Rig Veda 2.31.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 31, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.31
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra with Maruts
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
उत स्य न इन्द्रो विश्वचर्षणिर्दिवः शर्धेन मारुतेन सुक्रतुः । अनु नु स्थात्यवृकाभिरूतिभी रथं महे सनये वाजसातये ॥
utá syá na índro viśvácarṣaṇir diváḥ śárdhena mārútena sukrátuḥ | ánu nú sthāty avṛkā́bhir ūtíbhī ráthaṃ mahé sánaye vā́ja-sātaye ||
ಮತ್ತು ಇಂದ್ರನು ಸಹ—ಸರ್ವಜನಹಿತಕಾರಿ, ಶುಭಕ್ರತು—ದಿವ್ಯ ಮರುತಗಣದೊಂದಿಗೆ, ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಾನ ಸಂಕಲ್ಪದಿಂದ, ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಅನುಸರಿಸಿ ನಿಂತಿರುತ್ತಾನೆ; ದ್ರೋಹವಿಲ್ಲದ ರಕ್ಷಣೆಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ. ಮಹಾ ಜಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ, ಬಲದ ಸಮೃದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಲು, ಅವನು ರಥವನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Word by Word
- उत
- and; alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/अथ (particle)Root उत
- स्य
- indeed; justIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic/deictic)Root स्य (enclitic demonstrative particle)
- नः
- of us; ourPronounषष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद्
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र
- विश्वचर्षणिः
- all-supporting / of all peoplesAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण-सम्बन्ध)Root विश्व-चर्षणि
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot दिव्
- शर्धेन
- with the troop; with the hostNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot शर्ध
- मारुतेन
- Marut-hosted; belonging to the MarutsAdjective/Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (शर्धस्य विशेषणम्)Role करण (विशेषण-सम्बन्ध)Root मारुत
- सुक्रतुः
- of good resolve; wise in counselAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण-सम्बन्ध)Root सु-क्रतु
- अनु
- along; afterIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्यय (directional: after, along)Root अनु
- नु
- now; indeedIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic/temporal: now, indeed)Root नु
- स्थाति
- stands; takes positionVerbलट् (present), परस्मैपद, 3rd person, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot स्था
- अवृकाभिः
- with harmless/protecting (ones)Adjective (used substantively)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (ऊतिभिः विशेषणम्)Role करणRoot अ-वृक (वृक = wolf; a-vṛka = unwolfish, harmless/protecting)
- ऊतिभिः
- with aids; with protectionsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot ऊति
- रथम्
- chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रथ
- महे
- for the great (one); for greatnessAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (दत्त्यर्थे/लाभार्थे)Role सम्प्रदानRoot मह् (प्रातिपदिक: महत्)
- सनये
- for winning; for gainingNoun (action noun)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot सनि
- वाजसातये
- for the winning of prizes (strength/booty)Noun (compound)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot वाज-साति
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolved): उत | स्य | नः | इन्द्रः | विश्वचर्षणिः | दिवः | शर्धेन | मारुतेन | सुक्रतुः || अनु | नु | स्थाति | अवृकाभिः | ऊतिभिः | रथम् | महे | सनये | वाजसातये । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) शर्धेन मारुतेन = शर्धेन + मारुतेन (सवर्णदीर्घ/सन्धि-रहित संयोग)
- (2) अवृकाभिरूतिभीः = अवृकाभिः + ऊतिभिः (विसर्ग-लोपः/रुत्व-प्रक्रिया; RV संहितायां ‘-भिर् ऊ-’ → ‘-भिरू-’)
- (3) रथं महे = रथम् + महे (अनुस्वार/म् + म् संयोग)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, working for all, with the heavenly host of Maruts and luminous will, stands by with protections that do not betray; for the great winning and attainment of force he establishes the chariot.
Inner meaning
Indra is the illumined Mind-Power that breaks the Coverer and releases the rays. With the Maruts (storm-gods), he represents the dynamic life-forces uplifted and made allies of illumination. ‘Sukratu’ (luminous will) indicates a will guided by light, not desire. ‘Avṛkā’ protections are non-wolfish—non-devouring, non-betraying impulses—i.e., energies that do not turn against the seeker. Indra ‘establishes the chariot’ by fixing the inner movement in victorious clarity, enabling the ‘great winning’ (mahe sanaye) and vājasāti (winning of plenitude).
Universal truth
True power is power with light. When the mind is illumined and the vital is disciplined into supportive energies, protection becomes reliable and progress becomes victorious.
Themes
Indra’s support, Marut energy, Victory and protection
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.12 (Indra), RV 2.16 (Indra), RV 2.34 (Maruts)
Family tradition
Book 2 repeatedly links Indra’s victory with supportive hosts (Maruts) and with the establishment of right movement (ratha).
Significance
His Indra is not merely a warrior but the illumined executive power: mind-force organising the vital host to secure stable progress.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Maruts)
- Epithets
- viśvacarṣaṇi (universal), sukratu (luminous-willed)
- Related deities
- Maruts, Bṛhaspati, Agni
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods; slayer of Vṛtra; releaser of waters and cows (lights); establisher of victorious order.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence and decisive force that breaks inner obstruction; with Maruts, energises and purifies the life-force.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation in soma offerings; also used for victory, protection, and strength in communal rites.
उ॒त स्य न॒ इन्द्रो॑ वि॒श्वच॑र्षणिर्दि॒वः शर्धे॑न॒ मारु॑तेन सु॒क्रतु॑: । अनु॒ नु स्था॑त्यवृ॒काभि॑रू॒तिभీ॒ रथं॑ म॒हे स॒नये॒ वाज॑सातये ॥
उ॒त । स्यः । नः॒ । इन्द्रः॑ । वि॒श्वऽच॑र्षणिः । दि॒वः । शर्धे॑न । मारु॑तेन । सु॒ऽक्रतुः॑ । अनु॑ । नु । स्था॒ति॒ । अ॒वृ॒काभिः॑ । ऊ॒तिऽभिः॑ । रथ॑म् । म॒हे । स॒नये॑ । वाज॑ऽसातये ॥
uta | syaḥ | naḥ | indraḥ | viśva-carṣaṇiḥ | divaḥ | śardhena | mārutena | su-kratuḥ | anu | nu | sthāti | avṛkābhiḥ | ūti-bhiḥ | ratham | mahe | sanaye | vāja-sātaye
44
4×11 (approx.)
Heroic, declarative; strong caesuras support ‘standing by’ and ‘establishing.’
Elicits courage and clarity; helps the listener feel ‘protected’ and mentally upright.
- इन्द्रः (indraḥ)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: Divine Mind/illumination-force that conquers obscurity and releases knowledge
- विश्वचर्षणिः (viśvacarṣaṇiḥ)
- Literal: belonging to all peoples. Symbolic: Universal applicability: the illumined power serves every part of the being
- मारुतेन शर्धेन (mārutena śardhena)
- Literal: with the Marut host. Symbolic: Dynamic vital energies organised into a divine army
- सुक्रतुः (sukratuḥ)
- Literal: of good/luminous will. Symbolic: Will guided by clarity; tapas aligned with truth
- अवृकाभिः ऊतिभिः (avṛkābhiḥ ūtibhiḥ)
- Literal: with non-wolfish helps. Symbolic: Protections that do not devour or betray—pure supports, not mixed impulses
- वाजसातये (vājasātaye)
- Literal: for winning vāja. Symbolic: For the attainment of plenitude: strength, delight, capacity
Indra-Marut invocation for victorious advance; common in Soma rites where Indra’s force is asked to accompany and secure the gaining (sana) and vāja.
At moments requiring overcoming obstacles and securing force for the rite’s completion.
Praise to bring Indra’s support and the Marut host; affirmation of protective alliance.
For inner battles (fear, confusion, compulsions): invoke Indra’s luminous will and request ‘avṛkā’ supports—energies that help without backlash.
krátu- ‘will, power of effective intention’ (PIE *kret- ‘to do/make’ cf. Latin creō): in Vedic, not mere ‘resolve’ but executive consciousness-force. avṛka- ‘not-wolf’ (a- privative + vṛka ‘wolf’): metaphor for non-rapacious, non-harming protection—aid that does not consume the seeker.
kratu (effective will), non-harming protection (avṛka), vāja-sāti (winning plenitude)
Indra’s victory restores right movement; protection that ‘does not betray’ is ṛta in the vital.
Sukratu: will becomes true when lit by knowledge.
Establishing the chariot: fixing a stable channel for higher force to act in life.
Aurobindonian: Indra as illumined mind-force; Maruts as life-energies transmuted.
Heaven = higher mind-plane; storm-host = vital energies; chariot = organised progress.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra accompanied by the Marut host ‘stands after/follows’ the seeker with faithful protections—mythically, the champion-force joins the human journey to secure the winning of vāja. The chariot is the emblem of this escorted advance.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- kratu shows an IE ‘making/doing’ semantic (effective power), while the epithet viśva-carṣaṇi encodes the IE tendency to universalize the heroic deity as protector of many tribes/peoples.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions Indra not as distant but as an accompanying power (anu sthāti). The reciprocity is: aspiration calls; Indra’s sukratu (luminous will) and Marut dynamism provide secure momentum toward the great acquisition.
Invoke illumined will: ‘May my mind be Indra—clear, decisive, victorious.’
Ajñā (illumination) with Maṇipūra (executive force).
Kapalabhāti light rounds (if suitable) to awaken force, followed by calm breathing; then chant to stabilise in clarity.
Bright, vigilant, protected forward movement.
When facing resistance, chant once slowly, then 3 times with firmer tone; afterwards sit 2 minutes in silent ‘standing with Indra’—upright spine, clear gaze behind closed eyes.
Observe udātta peaks especially on indro, sukratuḥ; keep svarita transitions smooth to avoid harshness.
Emphasize ‘avṛkābhir ūtibhīḥ’ with a protective, steady tone; keep the final pāda expansive.
viśvacarṣaṇiḥ: clear retroflex ṇ, mārutena: long ā; dental t, sukratuḥ: crisp k; short u, avṛkābhiḥ: ṛ vowel; avoid ‘avrik’
Bright, confident, slightly ringing; not shouted.
3
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