Rig Veda 8.70.7: Mandala 8, Sukta 70, Mantra 7
Sukta 8.70
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
न सीमदेव आपदिषं दीर्घायो मर्त्यः । एतग्वा चिद्य एतशा युयोजते हरी इन्द्रो युयोजते ॥
ná sīmádeva āpádiṣaṃ dīrghāyó mártyaḥ | étagvā cid yá étaśā yuyójate hárī índro yuyójate ||
Żaden śmiertelnik, który nie ma zwróconej ku bogom orientacji, nie osiąga impulsu prowadzącego do długiego życia. Lecz nawet ten, który jest szybki w biegu, może zaprząc dwie płowe moce działania; Indra zaprzęga je na drogę.
Word by Word
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेध (negation)Root न
- सीम्
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपात/अव्यय; emphatic particleRoot सीम्
- अदेवः
- a non-god; godless oneAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अ-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- आपदिषम्
- misfortune, calamityNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot आ-पद् (धातु) → आपद् (स्त्री. प्रातिपदिक) / आपद्- (noun)
- दीर्घायोः
- of long lifeAdjective (genitive attribute)पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (आयुस्), षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root दीर्घ-आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मर्त्यः
- mortalNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition to अदेवः) / subjectRoot मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- एतग्वा
- Etagva (the steed named Etagva)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot एतग्व (प्रातिपदिक; epithet of a horse/steed)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्यय; concessive/emphatic particleRoot चित्
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (relative pronoun) / subjectRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- एतशा
- with Etasha (the steed Etasha)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot एतश (प्रातिपदिक; name/epithet of a horse)
- युयोजते
- they have yoked / they yokedVerbलिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot युज् (धातु)
- हरी
- the two tawny steedsNoun (dual)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचनRole KarmaRoot हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- युयोजते
- they have yoked / they yokedVerbलिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Vedic usage; repeated refrain)Role KriyāRoot युज् (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): न | सीम् | अदेवः | आपदिषम् | दीर्घायोः | मर्त्यः || एतग्वा | चित् | यः | एतशा | युयोजते | हरी | इन्द्रः | युयोजते || Notes: (1) न + सीम् is a common Vedic collocation ‘not indeed’. (2) आपदिषम् is taken as accusative sg. of आपद् ‘calamity’ (Vedic stem shows -इषम् in some inflectional/phonological shaping). (3) दीर्घायोः is gen. sg. ‘of long life’ qualifying the (intended) beneficiary/possessor
- construed with मर्त्यः. (4) चिद् remains indeclinable
- repetition is stylistic/refrain
- Vedic sometimes uses 3pl where later language might expect 3sg with singular subject (collective/poetic agreement)
The meaning
Outer meaning
No mortal lacking devotion to the gods attains the impulsion leading to long life. Even the swift one can yoke the two tawny horses; Indra yokes them for the journey.
Inner meaning
Without the godward turn (adeva: not aligned to the Divine), the human cannot receive the true impulsion (iṣ) that sustains long becoming (dīrghāyu: enduring life-force and continuity of the soul’s journey). When aspiration becomes swift (etagvā), the twin powers (harī: Indra’s tawny steeds) of luminous energy and effective action can be yoked—yet it is Indra, the illumined Mind, who truly yokes them: the higher intelligence organizes prāṇa and will for the path.
Universal truth
Enduring progress is not secured by mere speed or talent; it comes from alignment with the higher Truth, which alone can harness life-energy into a purposeful, sustained journey.
Themes
Indra-power, inner yoking of forces, victory over inertia/ignorance, life-force prolongation through right alignment
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.70.6, Rig Veda 8.70.8
Family tradition
Book 8 pragātha/Indra hymns often speak in the voice of practical yoga of the Veda: harnessing energies through godward orientation.
Significance
The seer emphasizes the decisive prerequisite of ‘deva-orientation’—the turning of consciousness—without which force and longevity of the path do not arrive.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- yoker of the harī, lord of iṣ (impulsion), leader of the journey
- Related deities
- Sūrya (journey/light), Agni (leader of sacrifice), Maruts (energies)
Cosmic role
Sets the divine energies in motion, directs the journey of the sacrifice, and grants enduring strength.
Inner power
Organizer and charioteer of the inner faculties; harmonizes speed with right direction.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise in Soma context; also didactic verse for right orientation before undertaking vows/initiations.
न सी॒मदे॑व आप॒दिषं॑ दीर्घायो॒ मर्त्य॑: । एत॑ग्वा चि॒द्य एत॑शा यु॒योज॑ते॒ हरी॒ इन्द्रो॑ यु॒योज॑ते ॥
न । सी॒म् । अदे॑वः । आ॒प॒त् । इष॑म् । दी॒र्घा॒यो॒ इति॑ दीर्घऽआयो । मर्त्यः॑ । एत॑ऽग्वा । चि॒त् । यः । एत॑शा । यु॒योज॑ते । हरी॒ इति॑ । इन्द्रः॑ । यु॒योज॑ते ॥
na | sīm | adevaḥ | āpat | iṣam | dīrghāyo itidīrgha-āyo | martyaḥ | eta-gvā | cit | yaḥ | etaśā | yuyojate | harī iti | indraḥ | yuyojate
Likely Jagatī or Triṣṭubh-mix typical of Book 8; this verse often scans close to Jagatī (12-syllable tendency) though confirmation requires syllable count per pāda.
48
4 pādas of ~12 syllables (Jagatī-type flow)
Rolling, journey-like cadence; suitable for the image of yoking and travel.
Creates a sense of forward movement with restraint—speed guided by a higher hand.
- अदेवः (adevaḥ)
- Literal: without the gods / ungodly. Symbolic: consciousness not turned upward; ego-mind closed to higher guidance
- इषम् (iṣam)
- Literal: impulsion, nourishment. Symbolic: true inner urge and sustaining force for spiritual growth
- दीर्घायो (dīrghāyo)
- Literal: long life. Symbolic: long continuity of the soul’s becoming; durable prāṇic-mental support
- एतग्वा (etagvā)
- Literal: swift-going. Symbolic: ardent aspiration; quickened seeker-energy
- एतशा (etaśā)
- Literal: with the swift (horse). Symbolic: with the speed of inner striving; dynamic movement of consciousness
- हरी (harī)
- Literal: the two tawny horses. Symbolic: twin forces yoked by Indra—illumined energy and victorious action (or mind-force and life-force in harmony)
- युयोजते (yuyojate)
- Literal: yokes. Symbolic: disciplines, integrates, brings under right control
Indra-invocation within Soma-oriented praise; suitable for Indra-stotras in Soma pressing contexts (general Śrauta usage, not uniquely determinable from this excerpt).
Before or during journey/enterprise motifs in stotra; or as a pre-meditation reminder of alignment.
Recitation with intent of consecration—offering one’s energies to be ‘yoked’ rightly.
Use before work or travel: a short alignment practice—‘turn godward, then act’—so energy serves purpose, not restlessness.
Key roots: √āp ‘to reach/obtain’ (āpát = ‘attained’); √yuj ‘to yoke/unite’ (yuyójate = ‘he yokes for himself/sets in union’). iṣ- ‘impulsion, stimulus’ (often inner drive of inspiration/energy). dīrgha-āyus ‘long life’ is not merely biological longevity but sustained vital-psychic continuity under ṛta. adeva- ‘without Deva’ signals absence of alignment to luminous consciousness rather than atheism.
Ṛta (right order as condition for ‘long life’), Deva-orientation vs. ungodward consciousness, integration of energies (yoking as inner discipline)
The ‘yoking’ is the cosmic act of ordering energies according to ṛta.
Truth is what makes impulsion sustainable; false orientation burns out quickly.
Creation as guided movement—energies harnessed to a divine itinerary.
Integral psychological interpretation: longevity as continuity of consciousness, not merely biological span.
Horses = vital energies; yoking = discipline/integration; journey = progressive ascent of consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The yoking of Indra’s two tawny steeds (harī) functions as a mythic image of harnessing paired powers—force and speed, prāṇa and will—so the seeker can move on the path. The ‘adeva’ fails to reach iṣ (the divine impulsion), while Indra enables the right harnessing that sustains the journey toward long life under ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yuj ‘yoke, join’ continues PIE *yeug- (cf. Latin iugum ‘yoke’, English yoke). √āp ‘reach, obtain’ aligns with PIE *h₂ep- ‘to take/reach’ (broadly comparable to notions of attainment). The verse’s parallel repetition (…yuyojate… yuyojate) is a typical Indo-European poetic reinforcement strategy.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The human condition (martyaḥ) is contrasted with godward alignment: the ṛṣi’s implied request is not mere longevity but access to iṣ—right impulsion—granted through Indra’s action of yoking the inner powers. Reciprocity is implicit: by turning toward Indra (praise/recognition), the seeker receives the disciplined energy that sustains life and progress.
Godward orientation first: offer mind and prāṇa upward; ask Indra to yoke the ‘two horses’—clarity and energy—into one directed movement.
maṇipūra (disciplined power) guided by ājñā (right direction)
Inhale 4, exhale 6 for 12 cycles; on exhale silently feel ‘yoking’ of energies into one line of will.
Aligned dynamism—speed without scattering.
Before action, check: (1) Is the aim truth-aligned? (2) Are energies unified? Chant once, then act only from the unified line.
Maintain clear udātta rises on key negatives/positives (na… adevaḥ / indro yuyojate).
Let the first pāda sound admonitory (slightly clipped), the second and third more flowing, final ‘indro yuyojate’ decisive.
Keep long ī in sīm distinct., Pronounce dīrghāyo with clear conjunct ‘rgh’., harī: long ī at end; avoid ‘hari’ short., yuyojate: repeat ‘yu-yo-’ clearly; do not merge syllables.
Steady, guiding tone; firm conclusion.
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.
