Rig Veda 10.89.18: Mandala 10, Sukta 89, Mantra 18
Sukta 10.89
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥
śunáṃ huvema maghávānam índram asmín bháre nṛ́tamam vā́ja-sātau | śṛṇvántam ugrám ūtáye samátsu ghnántaṃ vṛtrā́ṇi saṃjítam dhánānām ||
ശുഭഫലത്തിനായി ഞങ്ങൾ മഘവാൻ ഇന്ദ്രനെ ഈ യജ്ഞഭാരത്തിൽ, വാജസാതി—സമൃദ്ധി-വിജയത്തിൽ, ഏറ്റവും പുരുഷാർത്ഥവാനെ വിളിക്കുന്നു. സമരങ്ങളിൽ നമ്മുടെ സഹായത്തിനായി ശ്രവിക്കുന്ന ഉഗ്രനെ ഞങ്ങൾ പ്രാപിക്കട്ടെ; വൃത്രങ്ങളെ സംഹരിക്കുന്ന, ധനങ്ങളുടെ സംജിത്—വിജയി അവൻ.
Word by Word
- शुनम्
- well; auspiciouslyIndeclinableअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)Role विशेषण (क्रियाविशेषण; manner)Root शुनम् (प्रातिपदिक; अव्यय) < PIE *suH-no- (well, prosperously)
- हुवेम
- may we invoke/callVerbलोट् (विधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ्-प्रायः वैदिक), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (कर्तृ: वयं)Root √ह्वे (ह्वयति/ह्वयते) ‘to call, invoke’
- मघवानम्
- the bountiful oneNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (हुवेम—whom we invoke)Root मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘bountiful (esp. Indra)’
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (हुवेम)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मिन्
- in thisPronounपुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- भरे
- in the battle/contestNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot भर (प्रातिपदिक) ‘battle, contest; bearing’
- नृतमम्
- most manly; most heroicAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रम् विशेषयति)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot नृतम (प्रातिपदिक; superlative of नृ/नृत ‘manly, heroic’)
- वाजसातौ
- in the prize-winning contestNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot वाजसाति (प्रातिपदिक) ‘winning of prize/strength; contest for booty’
- शृण्वन्तम्
- hearing; listeningParticipleवर्तमान सक्रिय कृदन्त (परस्मैपदीय), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot √श्रु (शृणोति) ‘to hear’ → शृण्वत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- उग्रम्
- fierce; mightyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊतये
- for helpNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान (for aid)Root ऊति (प्रातिपदिक) ‘help, aid’
- समत्सु
- in battlesNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकारणRoot समत्सु (प्रातिपदिक; loc. pl. of समत्स ‘battle, conflict’)
- घ्नन्तम्
- slayingParticipleवर्तमान सक्रिय कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot √हन् (हन्ति) ‘to strike, slay’ → घ्नत्/घ्नन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- वृत्राणि
- the obstacles/VṛtrasNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (घ्नन्तम्—what he slays)Root वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक) ‘obstacles; Vṛtra’
- संजितम्
- fully victorious; having conqueredParticiple (past passive)भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot √जि (जयति) ‘to conquer’ + सम् → संजित (भूत कृदन्त/PPP)
- धनानाम्
- of riches/prizesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive: of wealth/prizes)Root धन (प्रातिपदिक) ‘wealth, prizes’
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved padapāṭha-style segmentation: अस्मिन्भरे → अस्मिन् भरे
- उग्रमू॒तये → उग्रम् ऊतये. Other words are already in unsandhied/pada form. Accent marks in the saṃhitā are retained in the citation but not re-applied per pada here
The meaning
Outer meaning
For a happy outcome we call Indra the Bounteous, most manly in this battle, in the winning of prizes. May we have the listening, strong one for help in fights, striking down the Vṛtras, the conqueror who wins riches.
Inner meaning
The ‘battle’ (bhara/samatsu) is the pressure of transformation in embodied life. Indra is invoked as nṛtama—most capable in the human field—because illumination must act in mind, life, and body. He is śṛṇvant—he listens when the call is sincere. He strikes the Vṛtras: the many coverings and resistances that block the flow of light and bliss. The ‘riches’ (dhanāni) are inner treasures—clarity, strength, joy, wideness, right power—won through victorious illumination.
Universal truth
When the seeker calls for a true and happy issue, the higher intelligence responds, breaks habitual coverings, and releases inner wealth. Victory is measured by liberated capacities, not outer gain alone.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying, invocation-for-aid, inner-battle, plenitude-winning
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra (contextual continuity with 10.89.17 and the family tone)
- Lineage
- Kauśika
- Other hymns
- RV 3.30 (Indra’s victories), RV 3.62.10 (illumination prayer), RV 1.32 (Vṛtra-slaying paradigm)
Family tradition
Heroic-seer lineage: combines battle imagery with the quest for light and plenitude; Indra as the indispensable ally in overcoming Vṛtra-resistance.
Significance
Frames sādhanā as a noble battle for plenitude: the goal is śunam—happy, harmonious fulfillment through conquest of coverings.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Maghavan (bounteous), Nṛtama (most capable in the human), Ugra (mighty), Śṛṇvant (listener), Vṛtrahan (slayer of Vṛtra), Saṃjit (complete conqueror)
- Related deities
- Maruts (supporting energies in battle), Agni (leader of inner sacrifice), Soma (delight that empowers), Bṛhaspati (word-force that opens the cave)
Cosmic role
Champion who breaks the cover and wins the luminous riches for gods and men; ensures victory of light in the cosmic struggle.
Inner power
Victorious illumined mind-force that listens to aspiration, acts decisively against resistance, and establishes plenitude in the being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra in Soma sacrifices; general victory/aid invocation.
शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥
शु॒नम् । हु॒वे॒म॒ । म॒घऽवा॑नम् । इन्द्र॑म् । अ॒स्मिन् । भरे॑ । नृऽत॑मम् । वाज॑ऽसातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑म् । उ॒ग्रम् । ऊ॒तये॑ । स॒मत्ऽसु॑ । घ्नन्त॑म् । वृ॒त्राणि॑ । स॒म्ऽजित॑म् । धना॑नाम् ॥
śunam | huvema | magha-vānam | indram | asmin | bhare | nṛ-tamam | vāja-sātau | śṛṇvantam | ugram | ūtaye | samat-su | ghnantam | vṛtrāṇi | sam-jitam | dhanānām
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Strong, heroic, with clear drive; suited for invocation and victory-assertion.
Raises energy and confidence; supports decisive action and overcoming inertia.
- शुनम् (śunam)
- Literal: happily, auspiciously. Symbolic: right outcome aligned with the soul’s good (śiva-artha)
- मघवान् (maghavān)
- Literal: bounteous. Symbolic: the power that gives plenitude—inner abundance
- भरे (bhare)
- Literal: in the bearing/battle. Symbolic: the load and struggle of transformation in life
- नृतमम् (nṛtamam)
- Literal: most manly/best among men. Symbolic: most effective in the human instrument; illumination that can act in embodied nature
- वाजसातौ (vājasātau)
- Literal: winning of prizes/strengths. Symbolic: attainment of plenitudes—powers of action and knowledge
- शृण्वन्तम् (śṛṇvantam)
- Literal: listening. Symbolic: responsive higher consciousness; grace that answers aspiration
- समत्सु (samatsu)
- Literal: in battles. Symbolic: repeated inner confrontations with resistance
- वृत्राणि (vṛtrāṇi)
- Literal: Vṛtras (covers). Symbolic: multiple coverings: ignorance, inertia, fear, doubt, subconscient knots
- धनानाम् (dhanānām)
- Literal: of riches. Symbolic: inner treasures released after the cover is broken
Indra-stotra for victory and aid in contest; applicable within Soma sacrifices where Indra is invoked for overcoming obstacles (general)
Before/within competitive or challenging undertakings; in rites seeking strength and winning.
Call-and-response style praise; offering of Soma with Indra invoked as Vṛtra-slayer.
Use before difficult work, conflict resolution, or inner discipline: invoke Indra to break resistance and release inner resources.
√hū ‘to call’ (huvema opt. 1pl: intentional invocation); maghavan from maghá ‘gift, bounty’ (giver of abundance—psychologically, abundance of force and wideness); nṛ-tama (nṛ ‘man/hero’ + superlative -tama) marking peak heroic capacity; vāja from √vaj/√vij semantic field ‘strength, impetuosity, plenitude’ → vāja-sāti ‘winning of force/plenitude’; √śru ‘hear’ as divine responsiveness; √han ‘strike’ as removal of obstruction; vṛtra from √vṛ ‘to cover, obstruct’ → the Coverer(s), i.e., limiting formations; √ji ‘conquer’ with sam- intensifies total victory.
victory over obstruction (vṛtra-han), divine hearing/response (śṛṇvant), vāja as plenitude of force (energetic fullness)
Indra’s victory reinstates ṛta by removing coverings that distort right movement.
Truth becomes power when Vṛtras are slain—knowledge is freed from obstruction.
Release of hidden riches parallels the opening of the cave and freeing of waters/rays—cosmic liberation enacted in the individual.
Aurobindonian: Vṛtra as subconscient resistance; Indra as illumined mind enabling evolutionary victory.
Storm-battle = intense inner pressure; Vṛtra = inert cover in subconscient; riches = released capacities of consciousness and joy.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The central mythologem is Vṛtra-slaying reframed as inner combat: Indra ‘strikes the Vṛtras’—the coverers that block the flow of light and force—so the seeker can win vāja (plenitude of energy) and dhana (inner treasures).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √śru ‘hear’ aligns with PIE *ḱlew- ‘to hear, be famed’ (cf. Gk. klúō), supporting the formula of the god as ‘listening’ to hymns. √han ‘strike’ has PIE *gʷhen- ‘to strike/kill’ (cf. Avestan jan-, Eng. bane via Germanic developments debated), preserving the archaic Indo-European combat diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi-community calls Indra as both bounteous and militant: the hymn seeks not only gifts but Indra’s active participation in the seeker’s struggle (bhara, samat). The reciprocity is explicit—invocation and praise elicit Indra’s listening presence and intervention.
Call the ‘listening’ illumined mind to lead in moments of resistance; visualize Vṛtra as a knot and Indra’s vajra as decisive clarity.
Maṇipūra (heroic will) and Ājñā (illumination)
Kapalabhati (gentle, 30–60 strokes) followed by stillness; then chant once slowly, feeling ‘ugram ūtaye’.
Dynamic, courageous, focused; readiness to act from light rather than impulse.
Name the present ‘Vṛtra’ (procrastination, fear, doubt). Invoke Indra as Maghavan to bring inner abundance. Act immediately on one clear step—seal the invocation with action.
Keep invocatory udatta lifts on ‘indram’, ‘ugram’, ‘vṛtrāṇi’; let endings settle to convey completion (saṃjit).
Pāda 1–2 as clear call; pāda 3 intensify on ‘ugram ūtaye’; pāda 4 decisive on ‘ghnantaṃ vṛtrāṇi’.
‘maghavānam’ with clear aspirate: ma-gha-vā-nam., ‘vājāsātau’ as vā-jā-sā-tau (long vowels distinct)., ‘vṛtrāṇi’ with vocalic ṛ and retroflex ṭr cluster: vṛ-ṭrā-ṇi.
Strong, resonant, slightly louder on the Vṛtra-slaying phrase; end with grounded firmness.
11
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
