Rig Veda 7.21.9: Mandala 7, Sukta 21, Mantra 9
Sukta 7.21
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
सखायस्त इन्द्र विश्वह स्याम नमोवृधासो महिना तरुत्र । वन्वन्तु स्मा तेऽवसा समीकेऽभीतिमर्यो वनुषां शवांसि ॥
sákhāyas ta indra viśváha syāma namovṛdhā́so mahinā́ tarutra | vánvantu smā́ te ’vásā samīké ’bhītím aryo vánuṣāṃ śávāṃsi ||
ಹೇ ಇಂದ್ರ! ನಾವು ಸದಾ ನಿನ್ನ ಸಖರಾಗಿರೋಣ; ನಮಸ್ಕಾರದಿಂದ ವೃದ್ಧಿಯಾಗುತ್ತ, ನಿನ್ನ ಮಹಿಮೆಯಿಂದ ಪಾರಾಗೋಣ. ಮುಖಾಮುಖಿ ಸಂಘರ್ಷದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿನ್ನ ನೆರವಿನಿಂದ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಶೀಲ ಆರ್ಯನ ಬಲಗಳು ಭಯದ ಧಾವನೆಯನ್ನು ಜಯಿಸಲಿ—ವಿಜಯವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಲಿ.
Word by Word
- सखायः
- friends, companionsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सखि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी (सम्बन्धे); एकवचनRoot त्वद्- (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRoot इन्द्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वहा
- always, at all timesIndeclinable (adverb)अव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (काल/नित्यत्व-अर्थे)Root विश्वहा (अव्ययीभाव/समास; विश्व + हा/ह)
- स्याम
- may we beVerbविधिलिङ् (optative); उत्तमपुरुष; बहुवचनRoot अस् (धातु)
- नमोवृधासः
- growing through homage / homage-increasing (devotees)Adjective/Noun (compound epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (स्याम इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root नमो-वृध (समास; नमस् + वृध ‘वर्धक/वर्धमान’)
- महिना
- by greatness, by mightNounपुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया; एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot महिन्/महिमा- (प्रातिपदिक)
- तरुत्र
- as a helper/saviour; in rescuing fashionIndeclinable/Adverbial epithetअव्ययRoot तरुत्र (अव्यय/विशेषण; RV-प्रयोगः ‘सहाय/रक्षक’)
- वन्वन्तु
- let them win/attainVerbलोट् (imperative); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचनRoot वन्व्/वनु (धातु; ‘जीत्/प्राप्त्/अन्वेष्’ RV)
- स्म
- indeed, justParticleअव्ययRoot स्म (निपात)
- ते
- to you, for youPronounचतुर्थी; एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot त्वद्- (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अवसा
- with help, with aidNounनपुंसक; तृतीया; एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot अवस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- समीके
- in the encounter, in the battle/meetingNounनपुंसक; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot समीक- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभीतिम्
- fearlessness; absence of fearNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अभीति- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्यः
- the Arya (noble man/ally)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot अर्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वनुषाम्
- of the rivals/contendersNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचनRoot वनु- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘विजेता/प्रतिद्वन्द्वी’ RV)
- शवांसि
- strengths, powersNounनपुंसक; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot शवस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-निरसन): सखायः ते इन्द्र विश्वहा स्याम् । नमोवृधासः महिना तरुत्र । वन्वन्तु स्म ते अवसा समीके । अभीतिम् अर्यः वनुषाम् शवांसि ॥ मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) सखा॑यस् + ते → सखायस्ते (विसर्ग-लोपः/सन्धिः)
- (2) तेऽवसा = ते + अवसा (ए/अ → एऽ, अवग्रह)
- अन्यत्र पदान्त/पदान्त-समासरूपाणि: नमोवृधासः (नमस्+वृध), विश्वहा (विश्व+हा/ह)
The meaning
Outer meaning
May we be Indra’s comrades always, increasing in the strength of homage, crossing beyond by his greatness. May the strengths of the striving Arya, by his help in the encounter, win the onrush of fear.
Inner meaning
The seeker asks for lasting companionship with the illumined Mind (Indra): not occasional inspiration but constant alliance (sakhāyaḥ…viśvaha). ‘Namovṛdhāsaḥ’ indicates growth through surrender—ego yields, receptivity increases, and thus one ‘crosses beyond’ (tarutra) limitations by Indra’s vastness (mahinā). In the decisive encounters (samīke) with life and inner resistance, the aspiring soul (aryaḥ) must conquer abhití—fear and shrinking—by awakening its own śavāṃsi (strengths), supported by Indra’s avas (help).
Universal truth
Courage is not mere willpower; it is strengthened by surrender to a higher clarity. When fear arises, align with the greater mind and let the soul’s strengths act—then fear’s onrush can be mastered.
Themes
companionship with Indra, fearlessness, inner battle, victory of the Arya
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 7.18 (victory and protection), RV 7.33 (ṛta and spiritual authority)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha emphasizes steadfast companionship with the divine powers and the ethical-psychological victory over fear and falsehood.
Significance
A mantra of discipleship and courage: surrender (namo) becomes the engine of strength and fearlessness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- tarutra (he who carries across—addressed as such), mahiman (of greatness), sakhā (friend—implied by relationship)
- Related deities
- Maruts (courageous energies), Agni (steadfast will), Soma (delight that removes fear)
Cosmic role
Protector in battle; giver of victory and passage across dangers; leader of the Arya in conquest.
Inner power
Fear-dispelling illumination; widening that prevents shrinking into panic; energizing support for right action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra hymn used as victory/protection stotra within Soma rites; also suitable for pre-battle/contest invocations in Vedic milieu
सखा॑यस्त इन्द्र वि॒श्वह॑ स्याम नमोवृ॒धासो॑ महि॒ना त॑रुत्र । व॒न्वन्तु॑ स्मा॒ तेऽव॑सा समी॒के॒३॒॑ऽभी॑तिम॒र्यो व॒नुषां॒ शवां॑सि ॥
सखा॑यः । ते॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । वि॒श्वह॑ । स्या॒म॒ । न॒मः॒ऽवृ॒धासः॑ । म॒हि॒ना । त॒रु॒त्र॒ । व॒न्वन्तु॑ । स्म॒ । ते॒ । अव॑सा । स॒मी॒के । अ॒भिऽइ॑तिम् । अ॒र्यः । व॒नुषा॑म् । शवां॑सि ॥
sakhāyaḥ | te | indra | viśvaha | syāma | namaḥ-vṛdhāsaḥ | mahinā | tarutra | vanvantu | sma | te | avasā | samīke | abhi-itim | aryaḥ | vanuṣām | śavāṃsi
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4 × 11
Comradely yet martial; steady forward-driving beat suited to overcoming fear.
Builds camaraderie with the divine; transforms anxiety into forward motion and confidence.
- सखा (sakhā)
- Literal: friend, comrade. Symbolic: stable alliance with the higher consciousness; intimate guidance
- नमोवृधासः (namovṛdhāsaḥ)
- Literal: increasing by homage. Symbolic: growth through surrender, receptivity, and gratitude
- महिना (mahinā)
- Literal: by greatness. Symbolic: by widened consciousness that carries beyond ego limits
- तरुत्र (tarutra)
- Literal: crossing over, overcoming. Symbolic: transcendence of limitation; passage through difficulty
- समीक (samīke)
- Literal: in the encounter, battle. Symbolic: critical moments of inner/outer confrontation
- अभीति (abhīti)
- Literal: fear, dread. Symbolic: shrinking consciousness; vital panic that blocks right action
- शवांसि (śavāṃsi)
- Literal: strengths, forces. Symbolic: energies of endurance and action when aligned to truth
- अर्यः (aryaḥ)
- Literal: noble/striving Arya. Symbolic: the soul-personality aspiring to truth and mastery
Indra praise for victory and fearlessness in contest; applicable to soma-offering sections seeking śavas and protection in 'samīka' (encounter).
During rites seeking victory and protection; in modern use before difficult meetings, performances, or inner breakthroughs.
Recite as a vow of companionship and surrender; optionally pair with a simple offering of water and a moment of silent resolve.
A daily ‘fear-conquest’ mantra: repeat when anxiety surges; re-establish alliance with higher clarity.
namovṛdhāsaḥ: compound where namas (reverent self-offering) is the means of √vṛdh 'increase'—psychologically, growth by surrender. tarutra from √tṛ 'cross over' (PIE *terh₂ 'cross', cf. Latin trāns). abhi-iti (in padapatha as abhi-itim) / abhīti- indicates 'approaching fear'—fear as a force that presses upon the consciousness; conquered by śavas (dynamic strength).
arya as ethical-spiritual orientation, śavas (force) as spiritual energy, crossing (tṛ) as passage beyond limitation
Victory over fear is restoration of right movement (ṛta) in action.
Surrender is not weakness but alignment to truth-power that carries beyond.
Crossing over: evolution as repeated passages beyond previous limits.
Yoga of surrender and courage (integral): widening + right action in life’s encounters.
Crossing = moving from constriction to wideness; encounter = moment where fear rises like a wave and must be mastered.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the 'battle/encounter' internalized: fear (abhīti) is the hostile onrush, and Indra’s avas enables the Arya’s śavas to conquer. This recasts the heroic combat motif as an inner overcoming of psychological darkness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √tṛ 'cross' (tarutra) reflects PIE *terh₂ 'cross over' (cf. Latin trāns, English through). √vṛdh 'grow' reflects PIE *werdʰ- 'grow' (cf. English word 'worth' is not cognate; but German werden 'become' is often compared in Indo-European discussions of growth/becoming semantics). √van 'win' is Indo-Iranian and often compared with Avestan van- 'to win/conquer'.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks a lasting alliance (sakhāyaḥ) with Indra: not a one-time boon but a sustained companionship. The offering is namas (self-giving reverence) that increases the vessel’s capacity; Indra responds by making the seeker a 'crosser' beyond fear and limitation.
Transform fear into widened courage through surrender to illumined mind.
anāhata (fear-release) + ājñā (guiding clarity)
Physiological sigh (double inhale, long exhale) once; then 6 slow breaths repeating ‘sakhāyas ta indra…’ on inhalation and ‘vanvantu…abhītim…’ on exhalation.
Fearless wideness; calm readiness.
When fear surges, do three steps: (1) widen awareness to the space around the body (mahinā), (2) offer the fear upward (namo), (3) take one right action (śavāṃsi) as Indra’s comrade.
Triṣṭubh with strong udātta on ‘sakhā́yaḥ’, ‘índra’, ‘viśváha’, ‘namovṛdhā́saḥ’, ‘mahínā’, ‘abhī́tim’, ‘śávāṃsi’.
Make ‘viśvaha syāma’ fluid and continuous (companionship), then sharpen articulation on ‘abhītim…’ (fear) to mark the turning point.
namovṛdhāso: ‘na-mo-vṛ-dhā-so’ (vocalic ṛ), tarutra: roll lightly ‘tru’, vanvantu: ‘van-van-tu’ (nasal n), abhītim: long ī
Uplifting, forward-moving; end with a firm, steady finish.
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