Rig Veda 8.36.7: Mandala 8, Sukta 36, Mantra 7
Sukta 8.36
- Rishi
- Śyāvāśva, with reference to Atri as precedent
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
श्यावाश्वस्य सुन्वतस्तथा शृणु यथाशृणोरत्रेः कर्माणि कृण्वतः । प्र त्रसदस्युमाविथ त्वमेक इन्नृषाह्य इन्द्र ब्रह्माणि वर्धयन् ॥
śyāvā́śvasya sunvatás táthā śṛṇu yáthāśṛṇor atréḥ kármāṇi kṛṇvatáḥ | prá trasádasyum āvitha tvám éka ín nṛ-sā́hye índra bráhmāṇi vardháyan ||
Wysłuchaj więc tłoczącego Somę Śjāwāśwę, tak jak niegdyś wysłuchałeś Atriego, gdy wykonywał swoje dzieła. Poprowadziłeś i osłoniłeś Trasadasyju; ty sam zaprawdę, o Indro, jesteś niepowstrzymany w sile zdobywania ludzi, wzmacniając siły duszy mantry.
Word by Word
- श्या॒वाश्व॑स्य
- of ŚyāvāśvaNoun (proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root श्यावाश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुन्व॒तः
- of (him) pressing SomaParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (सुन्वत्)Role सम्बन्धRoot √सु (सुनोति) / शृ-?; here √सु ‘to press (Soma)’
- तथा॑
- so, thusIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot तथा (अव्यय)
- शृणु॒
- hear!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (मुख्य क्रिया)Root √श्रु (शृणोति)
- यथा
- as, just asIndeclinableअव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/उपमान (correlative)Root यथा (अव्यय)
- अशृणोः
- you heardVerbलङ् (अनद्यतन भूत), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (उपवाक्य-क्रिया)Root √श्रु (शृणोति)
- अत्रेः
- of AtriNoun (proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अत्रि (ऋषि-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
- कर्मा॑णि
- deeds, worksNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृण्व॒तः
- of (him) doing, performingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (कृण्वत्)Role सम्बन्धRoot √कृ (करोति/कृणोति; Vedic कृणोति)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinable (preverb)अव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्गRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- त्रसदस्युम्
- TrasadasyuNoun (proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot त्रसदस्यु (प्रातिपदिक; proper name)
- आविथ
- you have helped, you aidedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्श भूत), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (मुख्य क्रिया)Root √अव् (अवति) with आ-; Vedic perfect
- त्वम्
- youPronounउत्तम? (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- एकः
- alone, singleAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root एक (प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinable (particle)अव्ययRole निपात (emphasis)Root इत् (निपात)
- नृ॒षाह्यः
- overpowering men, man-subduingAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root नृ-षाह्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘man-conquering’)
- इन्द्र॒
- O IndraNoun (deity name)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ब्रह्मा॑णि
- sacred formulations, hymnsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- व॒र्धय॑न्
- increasing, causing to growParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वर्धयन्त्)Role कर्तृ (सहक्रिया/विशेषण)Root √वृध् (वर्धते/वर्धयति)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): श्यावाश्वस्य | सुन्वतः | तथा | शृणु | यथा | अशृणोः | अत्रेः | कर्माणि | कृण्वतः || प्र | त्रसदस्युम् | आविथ | त्वम् | एकः | इत् | नृषाह्यः | इन्द्र | ब्रह्माणि | वर्धयन् || प्रमुख संधि: (1) यथाशृणोः → यथा + अशृणोः (अ + अ = आ, but here preserved as separate in pada)
- (2) अत्रेः कर्माणि (visarga before k- remains in saṃhitā as ‘:’)
- (3) त्वमेकः → त्वम् + एकः (m + e sandhi)
- (4) एक इन्नृषाह्यः → एकः + इत् + नृषाह्यः (ḥ + i → e i; particle ‘इत्’ appears as ‘इन्’ before n- in saṃhitā)
- (5) ब्रह्माणि वर्धयन् (no obligatory sandhi beyond external)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is asked to hear the Soma-presser Śyāvāśva as he once heard Atri performing works. Indra protected and advanced Trasadasyu; Indra alone is irresistible in man-conquering strength, increasing the brahmāṇi (sacred formulations/mantras).
Inner meaning
The rishi appeals to a living continuity of grace: ‘Hear me as you heard Atri’—as the Divine Mind responded to authentic inner work (karmāṇi) and true offering (sunvatas). Trasadasyu (‘he who makes the enemy tremble’) symbolizes the soul or heroic will in the human being that Indra protects when it turns to truth. ‘Man-conquering strength’ (nṛṣāhya) is mastery over the human/ego nature. ‘Increasing the brahmāṇi’ means Indra enlarges the mantric soul-forces—speech that carries realization, not mere words—so that the seeker’s consciousness becomes more potent and victorious.
Universal truth
Sincere aspiration and disciplined inner work draw down a responding illumination that protects the soul’s forward movement and makes the Word in us stronger—capable of mastering the ego-nature.
Themes
Indra as protector of seers and heroes, Mantra-growth (brahmāṇi vardhayan), Continuity of grace (as thou heardst Atri)
The seer
- Rishi
- Śyāvāśva (explicit)
- Lineage
- Kāṇva (Śyāvāśva is traditionally within the Kāṇva sphere in Book 8)
- Other hymns
- RV 8.36 (hymn cluster), RV 8.37 (adjacent cycle; contextual)
Family tradition
Śyāvāśva hymns often blend personal appeal with lineage remembrance (Atri) and emphasize Indra’s responsiveness to true work and potent speech.
Significance
The verse models the rishi’s method: establish lineage of realized hearing (Atri), affirm Indra’s protective action (Trasadasyu), and request increase of brahmāṇi—mantric consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- nṛṣāhya (irresistible, man-conquering), ekaḥ (the one, uniquely capable)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (brahman/word-force), Soma (as the offering of delight implied by sunvat)
Cosmic role
Responder to the seer’s call, protector of the advancing soul-force, increaser of mantric power, victor over hostile forces.
Inner power
Illumined mind that listens to authentic aspiration, strengthens the soul’s heroic movement, and amplifies mantra into effective force.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation in Soma context (sunvat) and praise of protective aid
श्या॒वाश्व॑स्य सुन्व॒तस्तथा॑ शृणु॒ यथाशृ॑णो॒रत्रे॒: कर्मा॑णि कृण्व॒तः । प्र त्र॒सद॑स्युमाविथ॒ त्वमेक॒ इन्नृ॒षाह्य॒ इन्द्र॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि व॒र्धय॑न् ॥
श्या॒वऽअ॑श्वस्य । सु॒न्व॒तः । तथा॑ । शृ॒णु॒ । यथा॑ । अशृ॑णोः । अत्रेः॑ । कर्मा॑णि । कृ॒ण्व॒तः । प्र । त्र॒सद॑स्युम् । आ॒वि॒थ॒ । त्वम् । एकः॑ । इत् । नृ॒ऽसह्ये॑ । इन्द्र॑ । ब्रह्मा॑णि । व॒र्धय॑न् ॥
śyāva-aśvasya | sunvataḥ | tathā | śṛṇu | yathā | aśṛṇoḥ | atreḥ | karmāṇi | kṛṇvataḥ | pra | trasadasyum | āvitha | tvam | ekaḥ | it | nṛ-sahye | indra | brahmāṇi | vardhayan
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4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Firm, martial, and declarative; quicker than Jagatī—suited to direct appeal and assertion of Indra’s unique power.
Creates a crisp call-and-response feel (‘hear… as you heard’), culminating in a strong affirmation of irresistible force and mantra-increase.
- सुन्वत् (sunvat)
- Literal: Soma-presser. Symbolic: one who extracts delight by tapas; sincere practitioner
- शृणु (śṛṇu)
- Literal: hear. Symbolic: divine receptivity/response to aspiration
- कर्माणि (karmāṇi)
- Literal: works. Symbolic: inner practices and transformative acts, not mere ritual actions
- त्रसदस्यु (trasadasyu)
- Literal: one who makes foes tremble (a king’s name). Symbolic: heroic soul-force protected in the march against inner enemies
- नृषाह्य (nṛṣāhya)
- Literal: man-conquering, irresistible among men. Symbolic: mastery over ego-nature and human limitations
- ब्रह्माणि (brahmāṇi)
- Literal: sacred formulas, prayers. Symbolic: mantra-powers (soul-forces of the Word) that shape consciousness
Soma-offering hymn in which the patron-seer requests Indra’s attentive response and protection; also serves as a ‘remembrance’ formula citing past aids (Atri, Trasadasyu)
During Soma pressing chants; also in royal/protective contexts (kṣatriya support) reflected in Trasadasyu reference.
Recitation to invite Indra’s attentive presence and protective action; affirmation of mantra potency.
Use when seeking guidance/response: before meditation, study, or a difficult life decision—asking the higher mind to ‘hear’ and strengthen inner word and courage.
/: from √śru ‘hear’ (PIE *ḱleu̯- ‘hear, be famed’), central to IE poetics (fame/hearing). (sunvat): present participle of √su ‘press’; again Soma extraction as inner distillation. (trasad-asyu): compound ‘trembling + Dasyu’; trasad from √tras ‘tremble’ (PIE *tres-), dasyu ‘hostile/obstructing being’ (later ethnicized). (nṛ-sahya): from nṛ ‘man’ (PIE *h₂ner-) + sahya (√sah ‘overcome’); ‘irresistible in the human field’. (brahman): from √bṛh ‘to grow, expand’ (PIE *bʰerǵʰ- ‘rise/high’), hence ‘expansive word-power’; vardhayan from √vṛdh ‘grow’ (PIE *werdʰ-).
power of hearing/response (śruti as divine reception), growth of brahman (mantric soul-force), victory over obstruction (dasyu) as inner liberation
Indra’s hearing is tied to right work (karmāṇi) aligned to ṛta; protection follows truth-aligned effort.
Increase of brahmāṇi implies speech becoming true (satya-vāc).
Growth of brahman (mantra-force) as an inner creative evolution—speech shaping consciousness.
Mantra-centric integral psychology; Indra as cognitive divine power responding to tapas and truth.
Pressing = inner pressure of practice; hearing = descent of intuitive response; protection = stabilizing force around the advancing soul.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the unique protector and increaser of brahman: he hears the seer, aids the hero (Trasadasyu), and by that aid enables the triumph over the Dasyu (obstruction). The mythic action is less a single exploit than the recurring pattern of divine ‘hearing’ that turns mantra into victorious force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The √śru ‘hear’ aligns with PIE *ḱleu̯- (also ‘fame’), highlighting an IE poetic ideology: the god’s hearing/renown is activated by praise. The growth lexicon brahman (√bṛh) and vardhayan (√vṛdh) shows the inherited metaphor ‘word = growing power’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi appeals by precedent: ‘hear me as you heard Atri.’ This frames the relationship as continuity of divine responsiveness to right work (karmāṇi) and right offering (sunvat). Indra’s return-gift is not only protection but the increase of brahman itself—inner capacity for truth-speaking and victorious action.
Ask the higher mind to ‘hear’ your aspiration; recall prior moments of guidance; then rest in the sense of protection while letting mantra-force increase.
Ājñā (hearing/intuition) + Viśuddha (brahmāṇi/mantra)
Listening-breath: inhale silently ‘śṛṇu’, exhale ‘vardhayan’; 12 rounds, then chant the verse once aloud.
Receptive clarity with steady courage; a ‘heard’ guidance rather than self-driven strain.
Offer one honest intention (sunvat), do one concrete inner work (karmāṇi: journaling, confession, discipline), then chant—ending with a pause to listen inwardly for response.
Three-tone Vedic; Triṣṭubh benefits from clear udatta peaks on key verbs (śṛṇu, āvitha) and a strong final cadence on ‘vardhayan’.
Keep the first pāda as a direct address; slightly pause after ‘tathā śṛṇu’; emphasize ‘tvam ekaḥ’ and ‘brahmāṇi vardhayan’.
śyāvāśvasya: long ā; conjunct śv, sunvatas: pronounce ‘nv’ clearly, yathāśṛṇoḥ: sandhi cluster; keep retroflex ṇ in śṛṇoḥ, trasadasyum: dental s; ‘dy’ cluster clear, nṛṣāhya: vocalic ṛ; retroflex ṣ
Clear, attentive, slightly softer at the ‘hearing’ request; firm and declarative at ‘tvam ekaḥ…’.
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