Rig Veda 8.83.7: Mandala 8, Sukta 83, Mantra 7
Sukta 8.83
- Devata
- Indra, Viṣṇu, Maruts, Aśvins
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अधि न इन्द्रैषां विष्णो सजात्यानाम् । इता मरुतो अश्विना ॥
ádhi na indra eṣā́m víṣṇo iti sa-jā́tyānām | itā́ marúto aśvínā ||
इंद्र और विष्णु, तुम हमारे ऊपर राज करो। हमारी टीम को संभालो। मरुत और अश्विन देवता, तुम भी यहाँ आओ और हमारे काम को सही डायरेक्शन दो।
Word by Word
- अधि
- upon; over; in addition (as preverb)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्यय; अर्थे ‘उपरि/अधिष्ठाने/अधि-’Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अधि (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- नः
- to us / ourPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी? बहुवचनस्य एन्क्लिटिक-रूपम्; प्रायः षष्ठी बहुवचन (our) / दत्तिवत् (to us) सन्दर्भानुसारRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- एषाम्
- of thesePronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (सर्वलिङ्ग)Role Sambandha (Genitive)Root एतद्
- विष्णो
- O ViṣṇuNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सजात्यानाम्
- of the kindred/related ones; of those of the same lineageNoun/Adjective (collective)स्त्रीलिङ्ग (जाति); षष्ठी बहुवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root सजाति (प्रातिपदिक; स- + जाति)
- इता
- come; having comeParticiple/Adjectiveकृदन्त; भूतकृदन्त/निष्पन्न-विशेषण ‘इता’ = ‘गताः/आगताः’; प्रथमा बहुवचन (सन्दर्भे मरुतः इत्यादि)Role Kartā (as qualifier of the subject)Root इ (धातु: इ ‘गमन’)
- मरुतः
- the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्विना
- the Aśvins (the twin horsemen)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया/तृतीया द्विवचन रूप ‘अश्विना’ (अत्र प्रथमा द्विवचन—युगलदेवतावाचक)Role KartāRoot अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक; द्विवचन-देवता)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अधि | नः | इन्द्र | एषाम् | विष्णो | सजात्यानाम् || इता | मरुतः | अश्विना || 1) ‘इन्द्रैषाम्’ = ‘इन्द्र’ (सम्बोधन) + ‘एषाम्’ (षष्ठी बहु.) : अ + ए → ऐ (स्वर-सन्धि). 2) ‘विष्णो सजात्यानाम्’ इत्यत्र सन्धिः न विशेषः
- ‘विष्णो’ सम्बोधन-रूपम्. 3) ‘इता’ कृदन्त-विशेषणं, ‘मरुतः’ तथा ‘अश्विना’ इत्येतयोः आगमनं सूचयति
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra and Vishnu are asked to be set over us, over this kinship of powers; Maruts and Ashvins are invited to come here.
Inner meaning
A deliberate inner governance is requested. Indra (illumined Mind) and Viṣṇu (all-pervading wideness/three strides of consciousness) are asked to preside over the ‘sajātyānām’—the allied family of divine powers in the seeker. The Maruts (dynamic life-forces that storm through obstruction) and the Aśvins (twin healers, swift harmonizers) are called to ‘come here’—to take charge of our movement so the ascent is both forceful and balanced.
Universal truth
Inner progress needs right leadership: luminous intelligence and widening consciousness must govern the energies of action, healing, and transformation.
Themes
Divine coalition, Leadership, Victory and expansion, Healing aid
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 8.83 (coalition of deities; integrative governance theme)
Significance
The verse models integral sādhanā: not one power alone, but a coordinated divine ‘cabinet’ presiding over the being.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra, Viṣṇu, Maruts, Aśvins
- Epithets
- Indra as leader of the host, Viṣṇu as wide-striding, Maruts as swift companions, Aśvins as nāsatyā (true helpers, implied)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Indra opens the luminous heaven by slaying obstruction; Viṣṇu measures out the worlds by his strides; Maruts energize and purify the atmosphere; Aśvins restore and heal, bringing swift rightness.
Inner power
Indra: decisive illumination; Viṣṇu: widening and stable ascent; Maruts: dynamic courage and purification of vital nature; Aśvins: rapid harmonization and healing of splits.
In ritual
Where it is used
Collective call for leadership and harmonized action of multiple devatās; suitable in rites seeking strength, expansion, and swift restoration.
अधि॑ न इन्द्रैषां॒ विष्णो॑ सजा॒त्या॑नाम् । इ॒ता मरु॑तो॒ अश्वि॑ना ॥
अधि॑ । नः॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । ए॒षा॒म् । विष्णो॒ इति॑ । स॒ऽजा॒त्या॑नाम् । इ॒त । मरु॑तः । अश्वि॑ना ॥
adhi | naḥ | indra | eṣām | viṣṇo iti | sa-jātyānām | ita | marutaḥ | aśvinā
44
4 × 11 (approx.)
commanding, expansive, directive
Creates a sense of enthronement and mobilization—leadership established, energies summoned.
- अधि नः (adhi naḥ)
- Literal: over us, upon us. Symbolic: establish as governing influence in mind-life-body
- इन्द्र (indra)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: divine Mind/illumination; power that breaks the coverer
- विष्णो (viṣṇo)
- Literal: Vishnu. Symbolic: widening, all-pervading consciousness; the triple stride of ascent
- सजात्यानाम् (sajātyānām)
- Literal: of those of one kind/kinship. Symbolic: harmonized coalition of inner powers; integrated sādhanā-forces
- मरुतः (marutaḥ)
- Literal: Maruts. Symbolic: storm-powers of life-energy that aid Indra; courageous impetus
- अश्विना (aśvinā)
- Literal: Ashvins (twins). Symbolic: swift healers; harmonizing dualities (mind/body, inner/outer) and restoring balance
Collective call for leadership and harmonized action of multiple devatās; suitable in rites seeking strength, expansion, and swift restoration.
Before undertaking a difficult endeavor; at the start of a collective work; in inner crisis when energies need right governance.
Āhvāna and niyoga (setting the gods ‘over’ the sacrificer).
Use as a ‘leadership alignment’ mantra: invite clear mind (Indra), wideness (Viṣṇu), right energy (Maruts), and healing balance (Aśvins) before decisions.
marks superposition/overlordship: a request for higher governance. Indra (root cluster ind/idh proposed; traditional: ‘powerful’) functions as victorious force. Viṣṇu from √viṣ/√viś ‘to pervade’ (and the ‘three strides’ myth) → wide extension of consciousness. Marut (possibly from √mar ‘to shine’/‘to crush’ in different proposals) are dynamic forces; Aśvin from aśva ‘horse’ (speed, vital energy) → swift twin helpers.
Hierarchy of powers (adhi), Expansion (Viṣṇu stride) and victory (Indra), Kinship/coordination of divine functions (sajātya)
Right order in the inner cosmos requires proper hierarchy—illumination and wideness above impulsive energies.
Truth is effective when it governs life-force and restores harmony (Aśvins).
Measurement and ordering of worlds (Viṣṇu) combined with breakthrough (Indra).
Aurobindonian: ascent through Indra’s illumination and Viṣṇu’s wideness; integration of vital and physical by Maruts/Aśvins.
Storm = vital purification; stride = expansion of consciousness; thunderbolt = decisive insight; twin horsemen = quick healing coordination.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the ‘allied host of gods’ arranged in functional kinship (sajātya), with Indra and Viṣṇu set ‘over’ the movement—victory and wide extension presiding—while Maruts and Aśvins bring dynamic force and swift restoration. It is a coordinated divine polity for the soul’s battle and progress.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The coalition formula (naming multiple deities in a single governance frame) parallels IE poetic catalogues of divine allies. aśva ‘horse’ is pan-IE (Latin equus, etc., by cognate set), anchoring Aśvin imagery in inherited Indo-European equine symbolism of speed and power.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi asks for a structured inner government: higher powers (Indra-Viṣṇu) to preside, and supporting powers (Maruts-Aśvins) to arrive and operate. The relationship is that of organizer and invoked forces: the human consciousness calls for right hierarchy so the many energies do not scatter but act as a single yajña-force.
Establish the ‘inner government’: place illumination and wideness at the top; then invite energized purification and healing integration.
ājñā (Indra/illumination) and sahasrāra (Viṣṇu/wideness), supported by anāhata (harmonizing Maruts/Aśvins)
3-part breath: inhale (widen—Viṣṇu), hold briefly (clarify—Indra), exhale (release turbulence—Maruts), rest (restore balance—Aśvins)
uplifted command with receptive wideness
Before meditation, mentally ‘seat’ Indra at the brow (clear seeing) and Viṣṇu above/around (vastness). Then feel Maruts cleansing the chest-breath and Aśvins aligning body-mind. End with a minute of silent governance: choose one impulse to bring under higher rule.
Vedic accents with emphatic vocatives; keep commands crisp (adhi, itā).
Do not blur ‘indra’ and ‘viṣṇo’; give a clear pause after ‘viṣṇo’; ‘itā’ should sound like an inviting call.
adhi: short a, clear ‘dh’, viṣṇo: retroflex ‘ṣṇ’ cluster, sajātyānām: long ā, nasalization at end, maruto: roll ‘r’ lightly, aśvinā: palatal ‘ś’, long ā at end
clear, directive, uplifted
3
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