Rig Veda 8.93.10: Mandala 8, Sukta 93, Mantra 10
Sukta 8.93
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion) and Vira (heroism)
दुर्गे चिन्नः सुगं कृधि गृणान इन्द्र गिर्वणः । त्वं च मघवन्वशः ॥
durgé cit naḥ sugáṃ kṛdhi gṛṇāná índra girvaṇaḥ | tváṃ ca maghavan váśaḥ ||
इन्द्र, मुश्किल रास्ते में भी हमारे लिए सही रास्ता बना दे। हमारी प्रार्थना सुन। तू ही हमारा रस्ता दिखाता है। तू हमारे मन को सही दिशा में ले जाता है।
Word by Word
- दुर्गे
- in difficulty, in a hard straitNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक; दुर्-गम् ‘hard to go/approach’)
- चित्
- even, indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRoot चित् (अव्यय; emphatic particle)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (enclitic) = ‘our’Role सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सुगम्
- easy passage, good pathNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सुग (सु-गम्; प्रातिपदिक)
- कृधि
- make (for us)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot कृ (धातु)
- गृणानः
- praising (thee) / as we praiseParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त; आत्मनेपद-प्रयोग; प्रथमा एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग (इन्द्र-सम्बोधन/विशेषणरूपेण) अथवा कर्तरि ‘praising’Role कर्तृ (क्रियायाः सहवर्ती/विधेय-विशेषण) अथवा सम्बोधन-विशेषणRoot गृ (धातु) → गृणत्/गृणान (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुल्लिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- गिर्वणः
- O hymn-delighting oneAdjectiveपुल्लिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचन (Vedic form: -ः for voc. sg.)Role सम्बोधन-विशेषणRoot गिर्वणस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘praise-delighting/receiving hymns’)
- त्वम्
- thouPronounप्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableअव्ययRoot च (अव्यय)
- मघवन्
- O bountiful oneNoun/Adjectiveपुल्लिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bountiful’)
- वशः
- (art) master, controller; (thy) power/willNounपुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole विधेय/प्रथमा (त्वम् … वशः)Root वश (प्रातिपदिक; ‘will, power, control’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: दुर्गे चित् नः सुगम् कृधि गृणानः इन्द्र गिर्वणः । त्वम् च मघवन् वशः । 1) चिन्नः = चित् + नः (त् + न → न्न, संधि-लोप/अनुस्वार-रहित रूप)
- 2) गृणान इन्द्र = गृणानः + इन्द्र (विसर्ग-सन्धि: -ः + इ- → -न इ-; RV-पाठानुसार ‘गृणान इन्द्र’)
- 3) त्वं च = त्वम् + च (म् + च → ंच, अनुस्वार/परसवर्ण)
- 4) मघव॒न्वश॑: = मघवन् + वशः (न् + व → न्व)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Even in the difficult passage (durge cit), make for us a good going/path (sugam), O Indra who delights in hymns (girvaṇaḥ), as we praise you. You too, O Maghavan, are vaśaḥ (the master/one who brings under control).
Inner meaning
The seeker asks the illumined Mind (Indra) to convert inner difficulty (durga: narrow, hard-to-cross states—confusion, depression, hostile impulses) into a clear and happy passage (sugam). Indra is ‘girvaṇaḥ’, the one who responds to mantric praise: when aspiration becomes true speech, help descends. ‘Maghavan’ (bountiful) indicates the abundance of light and strength he can pour. ‘Vaśaḥ’ points to mastery: Indra can bring the unruly movements of nature under the rule of the higher will—guiding the life-force to obey the light.
Universal truth
In crisis, the decisive aid is clarity that shows the next right step. When we align speech and intention with truth, a higher intelligence can govern our impulses and open a workable path.
Themes
prayer-for-guidance, overcoming-obstacles, path-symbolism
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 8.93.9 (word-forged vajra), RV 8.93.12–13 (irresistible force; preserving luminous nourishment)
Significance
A classic Vedic prayer of passage: not escape from life, but conversion of difficulty into a traversable path through the descent of illumined guidance.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- girvaṇaḥ, maghavan, path-maker (implied by sugaṃ kṛdhi)
- Related deities
- Pūṣan (path-finder), Savitar (impeller), Agni (leader of the inner journey)
Cosmic role
Guide and victor who opens the ways (panthāḥ) by breaking obstructions; leader in the battle for light.
Inner power
Discerning force that shows the next step and disciplines the lower nature into obedience to light.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation for protection and success; general stotra usage
दु॒र्गे चि॑न्नः सु॒गं कृ॑धि गृणा॒न इ॑न्द्र गिर्वणः । त्वं च॑ मघव॒न्वश॑: ॥
दुः॒ऽगे । चि॒त् । नः॒ । सु॒ऽगम् । कृ॒धि॒ । गृ॒णा॒नः । इ॒न्द्र॒ । गि॒र्व॒णः॒ । त्वम् । च॒ । म॒घ॒ऽव॒न् । वशः॑ ॥
duḥ-ge | cit | naḥ | su-gam | kṛdhi | gṛṇānaḥ | indra | girvaṇaḥ | tvam | ca | magha-van | vaśaḥ
Supplicatory yet firm; the imperative ‘kṛdhi’ gives a decisive turn.
Creates confidence and forward motion; helpful when the mind feels stuck.
- दुःगे (durge/duḥge)
- Literal: in difficulty, hard passage. Symbolic: Narrow/blocked states of consciousness; inner crisis or resistance
- सुगम् (su-gam)
- Literal: good going, easy path. Symbolic: Clear forward movement of sadhana; right direction felt inwardly
- गृणानः (gṛṇānaḥ)
- Literal: praising/singing. Symbolic: Aspiration expressed as mantra; offering of speech
- गिर्वणः (girvaṇaḥ)
- Literal: delighting in hymns. Symbolic: The divine power that answers true invocation; resonance with mantra
- मघवन् (maghavan)
- Literal: bountiful, generous. Symbolic: Giver of abundance of light, courage, and right action
- वशः (vaśaḥ)
- Literal: mastery, control; one who rules. Symbolic: Inner governance—bringing nature under the luminous will
Protective/prayerful application: invoked for safe passage through dangers; in Soma and general rites as a request for guidance and removal of obstacles (inner and outer).
At beginnings of undertakings; before travel or major decisions; during periods of inner difficulty
Recitation with sankalpa for right guidance; offering of water/light (simple ācamana/dīpa) can accompany
A practical ‘path-opening’ mantra for anxiety, procrastination, or life transitions.
durga: ‘hard to go through’ (dur- ‘difficult’ + ga from √gam ‘go’) → difficulty as blocked passage. su-gam: ‘good to go’ (su- + gam) → smooth progressive movement; psychologically, a guided path through inner knots. girvaṇas: ‘one for whom hymns are dear’ (gir ‘song’ + van ‘liking/desiring’). maghavan: from magha ‘gift, bounty, power of giving’ → plenitude-bestowing. √vaś: ‘to control, to will’ → mastery as governance of the being.
guidance on the path (sugam), mastery of will (vaśa), mantra-devotion reciprocity (girvaṇas)
sugam = movement aligned with Ṛta; durga = deviation/obstruction to Ṛta within nature.
True praise (gṛṇānaḥ) aligns personal will with truth-order.
The path is ‘made’—consciousness can be re-formed; difficulty is not final.
Yoga of transformation: guidance and mastery (vaśa) over prakṛti through higher mind-force.
Durga = inner stronghold of resistance; Sugam = opened channel (nāḍī-like) for right movement of force and decision.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘path-making’ mythologem: the god creates a ‘sugam’ through ‘durga’. Inner sense: Indra opens a workable passage through psychological difficulty, converting obstruction into progress.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The √gam ‘go’ root (PIE *gʷem-) underlies both durga and sugam, showing inherited word-formation around movement/path. The su-/dur- evaluative prefixes are old Indo-European strategies for polarity (good vs difficult).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi praises (gṛṇānaḥ) and addresses Indra as girvaṇas (hymn-lover), implying that mantra is the bridge; in response, Indra grants ‘sugam’ and asserts ‘vaśa’—mastery that can order the seeker’s path and nature.
When stuck, invoke the ‘good path’—ask for one clear next action aligned with truth.
mūlādhāra (fear/survival knots) lifted toward maṇipūra (will/forward movement) under ājñā guidance
4-4 breathing (inhale 4, exhale 4) while repeating; on ‘sugam kṛdhi’ feel the exhale open space ahead.
From constriction to guided flow.
Name the ‘durga’ honestly (the knot). Chant, then write one concrete step that feels luminous and doable; execute it immediately.
Not fully determinable; treat as a clear imperative prayer: slight rise on ‘durge’ and ‘indra’, strongest emphasis on ‘sugam kṛdhi’.
Keep compounds distinct: su-gam (not ‘sugam’ swallowed). Stress ‘girvaṇaḥ’ on first syllable gir-.
duḥge: visarga before g (often softened in chanting, but keep aspiration), sugam: short u, clear g, gṛṇānaḥ: vocalic ṛ; retroflex ṇ, girvaṇaḥ: v + aṇaḥ, keep ṇ, maghavan: gh aspirated, vaśaḥ: palatal ś
Supplicatory but confident; warm tone.
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