Rig Veda 10.49.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 49, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.49
- Rishi
- Indra
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
मां धुरिन्द्रं नाम देवता दिवश्च ग्मश्चापां च जन्तवः । अहं हरी वृषणा विव्रता रघू अहं वज्रं शवसे धृष्ण्वा ददे ॥
mā́ṃ dhur índraṃ nā́ma devátā diváś ca gmáś cā́pāṃ ca jantávaḥ | aháṃ harī́ vṛ́ṣaṇā vivrátā raghū́ aháṃ vájraṃ śávase dhṛṣṇv ā́ dade ||
ଦେବତାମାନେ ମୋତେ ‘ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର’ ନାମରେ ସ୍ଥାପିଲେ—ଦିବର, ପୃଥିବୀର ଓ ଅପାଂ (ଜଳମାନଙ୍କ)ର, ଏବଂ ସମସ୍ତ ଜନ୍ତୁ। ମୁଁ ଦୁଇ ହରି (ପୀତବର୍ଣ୍ଣ) ଅଶ୍ୱକୁ ଯୋଗାଏ—ଦୁଇ ବୃଷଣ, ମୁକ୍ତଗତି ଓ ଶୀଘ୍ରଚାଳୀ; ଧୃଷ୍ଣୁ ସାହସର ବଳ ପାଇଁ ମୁଁ ବଜ୍ର ଧାରଣ କରେ।
Word by Word
- माम्
- mePronounद्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- धुरि
- on the yoke / at the pole (of the chariot)Nounसप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot धुरि (प्रातिपदिक; धुर्/धुरा ‘योक्/धुरी, रथ-धुरी’)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounद्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- नाम
- by name / as (called)Nounद्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अव्ययीभाववत् ‘नाम’ = ‘by name/as’)Role कर्मRoot नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवता
- the deityNounप्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole कर्ताRoot देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
- दिवः
- of heaven / of the skyNounषष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root दिव्/द्यौः (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चय-अव्ययRoot च
- ग्मः
- of the earth / of the worldNounषष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (वैदिक प्रयोग)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root ग्म (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ग्म’ = ‘earth/region’, वैदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चय-अव्ययRoot च
- अपाम्
- of the watersNounषष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चय-अव्ययRoot च
- जन्तवः
- creatures / living beingsNounप्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole कर्ताRoot जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अहम्
- IPronounप्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- हरी
- the two bay steedsNounद्वितीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole कर्मRoot हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषणा
- the two mighty/virile onesAdjective (substantival)द्वितीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (हरी इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- विव्रता
- of wide-ranging ordinances / with far-spread powersAdjectiveद्वितीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (हरी इति विशेषणम्; वैदिक रूप)Role कर्मRoot वि-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘व्रत’ = नियम/व्रत, ‘वि-’ = विशेष/विभिन्न)
- रघू
- the two swift onesAdjectiveद्वितीया विभक्ति, द्विवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (हरी इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot रघु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अहम्
- IPronounप्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वज्रम्
- the thunderboltNounद्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole कर्मRoot वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- शवसे
- for strength / for mightNounचतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole सम्प्रदानRoot शवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- धृष्ण्वा
- boldly / having daredGerund (Absolutive)क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (वैदिक रूप -ण्वा), अव्यय; ‘having dared/boldly’Root धृष् (धातु; ‘to dare, be bold’)
- ददे
- I gave / I have givenVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole कर्ताRoot दा (धातु; ‘to give’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): माम् | धुरि | इन्द्रम् | नाम | देवता | दिवः | च | ग्मः | च | अपाम् | च | जन्तवः || अहम् | हरी | वृषणा | विव्रता | रघू | अहम् | वज्रम् | शवसे | धृष्ण्वा | ददे || 1) धुरिन्द्रम् = धुरि + इन्द्रम् (इ + इ → इ; संहितायां ‘धुरि’ + ‘इन्द्रम्’ इति संयोगः). 2) दिवश्च = दिवः + च (विसर्गः + च → श्च). 3) ग्मश्चापाम् = ग्मः + च + अपाम् (विसर्गः + च → श्च; ततः श्च + अ… संयोगः). 4) च जन्तवः: इति पदान्त-विरामः
- उच्चारणे दीर्घ/प्लुत-प्रभाव सम्भवः. 5) धृष्ण्वा वैदिक-क्त्वा-रूपम् (धृष् + त्वा → धृष्ण्वा)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The gods set me by name as ‘Indra’—those of heaven, earth, and waters, the beings. I yoke the two tawny steeds, mighty and free-ranging, swift; I take up the thunderbolt for the force of daring.
Inner meaning
Indra is established by the totality of conscious principles—heaven (mind), earth (embodied stability), waters (life and dynamic flow). The ‘name’ indicates a defined function in the cosmic psychology: the illumining lord. The two tawny horses are the paired vital energies (often read as prāṇa/apāna or dynamic forces of action) harnessed to the divine purpose—free-ranging yet disciplined. The vajra is the concentrated power of decisive discrimination that shatters obstruction; it is taken up ‘for daring force’—the courage to break through inertia and falsehood.
Universal truth
Spiritual mastery is not arbitrary; it is sanctioned by the whole of reality when one aligns mind, life, and body. Then energies become yoked to purpose, and decisive clarity becomes the instrument that breaks limitations.
Themes
Indra’s cosmic installation, Vajra symbolism, Dynamic energies (haris)
The seer
- Rishi
- Indra (self-proclaiming voice)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.49.2, Rig Veda 10.48.9-11
Family tradition
Indra-ātmastuti: self-definition through cosmic endorsement and instruments (horses/vajra).
Significance
Maps Indra’s yogic mechanics: establishment by the three worlds, harnessing of energies, and use of the vajra of discrimination.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Vajrin (thunderbolt-bearer), Hariyukta (yoked with tawny steeds), Śatakratu (many-powered, implied by cosmic establishment)
- Related deities
- Agni (will/fire that prepares action), Soma (delight that empowers Indra), Maruts (storm-energies that accompany Indra)
Cosmic role
Lord of illumination who coordinates the three worlds and breaks obstruction with vajra.
Inner power
Mastery of energies (horses) and decisive insight (vajra) applied with courageous will.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation in Soma rites (general)
मां धु॒रिन्द्रं॒ नाम॑ दे॒वता॑ दि॒वश्च॒ ग्मश्चा॒पां च॑ ज॒न्तव॑: । अ॒हं हरी॒ वृष॑णा॒ विव्र॑ता र॒घू अ॒हं वज्रं॒ शव॑से धृ॒ष्ण्वा द॑दे ॥
माम् । धुः॒ । इन्द्र॑म् । नाम॑ । दे॒वता॑ । दि॒वः । च॒ । ग्मः । च॒ । अ॒पाम् । च॒ । ज॒न्तवः॑ । अ॒हम् । हरी॒ इति॑ । वृष॑णा । विऽव्र॑ता । र॒घू इति॑ । अ॒हम् । वज्र॑म् । शव॑से । धृ॒ष्णु । आ । द॒दे॒ ॥
mām | dhuḥ | indram | nāma | devatā | divaḥ | ca | gmaḥ | ca | apām | ca | jantavaḥ | aham | harī iti | vṛṣaṇā | vi-vratā | raghū iti | aham | vajram | śavase | dhṛṣṇu | ā | dade
44
4 × ~11; strong kinetic imagery fits triṣṭubh’s heroic gait.
Energetic and martial; quickened by compact lists (divaś ca gmaś cāpāṃ ca).
Mobilizes prāṇic energy; instills boldness and decisiveness.
- धुः (dhuḥ)
- Literal: they placed, they set. Symbolic: cosmic sanction/establishment of a function in consciousness
- दिवः (divaḥ)
- Literal: of heaven. Symbolic: higher mind, luminous thought
- ग्मः (gmaḥ)
- Literal: of earth. Symbolic: embodied foundation, stability, practical life
- अपाम् (apām)
- Literal: of the waters. Symbolic: life-force, flow of vitality and feeling
- जन्तवः (jantavaḥ)
- Literal: beings. Symbolic: all active powers in the field of existence
- हरी (harī)
- Literal: two tawny steeds. Symbolic: paired vital energies/forces of action harnessed to the divine will
- वृषणा (vṛṣaṇā)
- Literal: two mighty ones. Symbolic: strong dynamic powers capable of effective execution
- विव्रता (vivratā)
- Literal: free-ranging, unconfined. Symbolic: energies released from narrow habit, capable of wide movement
- रघू (raghū)
- Literal: swift. Symbolic: quick responsiveness of the life-force to the illumined mind
- वज्र (vajra)
- Literal: thunderbolt. Symbolic: decisive discriminative power; concentrated will of illumination
- धृष्णु (dhṛṣṇu)
- Literal: daring, bold. Symbolic: courage to break the coverer; fearless spiritual effort
Invocation of Indra’s vajra and haris in Soma ritual; supports courageous action and overcoming of obstruction
When calling Indra to the offering and affirming his powers; also suitable for victory/strength intentions.
Naming and enthroning Indra; symbolic ‘yoking’ and ‘taking up’ as ritual empowerment.
Before demanding tasks: chant to align mind-body-life, harness energy, and cut through hesitation with clear decision.
dhur from √dhā ‘place/set’ (PIE *dʰeh₁- ‘put, set’). vajra: ‘thunderbolt’ (etymology debated; often linked to √vaj/√vṛj semantic field ‘strength’). dhṛṣṇu from √dhṛṣ ‘be bold, attack’ (PIE *dʰers- ‘dare’; cf. Greek thársos ‘courage’). harī dual of hari- ‘tawny’; as Indra’s steeds symbolic of kinetic powers.
naming as establishment of cosmic function, triple world integration (dyu-gmā-ap), daring force (dhṛṣ) in right action
Indra’s role is legitimate across heaven-earth-waters: right order requires integrated functioning of all planes.
‘Indra’ as name indicates truth of function—illumination that rules energies.
Formation of divine function through the consent of all planes; instruments (horses/vajra) as created means.
Vedic psychology of the three worlds; proto-yogic prāṇa mastery and buddhi-like discrimination.
Heaven=thought; earth=body; waters=life; horses=energies; vajra=decisive clarity.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra’s enthronement by the totality of powers across the three worlds, followed by the arming/yoking motif: the god takes up vajra and harnesses the Haris. Mythically it is the installation of victorious consciousness equipped with swift energies and decisive force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhā ‘set, place’ is a clear PIE inheritance (*dʰeh₁-). √dhṛṣ ‘dare’ aligns with PIE *dʰers- (Greek thársos). The triadic cosmology (heaven-earth-waters) is a recurrent Indo-European structuring of the world.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi voices Indra’s self-knowledge as a cosmic function: the god is ‘named’ and ‘placed’ by other divine powers, implying the seeker’s Indra-force must be aligned with the whole order (not egoic). The taking up of vajra becomes the inner adoption of discriminating courage.
Align the three worlds within (mind-body-life), yoke the energies, and wield discriminative clarity against inertia.
maṇipūra (command of energy) and ājñā (vajra-like discernment).
Bhastrikā-light (gentle) for 30–60 seconds, then chant once or thrice; finish with stillness to feel the ‘vajra’ clarity.
Alert, courageous, decisive, energetically aligned.
Feel two currents of energy as ‘horses’—one upward aspiring, one outward acting—bring them under a single intention. Then visualize a clear ‘thunderbolt’ decision cutting through the main obstruction.
Tri-svara; the repeated ‘ca’ chain benefits from even, metronomic delivery; lift slightly on indram nāma and vajram śavase. Exact accents require Śākala svara reference.
Keep the first pāda as a single breath if possible; avoid breaking the tri-world list midstream.
Maintain dental ‘d’ in dhur (not retroflex)., Articulate harī as two syllables ha-rī with long ī., In dhṛṣṇv ā dade: keep ṛ vowel clear; do not drop the v glide in dhṛṣṇv.
Heroic, ringing, forward; controlled intensity.
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.
