Rig Veda 8.80.1: Mandala 8, Sukta 80, Mantra 1
Sukta 8.80
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
नह्यन्यं बळाकरं मर्डितारं शतक्रतो । त्वं न इन्द्र मृळय ॥
nahy anyáṃ balā́karaṃ marḍitā́raṃ śatakrato | tváṃ na indra mṛḷaya ||
Nie ma bowiem innego silnego stwórcy, innego uzdrowiciela, który może naprawić; Ty sam, o Indro o stu mocach, przynieś nam swoje miłosierdzie i przywrócenie.
Word by Word
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थक अव्ययRoot न (निषेध) अव्यय
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableनिपात/समर्थक अव्ययRoot हि (निपात) अव्यय
- अन्यम्
- another, any otherAdjective/Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (विशेष्य-लोपे) अथवा पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (निषेध-वाक्ये ‘अन्यं …’ = ‘any other (one)’)Root अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- बळाकरम्
- a strong one, strength-makerNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (अन्यम् … बळाकरम् = ‘any other strong one’)Root बळाकर (प्रातिपदिक) < बल + आकर
- मर्डितारम्
- crusher, overpowererAgent Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (अन्यम् … मर्डितारम् = ‘any other crusher/overpowerer’)Root मृड्/मर्द् (धातु) → मर्डितृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, तृच्) अथवा मर्द् → मर्दितृ
- शतक्रतो
- O hundred-powered/ hundred-willed one (Indra)Noun (Vocative epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot शतक्रतु (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्रस्य विशेषण)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- to us / for usPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) अथवा चतुर्थी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक); अत्र क्रियापद ‘मृळय’ सह प्रायः चतुर्थी = ‘to/for us’Role सम्प्रदान (अस्मभ्यं) / (वैकल्पिक) षष्ठी (our)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- मृळय
- be gracious; show mercyVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (अनुग्रह/प्रसाद-क्रिया)Root मृळ् (धातु; ‘to be gracious, to show mercy’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: न + हि + अन्यम् + बळाकरम् + मर्डितारम् + शतक्रतो । त्वम् + नः + इन्द्र + मृळय ॥ मुख्य सन्धि: (1) न॒ह्य = न + हि (स्वर-सन्धि/संहितायां संयोग) । (2) अन्यं = अन्यम् (अनुस्वार-लेखन/पदान्त-म्) । (3) त्वं = त्वम् (पदान्त-म्) ।
- यहाँ पदरूप संहिताविच्छेद के बाद दिए गए हैं।
The meaning
Outer meaning
There is no other strong maker or healer; you alone, O Indra of a hundred powers, show us mercy.
Inner meaning
Indra is invoked as the illumined divine Mind-force (śatakratu) capable of effecting true inner ‘making’ (balā akaram) and restoration (marḍitāram). The seeker recognizes that no other partial faculty can correct the being; only the higher luminous intelligence can heal distortions and re-establish right functioning. ‘mṛḷaya’ becomes the prayer for Indra’s restorative grace—light that repairs and re-forms the nature.
Universal truth
Lasting healing comes from a higher clarity and power of consciousness; when illumination governs, the fragmented parts of the being are restored to wholeness.
Themes
Indra-invocation, mercy and healing, victorious force, exclusive devotion
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.80.2
Family tradition
Eighth Maṇḍala Indra hymns often carry Kāṇva resonance; the verse is a compact confession of sole reliance on Indra’s illumined power.
Significance
A turning from dependence on outer supports to the inner sovereign light: the aspirant entrusts transformation to the divine Mind’s restorative action.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- śatakratu (hundred-powered), balākara (strong maker—functional epithet here), marḍitā (restorer/healer—functional epithet)
- Related deities
- Agni (will that kindles aspiration), Soma (delight that empowers Indra), Bṛhaspati (word/vision that opens the cave)
Cosmic role
Indra is the champion of the gods, breaker of the cover (Vṛtra), releaser of the waters and rays, establishing the reign of light.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence with victorious force that breaks inner obstruction and restores right movement in mind, life, and body.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation in Soma-related or strength-seeking rites (general)
न॒ह्य१॒॑न्यं ब॒ळाक॑रं मर्डि॒तारं॑ शतक्रतो । त्वं न॑ इन्द्र मृळय ॥
न॒हि । अ॒न्यम् । ब॒ला । अक॑रम् । म॒र्डि॒तार॑म् । श॒त॒क्र॒तो॒ इति॑ शतऽक्रतो । त्वम् । नः॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । मृ॒ळ॒य॒ ॥
nahi | anyam | balā | akaram | marḍitāram | śatakrato itiśata-krato | tvam | naḥ | indra | mṛḷaya
Two short lines; strong negation ‘nahi anyam’ followed by direct address and imperative.
Decisive, declarative, faith-affirming.
Builds confidence and reliance on higher light; energizes the will to call Indra’s force.
- इन्द्र (indra)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: divine Mind, lord of illumination and victorious force
- शतक्रतो (śatakrato)
- Literal: of a hundred powers/works. Symbolic: multiform effective intelligence; capacity to act in many planes
- बळा अकरम् (balā akaram)
- Literal: strong maker/worker. Symbolic: power that builds the inner being, constructs right formations
- मर्डितारम् (marḍitāram)
- Literal: healer, restorer, one who sets right. Symbolic: force of correction—light that heals errors and injuries
- मृळय (mṛḷaya)
- Literal: be gracious, show mercy. Symbolic: benign descent of strength that restores without violence
Invocatory praise in Indra-Soma/Indra rites for protection and victory; also general prayer for mercy (mṛḷ).
When seeking protection, healing, victory, or restoration—ritually and inwardly.
Praise and invocation; offering (physical or mental) for Indra’s aid.
A mantra for resilience: use in times of confusion, weakness, or when seeking decisive clarity and repair.
balā ‘strength’ relates to bala (possibly from PIE *bhel- ‘swell, be strong’ in broad semantic field). śatakratu: krátu ‘will, resolve, effective intelligence’ (PIE *kretu- debated). marḍitāram from √mṛd/√mard ‘to soften by rubbing’ → ‘relieve, heal’. mṛḷaya from √mṛḷ ‘to be gracious/merciful’, a key Vedic verb of divine restoration.
Kratu (effective will/intelligence), exclusive refuge in the divine power, restoration of harmony (Rita through mṛḷ)
Indra’s action re-establishes r̥ta by correcting disorder and breaking obstruction.
Illumination that does not compromise with falsehood; it ‘sets right’.
The divine Mind shapes and rebuilds the human instrument toward a higher order.
Yoga-psychological Vedism: Indra as the principle of luminous mind and victorious force.
daybreak/day (Indra’s clarity)
A sudden clear lightning of insight that repairs and strengthens the inner structure.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the unique champion-healer: not only the slayer of obstacles but the sole power able to ‘set right’ and restore. The mythic warrior becomes the inner physician of the soul’s struggle—victory and mercy are one action of the same divine force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The negation nahi + anyam is a common early Indo-European rhetorical exclusivity (‘no other… but you’). kratu as ‘resolve’ parallels the Indo-European theme of ‘counsel/will’ as a divine attribute (cf. Greek mētis as functional analogue though not cognate). The imperative mṛḷaya is a direct performative request typical of IE hymn-prayer speech acts.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi positions Indra as sole dependable agency: human effort is insufficient without the god’s kratu. The exchange is: invocation and recognition of Indra’s unique capacity, answered by Indra’s grace that heals and empowers the worshipper’s force.
Invoke Indra as the inner power of clear decision and victorious insight; ask for healing of a specific disorder (habit, confusion, fatigue).
Ajna (illumined mind) and Manipura (forceful restoration)
Inhale with ‘indra’; exhale with ‘mṛḷaya’ as a release into trust; keep posture upright to invite strength.
Confident clarity; courageous quiet.
Repeat 12 or 24 times, then sit and observe one place in life where you need ‘setting right’; wait for a simple decisive inner directive.
Not fully reconstructible without svara-marked text; chant with strong clarity on the vocatives ‘śatakrato’ and ‘indra’.
Let ‘nahi anyam’ be firm; soften slightly on ‘mṛḷaya’ to convey mercy rather than aggression.
śatakrato: retroflex ṭ; keep ‘kra’ conjunct clear, marḍitāram: retroflex ḍ; do not turn into dental d, mṛḷaya: vocalic ṛ + retroflex ḷ, keep both distinct
Bright, confident, ringing; end gently on ‘mṛḷaya’.
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