Rig Veda 1.129.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 129, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.129
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
स श्रुधि यः स्मा पृतनासु कासु चिद्दक्षाय्य इन्द्र भरहूतये नृभिरसि प्रतूर्तये नृभिः । यः शूरैः स्वः सनिता यो विप्रैर्वाजं तरुता । तमीशानास इरधन्त वाजिनं पृक्षमत्यं न वाजिनम् ॥
sá śrudhi yáḥ smā pṛ́tanāsu kā́su cid dakṣā́yya indra bhára-hūtaye nṛ́bhir ási prá-tūrtaye nṛ́bhiḥ | yáḥ śūráiḥ svàḥ sanitā́ yó víprais vā́jaṃ tárutā | tám īśānā́sa iradhanta vā́jinaṃ pṛ́kṣam átyaṃ ná vā́jinam ||
ಓ ಇಂದ್ರನೇ, ಕೇಳು—ಯಾವ ಯಾವ ಯುದ್ಧಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ನೀನು ದಕ್ಷನೂ ಸಮರ್ಥನೂ. ನರರೊಂದಿಗೆ ನೀನು ಆಹ್ವಾನವನ್ನು ಹೊತ್ತು ತರುವವನಾಗಿ; ನರರೊಂದಿಗೆ ನೀನು ಮುನ್ನಡೆದು ಜಯಿಸುವವನಾಗಿ ಇದ್ದೀಯ. ಶೂರರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸ್ವಃ (ಸ್ವರ್ಗಲೋಕ)ವನ್ನು ಗೆಲ್ಲುವವನು, ವಿಪ್ರರೊಂದಿಗೆ ವಾಜ (ಬಲ-ಸಂಪತ್ತು)ವನ್ನು ದಾಟಿಸಿ ತರುವವನು—ಆ ಜಯಶಾಲಿ ವಾಜಿನನನ್ನು ಅಧಿಪತಿಗಳು ಬಲಪಡಿಸಲಿ, ಪೋಷಿತ ಅಶ್ವವನ್ನು ಬಲಪಡಿಸುವಂತೆ.
Word by Word
- स
- he (that one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सः)
- श्रुधि
- hear! listen!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Role (क्रिया)Root श्रु (धातु)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद्
- स्म
- indeed, surelyParticleनिपातः (स्मरण/नूनम्/एव-भावः)Root स्म
- पृतनासु
- in battlesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot पृतना
- कासु
- in which (battles)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot का (किम्-प्रश्न/सम्बन्ध)
- चित्
- evenParticleनिपातःRoot चित्
- दक्षाय्यः
- the capable/skillful oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot दक्षाय्य (दक्ष + य्य प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role (सम्बोधन)Root इन्द्र
- भरहूतये
- for the call/invocation to bring (aid)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot भरहूति (भर + हूति)
- नृभिः
- with menNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot नृ
- असि
- you areVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root अस् (धातु)
- प्रतूर्तये
- for overcoming/for victoryNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot प्रतूर्ति (प्र + तूर्ति)
- नृभिः
- with menNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot नृ
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद्
- शूरैः
- with heroesNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot शूर
- स्वः
- heaven, the celestial realmNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (वेदिक रूप)Role KarmaRoot स्वर्/स्वः
- सनिता
- winner, gainerNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot सनि (√सन्/सन् ‘to win, gain’) → सनि-तृ (agent)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद्
- विप्रैः
- with seers/priestsNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot विप्र
- वाजम्
- prize, strength, victory-bootyNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वाज
- तरुता
- overcomer, conquerorNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तृ/तर् (धातु ‘to overcome, cross’) → तरु-तृ (agent)
- तम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तद्
- ईशानासः
- ruling ones, lordsNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot ईशान (√ईश् ‘to rule’)
- इरधन्त
- they strengthen/furtherVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम् (वेदिक रूप)Role (क्रिया)Root इरध्/ऋध् (धातु ‘to prosper, to further’)
- वाजिनम्
- the prize-winning one, the racerNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वाजिन्
- पृक्षमत्यम्
- battle-steed, war-horseNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot पृक्षमत्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘battle-horse/war-steed’ sense)
- न
- likeParticleउपमा-निपातःRoot न
- वाजिनम्
- a racer, prize-winnerNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वाजिन्
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): चिद्दक्षाय्यः → चित् + दक्षाय्यः
- नृभिरसि → नृभिः + असि
- यः शूरैः स्वः सनिता → (no internal sandhi; sváḥ is Vedic form)
- विप्रैर्वाजं → विप्रैः + वाजम्
- तमीशानासः → तम् + ईशानासः
- इरधन्त वाजिनम् → (padapāṭha-style separation; no sandhi)
- पृक्षमत्यं न वाजिनम् → पृक्षमत्यम् + न + वाजिनम्
The meaning
Outer meaning
Hear, O Indra, capable in whatever battles; with men you are for bearing the call, with men for forward overcoming. You who with heroes win the luminous world, you who with seers carry through the plenitude of force—may the masters strengthen that victorious one like a well-fed steed.
Inner meaning
The ‘battles’ are inner conflicts against inertia, doubt, and obscurity. Indra is invoked as dakṣāyya—able, skillful power of effective intelligence—in every confrontation. Working with nṛbhiḥ (the ‘men’: strong powers of our nature when purified), he bears the call of aspiration and enables breakthrough (pratūrtaye). With śūra (heroic energies) he wins svar (the luminous consciousness); with vipra (seer-minds) he brings vāja (effective plenitude). The ‘masters’ (īśānāsaḥ)—higher governing powers or mature parts of the being—are asked to strengthen Indra’s victorious movement within us, like nourishing a swift steed: the life-force becomes well-fed, steady, and victorious when illumined mind leads.
Universal truth
In every psychological struggle, illumination must work with disciplined energy and inspired insight. When higher governance strengthens the illumined intelligence, vitality becomes a reliable instrument rather than a restless impulse.
Themes
invocation to hear, victory and overcoming, winning the luminous world, Indra strengthened by seers
The seer
- Rishi
- Parucchepa Daivodāsi (traditional)
- Lineage
- Daivodāsi
- Other hymns
- RV 1.129.1, RV 1.129.3
Family tradition
Indra hymns that emphasize inner battle and the winning of svar through alliance of heroic energy (śūra) and seer-knowledge (vipra).
Significance
The seer frames spiritual progress as a disciplined victory: illumined mind must be strengthened by higher governance so that life-force becomes a well-nourished steed for the journey to light.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- dakṣāyya (skillful), svar-sanitā (winner of light), vāja-tarutā (one who carries through the plenitude)
- Related deities
- Maruts (heroic forces), Bṛhaspati (seer-force), Agni (will that initiates the battle)
Cosmic role
Champion of the luminous world; leader in battles that open the waters/light; giver of victorious force.
Inner power
Strategic intelligence in action: hearing the call, coordinating energies, and executing breakthroughs.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise in soma offerings; invocations for victory and protection
स श्रु॑धि॒ यः स्मा॒ पृत॑नासु॒ कासु॑ चिद्द॒क्षाय्य॑ इन्द्र॒ भर॑हूतये॒ नृभि॒रसि॒ प्रतू॑र्तये॒ नृभि॑: । यः शूरै॒: स्व१॒॑: सनि॑ता॒ यो विप्रै॒र्वाजं॒ तरु॑ता । तमी॑शा॒नास॑ इरधन्त वा॒जिनं॑ पृ॒क्षमत्यं॒ न वा॒जिन॑म् ॥
सः । श्रु॒धि॒ । यः । स्म॒ । पृत॑नासु । कासु॑ । चि॒त् । द॒क्षाय्यः॑ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । भर॑ऽहूतये । नृऽभिः॑ । अ॒सि॒ । प्रऽतू॑र्तये । नृऽभिः॑ । यः । शूरैः॑ । स्वरिति॑ स्वः॑ । सनि॑ता । यः । विप्रैः॑ । वाज॑म् । तरु॑ता । तम् । ई॒शा॒नासः॑ । इ॒र॒ध॒न्त॒ । वा॒जिन॑म् । पृ॒क्षम् । अत्य॑म् । न । वा॒जिन॑म् ॥
saḥ | śrudhi | yaḥ | sma | pṛtanāsu | kāsu | cit | dakṣāyyaḥ | indra | bhara-hūtaye | nṛ-bhiḥ | asi | pra-tāūrtaye | nṛ-bhiḥ | yaḥ | śūraiḥ | [svar iti] svaḥ | sanitā | yaḥ | vipraiḥ | vājam | tarutā | tam | īśānāsaḥ | iradhanta | vājinam | pṛkṣam | atyam | na | vājinam
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4×11 syllables (probable)
Martial and exhortative; strong caesuras support ‘battle’ imagery.
Invigorates courage; organizes scattered energy into a unified forward thrust.
- पृतनासु (pṛtanāsu)
- Literal: in battles. Symbolic: inner conflicts and resistances on the path
- दक्षाय्यः (dakṣāyyaḥ)
- Literal: capable, skillful. Symbolic: effective intelligence that can act in life, not merely think
- भरहूतये (bharahūtaye)
- Literal: for bearing the call/invocation. Symbolic: supporting aspiration and the soul’s summons
- नृभिः (nṛbhiḥ)
- Literal: with men. Symbolic: purified strong powers of the nature; courageous energies
- प्रतूर्तये (pratūrtaye)
- Literal: for forward overcoming. Symbolic: breakthrough beyond obstruction; pressing on
- शूरैः (śūraiḥ)
- Literal: with heroes. Symbolic: heroic vital forces aligned to the soul
- स्वः (svaḥ/svar)
- Literal: the luminous world. Symbolic: plane/state of illumination and truth-consciousness
- विप्रैः (vipraiḥ)
- Literal: with seers. Symbolic: inspired, intuitive mind
- वाजम् (vājam)
- Literal: prize; plenitude of force. Symbolic: effective power, abundance of right energy
- वाजिनम् (vājinam)
- Literal: victorious one; steed/possessor of vāja. Symbolic: the empowered movement of consciousness; victorious vitality
- पृक्षम् अत्यं (pṛkṣam atyam)
- Literal: well-fed steed. Symbolic: vital force nourished by light and order
Invoked for aid in contests and for winning svar (luminous world) and vāja (victory-force), especially within soma offerings where Indra is strengthened by praise and oblation.
When seeking strength in competitive or dangerous undertakings; in soma contexts where Indra is principal recipient
Recitation with offering; mentally marshal energies (‘nṛbhiḥ’) toward a single aim
Use during periods of inner resistance (procrastination, addiction, fear): chant to gather heroic energy under illumined direction.
√śru (hear) implies receptivity; dakṣa is skill/power of effective action; √san ‘to win, gain’ frames spiritual acquisition (svar); √tṛ (tarutā) ‘to cross/overcome’ again; √ṛdh ‘to prosper, strengthen’ indicates the community/powers augmenting Indra’s victory-force.
svar as plane of luminous consciousness, inner battle (pṛtanā) against obstruction, collective strengthening through mantra and offering
True victory is alignment with ṛta; Indra’s battle releases light, not mere domination.
Hearing (śrudhi) implies receptivity to truth; victory comes by right listening to the higher call.
Winning svar is a creation-event in consciousness: darkness yields to luminous order.
Vedic yoga of inner conquest: transformation of vital into instrument of light.
Storm/battle = churn of transformation; steed = disciplined prāṇa; sky/light = awakened mind-consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The battle for svar: Indra as the winner of the luminous world in the midst of battles, strengthened like a thriving steed. The mythic action is communal empowerment of the divine hero so he can ‘carry through’ the victory-force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √śru ‘hear’ reflects PIE *ḱleu̯- ‘to hear’ (cf. Greek κλύω, Latin clueo); √san ‘win’ is Indo-Iranian with parallels in Avestan; √tṛ ‘cross’ aligns with PIE *terh₁-. The formulaic preverb system (pra-) is strongly IE.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi calls for Indra’s attentive descent (‘hear’) and offers a cooperative field: with human energies (nṛbhiḥ), heroes (śūra), and seers (vipra). In return, Indra grants overcoming and the winning of svar—transforming struggle into luminous attainment.
Invoke Indra to ‘hear’ the aspiration; then consciously recruit ‘heroes’ (disciplined habits) and ‘seers’ (intuition) for one chosen inner victory.
Ajna (strategy/illumination) + Manipura (courage/drive)
Kapalabhati 3 rounds (gentle), then quiet breathing and japa
Mobilized, courageous, luminous.
Name the ‘battle’ clearly. On each repetition, feel Indra coordinating your energies; after chanting, take one decisive action immediately (sadyaḥ principle from 1.129.1 echoed in spirit).
Tri-svara with strong udātta on índra and on imperative śrudhi; keep ‘nṛbhir asi’ flowing without breaking the sandhi feel.
Let the first pada be a direct call; second and third build momentum; fourth resolves with strengthening image (steed).
pṛtanāsu: vocalic ṛ, and retroflex ṇ not present here—keep dentals clear., dakṣāyya: articulate kṣ as a conjunct (dak-shāy-ya)., svaḥ (svar): visarga lightly aspirated., pṛkṣam: cluster kṣ again; keep short a.
Firm, rhythmic, rallying.
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