Rig Veda 2.20.2: Mandala 2, Sukta 20, Mantra 2
Sukta 2.20
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
त्वं न इन्द्र त्वाभिरूती त्वायतो अभिष्टिपासि जनान् । त्वमिनो दाशुषो वरूतेत्थाधीरभि यो नक्षति त्वा ॥
tváṃ na indra tvā́bhir ūtī́ tvā́yato abhiṣṭi-pā́si jánān | tvám íno dāśúṣo varūtā́ ítthādhīr abhí yó nákṣati tvā́ ||
Tu, ó Indra, com os teus auxílios guardas os povos que se dirigem a ti, protetor do bem desejado. Tu és o abrigo do doador; assim, com reta visão, aproximas-te daquele que se estende para ti.
Word by Word
- त्वम्
- thouPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / ourPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; षष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक); बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुं; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वाभिः
- with thee / by theePronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊती
- with help, with aidNounस्त्री; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot ऊति (प्रातिपदिक) < √अव्/ऊ (रक्षणे/अवने) (व्युत्पत्त्यर्थ)
- त्वायतः
- seeking thee, directed to theeAdjective (participial)पुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root त्वद्/युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + यत (कृदन्त/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- अभिष्टिपासि
- thou protectest (as battle-guard)Verbलट् (वर्तमान); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √पा (पालने/रक्षणे) with preverb अभि-; (वेदिक) अभिष्टि-पा ‘protector in battles’
- जनान्
- people, menNounपुं; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot जन (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वम्
- thouPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इनः
- the mighty one, lordNoun/Adjectiveपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root इन (प्रातिपदिक) ‘बलवान्/स्वामी’
- दाशुषः
- of the worshipper/giverNoun (agent)पुं; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root √दाश्/दश् (दान/पूजने) → दाशु (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) ‘दाता/यजमान’
- वरूते
- thou choosest / acceptestVerbलट् (वर्तमान); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot √वृ (वरणे) आत्मनेपदी
- इत्था
- thus, in this mannerIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot इत्था (अव्यय)
- धीः
- thought, insight, prayerNounस्त्री; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot धी (प्रातिपदिक) < √धी (धी/बुद्धौ)
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinable (preverb)अव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्गRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यः
- whoRelative pronounपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नक्षति
- attains, reachesVerbलट् (वर्तमान); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √नश् (प्रापणे) (वेदिक रूप: नक्षति)
- त्वा
- theePronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): त्वम् | नः | इन्द्र | त्वाभिः | ऊती | त्वायतः | अभिष्टिपासि | जनान् || त्वम् | इनः | दाशुषः | वरूते | इत्था | धीः | अभि | यः | नक्षति | त्वा । प्रमुख संधि/संयोग: (1) इन्द्र त्वाभिः: विसर्ग/अनुस्वार-रहित पदसीमा
- (2) त्वाभिरूती → त्वाभिः ऊती (ः + ऊ → उ-प्रग्रह, पदपाठे पृथक्)
- (3) त्वायतो → त्वायतः (पदपाठ-रूप, -o < -aḥ sandhi)
- (4) त्वमिनो → त्वम् इनः (म् + इ → मि-सम्योग)
- (5) वरूतेत्था → वरूते इत्था (ए + इ → एऽ/एइ, पदपाठे पृथक्)
- (6) अधीरभि → धीः अभि (ः + अ → र्/विसर्ग-संधि, पदपाठे पृथक्)
- (7) यो नक्षति → यः नक्षति (ः + न → ओ/ः-परिवर्तन, संहितायाम् ‘यो’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, by his helps, protects the peoples who move toward him, as guardian of their desired good. He is the shelter of the giver; thus with right insight he comes near to the one who reaches for him.
Inner meaning
When the being turns toward the illumined Mind, Indra’s ūtayaḥ (helps) become active protections—supporting movements that seek the true good (abhiṣṭi). The ‘giver’ (dāśuṣ) is the one who offers—ego, energies, and works—into the inner sacrifice; to such a one Indra becomes varūtā (a covering shelter, but luminous). ‘Itthādhīḥ’ suggests Indra’s right seeing/true thought: the divine intelligence responds precisely to sincere reaching (nakṣati) and draws near as guidance, protection, and strengthening.
Universal truth
When aspiration is sincere and offerings are real, a higher intelligence begins to guard the journey—protecting what is essential and bringing timely guidance to the seeker who reaches upward.
Themes
divine protection, approach and attainment, shelter of the giver
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.20.1, RV 2.20.3
Family tradition
Indra hymns emphasizing protection, right movement, and the reciprocity between offering and divine response.
Significance
Shows the yogic law of response: turning (tvāyataḥ) and offering (dāśuṣ) invite protective descent (ūtī/varūtā).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- abhiṣṭipā (protector of the sought good), varūtā (shelter), sahāya (helper—by sense of ūtī)
- Related deities
- Agni (leader of sacrifice), Mitra-Varuṇa (guardians of ṛta), Bṛhaspati (guidance through word)
Cosmic role
Protector and guide of the ascending human collectivity; ensures victory by guarding the right movement.
Inner power
Discerning protective intelligence that strengthens aspiration and wards off dispersal/hostile forces.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra for protection and successful movement of the rite and its participants.
त्वं न॑ इन्द्र॒ त्वाभि॑रू॒ती त्वा॑य॒तो अ॑भिष्टि॒पासि॒ जना॑न् । त्वमि॒नो दा॒शुषो॑ वरू॒तेत्थाधी॑र॒भि यो नक्ष॑ति त्वा ॥
त्वम् । नः॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । त्वाभिः॑ । ऊ॒ती । त्वा॒ऽय॒तः । अ॒भि॒ष्टि॒ऽपा । अ॒सि॒ । जना॑न् । त्वम् । इ॒नः । दा॒शुषः॑ । व॒रू॒ता । इ॒त्थाऽधीः॑ । अ॒भि । यः । नक्ष॑ति । त्वा॒ ॥
tvam | naḥ | indra | tvābhiḥ | ūtī | tvāyataḥ | abhiṣṭi-pā | asi | janān | tvam | inaḥ | dāśuṣaḥ | varūtā | itthādhīḥ | abhi | yaḥ | nakṣati | tvā
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4 × ~11
Steady protective cadence; less ‘charge’ than 2.20.1, more guarding and assurance.
Creates a feeling of being held and guided; stabilizes breath and attention.
- ऊती (ūtī)
- Literal: help, aid. Symbolic: supporting interventions of the higher consciousness
- त्वायतः (tvāyataḥ)
- Literal: moving toward you. Symbolic: aspiration and turning of the being toward the Divine Mind
- अभिष्टिपा (abhiṣṭipā)
- Literal: protector of desired good. Symbolic: guardian of the soul’s true aim (not surface desire)
- दाशुषः (dāśuṣaḥ)
- Literal: the giver/offerer. Symbolic: one who offers self and works into yoga/sacrifice
- वरूता (varūtā)
- Literal: shelter, defense. Symbolic: protective envelope of divine force; safe field for growth
- इत्त्थाधीः (itthādhīḥ)
- Literal: thus-thinking, right-thinking. Symbolic: truth-discerning intelligence that responds accurately
- नक्षति (nakṣati)
- Literal: attains, reaches. Symbolic: the upward reaching of consciousness toward the divine
Protective invocation within Indra praise: securing the sacrificer’s abhiṣṭi (desired attainment)
When seeking safeguarding of the sacrificers and the right fulfilment of the intended result (abhiṣṭi).
Recitation with intention of protection; in ritual, accompanies offerings and affirmations of Indra’s guardianship.
Use during transitions (travel, new phases of practice, difficult periods) as a protective invocation to the higher mind.
from √av/√ū ‘to help, protect’ (Vedic lexicalized). from abhi- + √iṣ ‘to seek/desire’ → sought attainment. related to √vṛ ‘to cover, protect’ (PIE *wer- ‘cover’). from √naś/√nakṣ ‘to reach, attain’ (cf. ‘nakt’? not; here ‘reach’ sense).
reciprocity of giving (dāśuṣ) and divine protection (varūtā), turning toward the divine (tvāyataḥ) as inner orientation
Protection is not arbitrary; it guards the movement aligned with ṛta (the true good).
Indra’s nearness comes through right seeing—truth responding to truth-seeking.
The divine draws near to shape and protect the evolving human journey—guidance as a creative ordering force.
Integral yoga psychology: divine help becomes active when aspiration and offering are sincere.
Shelter = protective consciousness-field; movement = aspiration-current; reaching = upward extension of awareness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Not a battle-myth but the ‘approach-to-the-god’ mythologem: those who turn toward Indra are guarded; the god ‘comes near’ to the reaching aspirant.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Protection vocabulary centers on √vṛ ‘cover’ (varūtā) from PIE *wer-; desire/impulse √iṣ in abhiṣṭi shows the IE theme of striving. The relational syntax (tvāyataḥ… yó nákṣati tvā́) encodes approach/attainment as a core archaic poetic structure.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi frames Indra as guardian of inner seeking: when the human being turns godward (tvāyataḥ) and offers (dāśuṣ), Indra becomes varūtā (shelter) and actively meets the seeker who ‘reaches’ him.
Feel Indra as a protective intelligence around the mind and heart; renew the gesture of offering (dāśuṣ).
anāhata (trust/shelter) with ājñā (guidance)
Box-breath 4–4–4–4 for steadiness; chant afterward with smooth, unforced exhale.
Protected recollection; quiet confidence.
Before sleep or before entering challenging conversations, chant 3 or 7 times; visualize a luminous shield that preserves the true aim (abhiṣṭi).
Rigvedic accents; let ‘índra’ rise; keep a calming downward resolution at pāda ends to convey protection.
Do not rush; mark the phrase tvābhir ūtī as a single supportive unit; keep varūtā clearly articulated.
tvābhir: cluster tvā; long ā, abhiṣṭipāsi: ṣṭi cluster; long ā in pā, dāśuṣo: long ā; retroflex ṣ, varūtetthādhīḥ: long ū; double tth; dhīḥ with long ī
Protective, rounded, low-to-mid register; minimal harshness.
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