Rig Veda 2.21.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 21, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.21
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
सत्रासाहो जनभक्षो जनंसहश्च्यवनो युध्मो अनु जोषमुक्षितः । वृतंचयः सहुरिर्विक्ष्वारित इन्द्रस्य वोचं प्र कृतानि वीर्या ॥
satrā́sāho janabhakṣó janaṃsaháś cyávanó yudhmó ánu jóṣam ukṣitáḥ | vṛtáṃcayáḥ sáhurir vikṣv ā́ritá índrasya vocaṃ prá kṛtā́ni vīryā́ ||
Sempre vitorioso, devorador das hostes inimigas, dominador dos homens, o que move, o combatente, aquele que cresce pelo favor; o que ajunta a ṛta e fere, ativo entre os clãs — de Indra proclamo os feitos heroicos consumados.
Word by Word
- सत्रासाहः
- ever-victorious, always conqueringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्) — Vedic nom.sg. in -aḥRole Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण कर्तृसम्बन्धः)Root सत्रा-साह (प्रातिपदिक; साह < √सह ‘to overcome, be strong’)
- जनभक्षः
- devourer of men/peoplesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root जन-भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; भक्ष < √भक्ष् ‘to eat, devour’)
- जनंसहः
- overpowering peoplesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root जनं-सह (प्रातिपदिक; सह < √सह ‘to overpower/endure’)
- च्यवनः
- the dislodger, shakerAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root च्यवन (प्रातिपदिक; from √च्यु ‘to move, dislodge’)
- युध्मः
- warlike, battle-mightyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root युध्म (प्रातिपदिक; from √युध् ‘to fight’)
- अनु
- after, according toIndeclinableअव्ययRole (उपसर्ग/निपात; क्रियाविशेषणभावः)Root अनु
- जोषम्
- pleasure, liking, willNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (अनु + जोषम् = ‘according to pleasure/at will’ क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Root जोष (प्रातिपदिक; from √जुष् ‘to enjoy, be pleased’)
- उक्षितः
- grown strong, invigoratedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root उक्षित (कृदन्त; PPP from √उक्ष् ‘to sprinkle; to grow strong/fatten’)
- वृतंचयः
- he who heaps up/overcomes the obstruction (Vr̥tra-like barrier)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root वृतं-चय (प्रातिपदिक; चय < √चि ‘to pile up, gather’; वृतं = ‘enclosure/obstacle’ as first member)
- सहुरिः
- the mighty one, impetuous heroNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root सहुरि (प्रातिपदिक; Vedic epithet, ‘mighty/impetuous’)
- विक्ष्वारितः
- ranging/assailing among the clansAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root विक्षु-आरित (कृदन्त/समास; आरित < √ऋ ‘to go, attack’/‘to set in motion’; विक्षु = ‘among the clans/settlements’)
- इन्द्रस्य
- of IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वः
- for you; yourPronounषष्ठी (वा दत्तिव्याख्याने चतुर्थी), बहुवचन — encliticRole Sampradāna (युष्मभ्यं ‘for you’, स्तुत्यर्पणार्थे) / SambandhaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- वोचम्
- I proclaimed, I spokeVerbलुङ् (aorist), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)Root √वच् ‘to speak’
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRole (क्रियाविशेषण; ‘forth’)Root प्र
- कृतानि
- deeds, things doneAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole Karma (वोचम्—what I proclaim)Root कृत (कृदन्त; PPP from √कृ ‘to do, make’)
- वीर्या
- heroic powers, valorous exploitsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Vedic: -ā as acc.pl.)Role Karma (apposition to कृतानि)Root वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved compounds/sandhi as: सत्रा-साहः
- जन-भक्षः
- जनं-सहः
- वृतं-चयः
- विक्षु-आरितः. Phrase अनु जोषम् is a fixed Vedic adverbial expression ‘according to (his) will/at pleasure’. कृतानि वीर्या: accusative plural apposition (‘deeds—heroic exploits’). Accent marks in the input are noted but not re-assigned per pada here
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is ever-victorious, devourer of hostile multitudes, overpowerer of men, mover and fighter, growing by delight; he piles up the right and smites, active among clans. The poet proclaims Indra’s heroic deeds.
Inner meaning
Indra is the constant victor (satrāsāha) who consumes masses of hostile impulses (janabhakṣa)—the swarming lower movements that feed on consciousness. He overpowers the ‘men’ within (janaṃsaha)—the competing personality-forces. As the mover (cyavana) and fighter (yudhman), he advances the transformation; yet he ‘grows by delight’ (anu joṣam ukṣitaḥ): true victory is sustained by inner Ananda, not grim strain. He ‘piles up vṛta’ (vṛtaṃcayaḥ) understood in the Aurobindonian line as the accumulation/establishment of the Right (vṛta ~ vṛta/vrata as right law/true working), and he smites the resistances; active in the many life-parts (vikṣu), he organizes them for the one work.
Universal truth
Lasting change requires both force and joy: the power that conquers must also be nourished by delight, and must reorder the many parts of life into a single right movement.
Themes
proclamation of Indra’s deeds, Ṛta-building, victory and social protection, inner warfare
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (Bhr̥gu lineage)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.21, Rig Veda 2.12, Rig Veda 2.20
Family tradition
A tradition of inspired speech as effective force; the hymn’s style—stacked epithets—mirrors a deliberate building of power through mantra.
Significance
The rishi emphasizes Indra’s psychology of transformation: victory over swarms of impulses, ordering of life-parts, and growth through Ananda.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- satrāsāha, janabhakṣa, janaṃsaha, cyavana, yudhman, joṣam-ukṣita, vṛtaṃcaya, sahuri, vikṣv ārita
- Related deities
- Soma (joṣa/ananda nourishment), Maruts (battle energies), Bṛhaspati (ordering by word)
Cosmic role
Victorious power that maintains the gods’ order by defeating hostile forces; organizer of the many into a unified ṛta.
Inner power
Heroic illumination that integrates the personality and feeds on delight to sustain long transformation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise within Soma ritual cycles; proclamation of vīrya (heroic powers) as part of stotra tradition
स॒त्रा॒सा॒हो ज॑नभ॒क्षो ज॑नंस॒हश्च्यव॑नो यु॒ध्मो अनु॒ जोष॑मुक्षि॒तः । वृ॒तं॒च॒यः सहु॑रिर्वि॒क्ष्वा॑रि॒त इन्द्र॑स्य वोचं॒ प्र कृ॒तानि॑ वी॒र्या॑ ॥
स॒त्रा॒ऽस॒हः । ज॒न॒ऽभ॒क्षः । ज॒न॒म्ऽस॒हः । च्यव॑नः । यु॒ध्मः । अनु॑ । जोष॑म् । क्षि॒तः । वृ॒त॒म्ऽच॒यः । सहु॑रिः । वि॒क्षु । आ॒रि॒तः । इन्द्र॑स्य । वोच॑म् । प्र । कृ॒तानि॑ । वी॒र्या॑ ॥
satrāsahaḥ | jana-bhakṣaḥ | janam-sahaḥ | cyavanaḥ | yudhmaḥ | anu | joṣam | kṣitaḥ | vṛtam-cayaḥ | sahuriḥ | vikṣu | āritaḥ | indrasya | vocam | pra | kṛtāni | vīryā
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4 × ~11 syllables
Strong marching cadence with a brief softening around ‘joṣam’ (delight), then returning to force.
Balances vigor with a subtle sweetness; encourages perseverance without harshness.
- सत्रासाह (satrāsāha)
- Literal: ever-victorious. Symbolic: steady mastery over recurrent inner resistance
- जनभक्ष (janabhakṣa)
- Literal: devourer of peoples. Symbolic: consuming hostile swarms of impulses and distractions
- जनंसह (janaṃsaha)
- Literal: overpowerer of men. Symbolic: mastery over inner personality-forces and ego-claims
- च्यवन (cyavana)
- Literal: mover, shaker. Symbolic: dynamic force that dislodges fixed inertia
- युध्म (yudhman)
- Literal: fighter. Symbolic: courageous battling energy in sādhanā
- जोष (joṣa)
- Literal: delight, pleasure. Symbolic: Ananda as nourishment of spiritual effort
- उक्षित (ukṣita)
- Literal: grown, increased. Symbolic: inner power augmented by delight
- वृतंचय (vṛtaṃcaya)
- Literal: one who piles up vṛta. Symbolic: builder of the right law/order in consciousness
- सहुरि (sahuri)
- Literal: smiting, overpowering. Symbolic: decisive striking force against obstruction
- विक्षु आरित (vikṣv ārita)
- Literal: active/raised among clans. Symbolic: working through all parts of the being (mind-life-body communities)
Recitative praise (śastra-like) enumerating Indra’s functions; supports the Soma rite by affirming Indra’s vīrya.
When recounting Indra’s deeds to strengthen the efficacy of the offering and the sacrificer’s resolve.
Recital as laud (stuti) to ‘make present’ Indra’s power in the rite.
For long-term discipline: recite when motivation wanes; it reconnects effort (yudhman) with joy (joṣa).
janabhakṣa ‘people-devourer’: √bhakṣ ‘eat’ (intensified consuming of hostile forces). cyavana from √cyu ‘to move, fall, dislodge’. yudhma from √yudh ‘fight’ (PIE *h₁eudʰ- ‘to fight’). joṣa from √juṣ ‘to enjoy, approve, delight in’. ṛtaṃ-caya from ṛtá ‘right order’ + √ci ‘pile, gather’ (PIE *key- ‘set in motion/accumulate’ is debated; √ci is well-attested Indo-Aryan). vīrya from vīra ‘hero/man’ (PIE *wiHrós ‘man’).
Ṛta as accumulated order (ṛtaṃcaya), joṣa as inner consent/delight enabling growth, heroic potency (vīrya) as spiritual force
Indra’s work is to accumulate and stabilize the right working in the many ‘clans’ of life.
Heroic powers (vīryā) are truth-powers when aligned to ṛta, not ego-force.
Integration: many-formed life is reorganized into one victorious order; delight becomes creative fuel.
Integral Yoga reading: transformation requires both tapas and ananda; ordering of parts into a higher harmony.
Battle = inner struggle; growth = increase of consciousness-force; clans = multiple subpersonalities/energies to be harmonized.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the builder of Ṛta and breaker of hostile collectivities: he dislodges fixed darkness and establishes right order. Inner sense: the force that, supported by delight (joṣa), gathers the law of truth in the being and defeats obstructing habits.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yudh ‘fight’ corresponds to Indo-Iranian martial vocabulary and is commonly linked to PIE *h₁eudʰ- ‘to fight’ (cf. Germanic *ud- in battle-related semantics is uncertain; Avestan has cognate forms). √bhakṣ ‘eat’ continues a common IE motif of ‘devouring’ enemies as metaphor for conquest.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi acts as herald (vocaṃ pra) of Indra’s already ‘accomplished’ powers (kṛtāni vīryā), implying trust in a perennial divine action. The speech is not mere praise but a mental formation that aligns the clan-mind (vikṣu) with Ṛta through Indra.
Integrate effort with delight: feel a quiet joy behind the will that fights distraction; let Indra organize the many parts of you.
Anāhata (joy/joṣa) supporting Maṇipūra (heroic will)
Inhale: ‘joṣa’ (receive delight); exhale: ‘satrāsāha’ (release victory-force). Repeat 12 cycles, then chant 3–9 times.
Sustained aspiration with inner sweetness; less strain, more steady power.
When inner conflict arises among desires, duties, and ideals, chant and then list the ‘clans’ within you. Offer them to the higher mind; choose one right action (ṛta-step) immediately after.
Tri-svara; keep the cadence steady; allow a gentle softening on ‘joṣam’ before resuming force.
Mark compound epithets clearly; avoid rushing the middle phrase ‘anu joṣam ukṣitaḥ’—let it ‘bloom’.
(janabhakṣaḥ): aspirate ‘khṣ’ cluster carefully (k + ṣ), (janaṃsahaḥ): nasal ‘ṃ’ before ‘s’, (cyavanaḥ): ‘cy’ as ‘chya’ without extra vowel, (vṛtaṃcayaḥ): syllabic ‘ṛ’ in vṛ-; nasal ‘ṃc’, (vikṣvā): retroflex ‘kṣ’
Heroic but not harsh; steady resonance with a brief warm tone on the ‘delight’ phrase.
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