Rig Veda 2.20.8: Mandala 2, Sukta 20, Mantra 8
Sukta 2.20
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
तस्मै तवस्यमनु दायि सत्रेन्द्राय देवेभिरर्णसातौ । प्रति यदस्य वज्रं बाह्वोर्धुर्हत्वी दस्यून्पुर आयसीर्नि तारीत् ॥
tásmai tavasyám ánu dāyi satréndrā́ya devébhir árṇa-sātau | práti yád asyá vájraṃ bāhvór dhúr hatvī́ dásyūn púra ā́yasīr ní tārīt ||
彼——強きインドラ（Indra）——には、神々とともに臨む共同の戦いにおいて、洪流（あるいは豊水）を勝ち取るための力が授けられた。彼の腕に金剛（vajra）が据えられるや、彼はダシュユ（Dasyu）を討ち、鉄の城塞を打ち倒して落とした。
Word by Word
- तस्मै
- to himPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- तवस्यम्
- the mighty oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तवस्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘बलवान्/वीर्यवान्’)
- अनु
- after; in accordance withIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अनु
- दायि
- the giverAdjective (agentive) / Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot दा (धातु) / दायिन् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्रे
- in the (sacrificial) sessionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot सत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्राय
- to IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवेभिः
- with the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole सह/साधन (करण-प्रायः)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्णसातौ
- in the winning of the flood/stream (booty)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अर्णसाति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अर्णस्/प्रवाह/उदक’ + √सा/साति ‘प्राप्ति/विजय’)
- प्रति
- against; towardsIndeclinableअव्ययRoot प्रति
- यत्
- whichRelative pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्य
- of himPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वज्रम्
- the thunderboltNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- बाह्वोः
- in/of (his) two armsNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन (द्विवचन-रूप)Role अधिकरण/सम्बन्धRoot बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
- धुः
- they placed; they setVerbलिट् (परोक्श/परफेक्ट्) 3 पुरुष बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot धा (धातु)
- हत्वी
- having slainVerbal indeclinable (absolutive) / Kṛdantaक्त्वा-प्रत्यय (वैदिक रूप ‘हत्वी’), अव्ययRole पूर्वकाल-क्रियाRoot हन् (धातु)
- दस्यून्
- the Dasyus (hostile foes)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरः
- fortressesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot पुर्/पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
- आयसीः
- made of metal/ironAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole विशेषण (कर्म-सम्बन्ध)Root आयस (प्रातिपदिक)
- नि
- down; forth (as preverb)Indeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गRoot नि
- तारीत्
- he made (them) cross; he overcameVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट्) 3 पुरुष एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot तॄ (धातु; ‘तरति’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved as: तस्मै | तवस्यम् | अनु | दायि | सत्रे | इन्द्राय | देवेभिः | अर्णसातौ || प्रति | यत् | अस्य | वज्रम् | बाह्वोः | धुः | हत्वी | दस्यून् | पुरः | आयसीः | नि | तारीत् । Notes: (1) ‘दायि’ is a Vedic agentive (giver), functioning as nominative singular
- (2) ‘धुः’ is perfect 3pl of √धा ‘to place’
- (3) ‘हत्वी’ is Vedic absolutive of √हन् (later ‘हत्वा’)
- (4) ‘बाह्वोः’ is dual oblique (gen./loc.) of बाहु
- (5) ‘तारीत्’ is aorist 3sg of √तॄ with preverb नि, ‘overcame/made to cross’. Accents in the saṃhitā text are not re-assigned here beyond the given pada forms
The meaning
Outer meaning
Strength was given to Indra in the common battle with the gods for winning the flood. When they placed his thunderbolt in his arms, he slew the Dasyus and brought down the iron forts.
Inner meaning
In the collective yoga of the divine powers (devebhir satrā), the force (tavasyam) needed for victory is bestowed on the illumined Mind. The ‘flood’ (arṇa) is the great flow of plenitude—often the released waters of consciousness and delight. The vajra placed in Indra’s arms is the concentrated instrument of discrimination and irresistible will. With it he destroys the Dasyus—divisive, crooked movements—and brings down ‘iron’ fortresses: rigid, seemingly invincible mental structures of ignorance.
Universal truth
True transformation is supported by a larger harmony of powers; when the instrument of clear discernment is accepted and wielded, even the most rigid inner defenses of ignorance collapse.
Themes
empowerment of Indra, slaying of hostile powers, breaking hardened resistance
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (Bhr̥gu lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.20.1-11
Family tradition
Bhārgava hymns often portray a coordinated divine economy: powers confer force upon Indra to win the waters and break the hardest barriers.
Significance
Highlights the cooperative aspect of inner realization—illumination empowered by allied faculties, not isolated effort.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- tavasyam (mighty), vajrabhṛt (bearer of vajra, implied), slayer of Dasyus
- Related deities
- Maruts (allied forces), Agni, Soma, Varuṇa
Cosmic role
Leads the gods in the battle for the waters/plenitude; destroys iron-like obstructions that imprison the flow.
Inner power
Executive illumination: insight translated into effective action that dismantles rigid patterns.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra stotra for victory and rain/waters symbolism in Soma rites.
तस्मै॑ तव॒स्य१॒॑मनु॑ दायि स॒त्रेन्द्रा॑य दे॒वेभि॒रर्ण॑सातौ । प्रति॒ यद॑स्य॒ वज्रं॑ बा॒ह्वोर्धुर्ह॒त्वी दस्यू॒न्पुर॒ आय॑सी॒र्नि ता॑रीत् ॥
तस्मै॑ । त॒व॒स्य॑म् । अनु॑ । दा॒यि॒ । स॒त्रा । इन्द्रा॑य । दे॒वेभिः॑ । अर्ण॑ऽसातौ । प्रति॑ । यत् । अ॒स्य॒ । वज्र॑म् । बा॒ह्वोः । धुः । ह॒त्वी । दस्यू॑न् । पुरः॑ । आय॑सीः । नि । ता॒री॒त् ॥
tasmai | tavasyam | anu | dāyi | satrā | indrāya | devebhiḥ | arṇa-sātau | prati | yat | asya | vajram | bāhvoḥ | dhuḥ | hatvī | dasyūn | puraḥ | āyasīḥ | ni | tārīt
44
4×11 (approx.)
Collective surge in the first half; sharp percussive cadence around ‘vajram… bāhvor’; heavy ‘iron-fort’ closure gives a sense of finality.
Energizes teamwork of inner faculties; culminates in a cathartic sense of barriers collapsing.
- तवस्यम् (tavasyam)
- Literal: strength, might. Symbolic: spiritual force/energy necessary for conquest
- सत्रा (satrā)
- Literal: together/continually. Symbolic: collective action of higher powers; sustained effort
- देवेभिः (devebhiḥ)
- Literal: with the gods. Symbolic: with the luminous faculties (clarity, will, aspiration, delight) acting in alliance
- अर्णसातौ (arṇasātau)
- Literal: in the winning of the flood. Symbolic: attainment of the great flow of plenitude (consciousness-waters/bliss)
- वज्रम् (vajram)
- Literal: thunderbolt. Symbolic: decisive discriminative force; lightning of insight
- बााह्वोः (bāhvōḥ)
- Literal: in the arms. Symbolic: instruments of action; executive power of consciousness
- दस्यून् (dasyūn)
- Literal: Dasyus. Symbolic: forces of division, falsehood, and obstruction
- पुरः आयसीः (puraḥ āyasīḥ)
- Literal: iron forts. Symbolic: hard, rigid, entrenched structures of ignorance
Mythic amplification: empowerment of Indra by the gods; model for empowerment of the seeker by higher faculties
In rites seeking winning of waters/plenty and removal of hostile forces.
Chant with offering; envisage ‘winning the flood’ as receiving plenitude.
Use when needing decisive action backed by inner alignment—before difficult conversations, disciplined change, or breaking entrenched habits.
from √vaj/√vṛj? (traditional ‘hard/weapon’), emblem of Indra’s irresistible force. arṇas ‘flood, wave’ linked to movement/sea; in inner reading: overflowing stream of consciousness/force. ni-√tṝ ‘cross over, bring through/down’ indicates decisive overcoming and reduction of resistance.
collective divine action (devebhiḥ) as harmonized powers, descent of force into execution (vajra in arms)
‘With the gods’ indicates action in accord with R̥ta rather than egoic struggle.
Vajra symbolizes truth’s power to cut through false formations.
Release of the flood/waters as restoration of plenitude.
Vedic integralism: multiple divine powers collaborate in transformation
rainy/monsoon (symbolic association)
Storm-force of insight breaks metallic rigidity; waters of consciousness and joy are won and begin to flow.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘arming of the hero’ mythologem: the gods place the vajra in Indra’s arms; empowered, he destroys hostile formations and brings down ‘iron forts’—symbolically, the higher powers equip the will to break rigid subconscient structures.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Weapon-in-hand heroic formulae are pan-IE; the ‘fort’ motif (pura) parallels IE stronghold imagery. The verbal root √tṝ ‘cross’ (PIE *terh₂ ‘cross over’) in ni tārīt encodes overcoming as ‘crossing through/bringing down’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi presents Indra as the exemplar of empowered will: when higher divine faculties cooperate, the seeker’s executive force receives the ‘vajra’ (decisive luminous power) to overcome entrenched resistance and win the flowing fullness (arṇas).
Align inner faculties (‘the gods’) and take up the ‘vajra’ of discrimination to dismantle rigid patterns.
Maṇipūra (power) and Ājñā (discernment)
Bhastrikā light (if appropriate) for empowerment, followed by silent witnessing to apply discernment.
Empowered, coordinated, decisive.
Name one ‘iron fort’ (a rigid belief). Chant once slowly; then contemplate the belief as metal softening and collapsing under a lightning insight; end with quiet receptivity as waters of relief and joy rise.
Keep a pronounced lift on ‘índrāya’ and ‘vájram’ if trained; otherwise slightly stress these semantic peaks.
Pause after ‘arṇasātau’; strike ‘vajram’ clearly; slow slightly on ‘purā āyasīḥ’ to convey heaviness then release.
tasmai: ‘sm’ cluster smooth, tavasyam: clear ‘v’ not ‘b’, arṇasātau: retroflex ‘ṇ’, hatvī: aspirated ‘thv’ cluster carefully, āyasīḥ: long ‘ā’, sibilant ‘s’ crisp
Firm, metallic clarity on ‘vajra’ phrases; open and flowing tone on ‘arṇa’ (flood).
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