Rig Veda 4.17.4: Mandala 4, Sukta 17, Mantra 4
Sukta 4.17
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
सुवीरस्ते जनिता मन्यत द्यौरिन्द्रस्य कर्ता स्वपस्तमो भूत् । य ईं जजान स्वर्यं सुवज्रमनपच्युतं सदसो न भूम ॥
suvī́ras te janitā́ manyata dyáur índrasya kartā́ svápastamo bhūt | yá īṃ jajā́na svaryáṃ suvájram anapacyútam sádašo ná bhū́ma ||
Samo Niebo uznało twojego stwórcę za twórcę najdoskonalszego dzieła dla Indry, albowiem zrodził dla niego zdobywającego niebiosa, dobry piorun, niewzruszony, rozległy jak tron potęgi.
Word by Word
- सु-वीरः
- having good heroes; very heroicAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विधेय-विशेषणः) / समनाधिकरणम्Root वीर (प्रातिपदिक) / उपसर्ग सु-
- ते
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जनिता
- begetter; progenitorNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot √जन् (जनि) → जनितृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- मन्यत
- thought; deemedVerbलङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √मन् (मन्यते)
- द्यौः
- Heaven (Sky)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रस्य
- of IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- कर्ता
- maker; doerNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (समनाधिकरणम् द्यौः/जनिता इत्यादिभिः)Root √कृ → कर्तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- सु-अपः-तमः
- most skillful in work; best in deedsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विधेय-विशेषणः) / समनाधिकरणम्Root अपस् (प्रातिपदिक) / उपसर्ग सु-; तमप् (superlative)
- भूत्
- becameVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √भू
- यः
- whoRelative pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ईम्
- indeed; him (emphatic particle in RV usage)Indeclinableअव्ययRole (particle; emphasis) / कर्म-सम्बन्धे सर्वनाम-प्रत्ययस्य सहचरःRoot ईम् (निपात/अव्यय)
- जजान
- has begotten; generatedVerbलिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, 3 एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √जन्
- स्वर्यम्
- solar; radiantAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (विशेषणम्) सह सु-वज्रम्Root स्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sunny/solar, belonging to svàr’)
- सु-वज्रम्
- the good thunderboltNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) / उपसर्ग सु-
- अनपच्युतम्
- unfailing; not slipping awayAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (सु-वज्रम् इति कर्मणः विशेषणम्)Role Karma (विशेषणम्)Root अप-√च्युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, past passive participle) + न- (neg.)
- सदसः
- of the assembly; of the seatNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root सदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like; asIndeclinableअव्ययRole (simile marker)Root न (उपमा-निपात)
- भूम
- ground; foundation; baseNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (RV form: भूम = भूमन्)Role Adhikaraṇa/प्रमाण-उपमा (उपमान-शब्दः; ‘as the ground/foundation’)Root भूमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-style): सु॒वीर॑स्ते → सु-वीरः + ते
- जनि॒ता म॑न्यत → जनिता + मन्यत
- द्यौरिन्द्र॑स्य → द्यौः + इन्द्रस्य
- क॒र्ता स्वप॑स्तमो → कर्ता + सु-अपः-तमः (स्वपस् = सुवपस्/सुअपस् ‘good work’, with superlative -तम)
- य ईं॑ → यः + ईम्
- ज॒जान॑ → जजान
- स्व॒र्यं॑ सु॒वज्र॒मन॑पच्युतं → स्वर्यम् + सु-वज्रम् + अनपच्युतम्
- सद॑सो॒ न भूम॑ → सदसः + न + भूम (भूम = भूमन्, RV nominative sg.). Accents are retained from the Saṃhitā text
- analysis is morphological, not a full accent derivation
The meaning
Outer meaning
Heaven thought your begetter a maker of the most perfect work for Indra, because he produced for him a heaven-winning, good thunderbolt, unshaken, vast like a seat.
Inner meaning
The hymn turns to the origin of Indra’s effective instrument: the vajra is ‘made’—a perfected formation of power—by the begetter (janitā), and even the higher mind (dyauḥ) recognizes the excellence of this work (svapastama). Psychologically, the ‘vajra’ is the shaped capacity of decisive truth-force in us; it is forged by the originating divine Will/Consciousness that births the illumined mind’s action. ‘Svarya’ (heaven-winning) indicates that this instrument conquers higher light, not merely lower gains. ‘Anapacyuta’ (unshaken) points to steadfast discrimination that does not fall back into doubt; ‘sadaso na bhūma’ suggests a vast inner seat—stable foundation—on which this power can stand and operate.
Universal truth
Effective spiritual action depends on a well-formed inner instrument: steadfast discernment and power shaped by a deeper origin, capable of winning higher consciousness and remaining stable under pressure.
Themes
divine craftsmanship, origin of Indra’s vajra, heaven-winning power
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.16.21 (new brahman formed by dhī—formation theme), RV 4.17.3 (vajra used to split and reveal)
Family tradition
Vāmadeva often links Indra’s victory to the right formation of instruments (vajra, chariot, horses) as inner faculties shaped by higher powers.
Significance
This verse highlights that illumination requires a stable, well-fashioned instrument of action—truth-force that is both powerful and unwavering.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- svarya (heaven-winning), vajrin (thunderbolt-bearing), harivaḥ
- Related deities
- Tvaṣṭṛ (traditional maker of vajra in later mythic development), Bṛhaspati, Soma
Cosmic role
Wins the luminous world (svar) and secures it for the gods; acts through the vajra as instrument of victory.
Inner power
Unshakable discernment and effective force grounded in a stable inner seat (sadas).
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise within Soma rites; verses about the vajra’s excellence support invocations for steadfast victory and protection.
सु॒वीर॑स्ते जनि॒ता म॑न्यत॒ द्यौरिन्द्र॑स्य क॒र्ता स्वप॑स्तमो भूत् । य ईं॑ ज॒जान॑ स्व॒र्यं॑ सु॒वज्र॒मन॑पच्युतं॒ सद॑सो॒ न भूम॑ ॥
सु॒ऽवीरः॑ । ते॒ । ज॒नि॒ता । म॒न्य॒त॒ । द्यौः । इन्द्र॑स्य । क॒र्ता । स्वपः॑ऽतमः । भू॒त् । यः । ई॒म् । ज॒जान॑ । स्व॒र्य॑म् । सु॒ऽवज्र॑म् । अन॑पऽच्युतम् । सद॑सः । न । भूम॑ ॥
su-vīraḥ | te | janitā | manyata | dyauḥ | indrasya | kartā | svapaḥ-tamaḥ | bhūt | yaḥ | īm | jajāna | svaryam | su-vajram | anapa-cyutam | sadasaḥ | na | bhūma
44
4×11 (approx.)
More stately and ‘crafted’ than the rushing action verses; emphasizes formation, firmness, and vastness.
Stabilizing; instills confidence in a firm inner foundation and a well-shaped power of discernment.
- जनिता (janitā)
- Literal: begetter, progenitor. Symbolic: originating divine source; the deeper consciousness that births effective power
- द्यौः (dyauḥ)
- Literal: heaven. Symbolic: higher mind-plane that witnesses and approves true formation
- स्वपस्तमः (svapastamaḥ)
- Literal: most perfect in work. Symbolic: highest skill of consciousness in forming a truth-instrument
- स्वर्य (svarya)
- Literal: heaven-winning. Symbolic: power that wins the supramental/lightful state (svar) in us
- सुवज्र (suvajra)
- Literal: good/excellent thunderbolt. Symbolic: well-shaped discernment-force; precise, beneficent power
- अनपच्युत (anapacyuta)
- Literal: not fallen, unshaken. Symbolic: steadfastness; non-regression in clarity
- सदस् (sadas)
- Literal: seat, assembly, place of power. Symbolic: stable inner base/poise where the divine powers sit and act
Soma praise of Indra’s divine equipment (vajra) as a consecrated power; supports invocatory recitation in Soma offerings to Indra.
When emphasizing Indra’s instrument and assured triumph; can accompany offerings seeking stability and protection.
Recitation as stuti; mental offering of one’s faculties to be ‘well-made’ for divine use.
Use when cultivating steadiness: before important commitments, ethical decisions, or long-term discipline; a mantra for ‘unshakable clarity’.
√jan ‘beget’ (janitā, jajāna) frames the ‘generation’ of Indra’s instrument as a cosmogonic/psychogonic event; svapas ‘good work’ (su + √ap/√āp ‘to work/attain’, Vedic svapas = effective craftsmanship) suggests a formed capacity in consciousness; svar from √svar/√sur ‘shine’ → luminous world; anapacyuta (na + apa + √cyu ‘to fall away’) → unfailing stability of the vajra (steady will).
svar (luminous world), divine formation of capacity (svapas), steadfast power (anapacyuta)
A well-formed vajra ensures right action (ṛta) by cutting falsehood and restoring correct movement.
Anapacyuta = truth that does not slip; svarya = truth that wins higher light.
Formation (kriyā) as creation principle: powers are ‘made’ by higher consciousness into effective instruments.
Integral view: spiritual evolution depends on formation of stable faculties capable of holding higher light.
Heaven = higher mind; vajra = lightning-like discrimination; seat = inner poise and stable foundation for action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The forging/begetting of Indra’s vajra as a primordial enabling act: the weapon is ‘born’ as a stable, heaven-winning power. Psychologically, it is the formation in the seeker of an unfailing luminous will capable of winning ‘svar’ (the truth-light plane).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √jan (beget) continues PIE *ǵenh₁- ‘to beget’ (cf. Latin gignō, English ‘kin’); dyauḥ corresponds to PIE *dyēws ‘sky, bright heaven’ (cf. Zeus, Jupiter). The verse thus embeds an inherited Indo-European ‘bright sky’ theology while applying it to Indra’s functional power.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer recognizes Indra’s power as not merely episodic but ontologically grounded: Heaven itself witnesses the divine formation of Indra’s instrument. The hymn thus builds trust (śraddhā-like assurance) that Indra’s action in the aspirant is supported by stable, supra-mental workmanship (svapas).
Forge ‘suvajra’ in oneself: steady discernment that is benevolent, precise, and unshaken; establish an inner seat (sadas) of calm authority.
Quiet power: stable clarity with readiness for decisive action when needed.
Chant with emphasis on ‘anapacyutam’ and feel a firm axis through the spine. After chanting, sit and locate an inner ‘seat’ behind the heart or between the brows—rest there, letting thoughts be judged by the vajra of truth without agitation.
Rigvedic svara; give measured udātta emphasis on ‘svaryaṃ’, ‘suvajram’, ‘anapacyutam’ to mark the qualities of the instrument.
Let the verse be stately; avoid rushing. Keep compound clarity: ‘svaryaṃ suvajram anapacyutam’.
‘suvīras’ with long ī, ‘svapastamo’ articulate as sva-pas-ta-mo (not ‘svapastmo’), ‘svaryaṃ’ keep palatal y clear, ‘anapacyutaṃ’ = a-na-pa-cyu-taṃ (cyu as a single cluster)
Deep, steady, dignified; slightly softened edges to convey stability.
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