Rig Veda 7.21.3: Mandala 7, Sukta 21, Mantra 3
Sukta 7.21
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
त्वमिन्द्र स्रवितवा अपस्कः परिष्ठिता अहिना शूर पूर्वीः । त्वद्वावक्रे रथ्यो न धेना रेजन्ते विश्वा कृत्रिमाणि भीषा ॥
tvámindra srávitavā́ apáskaḥ páriṣṭhitā́ áhīnā śūra pū́rvīḥ | tvád vāvakre rathyò ná dhénā réjante víśvā kṛtrímāṇi bhīṣā́ ||
ഹേ ഇന്ദ്ര, നീയേ അപാം സ്രവിതാ—ജലങ്ങളെ വിടുവിക്കുന്നവൻ—കർമ്മങ്ങളിൽ സജീവൻ; ശൂര, പുരാതന ധാരകളെ അഹി (സർപ്പം) ചുറ്റിപ്പറ്റി തടഞ്ഞിരുന്നു. നിനക്കാൽ അവ തിരിഞ്ഞ് രഥങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ വേഗത്തിൽ ഉരുളി പുറപ്പെട്ടു; എല്ലാ കൃത്രിമ (രചിത) തടസ്സങ്ങളും ഭയത്തിൽ വിറയ്ക്കുന്നു.
Word by Word
- त्वम्
- thouPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुं, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्रवितवा
- to stream/flow forthVerb (infinitive)अव्यय-भावः (तुमुन्/तवा-इन्फिनिटिव), ‘to flow/stream forth’Role प्रयोजन/क्रिया-विशेषण (infinitival complement)Root √स्रु (स्रवति) + तवा (तुमुन्-प्रत्ययः; Vedic infinitive)
- अपस्कः
- active in deeds / workingAdjectiveपुं, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (त्वम्…अपस्कः—विशेषण)Root अपस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘work, deed’) + क (बहुव्रीहि/तत्पुरुष-आधारित विशेषण)
- परिष्ठिताः
- standing around / surroundingParticiple/Adjectiveस्त्री, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (पूर्वीः—विशेषण)Root परि-√स्था (तिष्ठति) → परिष्ठित (कृत-प्रत्यय; PPP)
- अहिना
- with the serpent (Ahi)Nounपुं, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot अहि (प्रातिपदिक)
- शूर
- O heroNoun (epithet)पुं, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- पूर्वीः
- many former/ancient (ones)Adjectiveस्त्री, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वत्
- from theePronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं, पञ्चमी, एकवचनRole अपादानRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वावक्रे
- has chosen / has preferredVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √वृ (वृणोति/वृणुते ‘to choose, prefer’) with reduplication (वा-व-) ; perfect/middle form
- रथ्यः
- chariot-going / of the chariotAdjectiveस्त्री, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (धेना—विशेषण)Root रथ्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘belonging to a chariot, chariot-going’)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRole सम्बन्ध (उपमा)Root न (अव्यय)
- धेना
- a milch-cowNounस्त्री, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- रेजन्ते
- tremble / quakeVerbलट्, आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √रज्/√रञ्ज् (Vedic: ‘to tremble, quiver, shake’) → रेजते
- विश्वा
- all (things)Adjective (used substantively)नपुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृत्रिमाणि
- contrivances / artificesNoun/Adjective (substantivized)नपुं, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (विश्वा…कृत्रिमाणि—apposition)Root कृत्रिम (प्रातिपदिक; ‘artificial, fabricated’; in RV often ‘wrought/contrived devices, stratagems’)
- भीषा
- through fear / in dreadNounस्त्री, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental of cause/manner)Role करणRoot भीषा (प्रातिपदिक; from √भी ‘to fear’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (resolved): त्वम् | इन्द्र | स्रवितवा | अपस्कः | परिष्ठिताः | अहिना | शूर | पूर्वीः || त्वत् | वावक्रे | रथ्यः | न | धेना | रेजन्ते | विश्वा | कृत्रिमाणि | भीषा || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) त्वमि॑न्द्र → त्वम् + इन्द्र (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: म् + इ → मि)
- (2) अपस्कः परि…: विसर्गः + प् (जिह्वामूलीय/उपध्मानीय-परम्परा; पाठे ‘अपस्क:’)
- (3) त्वद्वा॑वक्रे → त्वत् + वावक्रे (त् + व → द्व्)
- (4) रथ्यो न → रथ्यः + न (विसर्ग-लोपः/परिवर्तनः पदपाठ-परम्परानुसार)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is the releaser of the waters, active in works; the ancient streams were held in by the serpent. From him they turned and rolled forth like swift chariots; all the fashioned obstructions tremble in fear.
Inner meaning
Classic Indra-Vṛtra symbolism in psychological terms: the ‘waters’ (āpaḥ) are the streams of consciousness—clarities, inspirations, and life-energies in their pure flow. They are ‘ancient’ (pūrvīḥ) because they belong to the original truth of being but are long withheld. The serpent (ahi) is the coiling subconscient resistance, the coverer that compresses and circles the currents. Indra as sravitavā, the releaser, is the illumined Mind-force that acts in works (apas-kaḥ): not a passive insight but an effective power that breaks the knot. Once struck, the waters ‘turn’ from confinement and rush out like chariots—swift, directed movements of liberated energy. All ‘fashioned things’ (kṛtrimāṇi)—constructed formations of falsehood, habit, and mechanical limitation—tremble when the higher light begins to act.
Universal truth
Illumination is not merely knowing; it is a force that breaks subconscious resistance and releases long-held energies and insights into swift, purposeful movement, dissolving the constructed limitations of habit and falsehood.
Themes
vritra-slaying, release-of-waters, victory-over-obstruction, light-and-flow
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 7.21.4, RV 7.19 (Indra themes), RV 7.18 (victory/protection themes)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha frequently frames Indra’s victories as releases—of waters, light, and right movement—mirroring inner liberation.
Significance
This is a paradigmatic psychological myth: the breaking of the subconscient coil and the freeing of the soul’s native currents.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Śūra (hero), Sravitā (releaser)
- Related deities
- Soma, Maruts, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Slayer of the serpent/obstructor; releaser of waters and bringer of fertility and light.
Inner power
Penetrating illumination that breaks the knot of the subconscient and liberates energies into effective action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra in Soma context; mythic reinforcement of Indra’s power to ‘release’ boons
त्वमि॑न्द्र॒ स्रवि॑त॒वा अ॒पस्क॒: परि॑ष्ठिता॒ अहि॑ना शूर पू॒र्वीः । त्वद्वा॑वक्रे र॒थ्यो॒३॒॑ न धेना॒ रेज॑न्ते॒ विश्वा॑ कृ॒त्रिमा॑णि भी॒षा ॥
त्वम् । इ॒न्द्र॒ । स्रवि॑त॒वै । अ॒पः । क॒रिति॑ कः । परि॑ऽस्थिताः । अहि॑ना । शू॒र॒ । पू॒र्वीः । त्वत् । वा॒व॒क्रे॒ । र॒थ्यः॑ । न । धेनाः॑ । रेज॑न्ते । विश्वा॑ । कृ॒त्रिमा॑णि । भी॒षा ॥
tvam | indra | sravitavai | apaḥ | karitikaḥ | pari-sthitāḥ | ahinā | śūra | pūrvīḥ | tvat | vāvakre | rathyaḥ | na | dhenāḥ | rejante | viśvā | kṛtrimāṇi | bhīṣā
44
4 x ~11
Heroic, cutting strokes; strong breaks mirror the ‘release’ and ‘rush’ of waters.
Invokes courage and breakthrough; helps dislodge inner inertia and fear-patterns.
- अपः (apaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: streams of consciousness, inspiration, life-force in purity
- स्रवितवा (sravitavā)
- Literal: releaser/one who makes flow. Symbolic: power of illumination that releases blocked inner currents
- अहिना (ahinā)
- Literal: by the serpent. Symbolic: subconscient coiling resistance; the coverer principle (Vṛtra/ahi)
- परिष्ठिताः (pariṣṭhitāḥ)
- Literal: encompassed, surrounded. Symbolic: constricted by habitual formations and fear
- अपस्कः (apas-kaḥ)
- Literal: active in works. Symbolic: illumination effective in action; transforming force in practice
- रथ्यः (rathyaḥ)
- Literal: chariot-like, swift. Symbolic: directed liberated energies moving with purpose
- धेनाः (dhenāḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of knowledge/illumination released with the waters
- कृत्रिमाणि (kṛtrimāṇi)
- Literal: artificially fashioned things. Symbolic: mental-vital constructions, rigid patterns, false formations
- भीषा (bhīṣā)
- Literal: in fear. Symbolic: the recoil of ignorance when confronted by higher light
Indra’s Vṛtra-slaying/releasing-waters motif; recited to invoke release of obstructions and flow of powers
When invoking Indra for victory, release, and overcoming obstruction during offerings
Recitation praising Indra’s Vṛtra-slaying; offering Soma to empower the deity
Chant during periods of blockage (mental fog, emotional constriction) as a call for release of inner flow.
sravitavai from √sru ‘flow’ points to the classic Vṛtra/Ahi motif: release of waters/light. ahi ‘serpent’ (PIE *h₁ogʷʰis ‘snake’ often proposed for Indo-Iranian ahi-) functions as constriction. kṛtrima ‘made, artificial’ (from √kṛ ‘make’) is read inwardly as fabricated formations that block natural flow of consciousness.
Release of blocked energies (apaḥ), Ahi/Vṛtra as obstruction/ignorance, Kṛtrima as artificial formations vs. ṛta
Released waters restore ṛta—right circulation between planes of being (higher to lower).
The ‘ancient streams’ are satya-currents; obstruction is false formation (kṛtrima).
Liberation as re-creation: restoring primal flows that sustain worlds.
Vedic yoga of liberation by illumination (Indra principle)
Waters = consciousness-flow; serpent = coiled subconscient; chariots = swift liberated energies directed by will.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Vṛtra/Ahi mythologem: the serpent constricts the primordial waters; Indra releases them so they surge forth. Psychologically, the ‘waters’ are streams of consciousness-force and clarity released from subconscious constriction.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sru ‘flow’ is Indo-Iranian (cf. Av. sru-). √kṛ ‘make’ = PIE *kwer-/*ker- (broadly ‘do/make’, with Indo-Iranian kṛ). ahi ‘serpent’ has Indo-Iranian continuity (Skt ahi, Av azi). The dragon-slayer motif is pan-Indo-European (cf. Hittite Illuyanka, Greek Zeus-Typhon patterns).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi praises Indra as the decisive releaser; by naming the obstruction (ahi) and the result (flowing waters), the hymn aligns the human aspiration with Indra’s cosmic act, seeking the same liberation within the human vessel.
Break the ‘coil’ of subconscious resistance; invite a clean flow of inspiration and energy.
svādhiṣṭhāna (waters/flow) and ājñā (illumined release)
Kapalabhati light (30–60 strokes) if suitable, then slow exhale chanting to ‘release’ tension; otherwise long exhale-only emphasis for calming release.
Forceful clarity; breakthrough state followed by flowing ease.
Identify one inner knot (fear/habit). Chant once with firm intent. Visualize a coiled darkness loosening at the brow-light’s touch; then rest, letting ‘waters’ (fresh thoughts/feelings) move without interference.
Keep accents crisp; give extra clarity to consonant clusters around ‘sravitavā’ and ‘pariṣṭhitā’.
Strike the line with a firm peak on índra; broaden on āpaḥ; sharpen on áhinā; accelerate slightly through ‘rathyo na’ to evoke rushing flow.
: sravi-ta-vā with clear v; avoid ‘sarvit’., : pariṣ-ṭhi-tā with retroflex ṭh., : kṛ-tri-mā-ṇi; keep ṛ and retroflex ṇ.
Heroic, cutting, then flowing on the water-release phrases.
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