)
- ते
- yourPronounषष्ठी-एकवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- मनः
- mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/विषय (अस्ति/भवति इति लुप्त-क्रियायाः)Root मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): तं हि स्वराजं वृषभं तम् ओजसे धिषणे निष्टतक्षतु । उत उपमानाम् प्रथमो नि षीदसि सोमकामं हि ते मनः । Notes: (1) तमोजसे → तम् + ओजसे (m-final before vowel). (2) उतोपमानाम् → उत + उपमानाम् (u+a → o). (3) नि षीदसि is read with preverb नि + √सद्
- orthographic षीदसि reflects Vedic phonetics after i/ni (s → ṣ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, the self-ruler bull, has been fashioned by the two inspired powers for strength; among the comparable, he sits first, for his mind desires Soma.
Inner meaning
The illumined Mind (Indra) is ‘self-ruler’ (svarāj): it governs itself by truth, not by the lower nature. The ‘bull’ indicates generative force and victorious potency. The two dhiṣaṇā-s (inspired faculties—often understood as twin powers of intuition and revelation, or thought and speech) shape the Indra-force in us for ojas (spiritual vigor). Indra ‘sits first’—illumination must preside over the inner sacrifice. His desire for Soma is the mind’s rightful aspiration for Ananda, without which power becomes dry or violent.
Universal truth
True strength is crafted by inspired intelligence and must be governed by self-rule; when illumination presides and seeks bliss, power becomes harmonious and transformative.
Themes
Indra sovereignty, Soma-desire, formation by dhī, primacy of force
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.61.1, Rig Veda 8.61.3, Rig Veda 8.61.4
Family tradition
Indra hymns of the eighth maṇḍala often arise from Kaṇva seer-lines
Significance
The verse is a compact psychology of inner formation: inspired faculties ‘carve’ a higher ruling mind and enthrone it as leader of the sacrifice.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- svarāj (self-ruler), vṛṣabha (bull), prathama (first, chief)
- Related deities
- Soma, Bṛhaspati, Agni
Cosmic role
Chief of the gods in many hymns; establishes dominion of light; upholds victorious order.
Inner power
Sovereign illumination that must be constructed/evoked by dhī and then installed to lead the being toward bliss and strength.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering with enthronement/invitation of Indra to the seat (āsana) of the rite.
तं हि स्व॒राजं॑ वृष॒भं तमोज॑से धि॒षणे॑ निष्टत॒क्षतु॑: । उ॒तोप॒मानां॑ प्रथ॒मो नि षी॑दसि॒ सोम॑कामं॒ हि ते॒ मन॑: ॥
तम् । हि । स्व॒ऽराज॑म् । वृ॒ष॒भम् । तम् । ओज॑से । धि॒षणे॑ । निः॒ऽत॒त॒क्षतुः॑ । उ॒त । उ॒प॒ऽमाना॑म् । प्र॒थ॒मः । नि । सी॒द॒सि॒ । सोम॑ऽकामम् । हि । ते॒ । मनः॑ ॥
tam | hi | sva-rājam | vṛṣabham | tam | ojase | dhiṣaṇe | niḥ-tatakṣatuḥ | uta | upa-mānām | prathamaḥ | ni | sīdasi | soma-kāmam | hi | te | manaḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Declarative and enthroning; the rhythm ‘sets’ Indra in place (ni ṣīdasi).
Stabilizes the sense of inner sovereignty and presiding clarity; supports establishing a higher seat in meditation.
- स्वराजम् (svarājam)
- Literal: self-ruling. Symbolic: inner sovereignty; consciousness governed by truth
- वृषभम् (vṛṣabham)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: fertile force; victorious strength of illumination
- ओजसे (ojase)
- Literal: for strength/vigor. Symbolic: spiritual energy that sustains effort and conquest
- धिषणे (dhiṣaṇe)
- Literal: two dhiṣaṇās (inspired powers). Symbolic: twin faculties of inspired mind—intuition/revelation; or thought/speech shaping god-force
- निष्टतक्षतुः (niṣṭatakṣatuḥ)
- Literal: they have fashioned/carved. Symbolic: inner formation: building the Indra-consciousness by sadhana
- नि षीदसि (ni ṣīdasi)
- Literal: you sit down. Symbolic: establish yourself as presiding power in the being
- सोमकामम् (somakāmam)
- Literal: desiring Soma. Symbolic: right aspiration of the mind for bliss-essence
Indra’s enthronement at Soma; emphasizes Indra’s primacy and Soma-desire—used to seat Indra at the rite and affirm his sovereign force.
At moments of inviting Indra to take the foremost place and receive Soma.
Offering Soma; mentally ‘seating’ Indra as chief power; affirming strength (ojas).
Use to ‘install’ clarity as the leader before decision-making or meditation: let the higher mind preside, supported by intuition.
sva-rāj (self-king) encodes autonomy/mastery; vṛṣabha from √vṛṣ ‘pour, rain, be potent’ indicates overflowing power. √takṣ (fashion) is PIE *teks- (craft; cf. Latin texō ‘weave/build’, English ‘text/texture’ as semantic descendants). Dhīṣaṇā as inspired faculty ‘fashions’ Indra in the human field—psychologically, the inspired intelligence constructs the capacity for divine strength.
self-mastery (svarāj), ojas (strength), inspired formation (takṣ)
Indra as prathama embodies the governing principle that aligns movements to Ṛta.
svarāj implies truth-governed autonomy rather than egoic control.
Formation (takṣ) of divine powers within the human vessel—inner creation by inspired faculties.
Vedic inner-psychological theism; anticipates yogic ‘installation’ of higher faculty over lower nature.
Bull = concentrated generative force; Soma = bliss that moistens and harmonizes power; ‘carving’ = shaping subtle body/mental structure.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘fashioning’ of the god’s power: Dhīṣaṇā (inspired intelligence) ‘carves out’ Indra for ojas. Psychologically, the inner faculties shape a vessel/capacity for sovereign force, and Indra takes his seat as the foremost power drawn by Soma-delight.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √takṣ ‘fashion’ is a clear PIE inheritance (*teks-), showing the archaic metaphor of crafting power as a built object. vṛṣ (potency/pouring) participates in an Indo-European semantic network linking rain/virility/strength in storm deities.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recognizes that inspired faculties (dhīṣaṇe) actively prepare Indra’s strength in the human system. Indra reciprocates by ‘sitting’ in the offering—taking up residence in consciousness—because his mind is aligned with Soma (delight/essence).
Contemplate ‘svarāj’: let awareness rest in self-governed truth; then invite Soma-like sweetness to fill the mind so strength is luminous, not harsh.
Ājñā (governance) and Sahasrāra (higher rule) with Soma-flow into Anāhata
Box-breath (4-4-4-4) while repeating ‘svarājam… ni ṣīdasi’ to stabilize inner throne.
Centered sovereignty, poised strength, bliss-oriented aspiration.
Before action, ask: ‘Is Indra seated first?’ If not, return to dhī (quiet insight), then proceed only when clarity presides.
Chant with clear udatta rises on key nouns (svarājam, vṛṣabham, ojase, somakāmam).
Pause slightly at ‘ni ṣīdasi’ to enact the ‘seating’ in sound.
svarājam: long ā, vṛṣabham: ṛ and retroflex ṣ, dhiṣaṇe: retroflex ṣ; final e clear, niṣṭatakṣatuḥ: kṣ conjunct; final ḥ audible
Regal, steady, centered.
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