Rig Veda 3.39.9: Mandala 3, Sukta 39, Mantra 9
Sukta 3.39
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥
śunáṁ huvema maghávānam índram asmín bháre nṛ́-tamaṁ vā́ja-sātau | śṛṇvántam ugrám ūtáye samátsu ghnántam vṛtrā́ṇi saṁ-jítaṁ dhánānām ||
କଲ୍ୟାଣାର୍ଥେ ଆମେ ଏହି ସମର-ଭାରରେ, ବାଜସାତୌରେ ସର୍ବାଧିକ ପୁରୁଷାର୍ଥବାନ ଦାନବୀର ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କୁ ଆହ୍ୱାନ କରୁଛୁ। ସମରମାନେ ସହାୟତା ପାଇଁ ଉଗ୍ର ହୋଇ, ଆମକୁ ଶୁଣୁଥିବା, ବୃତ୍ରମାନେ (ଅବରୋଧକ)କୁ ହନନ କରୁଥିବା, ଧନମାନଙ୍କର ସଂଜିତ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଆମେ ପୁକାରୁଛୁ।
Word by Word
- शुनम्
- auspiciously, wellIndeclinableअव्यय (अविकारी)Role Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)Root शुनम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक; ‘शुभ/कल्याण’ अर्थे)
- हुवेम
- may we invoke/callVerbलोट्/विधिलिङ्-प्राय (वेदिक इच्छार्थ/आशीर्लिङ्-भाव), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root √हू (ह्वे) ‘आह्वाने’
- मघवानम्
- Maghavan (the bountiful one)Noun (proper epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (आह्वानस्य कर्म)Root मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (आह्वानस्य कर्म; मघवानम् इन्द्रम् = apposition)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मिन्
- in thisPronounपुं/नपुं, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- भरे
- in the battle/contestNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot भर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘संघर्ष/युद्ध/प्रयत्न’ अर्थे)
- नृतमम्
- the most manly/most heroicAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (तमप्-प्रत्ययेन अतिशय)Role Karma (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root नृतम (प्रातिपदिक; नृ-तम = ‘मनुष्येषु श्रेष्ठ’)
- वाजसातौ
- in the winning of the prizeNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot वाजसाति (प्रातिपदिक; वाज- ‘प्राइज/बल’ + साति ‘प्राप्ति/विजय’)
- शृण्वन्तम्
- listeningParticipleवर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root √श्रु ‘श्रवणे’ → शृण्वत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- उग्रम्
- fierce, mightyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊतये
- for help/aidNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole Sampradāna (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजन)Root ऊति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सहायता/रक्षा’)
- समत्सु
- in battlesNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot समत्सु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सम्+अत्सु’ युद्धेषु—वेदिक बहुवचन-स्थानीय)
- घ्नन्तम्
- slayingParticipleवर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root √हन् ‘हिंसागत्योः’ → घ्नत्/घ्नन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- वृत्राणि
- Vṛtras/obstaclesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole Karma (घ्नन्तम्—हननस्य कर्म)Root वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक; ‘आवरणकर्ता/वृत्र-दानव’)
- संजितम्
- victorious, having conqueredParticiple/Adjectiveभूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root सम्+√जि ‘जय’ → संजित (भूतकृदन्त)
- धनानाम्
- of riches/treasuresNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः; संजितं धनानाम्)Root धन (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्य): शुनम् | हुवेम | मघवानम् | इन्द्रम् | अस्मिन् | भरे | नृतमम् | वाजसातौ || शृण्वन्तम् | उग्रम् | ऊतये | समत्सु | घ्नन्तम् | वृत्राणि | संजितम् | धनानाम् । मुख्य संधि-स्थलाः: (1) अस्मिन् + भरे → अस्मिन्भरे (न् + भ = न्भ)
- (2) उग्रम् + ऊतये → उग्रमूतये (म् + ऊ = मूतये; अनुस्वार/मकार-संधि)
- (3) समत्सु + घ्नन्तम् → समत्सु घ्नन्तम् (पदसंयोगः; संधि न आवश्यक)
The meaning
Outer meaning
For well-being we call Indra the bountiful in this struggle, the most manly in winning of prizes; hearing us, fierce for our help in battles, slaying the obstructers, conquering the riches.
Inner meaning
In the inner ‘bearing’ (bhara)—the carrying of the evolutionary struggle—one invokes Indra as Maghavān, the giver of true riches. He is nṛtama, the most capable power of courageous consciousness, in vājasātau: the winning of plenitude (vāja) that is light, force, joy. The prayer asks Indra to hear the aspiration and to become uগ্র (fierce) for aid in inner battles, slaying vṛtrāṇi: the multiple coverers/obstructions in mind and life. The ‘riches’ (dhanāni) are the released treasures—illumination, wideness, delight, right power—once the cover is broken.
Universal truth
Human growth is a battle of consciousness. When the higher Intelligence responds to sincere call, it breaks recurring obstructions and restores the true wealth of the spirit.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying, victory prayer, winning vāja, Indra as helper
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Kauśika (traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.39, RV 3.40, RV 3.26, RV 3.32
Family tradition
Indra-centered battle hymns where the human aspirant is a warrior of consciousness; strong emphasis on hearing (śṛṇvantam) and response of the divine power to the call.
Significance
The rishi presents spiritual life as a disciplined combat: invoke the illumined Mind-force, persist in the struggle, and the treasures of the soul are won.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Maghavān (bountiful), Nṛtama (most heroic), Ugra (fierce), Vṛtrahan (implicit: slayer of Vṛtra)
- Related deities
- Maruts (battle-companions), Bṛhaspati (breaker of the cave), Soma (strengthening delight)
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstructions; liberator of the waters/lights; giver of plenitude.
Inner power
The awakened, forceful intelligence that hears aspiration and acts decisively to remove inner resistances, restoring true wealth of being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra stotra in Soma rites; also used in contexts of victory/overcoming obstacles
शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥
शु॒नम् । हु॒वे॒म॒ । म॒घवा॑नम् । इन्द्र॑म् । अ॒स्मिन् । भरे॑ । नृऽत॑मम् । वाज॑ऽसातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑म् । उ॒ग्रम् । ऊ॒तये॑ । स॒मत्ऽसु॑ । घ्नन्त॑म् । वृ॒त्राणि॑ । स॒म्ऽजित॑म् । धना॑नाम् ॥
śunam | huvema | maghavānam | indram | asmin | bhare | nṛ-tamam | vāja-sātau | śṛṇvantam | ugram | ūtaye | samat-su | ghnantam | vṛtrāṇi | sam-jitam | dhanānām
44
4×11
Martial and propulsive; strong stress points suit battle imagery and invocation.
Energizes will and courage; evokes a sense of inner rallying and decisive breakthrough.
- śunám
- Literal: well-being, auspiciously. Symbolic: state of inner harmony and right fortune in consciousness
- bhára
- Literal: bearing, struggle, contest. Symbolic: the ongoing inner conflict of ascent; carrying the load of transformation
- nṛtama
- Literal: most manly, most heroic. Symbolic: supreme courage and mastery of the illumined mind-force
- vājasātí
- Literal: winning of vāja (prize/strength). Symbolic: attainment of plenitude—luminous force and fulfilled energy
- ugrá
- Literal: fierce, powerful. Symbolic: decisive force against resistance; uncompromising clarity
- vṛtrāṇi
- Literal: Vṛtras/obstructers. Symbolic: covering movements: doubt, fear, inertia, falsehood, subconscient resistance
- dhanāni
- Literal: riches, treasures. Symbolic: spiritual felicities: knowledge, power, joy, wideness released after obstruction falls
Battle-invocation within Soma praise: calls Indra as helper in contests (samatsu) and slayer of vṛtras; suitable for moments seeking victory, protection, and the winning of vāja.
During competitive/agonistic portions of ritual praise; symbolically at moments of seeking ‘victory’ and release.
Recite as invocation before offering; call-and-response style possible in group chant.
Use as a mantra for inner strength during anxiety, addiction patterns, or recurring negative thought-loops—name the obstruction and call Indra to ‘slay’ it.
vṛtra from √vṛ ‘to cover, obstruct’: psychological ‘covering’ of consciousness. vāja from √vaj/√vāj (strength/impetus; etymology debated) is taken as plenitude of force—hence vājasāti as attainment of energetic fullness. ūti from √av: aid as protective increase of being.
inner battle (bhara, samatsu), vṛtra as ignorance-covering, vāja as plenitude of force
Indra’s victory restores Ṛta by removing the cover that distorts right order.
True riches (dhanāni) are forms of Satya—truth-power and truth-joy.
Release of hidden treasures from the ‘cave’ of obstruction (Vṛtra motif).
Yoga of heroic transformation: the divine Mind-force conquers subconscient resistance.
Storm=inner upheaval; thunderbolt=decisive illumination; released waters=stream of joy and life-energy freed from blockage.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Vṛtra-slaying pattern: Indra as the fierce helper in battles who destroys obstructing coverings and thereby wins ‘riches’—read inwardly as recovered powers, light, and fulfilled being.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √han ‘slay’ continues PIE *gʷhen- ‘strike/kill’ (cf. Greek phónos ‘slaughter’ via related developments; also Sanskrit ghn-). The inherited heroic diction frames inner conflict as archetypal combat.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi calls Indra into the immediacy of the struggle (‘in this bhara’) and expects active intervention: hearing, aiding, striking down obstruction, and delivering the treasures. The reciprocity is urgent and practical—mantra as call, Indra as victorious response.
Call the higher Mind-force to act on a specific obstruction; feel the ‘vajra’ of clarity descending.
Maṇipūra (will/force) with Ājñā (commanding clarity)
Kapalabhati (gentle, if appropriate) or strong exhale-focused breathing to mobilize energy; then settle into stillness.
From conflicted struggle to victorious clarity and empowered calm.
Before chanting, identify one ‘vṛtra’ (habit pattern). Chant with upright spine; on ‘ghnantaṃ vṛtrāṇi’ visualize the knot breaking; end resting in gratitude for ‘dhanānām’—the returned inner wealth.
Use correct Vedic accents; keep invocatory rise on ‘índram’ and forceful contour on ‘ugrám’/‘vṛtrāṇi’.
Maintain strong pāda cadence; slight pause after ‘vājasātau’ and after ‘samatsu’ to mark the battle-turn.
śunam: ś as palatal ‘sh’, maghavānam: gh voiced aspirate, nṛtamaṃ: vocalic ṛ; retroflex ṭ not present—keep dental t, saṃjitam: anusvāra before j as ‘ñj’ feel
firm, resonant, martial; avoid shouting—let pitch and clarity carry force.
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.
