Rig Veda 2.12.6: Mandala 2, Sukta 12, Mantra 6
Sukta 2.12
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion) and Vira (heroism)
यो रध्रस्य चोदिता यः कृशस्य यो ब्रह्मणो नाधमानस्य कीरेः । युक्तग्राव्णो योऽविता सुशिप्रः सुतसोमस्य स जनास इन्द्रः ॥
yó radhrásya coditā́ yáḥ kṛśásya yó bráhmaṇo nā́dhamānasya kīréḥ | yuktágrāvṇo yó ’vitā́ suśípras sutásomasya sá janāsa índraḥ ||
ഭംഗപ്പെട്ടവനെയും (രധ്ര) ദുർബലനെയും പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ; പരിശ്രമിക്കുന്ന കീരേ—ഗായക-യാജകൻ—ന്റെ സഹായകൻ; യുക്തഗ്രാവൺ (കെട്ടിയ പിഷണക്കല്ലുകൾ) സഹിതം, സുഷിപ്ര (സുന്ദര-ഓഷ്ഠൻ) ആയി, പിഴിഞ്ഞ സോമം (സുതസോമ) കാത്തുരക്ഷിക്കുന്നവൻ—ഹേ ജനങ്ങളേ, അവൻ ഇന്ദ്രനാണ്.
Word by Word
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- रध्रस्य
- of the needy/poor (wretched)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot रध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- चोदिता
- the impeller, instigatorNoun (agent) / Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot चुद् (धातु) → चोदितृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) / चोदिता (निपातित/वैदिक रूप)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- कृशस्य
- of the weak/lean (poor)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot कृश (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ब्रह्मणः
- of the prayer/sacred utteranceNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नाधमानस्य
- of the imploring/suppliantAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot नाधमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नाध्/नन्ध् ‘to cry/implore’ वैदिक)
- कीरेः
- of the singer/poetNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम् (वैदिक रूप)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot कीर (प्रातिपदिक)
- युक्तग्राव्णः
- whose pressing-stones are yoked/readyAdjective (compound)पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot युक्त (√युज्) + ग्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अविता
- helper, protectorNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot अव् (धातु) → अवितृ (कृदन्त) / अविता (वैदिक)
- सुशिप्रः
- fair-lipped / of good jaws (epithet)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot सु- (उपसर्ग) + शिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुतसोमस्य
- of the pressed SomaNoun (compound)पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot सुत (√सु ‘to press’) + सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जनासः
- peoples, menNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (वैदिक)Role KartāRoot जन (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved: योऽविता → यः अविता (visarga + a). Other items are primarily pada-text forms with internal compounds: युक्त-ग्राव्णः, सुत-सोमस्य. Genitives (रध्रस्य, कृशस्य, ब्रह्मणः, नाधमानस्य, कीरेः, युक्तग्राव्णः, सुतसोमस्य) depend on implied ‘(सः/इन्द्रः) …’ as possessor/associate
- repeated यः introduces relative clauses culminating in स … इन्द्रः
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is the impeller of the broken and weak, the helper of the striving singer-priest; with yoked pressing-stones he is protector—beautiful-lipped—of the Soma that is pressed.
Inner meaning
Indra is the dynamic encouragement (coditā) in those who feel broken (radhra) or depleted (kṛśa): he restores the will to progress. He supports the brahman—here the inspired word and the mantric intelligence—of the striving kīri (singer-seer) who is under pressure (nādhamāna). ‘Yoked pressing-stones’ points inwardly to disciplined concentration and the steady working of the mind’s instruments that press out Soma (bliss-essence) from experience. Indra, ‘beautiful-lipped’ (suśipraḥ), guards the right expression and taste of Soma: the delight must be pure, rightly pressed, and protected from distortion into mere vital pleasure.
Universal truth
The higher intelligence supports the weak and struggling, and protects true delight when it is extracted through discipline and aspiration; real strength and joy grow together.
Themes
Aid to the weak (kṛśa, radhar), Protection of Soma, Mantric force (brahman), Inner concentration (yukta-grāvan)
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.12 (Indra as doer of decisive inner works), RV 2.1–2.5 (Agni-led inner sacrifice themes, within Gṛtsamada corpus)
Family tradition
A lineage valuing effective mantra (brahman) and the inner sacrifice where Soma (delight) is pressed by disciplined means.
Significance
This verse shows Indra not only as slayer of cosmic obstacles but as intimate helper of the struggling practitioner and guardian of the purity of spiritual delight.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Suśipra (beautiful-lipped), Avitā (protector), Coditā (impeller), Maghavan
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Strengthener of the sacrificer; protector of Soma and inspirer of the brahman (effective word).
Inner power
Courage and luminous intelligence that revives weakened parts, supports mantra-vision, and safeguards true ānanda from lower mixture.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing (savana) praises: Indra as protector of pressed Soma and helper of the hotṛ/udgātṛ’s inspired work.
यो र॒ध्रस्य॑ चोदि॒ता यः कृ॒शस्य॒ यो ब्र॒ह्मणो॒ नाध॑मानस्य की॒रेः । यु॒क्तग्रा॑व्णो॒ योऽवि॒ता सु॑शि॒प्रः सु॒तसो॑मस्य॒ स ज॑नास॒ इन्द्र॑: ॥
यः । र॒ध्रस्य॑ । चो॒दि॒ता । यः । कृ॒शस्य॑ । यः । ब्र॒ह्मणः॑ । नाध॑मानस्य । की॒रेः । यु॒क्तऽग्रा॑व्णः । यः । अ॒वि॒ता । सु॒ऽशि॒प्रः । सु॒तऽसो॑मस्य । सः । ज॒ना॒सः॒ । इन्द्रः॑ ॥
yaḥ | radhrasya | coditā | yaḥ | kṛśasya | yaḥ | brahmaṇaḥ | nādhamānasya | kīreḥ | yukta-grāvṇaḥ | yaḥ | avitā | su-śipraḥ | suta-somasya | saḥ | janāsaḥ | indraḥ
48
4×12
Balanced and supportive cadence; less ‘battle’ and more ‘sustaining’ rhythm while retaining Jagatī breadth.
Soothes and strengthens; evokes a sense of being upheld, especially in the second and third pādas.
- रध्रस्य (radhrasya)
- Literal: of the broken/maimed. Symbolic: parts of the being that have fallen into discouragement or fragmentation
- कृशस्य (kṛśasya)
- Literal: of the thin/weak. Symbolic: depleted life-force; exhausted will
- चोदिता (coditā)
- Literal: impeller, stimulator. Symbolic: inner impetus, divine encouragement
- ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ)
- Literal: of the brahman/prayer. Symbolic: mantric force; inspired speech; formative consciousness
- नाधमानस्य (nādhamānasya)
- Literal: of the striving/pressed one. Symbolic: the aspirant under tapas, bearing pressure for growth
- कीरेः (kīreḥ)
- Literal: of the singer-poet. Symbolic: the inner seer faculty that articulates truth
- युक्तग्राव्णः (yuktagrāvṇaḥ)
- Literal: with yoked pressing-stones. Symbolic: disciplined mental instruments pressing out Soma; concentrated practice
- सुतसोमस्य (sutasomasya)
- Literal: of pressed Soma. Symbolic: purified bliss/ānanda extracted through yoga and offering
- सुशिप्रः (suśipraḥ)
- Literal: beautiful-lipped. Symbolic: right speech and refined taste—delight expressed without distortion
Soma-pressing hymn segment: Indra as protector of the pressed Soma and supporter of the needy singer; used to secure help for the sacrificer/chanters
At Soma pressing and offering; also in prayers for strength, recovery, and support of the priestly/seeker’s work.
Pressing Soma with stones; recitation to invite Indra to drink and empower the rite.
Chant during fatigue, burnout, or discouragement; pair with a ‘Soma practice’—cultivating pure joy through gratitude and inner offering rather than stimulation.
√cud ‘impel’ (coditā). avitā from √av ‘protect’. su-śipra: śipra can mean ‘jaw/lip’—Indra as capable of strong drinking/utterance; psychologically power of enjoyment and expression. yuktá-grāvan: ‘yoked stones’ signals disciplined pressing—inner tapas/concentration to extract Soma (delight).
Grace for the weak and broken parts of the being, Brahman (mantric force) supported by divine power, Extraction of delight (Soma) through disciplined pressure
Right pressing (yuktagrāvṇaḥ) implies right method—Ṛta in practice—so delight is true and strengthening.
The brahman must be truthful speech/vision; Indra supports its effectiveness.
Extraction of Soma: bringing hidden delight into manifest consciousness through disciplined action.
Yoga of delight and speech: anticipates later emphasis on mantra, tapas, and ānanda as realization-supports.
Stones = disciplined faculties; Soma = bliss-essence; weakness = prāṇic depletion; Indra = restorative illumination.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as sustainer of the sacrificer and presser: not the slayer myth but the patron-protector who empowers the weak and supports the brahman of the striving poet, guarding the pressed Soma (delight) so it can do its transformative work.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √av ‘protect’ is an Indo-Iranian staple (Av. āv- ‘help/protect’), showing inherited religious diction. The agent nouns (coditā, avitā) reflect productive archaic derivation patterns.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi depicts Indra as intimate helper of the needy singer: the human side offers brahman and pressed Soma; Indra answers by urging the broken parts toward strength and protecting the delight so the inner work can continue.
Invite Indra as inner encourager; press out ‘Soma’—quiet joy—from experience through concentration and truthful speech.
Manipura (strength) and Vishuddha (pure speech/mantra).
Gentle bhastrikā-free approach: 10 slow deep breaths; then chant with slightly lengthened exhale, feeling energy return to the navel center.
From depletion to steady empowered serenity with a thread of delight.
When tired, do not force intensity. Offer the fatigue into the inner fire; then recall one pure joy (Soma) and let it spread. End with a brief silent listening at the throat/heart for ‘beautiful-lipped’ right expression.
Maintain steady udātta on defining nouns/epithets (coditā, avitā, suśipraḥ) and on ‘indraḥ’; keep the line smooth to match the supportive meaning.
Slight emphasis on ‘yo radhrasya coditā’ and ‘yo brahmaṇo…’ as compassionate declarations; soften into ‘sutasomasya’ then seal with refrain.
‘rādhra’ cluster: ra-dhra, keep dhra conjunct clear., ‘kṛśasya’: vocalic ṛ short and crisp., ‘nādhamānasya’: long ā; avoid inserting extra vowel between dhm., ‘yuktagrāvṇaḥ’: pronounce grā-vṇaḥ with retroflex ṇ and long ā., ‘suśipraḥ’: palatal ś; ‘pr’ conjunct clean.
Supportive, warm, steady resonance; avoid aggressive force.
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