Rig Veda 8.70.1: Mandala 8, Sukta 70, Mantra 1
Sukta 8.70
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
यो राजा चर्षणीनां याता रथेभिरध्रिगुः । विश्वासां तरुता पृतनानां ज्येष्ठो यो वृत्रहा गृणे ॥
yó rājā́ carṣaṇīnā́ṁ yā́tā rathebhír ádhri-guḥ | víśvāsāṁ tarutā́ pṛ́tanānāṁ jyéṣṭho yó vṛtra-hā́ gṛṇé ||
Dia—raja bagi kaum-kaum manusia—yang datang dengan rata-rata, tidak tergoyah dalam perjalanannya; penewas segala peperangan, yang tertua pada kekuatan—dialah pembunuh Vṛtra, Sang Penutup; dialah yang kuperkatakan dalam pujian.
Word by Word
- यः
- who (he who)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (राजा इत्यस्य) / कर्तृ-सूचकःRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- राजा
- king, rulerNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- चर्षणीनाम्
- of the peoples/men (communities)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (राज्ञः) / षष्ठी-सम्बन्धःRoot चर्षणि (प्रातिपदिक)
- याता
- going, rider, one who goesAdjective (agentive) / Kṛdantaपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (राजा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणम्Root या (धातु) → यातृ/यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) अथवा याता (विशेषण)
- रथेभिः
- with chariotsNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अध्रिगुः
- unfailing/unyielding (firm-moving)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (राजा/यः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणम्Root अध्रिगु (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक-विशेषण)
- विश्वासाम्
- of allAdjective (used substantively)स्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम् (पृतनानाम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बन्धRoot विश्व (सर्व/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- तरुता
- overcomer, conquerorNoun (agent) / Kṛdantaपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (यः/राजा इत्यस्य)Role कर्तृRoot तॄ (धातु) → तरुतृ/तरुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) / तरुता (वैदिक-निपातित रूप)
- पृतनानाम्
- of battles/armiesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (तरुता/ज्येष्ठः इत्यस्य)Root पृतना (प्रातिपदिक)
- ज्येष्ठः
- the eldest, foremostAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (यः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणम्Root ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; श्रेष्ठ-तुल्य, superlative)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (वृत्रहा इत्यस्य) / कर्तृ-सूचकःRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वृत्रहा
- Vṛtra-slayerNoun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot वृत्रहन् (प्रातिपदिक; वृत्र + हन्)
- गृणे
- I praise/singVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्तृ = अहम्, implied)Root गॄ (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (sandhi-resolved): यः | राजा | चर्षणीनाम् | याता | रथेभिः | अध्रिगुः | विश्वासाम् | तरुता | पृतनानाम् | ज्येष्ठः | यः | वृत्रहा | गृणे || 1) चर्षणी॒नां: दीर्घ-ई + नाम् (षष्ठी बहु) वैदिक-उच्चारण सहितम्। 2) रथे॑भिः: रथ + भिस् → रथेभिः (तृतीया बहु)। 3) वृ॑त्र॒हा: वृत्र + हन् (समास) → वृत्रहन्-प्रातिपदिक
- प्रथमा एकवचन ‘वृत्रहा’। 4) गृ॒णे: √गॄ ‘स्तुतौ’ लट्-आत्मनेपद 1sg
- वैदिके दीर्घस्वर/स्वरित-चिह्न पाठभेदानुसार।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is praised as king of the peoples, arriving with chariots, firm and unshaken; he is the foremost conqueror in all battles, the eldest in power, the slayer of Vṛtra, and thus worthy of proclamation.
Inner meaning
Indra is the sovereign Power of illumined Mind governing the human faculties (carṣaṇī). His “chariots” are the dynamic movements of thought-force that carry the seeker forward without deviation (adhriguḥ). He is the victorious leader in the inner battles against resistance, and as Vṛtrahan he breaks the subconscious “covering” that blocks the release of light, joy, and right force.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires a higher luminous intelligence that can lead the whole nature, steadily and repeatedly overcoming inner resistance until the concealed truth becomes manifest.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying, Victory in inner battles, Divine kingship
The seer
Significance
Even without a named seer, the voice is recognizably that of the Indra-bhakti of the Eighth Maṇḍala: a practical yoga of inner victory—invoking illumined force to lead the whole nature through repeated breakthroughs.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Rājā (sovereign), Vṛtrahan (slayer of the Coverer), Jyeṣṭha (foremost), Tarutā (overcomer)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods who releases the hidden Light and establishes the victorious movement of ṛta in the worlds.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence with irresistible force—clarity that breaks obstruction and leads the will to right action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra in Soma-related praise sequences (general)
यो राजा॑ चर्षणी॒नां याता॒ रथे॑भि॒रध्रि॑गुः । विश्वा॑सां तरु॒ता पृत॑नानां॒ ज्येष्ठो॒ यो वृ॑त्र॒हा गृ॒णे ॥
यः । राजा॑ । च॒र्षणी॒नाम् । याता॑ । रथे॑भिः । अध्रि॑ऽगुः । विश्वा॑साम् । त॒रु॒ता । पृत॑नानाम् । ज्येष्ठः॑ । यः । वृ॒त्र॒ऽहा । गृ॒णे ॥
yaḥ | rājā | carṣaṇīnām | yātā | rathebhiḥ | adhri-guḥ | viśvāsām | tarutā | pṛtanānām | jyeṣṭhaḥ | yaḥ | vṛtra-hā | gṛṇe
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4 pādas (approx. 11 syllables each)
March-like, forward-driving cadence suited to heroic affirmation.
Builds confidence and inner mobilization; supports a sense of being led by a higher command in the midst of struggle.
- rājā
- Literal: king. Symbolic: sovereign governing power of the illumined mind
- carṣaṇīnāṃ
- Literal: of the peoples/communities. Symbolic: of the human faculties and active powers in us
- rathebhir
- Literal: with chariots. Symbolic: with dynamic thought-forces/vehicles of progress
- adhriguḥ
- Literal: not stumbling, unshaken in going. Symbolic: steady, unwavering advance of higher guidance
- pṛtanānām
- Literal: of battles. Symbolic: inner conflicts with ignorance, desire, inertia
- jyeṣṭhaḥ
- Literal: eldest, foremost. Symbolic: preeminent power among energizing forces
- vṛtrahā
- Literal: slayer of Vṛtra. Symbolic: breaker of the Coverer—piercing subconscious obstruction
- gṛṇe
- Literal: I praise/proclaim. Symbolic: conscious affirmation that aligns the being with that power
Indra-stotra in Soma ritual (Indra as battle-winner and opener of the waters/lights); recited to invoke victorious force and removal of obstacles.
During Indra invocations in Soma pressing/offerings; also as a general victory and protection hymn.
Recitation/praise to call Indra’s force; offering of Soma/oblations in the larger rite.
Use as a ‘breakthrough’ mantra before demanding work, during recovery from inertia, or when facing recurring psychological resistance.
√tṛ (tarutā) from PIE *terh₂- ‘cross over’ (cf. Eng. ‘through’ via Germanic developments). vṛtra from √vṛ ‘to cover, obstruct’—psychological sense: the covering principle of ignorance that blocks the waters/lights. vṛtra-han ‘Vṛtra-slayer’ is the classic Indra epithet. rājā from PIE *h₃reǵ- ‘rule’. √yā ‘go/come’ (PIE *h₁ei-/ *yeh₁- movement roots; Indo-Aryan preserves √yā strongly).
Rita (victory that restores right flow), Battle of Light vs Covering (knowledge vs ignorance), Sovereignty (rājā) as inner mastery
Indra’s victory restores the free flow of ṛta by removing obstruction.
Truth is not constructed but uncovered—released when Vṛtra is slain.
Release of concealed powers (light/force) enabling a new formation in consciousness.
The ‘battle’ is the psychic struggle; the ‘chariot’ is the directed mind-force; kingship is mastery over the faculties.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Vṛtra-slaying mythologem: Indra as king and greatest combatant overcomes all battles and destroys the Coverer. Inner sense: the sovereign force breaks the psychological obstruction that prevents the free movement of light and the waters of inspiration.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- rājā < PIE *h₃reǵ- ‘rule’ (rex). taru- (√tṛ) < PIE *terh₂- ‘cross’. vṛtra (√vṛ ‘cover’) shows a productive inherited verbal root for ‘covering’ that becomes mythic abstraction. The epithet compounds (vṛtra-hā) reflect Indo-European poetic formulaic style.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi ‘names’ Indra by his functions (king, overcomer, Vṛtrahan), establishing the ground for aid: praise (gīr) is the alignment that calls the power of victory into the human field of battles.
Invoke the ‘Indra in the mind’—a clear, fearless intelligence that leads decisions and breaks recurring inner blocks.
ājñā (illumined mind)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana for 6–8 rounds, then chant on steady exhale.
From mental agitation to luminous resolve.
Before chanting, name the ‘Vṛtra’ (a fear, habit, doubt). Chant 9 or 27 times, then sit 3 minutes in silent attention at the brow, feeling a forward-moving clarity.
Not fully derivable from provided text; chant with general Rigvedic udātta prominence on marked syllables and gentle svarita falls on enclitics.
Lift slightly on accented syllables (udātta), soften following syllable (anudātta), allow a light glide on svarita; keep pāda breaks clear.
vṛtrahā: pronounce ‘vṛ-tra-hā’ with ṛ as short vocalic r, carṣaṇīnāṃ: ‘car-ṣa-ṇī-nām’ (retroflex ṣ), adhri-guḥ: keep dh as aspirated; guḥ with visarga-like ending per recitation tradition
Firm, resonant, ‘heroic’ chest voice with clear consonants.
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