Rig Veda 6.24.1: Mandala 6, Sukta 24, Mantra 1
Sukta 6.24
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
वृषा मद इन्द्रे श्लोक उक्था सचा सोमेषु सुतपा ऋजीषी । अर्चत्र्यो मघवा नृभ्य उक्थैर्द्युक्षो राजा गिरामक्षितोतिः ॥
vṛ́ṣā máda índre ślóka ukthā́ sacā́ sómeṣu sutapā́ ṛjīṣī́ | arcatryò maghávā nṛ́bhya uktháir dyukṣó rājā girā́m akṣitótiḥ ||
Byk jest ekstazą w Indrze; z nią idą śpiew i wysoka mowa w wyciskanej Somie; on pije wyciśniętą rozkosz i jest silny w lśniącym napoju. Dawca pełni, przez hymny ludzi, ma być rozpalany w chwale - on, lśniący król słowa, którego pomoc się nie umniejsza.
Word by Word
- वृषा
- the Bull (mighty one)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृष् (वर्षणे/सेचने)
- मदः
- intoxication, exhilarationNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot मद (प्रातिपदिक) < √मद् (हर्षे/मत्ते)
- इन्द्रे
- in/with IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्लोकः
- hymn, praise-verseNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot श्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
- उक्था
- chants, recitationsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot उक्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
- सचा
- together withIndeclinableअव्ययRole (सह-सम्बन्ध) KaraṇaRoot सच (अव्यय/उपसर्गीय प्रयोग; ‘सह’)
- सोमेषु
- among/in the Soma (draughts/offerings)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुतपाः
- Soma-drinkerNoun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot सुतपा (प्रातिपदिक; सुत + पा ‘पीने वाला’)
- ऋजीषी
- (Indra) with the r̥jīṣa (chaff/pressing), r̥jīṣinNoun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot ऋजीषिन्/ऋजीषी (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्र-विशेषण)
- अर्चत्र्यः
- the praiser/singerNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अर्चत्रि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अर्चत्’ + ‘त्रि’/‘त्र्य’)
- मघवा
- the bountiful oneNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्र-विशेषण)
- नृभ्यः
- to/for menNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- उक्थैः
- with chants/recitationsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot उक्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्युक्शः
- the shining oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot द्युक्श (प्रातिपदिक; ‘द्युत्/द्यु’ + ‘क्ष’—shining)
- राजा
- kingNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- गिराम्
- of songs/utterancesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole (सम्बन्ध)Root गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अक्षितोतिः
- whose help is unfailingNoun (compound epithet)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अक्षित-ऊति (समास; अक्षिति ‘अक्षय’ + ऊति ‘सहायता/रक्षा’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolved): वृषा | मदः | इन्द्रे | श्लोकः | उक्था | सचा | सोमेषु | सुतपाः | ऋजीषी || अर्चत्र्यः | मघवा | नृभ्यः | उक्थैः | द्युक्शः | राजा | गिराम् | अक्षित-ऊतिः । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) अक्षितोतिः = अक्षित-ऊतिः (ऊ-आदि स्वर-सन्धि; समास/सन्धि-लेखन). (2) अन्यत्र पदपाठानुसार स्पष्ट पदविभाग
- ‘सचा’ अव्यय ‘सह’ अर्थे। उच्चारण-स्वर (उदात्त/स्वरित) मूलसंहितापाठानुसार।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The ecstasy (mada) in Indra is like a bull; with it are chant and hymn in pressed Soma; he drinks Soma and is strong. Maghavan is to be praised by men’s hymns—he is the luminous king of speech, whose help is undiminishing.
Inner meaning
Mada is not mere intoxication: it is the mighty, virile ecstasy of divine force—‘bull’ (vṛṣā) because it fertilizes and drives creation in consciousness. In that ecstasy, śloka and uktha—rhythmic chant and high inspired utterance—move together: when Soma (divine delight) is pressed in the being, the word becomes luminous and potent. Indra as sutapā ṛjīṣī ‘drinks the expressed’ and becomes strong in the shining draught: the illumined Mind is empowered by ananda clarified into straight, radiant energy (ṛjīṣa). Therefore he is arcatryaḥ—one who must be kindled by praise: through mantra, the human word lights the divine Word-power. Indra is dyukṣa rājā girām: the shining king of speech—master of inspired expression and discernment; his help is akṣitotiḥ, inexhaustible, because truth-light does not diminish by being given.
Universal truth
Joy and power belong together in spiritual life. When delight is purified into clarity, speech and thought become inspired instruments; a higher intelligence governs expression and action, giving unfailing support and renewing strength.
Themes
praise-power, Soma-ecstasy, Indra sovereignty, inner strength
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.24 (Indra hymn), RV 6.23 (Indra hymn), RV 6.47 (Indra-related)
Family tradition
Book 6 Bharadvāja hymns: fusion of Soma-ananda, Indra-force, and the power of the Word (gir/uktha) in spiritual realization.
Significance
This verse is a compact Aurobindonian key: Indra’s ecstasy (mada) empowers the Word; inspired speech is not ornament but a means to kindle the divine force and receive inexhaustible help.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- vṛṣā (bull), sutapā (Soma-drinker), ṛjīṣī (possessor of shining draught), maghavā (giver of plenitude), dyukṣa rājā girām (luminous king of speech), akṣitotiḥ (of undiminishing aid)
- Related deities
- Soma (ananda), Agni (will/leader of sacrifice), Sarasvatī/Vāc (word-power), Bṛhaspati (inspired intelligence)
Cosmic role
Channels the victorious force of illumination; upholds inspired speech and releases plenitude through right exhilaration.
Inner power
Ecstatic luminous mind-force that turns mantra into effective power, strengthening will and giving inexhaustible assistance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma praise within Soma rites; also suitable as a stotra-like verse celebrating Indra’s mada and the efficacy of uktha.
वृषा॒ मद॒ इन्द्रे॒ श्लोक॑ उ॒क्था सचा॒ सोमे॑षु सुत॒पा ऋ॑जी॒षी । अ॒र्च॒त्र्यो॑ म॒घवा॒ नृभ्य॑ उ॒क्थैर्द्यु॒क्षो राजा॑ गि॒रामक्षि॑तोतिः ॥
वृषा॑ । मदः॑ । इन्द्रे॑ । श्लोकः॑ । उ॒क्था । सचा॑ । सोमे॑षु । सु॒त॒ऽपाः । ऋ॒जी॒षी । अ॒र्च॒त्र्यः॑ । म॒घऽवा॑ । नृऽभ्यः॑ । उ॒क्थैः । द्यु॒क्षः । राजा॑ । गि॒राम् । अक्षि॑तऽऊतिः ॥
vṛṣā | madaḥ | indre | ślokaḥ | ukthā | sacā | someṣu | suta-pāḥ | ṛjīṣī | arcatryaḥ | magha-vā | nṛ-bhyaḥ | ukthaiḥ | dyukṣaḥ | rājā | girām | akṣita-ūtiḥ
44
4×11 (approx.)
Majestic and vigorous; balances ecstatic surge (mada) with regal steadiness (rājā).
Energizes the chest and breath; supports confident, resonant recitation—good for awakening inner strength and clarity of speech.
- vṛṣā
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: virile creative power; force that generates and drives transformation
- mada
- Literal: ecstasy, exhilaration. Symbolic: divine rapture-energy that empowers illumination and action
- śloka
- Literal: chant, song. Symbolic: rhythmic formation of consciousness; mantra as vibration
- uktha
- Literal: hymn, high utterance. Symbolic: inspired word that calls down and shapes the gods in us
- sutapā
- Literal: drinker of the pressed (Soma). Symbolic: higher mind nourished by distilled delight
- ṛjīṣī
- Literal: possessing ṛjīṣa (shining/straight Soma-draught). Symbolic: clarified, straight-going luminous energy in the being
- arcatryaḥ
- Literal: to be praised/kindled by hymns. Symbolic: divine force awakened by conscious aspiration and mantra
- dyukṣa rājā girām
- Literal: luminous king of words. Symbolic: sovereign illumined intelligence governing speech/thought
- akṣitotiḥ
- Literal: of undiminishing help. Symbolic: inexhaustible support of truth-consciousness
Indra praise at Soma; establishing Indra as sovereign of inspired speech and undiminishing helper
During or after Soma offering when praising Indra’s exhilaration and invoking his inexhaustible aid.
Stuti (praise) accompanying Soma libation; energizing the chant/uktha performance.
A mantra for practitioners who use voice (teaching, counseling, leadership): invoke ‘king of speech’ so words arise from illumined force rather than ego-reactivity.
vṛṣā ‘bull’ (root √vṛṣ ‘to rain/virile’—potency that ‘pours’ force); mada (√mad ‘be exhilarated, intoxicated’—inner intensification); śloka (√śru/√ślōk? RV usage: luminous chant; later ‘verse’); uktha (solemn hymn; from √vac/ukth- tradition of spoken offering); sutapā (suta ‘pressed’ + pā ‘drinker’); ūti ‘help’ from √av/√ūt semantic of aid; akṣita (a- + √kṣi/√kṣi ‘waste/diminish’ in this compound sense: ‘unspent’).
speech as offering (uktha, śloka), undiminishing aid (akṣitā ūti), divine sovereignty in consciousness (rājā girām)
Right vibration (śloka/uktha) joined to right delight (Soma) establishes ṛta in expression and action.
Undiminishing help (akṣitotiḥ) reflects truth’s inexhaustibility; speech aligned with satya gains power.
Vāc as formative power: the ‘king of words’ suggests creation through sound and inspired utterance.
Mantra-śakti oriented Vedism; integral yoga emphasis on speech as instrument of higher consciousness.
Bull = generative force; Soma = delight; shining draught = clarified life-energy; light = illumined mind governing speech.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the ‘bull of madá’—the archetype of overflowing victorious force awakened by Soma and articulated by sacred speech. The mythic image of virile potency is interiorized: ecstasy (madá) plus word (śloka/uktha) generates a sovereign, undiminishing aid in the human field.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mad (mada) is Indo-Iranian and reflects an old IE pattern of ‘exhilaration/intoxication’ (cf. Avestan mad-). ‘King’ rājā continues PIE *h₃rḗǵs (cf. Latin rēx). gīr ‘song/word’ relates to √gṛ ‘to sing/praise’ with IE parallels in poetic formulae of praise.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi presents speech as the means of kindling Indra: by uktha the human invokes the sovereign of the Word itself. Indra responds as akṣitōtiḥ—aid that does not diminish—indicating a stable, repeatable inner support once the right ecstasy and right utterance are joined.
Awaken ‘mada’ as pure spiritual enthusiasm; let mantra/voice arise from the heart-breath; invoke guidance for truthful speech.
Viśuddha (speech) supported by Maṇipūra (power) and Ājñā (illumination)
Bhrāmarī (gentle humming) 5–7 rounds, then chant the verse to feel resonance in throat and skull; keep breath deep and even.
Energized clarity—joyful strength without agitation.
Before speaking or writing, pause; recall the ‘undiminishing help’; speak only what widens and illumines (Indra’s kingship over words).
Rigvedic svaras; highlight udātta on ‘indra’, ‘vṛṣā’, ‘mada’, and ‘rājā’.
Let the first pāda surge (mada); keep the third pāda bright and praising; end with firm sustain on ‘akṣitotiḥ’.
vṛṣā: vocalic ṛ; retroflex ṣ; long ā, śloka: clear ś, ukthaiḥ: kh aspirated; diphthong aiḥ, dyukṣo: pronounce dyu-kṣo with clear kṣ cluster, akṣitotiḥ: kṣ cluster; long ī in -tīḥ
Full-chested, resonant, slightly heroic; avoid harshness—keep the ‘mada’ as luminous joy.
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