Rig Veda 10.113.8: Mandala 10, Sukta 113, Mantra 8
Sukta 10.113
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
विश्वे देवासो अध वृष्ण्यानि तेऽवर्धयन्त्सोमवत्या वचस्यया । रद्धं वृत्रमहिमिन्द्रस्य हन्मनाग्निर्न जम्भैस्तृष्वन्नमावयत् ॥
viśve devāso adha vṛṣṇyāni te ’vardhayan soma-vatyā vacasyayā́ | raddháṃ vṛtrám ahím indrasya hánmanāgnír na jámbhais tṛṣv ánnam āvayat ||
तेव्हा सर्व देवांनी सोमयुक्त स्तुतीवाणीने तुझे वृष्ण्य (वीर्य) सामर्थ्य वाढविले. अडथळा आणणारा सर्प वृत्र—रोखलेला व बांधलेला—इंद्राच्या वधबलाने असा चिरडला गेला, जणू अग्नीच्या जबड्यांनी चावून खाल्ल्यासारखा; आणि अशा रीतीने तृषित शक्तींना पोषण (अन्नरस) प्राप्त झाले.
Word by Word
- विश्वे
- allAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) सर्व
- देवासः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अध
- then, nowIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अध (अव्यय)
- वृष्ण्यानि
- manly powers, heroic strengthsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot वृष्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- of you/thyPronounषष्ठी (सम्बन्धे); एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- अवर्धयन्
- they increased, made growVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRoot वृध् (धातु) + अव (उपसर्ग)
- सोमवत्या
- with the Soma(-possessing)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot सोमवत् (प्रातिपदिक) सोमयुक्त
- वचस्यया
- with praise/eloquent hymnAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot वचस्य (प्रातिपदिक) स्तुति-सम्बद्ध
- रद्धम्
- checked, restrainedParticipleपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रध् (धातु) → रद्ध (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
- वृत्रम्
- Vṛtra (the obstructor)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अहिम्
- the serpentNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (वृत्रस्य विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन)Root अहि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रस्य
- of IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- हन्मना
- by the smiting/weapon, by the act of slayingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot हन् (धातु) → हन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक, साधन/करणवाचक)
- अग्निः
- Agni (Fire)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableअव्ययRoot न (अव्यय)
- जम्भैः
- with jaws/teethNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot जम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
- तृष्वन्
- the thirsty oneAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तृषु (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वन् (प्रत्यय) → तृष्वन्
- अन्नम्
- foodNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- आमावयत्
- he drew in/entangled/consumed (as if)Verbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot अव्/वय् (धातु; ‘to weave/entangle/bring in’) + आ (उपसर्ग)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: विश्वे देवासः अध वृष्ण्यानि ते अवर्धयन् सोमवत्या वचस्यया । रद्धं वृत्रम् अहिम् इन्द्रस्य हन्मना अग्निः न जम्भैः तृष्वन् अन्नम् आमावयत् ॥ 1) तेऽवर्धयन् = ते + अवर्धयन् (अ + अ → ’अ)
- 2) अवर्धयन्त्सोमवत्या = अवर्धयन् + सोमवत्या (न् + स् → न्त्स्)
- 3) अहिमिन्द्रस्य = अहिम् + इन्द्रस्य (म् + इ → मि)
- 4) हन्मना॒ग्निः = हन्मना + अग्निः (आ + अ → आ; संधौ दीर्घ)
- 5) अग्निर्न = अग्निः + न (विसर्ग → र्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
All the gods increased your virile powers by the Soma-filled word; Vṛtra the serpent, checked and bound, was by Indra’s slaying force as if chewed by Agni’s jaws—thus nourishment was won for the thirsting.
Inner meaning
The whole host of divine powers (viśve devāsaḥ) intensify the seeker’s illumined capacity (vṛṣṇyāni) through the Soma-bearing mantra—speech charged with delight and affirmation (somavatyā vacasyayā). The obstructing resistance (Vṛtra, ahi) is not merely struck but rendered ineffective—bound and broken—by Indra’s force of luminous discernment. Agni’s ‘jaws’ is the consuming will that digests the obstruction into energy. The result is anna—true nourishment of consciousness—for the thirsting parts of the being (tṛṣu).
Universal truth
When speech is aligned with truth and filled with joy, it becomes a force that strengthens the mind’s light; resistance is transformed, and what blocked us becomes fuel for growth.
Themes
Soma empowerment, Vṛtra/ahi motif, cooperation of gods, nourishment for seekers
The seer
Significance
The verse speaks in a ‘collective yoga’ register: the gods as inner powers cooperate, indicating a synthetic path where illumination (Indra), will (Agni), and delight (Soma) act together.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Viśve Devāḥ; Agni as operative simile)
- Epithets
- vṛṣan (implied by vṛṣṇyāni), vṛtrahan (explicit theme)
- Related deities
- Viśve Devāḥ, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Champion who releases the Waters/Light by overcoming Vṛtra; coordinator of divine forces.
Inner power
Illumined mind-force that can bind and neutralize compulsive resistance; allied with Agni’s transforming will and Soma’s bliss.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma praise/Indra-stotra thematic context
विश्वे॑ दे॒वासो॒ अध॒ वृष्ण्या॑नि॒ तेऽव॑र्धय॒न्त्सोम॑वत्या वच॒स्यया॑ । र॒द्धं वृ॒त्रमहि॒मिन्द्र॑स्य॒ हन्म॑ना॒ग्निर्न जम्भै॑स्तृ॒ष्वन्न॑मावयत् ॥
विश्वे॑ । दे॒वासः॑ । अध॑ । वृष्ण्या॑नि । ते । अव॑र्धयन् । सोम॑ऽवत्या । व॒च॒स्यया॑ । र॒द्धम् । वृ॒त्रम् । अहि॑म् । इन्द्र॑स्य । हन्म॑ना । अ॒ग्निः । न । जम्भैः॑ । तृ॒षु । अन्न॑म् । आ॒व॒य॒त् ॥
viśve | devāsaḥ | adha | vṛṣṇyāni | te | avardhayan | soma-vatyā | vacasyayā | raddham | vṛtram | ahim | indrasya | hanmanā | agniḥ | na | jambhaiḥ | tṛṣu | annam | āvayat
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Martial and compressive, with ‘binding’ and ‘chewing’ imagery
Energizes digestion of obstacles—good for breaking compulsions and restoring inner strength.
- विश्वे देवासः (viśve devāsaḥ)
- Literal: all the gods. Symbolic: the integrated divine faculties within: will, light, joy, harmony
- वृष्ण्यानि (vṛṣṇyāni)
- Literal: virile/strong powers. Symbolic: energies of effective action and illumination in the inner life
- सोमवती वचस्या (somavatī vacasyā)
- Literal: Soma-possessing word/praise. Symbolic: mantric speech saturated with delight and luminous affirmation
- वृत्रम् अहिम् (vṛtram ahim)
- Literal: Vṛtra the serpent. Symbolic: the coverer; coiled resistance of the subconscient
- रद्धम् (raddham)
- Literal: checked, restrained, bound. Symbolic: resistance immobilized by higher clarity
- हन्मना (hanmanā)
- Literal: by the slaying force. Symbolic: decisive power of discrimination and victory
- अग्निर्न जम्भैः (agnir na jambhaiḥ)
- Literal: like Agni with jaws. Symbolic: divine will that consumes and converts obstruction
- अन्नम् (annam)
- Literal: food, nourishment. Symbolic: sustaining substance of consciousness; recovered energy/joy
- तृषु (tṛṣu)
- Literal: for the thirsty. Symbolic: parts of the being yearning for light and satisfaction
Soma-liturgical reinforcement of Indra through inspired speech; inner use: mantra as cooperative invocation—multiple powers increase the breakthrough-force
During Soma offerings and Indra-related recitations; also as a strengthening prayer before demanding work
Praise that ‘increases’ Indra’s power through Soma-word; symbolic offering of speech
Use before chanting/meditation to ‘charge’ speech with clarity and joy; helpful for addiction/compulsion work (Vṛtra as binding habit).
√vṛdh ‘increase’ marks the cooperative reinforcement of Indra by ‘all gods’ through soma-vatī vacas—speech imbued with Soma. ahi ‘serpent’ + vṛtra from √vṛ ‘cover’ converges on the coiling cover. hanman (from √han) is the slaying-force. The simile ‘Agni with jaws’ shifts from storm-myth to fire-myth: obstruction is not only split but consumed/transmuted, yielding annam for the tṛṣ (thirsting seekers).
collective action of powers (viśve devāsaḥ), mantric speech as force (vacas), transmutation of obstruction into nourishment (annam)
Obstruction is restrained so the true flow of life-force and knowledge can proceed.
Vacasyā as truth-speaking affirmation that becomes effective power.
Release of nourishment/Waters after the slaying of the coverer.
Integral Vedic psychology (Aurobindo/Kashyap style)
Delight-charged mantra and will-fire together digest the serpent of inertia, restoring the ‘food’ of spiritual energy to thirsty faculties.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A composite mythologem: the gods empower Indra through Soma-charged speech, enabling the defeat of the serpent-obstructor; the obstruction is ‘chewed/consumed’ like fuel by Agni, resulting in nourishment for the thirsty. Innerly, mantra + delight-essence (Soma) increases force, and the resistant knot becomes energy for growth.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The serpent/dragon term ahi has Indo-Iranian parallels (Av. aži-), reflecting an inherited monster motif. √vṛdh (grow) and √han (strike) are old IE roots (PIE *h₁en- for ‘strike’ often proposed for √han). The ‘food for the thirsty’ outcome continues the IE release-to-nourishment logic: victory yields sustenance/wealth/light.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi highlights that the hymn (vacasyā) itself, when Soma-filled, is an instrument that increases the god’s power. The sacrificer’s speech is thus not mere praise but a cooperative act that strengthens the divine function in the human field, culminating in inner nourishment for the seeking faculties.
Let the ‘Soma-word’ rise: affirm truth with felt delight; then offer resistance into Agni for transformation.
maṇipūra (Agni/digestion)
Kapalabhati-light (if suitable) followed by slow nasal breathing; on exhale mentally offer ‘vṛtram’ into ‘agni’
From craving/thirst to replenished steadiness
Speak one clear inner affirmation (vacasyā) with joy (Soma-feel). Visualize the knot of resistance bound (raddham) and then consumed (Agni-jaws). Rest in the recovered ‘anna’—quiet strength.
Standard RV accentuation: keep clear udātta peaks on key nouns (devā́so, vṛ́ṣṇyāni, sóma-); exact svara requires accent-marked saṃhitā/pada-svara source.
Give punch to vṛṣṇyā́ni; slow slightly at raddháṃ vṛtrám áhīm; emphasize índrasya hánmanā as the decisive stroke.
सोमवत्या: so-ma-va-tyā, keep long ā in -tyā, वृत्रमहि: vṛ-tra-ma-hi, avoid merging tr too softly, जम्भैः: jambhaiḥ—nasal ‘m’ + bh aspirate, finish with visarga-like ḥ
Bright, incisive, with clear consonants; slight ‘chewing’ emphasis in the Agni simile
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