Rig Veda 7.21.4: Mandala 7, Sukta 21, Mantra 4
Sukta 7.21
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Raudra (fury) and Vira (heroism)
भीमो विवेषायुधेभिरेषामपांसि विश्वा नर्याणि विद्वान् । इन्द्रः पुरो जर्हृषाणो वि दूधोद्वि वज्रहस्तो महिना जघान ॥
bhīmó viveṣā́yudhebhir eṣā́m apā́ṃsi víśvā naryā́ṇi vidvā́n | índraḥ púro jarhṛṣāṇó ví dū́dhot ví vájrahasto mahinā́ jaghāna ||
ਭਿਆਨਕ ਇੰਦਰ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਯੁਧਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਛਿੰਨ-ਭਿੰਨ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ—ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਭ ਨਰ੍ਯ (ਪੁਰਖੋਚਿਤ) ਕਰਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਣਨ ਵਾਲਾ। ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹਿਤ ਇੰਦਰ ਨੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪੁਰੋ (ਕਿਲ੍ਹੇ) ਚੂਰ-ਚੂਰ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੇ; ਵਜ੍ਰਹਸਤ ਨੇ ਮਹਿਮਾ ਨਾਲ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਧਰਤੀ ਤੇ ਪਟਕ ਦਿੱਤਾ।
Word by Word
- भीमः
- terrible, formidableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (इन्द्रः का विशेषण)Root भीम (प्रातिपदिक; √भी/भीष् ‘भय’ से)
- विवेष
- has entered / has pervadedVerbलिट् (परोक्स), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया; ‘प्रविष्ट/व्याप्त हुआ’)Root √विष्/वेश् (विवेष = परिपूर्ण/प्रवेश/आवेश अर्थे; परस्मै)
- आयुधेभिः
- with weaponsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
- एषाम्
- of these (their)Pronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (त्रिलिङ्ग-प्रयोग)Role Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)Root एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अपाम्सि
- deeds, worksNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot अपस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘कर्म/कार्य’)
- विश्वा
- allAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (अपाम्सि इति विशेष्येण सह)Role Karma (विशेषणरूपेण)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- नर्याणि
- manly, heroicAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (अपाम्सि इति विशेष्येण सह)Role Karma (विशेषणरूपेण)Root नर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘नर-सम्बन्धि/वीर्यवत्’)
- विद्वान्
- knowing, wiseParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विद्वस्-प्रातिपदिक)Role Kartā (इन्द्रः का विशेषण)Root √विद् ‘जान’ (कृदन्त: विद्वस्-)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरः
- in front, forthIndeclinableअव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (देश/क्रम-निर्देश: ‘अग्रे’)Root पुरस् (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्; ‘अग्रे/पूर्वम्’)
- जर्हृषाणः
- rejoicing greatly, exultingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमान/आत्मनेपद-भाव (हृष्यमाणः)Role Kartā (इन्द्रः का विशेषण; क्रियाविशेषणभाव)Root √हृष् ‘हर्ष’ (कृदन्त: जर्हृषाण-; तीव्र/पुनरुक्त-हर्ष सूचक)
- वि
- apart, asunder, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- दूधोत्
- he has milked out / drawn forthVerbलिट् (परोक्स), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole KriyāRoot √दुह् ‘दोह’ (लिट्/आर्ष-रूप: दूधोत्)
- वि
- apart, asunderIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वज्रहस्तः
- the one whose hand holds the vajraNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (इन्द्रः का विशेषण)Root वज्र-हस्त (समास: कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-प्राय; प्रातिपदिक)
- महिना
- by (his) mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot महि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘महत्त्व/बल’)
- जघान
- he has slain / struck downVerbलिट् (परोक्स), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole KriyāRoot √हन् ‘वध’ (जघान = परिपूर्ण-भूत)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): भीमो→भीमः
- विवेषायुधेभिः→विवेष + आयुधेभिः
- एषामपाम्सि→एषाम् + अपाम्सि
- विश्वा नर्याणि→विश्वा + नर्याणि
- इन्द्रः पुरो→इन्द्रः + पुरः
- जर्हृषाणो वि→जर्हृषाणः + वि
- दूधोद् वि→दूधोत् + वि
- वज्रहस्तो→वज्रहस्तः. (उदात्त/स्वरित चिह्न मूलपाठानुसार; पदरूपे प्रथमा-एकवचने विसर्ग-स्थापनम्।)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Terrible, he has driven them apart with weapons, knowing all their manly deeds. Indra, exulting, has shattered their strongholds; the thunderbolt-handed, by greatness, has struck them down.
Inner meaning
The ‘terrible’ (bhīma) aspect is not cruelty but uncompromising truth-force confronting entrenched falsehood. The ‘weapons’ are powers of discrimination, luminous will, and the vajra-like concentrated insight that splits obscurity. Indra ‘knowing all their manly deeds’ indicates he understands the full tactics of the hostile forces—habit-energies and vital impulses that mimic strength (naryāṇi) but serve ignorance. The ‘strongholds’ (puraḥ) are fortified formations in the subconscient and mind—fixed beliefs, compulsions, and defensive patterns. Indra’s exultation (jarhṛṣāṇa) is the joy of victorious liberation when these are shattered. By mahimā (greatness)—the wideness and superiority of the higher consciousness—he strikes down the obstructing formations so the being can re-enter right order and free movement.
Universal truth
Transformation requires an uncompromising power of truth and concentrated will that understands the mechanisms of resistance and breaks the fortified patterns of ignorance; victory brings a joyful liberation and a wider consciousness.
Themes
fortress-shattering, divine-violence-against-ignorance, heroic-victory, vajra-power
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 7.21.3, RV 7.19, RV 7.18
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s Indra hymns often culminate in the breaking of ‘puraḥ’—a symbolic demolition of inner fortresses that block the ṛta-flow.
Significance
The seer conveys the necessity of decisive inner battle: illumination must become a force that breaks entrenched formations, not merely a contemplative light.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Bhīma (formidable), Vajrahasta (thunderbolt-handed), Puraṃdara (fort-splitter, traditional epithet aligned with ‘puro… jaghāna’)
- Related deities
- Maruts (storm-powers), Agni (will-fire), Soma (delight that strengthens)
Cosmic role
Champion who defeats hostile powers, shatters forts, and restores the flow of waters and light.
Inner power
Concentrated, victorious intelligence-force that demolishes rigid patterns and establishes a wider, freer consciousness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-victory stotra within Soma rites; praise of fort-shattering before/with offerings
भी॒मो वि॑वे॒षायु॑धेभिरेषा॒मपां॑सि॒ विश्वा॒ नर्या॑णि वि॒द्वान् । इन्द्र॒: पुरो॒ जर्हृ॑षाणो॒ वि दू॑धो॒द्वि वज्र॑हस्तो महि॒ना ज॑घान ॥
भी॒मः । वि॒वे॒ष॒ । आयु॑धेभिः । ए॒षा॒म् । अपां॑सि । विश्वा॑ । नर्या॑णि । वि॒द्वान् । इन्द्रः॑ । पुरः॑ । जर्हृ॑षाणः । वि । दू॒धो॒त् । वि । वज्र॑ऽहस्तः । म॒हि॒ना । ज॒घा॒न॒ ॥
bhīmaḥ | viveṣa | āyudhebhiḥ | eṣām | apāṃsi | viśvā | naryāṇi | vidvān | indraḥ | puraḥ | jarhṛṣāṇaḥ | vi | dūdhot | vi | vajra-hastaḥ | mahinā | jaghāna
44
4 x ~11
Hammering, percussive cadence; repeated ‘vi’ (apart) gives a splitting rhythm matching the breaking of forts.
Energizes decisive will; evokes courage to confront entrenched habits; produces cathartic clarity.
- भीमः (bhīmaḥ)
- Literal: terrible, formidable. Symbolic: uncompromising truth-force; awe-inspiring power of illumination
- आयुधेभिः (āyudhebhiḥ)
- Literal: with weapons. Symbolic: discrimination, will, mantra-force, concentrated insight
- नर्याणि (naryāṇi)
- Literal: manly deeds. Symbolic: vital tactics/energies that imitate strength; forces of ambition, aggression, pride
- पुरः (puraḥ)
- Literal: forts/strongholds. Symbolic: fixed formations of ignorance; defended habits and subconscient structures
- वज्रहस्तः (vajrahastaḥ)
- Literal: thunderbolt-handed. Symbolic: mind-force wielding concentrated luminous power
- महिना (mahinā)
- Literal: by greatness. Symbolic: wideness/superiority of higher consciousness overcoming narrow formations
- जर्हृषाणः (jarhṛṣāṇaḥ)
- Literal: exulting, rejoicing. Symbolic: Ananda of victory in the inner battle
- जघान (jaghāna)
- Literal: has struck down. Symbolic: decisive removal of obstruction, not partial compromise
Martial praise of Indra’s victory; used to invoke force against inner/outer adversities and to ‘shatter forts’
When seeking Indra’s aid against enemies/obstacles; in sequences celebrating Vṛtra/fort victories
Recitation accompanying Soma offering; reinforcement of Indra’s victorious function
Chant as a ‘pattern-breaking’ mantra during addiction loops, procrastination, fear defenses—followed by one concrete action aligned with truth.
vajra ‘thunderbolt’ is Indra’s instrument of separation and illumination; √han (jaghāna) continues PIE *gʷhen- ‘strike, slay’ (cf. Eng. bane via Germanic, and Slavic cognates). pura ‘fort’ becomes inward ‘hardened formation’; vi- prefix repeatedly marks dispersion/separation, aligning with the psychological act of breaking fixed obscurations.
Victory of ṛta over fixed false formations (pura as obstruction), Conscious mastery (vidvān), Mahimā (expansive greatness)
Breaking forts removes anṛta-formations so the right order can govern mind and life.
Indra’s ‘knowing’ of deeds implies truth-seeing that precedes effective action.
Destruction of false formations as prerequisite for new creation and freer manifestation.
Vedic psychology of inner battle and liberation (Indra principle)
Vajra = concentrated insight; forts = hardened complexes; storm = catalytic upheaval that clears stagnation.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as ‘breaker of forts’ and slayer of hostile powers: the strongholds of darkness are shattered by vajra. Inwardly, these are rigid formations that imprison the flow of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √han ‘slay’ (jaghāna) corresponds to PIE *gʷhen- ‘strike/kill’. The repeated vi- ‘apart’ mirrors an Indo-European preference for preverbal particles to encode aspectual force (dispersal, rupture).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi magnifies Indra’s conscious mastery (vidvān) and asks implicitly for the same action in the human sphere: let Indra’s vajra break the inner forts so the seeker’s energies can move under ṛta.
Invoke the vajra-like concentrated will to shatter one entrenched formation; act from widened consciousness (mahinā).
maṇipūra (decisive will) and ājñā (vajra-discrimination)
Bhastrikā gentle 10–15 breaths (if appropriate), then slow breathing; chant on a strong exhale to embody ‘vi’ (splitting apart).
Dynamic, fearless, cathartically clear.
Name one ‘fort’ (a defended story/pattern). Chant once with full voice. Visualize the fort cracking under a bolt of light from the brow. Immediately choose a small truthful action to seal the victory.
Observe Vedic accents; emphasize the repeated ‘vi’ with clean articulation rather than extra pitch drama.
Deliver ‘bhīmo…’ with weight; sharpen on ‘vi dūdhot’ and ‘vi vajrahastaḥ’ to mirror splitting; end firmly on ‘jaghāna’.
: vi-ve-ṣa with retroflex ṣ., : jar-hṛ-ṣā-ṇo; keep hṛ as consonant cluster, not ‘hari’., : vajra-hastaḥ—clear jh aspiration and final visarga lightly.
Forceful, commanding, percussive; avoid shouting—keep a concentrated ‘vajra’ tone.
1
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.
