Rig Veda 8.33.9: Mandala 8, Sukta 33, Mantra 9
Sukta 8.33
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shringara (love)
य उग्रः सन्ननिष्टृतः स्थिरो रणाय संस्कृतः । यदि स्तोतुर्मघवा शृणवद्धवं नेन्द्रो योषत्या गमत् ॥
yá ugráḥ sán naniṣṭṛ́taḥ sthiró ráṇāya sáṃskṛtaḥ | yádi stotúr maghávā śṛṇávad dhávan néndro yoṣatyā́ gamat ||
On, który jest groźny, niepowstrzymany, stały, przygotowany do walki: jeśli hojny usłyszy wołanie śpiewaka, wtedy Indra się nie wstrzyma; przyjdzie z chętną rozkoszą.
Word by Word
- यः
- who (he who)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उग्रः
- fierce, mightyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सन्
- beingVerbal adjective (participle)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (शतृ-प्रत्ययः) वर्तमानार्थेRole KartāRoot अस् (धातु) → सत्/सन् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त, शतृ)
- अनिष्टृतः
- not overcome, unconqueredAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot नि-स्तृ (धातु; ‘to overcome/bring down’, with neg. अ-) → अनिष्टृत (कृदन्त)
- स्थिरः
- firm, steadfastAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
- रणाय
- for battleNounपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot रण (प्रातिपदिक)
- संस्कृतः
- prepared, well-equippedParticiple (past passive)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (क्त-प्रत्ययः)Role KartāRoot सम्-√कृ (धातु) → संस्कृत (भूतकृदन्त, क्त)
- यदि
- ifIndeclinableसम्बन्ध-अव्ययम् (शर्त/यदा-अर्थे)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot यदि (अव्यय)
- स्तोतुः
- of the praiserNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role Sambandha (genitive)Root स्तोतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- मघवा
- Maghavan (bountiful one, Indra)Noun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्र-विशेषण)
- शृणवत्
- may he hearVerbपरस्मैपदम्, विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot श्रु (धातु) → शृणवत् (विधिलिङ्/आज्ञार्थे; Vedic injunctive-like usage)
- हवम्
- invocation, callNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot हव (प्रातिपदिक) / √ह्वे (धातु ‘to call’) से भाव
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थक-अव्ययम्Role (negation)Root न (अव्यय-निषेध)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- योषत्या
- with pleasure, gladlyAdverbial (instrumental form)स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role KaraṇaRoot योषत्/योषति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘delighting/with delight’, Vedic adverbial instr.)
- गमत्
- let him comeVerbपरस्मैपदम्, लोट् (आज्ञार्थे), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot गम् (धातु) → गमत् (लोट्/विधिलिङ्; Vedic injunctive/aorist-like imperative nuance)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: यः उग्रः सन् अनिष्टृतः स्थिरः रणाय संस्कृतः । यदि स्तोतुः मघवा शृणवत् हवम् न इन्द्रः योषत्या गमत् ॥ 1) सन्ननि॑ष्टृतः = सन् + अनिष्टृतः (न् + अ → न्न्)
- 2) नेन्द्रो॑ = न + इन्द्रः (अव्यय-न + इ-आदिः → ने-)
- 3) शृणवद्धवं = शृणवत् + हवम् (त् + ह → द्ध्, संहितायाम्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is fierce, unthwarted, firm, prepared for battle. If the bountiful one hears the singer’s call, then Indra will not hold back; he will come with willing delight.
Inner meaning
The illumined Mind (Indra) is the steadfast warrior-force in the inner conflict: unobstructed by doubt (aniṣṭṛta), stable in the struggle (raṇa). When the aspirant’s mantra-call (havam) is sincere and well-formed, the higher power responds immediately, not delaying in hesitation; it comes with a consenting joy (yoṣati)—the delight of the divine cooperation.
Universal truth
When the call is true and persistent, the higher strength answers: clarity and courage arrive, not as strain but as a willing, luminous joy that supports the battle of transformation.
Themes
Invocation and divine response, Preparation for inner battle, Indra’s willing descent
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.33.1-12
Family tradition
A tradition of warrior-hymns to Indra where ‘battle’ is both outer and inner: conquest of darkness by the luminous mind.
Significance
The seer frames sādhanā as raṇa—an inner battle—where the decisive factor is the authenticity of the call; then the divine response is swift and joyful.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Ugra, Maghavan
- Related deities
- Maruts (battle-force), Agni (leader of sacrifice), Soma (delight that empowers)
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods; slayer of Vṛtra; establisher of victorious light and free flow.
Inner power
Courageous clarity that is both stable and dynamic—readiness to act when invoked by aspiration.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation in Soma-related praise; stotra to draw Indra to the offering
य उ॒ग्रः सन्ननि॑ष्टृतः स्थि॒रो रणा॑य॒ संस्कृ॑तः । यदि॑ स्तो॒तुर्म॒घवा॑ शृ॒णव॒द्धवं॒ नेन्द्रो॑ योष॒त्या ग॑मत् ॥
यः । उ॒ग्रः । सन् । अनिः॑ऽस्तृतः । स्थि॒रः । रणा॑य । संस्कृ॑तः । यदि॑ । स्तो॒तुः । म॒घऽवा॑ । शृ॒णव॑त् । हव॑म् । न । इन्द्रः॑ । यो॒ष॒ति॒ । आ । ग॒म॒त् ॥
yaḥ | ugraḥ | san | aniḥ-stṛtaḥ | sthiraḥ | raṇāya | saṃskṛtaḥ | yadi | stotuḥ | magha-vā | śṛṇavat | havam | na | indraḥ | yoṣati | ā | gamat
44
4 × ~11
Martial steadiness with forward thrust; suited to ‘prepared for battle’ imagery.
Instills firmness and readiness; the cadence supports resolve and confident invocation.
- ugraḥ
- Literal: fierce, formidable. Symbolic: intensity of awakening force that breaks inertia
- aniṣṭṛtaḥ
- Literal: not held back, unthwarted. Symbolic: unobstructed descent of illumination; freedom from inner resistance
- sthiraḥ
- Literal: firm, stable. Symbolic: steadfast concentration; unwavering will in sādhanā
- raṇāya
- Literal: for battle. Symbolic: inner struggle against ignorance and habitual nature
- saṃskṛtaḥ
- Literal: prepared, made ready. Symbolic: disciplined, organized energies ready for higher action
- stotuḥ
- Literal: of the praiser/singer. Symbolic: the aspiring soul’s voice; mantra-consciousness
- maghavā
- Literal: bountiful. Symbolic: the power that gives increases of light, force, joy
- havam
- Literal: call, invocation. Symbolic: true aspiration that summons the divine
- yoṣati
- Literal: willingly, with delight. Symbolic: Ananda consenting to act; glad participation of higher power
Call-and-response structure typical of Soma praise: if the singer calls rightly, Indra comes; emphasizes mantra efficacy.
At moments of calling Indra to partake and empower the rite
Havana/āhvāna through praise; strengthening the yajamāna’s intent
Use before confronting inner resistance (procrastination, fear): chant as a ‘readiness mantra’ to summon clear force with joyful consent.
ugrá: concentrated force. saṃskṛta: 'made perfectly', suggests inner readiness (discipline) that allows Indra’s force to act rightly. √śru: hearing as divine responsiveness to mantra. yoṣatyā: from √yuṣ/yoṣ, 'to enjoy, accept, be willing'—Indra’s coming is not coerced but consenting delight, matching the psychological law of receptivity.
Mantra efficacy (hearing the call), Readiness/saṃskāra (saṃskṛta), Consent of the divine (yoṣatyā)
Victory is the restoration of right order in consciousness when Indra responds to true invocation.
The ‘heard call’ implies correspondence between truthful aspiration and divine response.
Transformation through conflict: higher powers descend into the field of struggle to reshape nature.
Integral-yogic reading: battle as psychological conquest; Indra as illumined mind-force.
Battle = inner struggle; readiness = gathered energies; hearing the call = responsive higher consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The 'god who hears and comes' mythologem: Indra, prepared for battle, responds to the singer’s call. Inwardly, when the being is saṃskṛta (rightly prepared), the force of illumination consents to descend and act against obstruction.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √śru (śṛṇavat) continues PIE *ḱleu- 'to hear' (cf. Greek klýō, English 'listen' is different but 'loud/clew' relate in semantic field of hearing/fame). The conditional yádi ... shows archaic hymn logic: correct utterance → divine arrival.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asserts a law of reciprocity: the stotṛ’s call, if truly heard, draws Indra’s willing approach. The devatā is portrayed as responsive to sincerity and preparation, not merely to external rite.
Make the inner call (havam) sincere; feel Indra as steady courageous clarity entering the ‘battlefield’ of mind.
ājñā (clarity) and anāhata (consenting joy/yoṣati)
Inhale on ‘yadi…śṛṇavad’ (opening to be heard), exhale on ‘ā gamat’ (welcoming descent)
Alert steadiness; courageous joy
Before chanting, define the ‘battle’ (one inner obstruction). Chant 9–21 times, then sit 2 minutes sensing a firm luminous presence that willingly supports action.
Notated svara unavailable; keep udatta-like lift on ugraḥ, sthiraḥ, maghavā, śṛṇavad, ā gamat.
Two peaks: ‘ugraḥ…sthiraḥ’ (firm force) and ‘śṛṇavad…ā gamat’ (heard call and coming).
aniṣṭṛtaḥ: pronounce ṣṭr cluster carefully (a-niṣ-ṭṛ-taḥ), saṃskṛtaḥ: anusvāra before s (saṃ-), śṛṇavad: retroflex ṇ, short a at end, yoṣati: yo-ṣa-ti, short vowels
Warrior-bright, steady, not harsh
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.
