Rig Veda 6.21.1: Mandala 6, Sukta 21, Mantra 1
Sukta 6.21
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
इमा उ त्वा पुरुतमस्य कारोर्हव्यं वीर हव्या हवन्ते । धियो रथेष्ठामजरं नवीयो रयिर्विभूतिरीयते वचस्या ॥
imā u tvā purutamasya kāror havyaṃ vīra havyā havante | dhiyo ratheṣṭhām ajaraṃ navīyo rayir vibhūtir īyate vacasyā ||
Estas oferendas te chamam, ó Herói, da parte do cantor mais rico em plenitude; as oblações te convocam. Os pensamentos inspirados, firmes no caminho do carro, sempre jovens e sem declínio, avançam como rayi — plenitude que tudo permeia — pelo poder da Palavra.
Word by Word
- इमाः
- these (hymns/words)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्म (स्तुतिरूपा गिरः) / विषयRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उ
- indeed / nowIndeclinableनिपात (अवधारण/सम्बोधन-प्राय)Root उ (निपात)
- त्वा
- youPronounद्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- पुरुतमस्य
- of the most bountiful / of the very manyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) — ‘of the most abundant/many’Root पुरुतम (विशेषण; पुरु + तमप्)
- कारोः
- of the singer (poet)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) — ‘of the singer/poet’Root कारु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘कवि/स्तोता’)
- हव्यम्
- oblation / offeringNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot हव्य (प्रातिपदिक; √हु ‘to sacrifice/call’ से)
- वीर
- O heroNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वीर (सम्बोधन-प्रातिपदिक)
- हव्या
- offeringsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (यहाँ कर्म-बहुवचन)Role कर्मRoot हव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- हवन्ते
- they invoke / they callVerbलट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √हू (जुहोति/ह्वयति; ‘to call/invoke’)
- धियः
- insights / prayersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot धि (स्त्री; ‘thought, insight, prayer’)
- रथेष्ठाम्
- (as) chariot-standing / chariot-mountedAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (धियः… [स्तुतिं] रथेष्ठाम्—विशेषणरूपेण) / वैदिक-प्रयोगे कर्मणिRole कर्म (धियः द्वारा अभिप्रेत-स्तुतिः) / विशेषणRoot रथेष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक; रथे + स्था ‘standing on the chariot’, epithet)
- अजरम्
- unaging / undecayingAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म / विशेषणRoot अजर (अ- + जर ‘aging’)
- नवीयः
- newer / ever-freshAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म / विशेषणRoot नवीयस् (तुलनात्मक; नव ‘new’ से)
- रयिः
- wealth / bountyNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot रयि (पुं; ‘wealth, bounty’)
- विभूतिः
- abundance / wide prosperityNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (रयिः… विभूतिः—समास/समन्वय) / विशेषणRoot विभूति (स्त्री; वि-√भू ‘to be, to become’ से ‘abundance, manifestation’)
- ईयते
- goes forth / comesVerbलट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √इ (ईयते; ‘to go, to come, to move’)
- वचस्या
- speech-rich / eloquent (in praise)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (रयिः… वचस्या—विशेषण)Role विशेषणRoot वचस्य (विशेषण; वचस् ‘speech’ से ‘eloquent, of speech’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): इ॒माः उ त्वा पुरु॒तम॑स्य कारोः हव्यम्, वीर, हव्या हवन्ते । धियः रथे॒ष्ठाम् अजरम् नवीयः, रयिः विभूतिः ईयते वचस्या । प्रमुख सन्धि: कारोः+हव्यम् → कारोर्हव्यम् (रेफ-सन्धि)
- रथेष्ठाम्+अजरम् (अनुस्वार/विसर्ग-रहित संयोग)
- रयिः+विभूतिः (इति पद-समन्वय, सन्धि-परिवर्तन नहीं)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Offerings call Indra, the Hero, from a singer rich in plenitude; oblations summon him. Inspired thoughts, set firmly on the chariot-path, ever-young and undecaying, move forward as rayi—an all-pervading abundance—through the power of the word.
Inner meaning
The seeker’s offerings are inner acts: aspiration, self-giving, and clarified intention calling Indra (illumined mind-force). The ‘dhiyas’ are inspired discernments yoked to the right movement (ratha-sthā—firm on the chariot-path): thought becomes a vehicle of the god. Ever-young, undecaying inspiration advances as rayi/vibhūti—spiritual plenitude and expansive capacity—carried by vacas (mantric word).
Universal truth
When thought is inspired and rightly yoked, and speech becomes true mantra, a higher intelligence is drawn in and consciousness expands into plenitude.
Themes
Indra-invocation, Mantra as power, Inner ascent via inspired thought, Plenitude (rayi) and expansion (vibhūti)
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.21.2, RV 6.21.3, RV 6.22.1
Family tradition
Mandala 6 Indra hymns: a lineage of mantra-craft where inspired speech is itself a vehicle (ratha) for the descent of divine powers.
Significance
Bharadvāja frames sacrifice as an inner technology: offerings are states of consciousness; dhī and vacas are instruments for invoking Indra’s luminous action.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Vīra (Hero), Gīrvāhas (carrier of songs), Purutama (most abundant/many-filled—implied by purutamasya)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Sarasvatī (as speech-power, implicit), Maruts
Cosmic role
Receives Soma and hymns; brings wide luminous power and victorious expansion; supports the right movement of the chariot (progress).
Inner power
Illumined mind that responds to mantra and right-directed thought, turning inspiration into effective force and plenitude (rayi).
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation at Soma offering; opening praise in an Indra-sūkta context
इ॒मा उ॑ त्वा पुरु॒तम॑स्य का॒रोर्हव्यं॑ वीर॒ हव्या॑ हवन्ते । धियो॑ रथे॒ष्ठाम॒जरं॒ नवी॑यो र॒यिर्विभू॑तिरीयते वच॒स्या ॥
इ॒माः । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । त्वा॒ । पु॒रु॒ऽतम॑स्य । का॒रोः । हव्य॑म् । वी॒र॒ । हव्याः॑ । ह॒व॒न्ते॒ । धियः॑ । र॒थे॒ऽस्थाम् । अ॒जर॑म् । नवी॑यः । र॒यिः । विऽभू॑तिः । ई॒य॒ते॒ । व॒च॒स्या ॥
imāḥ | oṃ iti | tvā | puru-tamasya | kāroḥ | havyam | vīra | havyāḥ | havante | dhiyaḥ | rathe--sthām | ajaram | navīyaḥ | rayiḥ | vi-bhūtiḥ | īyate | vacasyā
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4×11 syllables (approx.)
Strong, expansive stride; suitable for ‘movement forward’ (īyate) and ‘chariot-path’ imagery.
Gives a sense of forward momentum and widening; stabilizes the mind in a purposeful rhythm.
- हव्यं/हव्याः (havyaṃ/havyāḥ)
- Literal: offering/oblations. Symbolic: acts of inner sacrifice: attention, will, gratitude, self-giving
- वीर (vīra)
- Literal: hero. Symbolic: courageous illumined power within (Indra) that leads progress
- धियः (dhiyo)
- Literal: thoughts, inspirations. Symbolic: intuitive discernments and luminous ideations from higher mind
- रथेऽस्थाम् (rathe-sthām)
- Literal: standing on the chariot. Symbolic: thought fixed in right movement and disciplined direction; mind as vehicle
- अजरम् नवीयः (ajaram navīyaḥ)
- Literal: undecaying, ever-new. Symbolic: renewing inspiration not worn by habit; perennial freshness of truth
- रयिः विभूतिः (rayiḥ vibhūtiḥ)
- Literal: wealth, pervasive abundance. Symbolic: spiritual plenitude; widening of being and capacities
- वचस्या (vacasyā)
- Literal: through/by speech. Symbolic: mantra-śakti: word as power that carries realization
General Indra-invocation in Soma-yajña contexts (e.g., Indra-stotra/śastra usage within Agniṣṭoma-type Soma rites); also applicable as a call for protection and increase of rayi (inner plenitude).
At the start of Indra hymns during Soma pressing/oblation sequences; also for invoking strength before undertakings.
Recitation with offering (ghee/Soma) and affirmation of dhī (inspired intention).
Use as a ‘start mantra’ before study, creative work, or meditation: align thought (dhī) and speech (vacas) to call in clear intelligence and abundance of right results.
Key roots/derivations: (1) √hū ‘to call, invoke’ → havante ‘they invoke’; havya ‘to be invoked/offerable’. (2) kāru ‘poet, singer’ (agent noun; linked to fashioned speech/skill). (3) dhī ‘inspired thought’ (from √dhī/√dhā in the sense of placing/holding the vision; Vedic dhī as illumined intelligence). (4) ratha ‘chariot’ as symbol of dynamic will/force; rathe-sthā ‘standing on the chariot’ = established in the moving power. (5) ajara ‘un-aging’ (a- + jara ‘decay’). (6) navīyas ‘newer’ (comparative of nava ‘new’) used for ever-renewed revelation. (7) rayi ‘wealth’ in RV often denotes plenitude/abundance of force and felicity. (8) vibhūti (vi-√bhū ‘to become, expand into distinct manifestation’) = wide expansion/manifest power. (9) vacas/vāc ‘word’ (√vac ‘to speak’) as formative power of mantra.
R̥ta (right order as the stable path of the inspired dhī), Vāc (mantric speech as creative power), Rayi (plenitude of being/force)
Dhī set on the chariot-path symbolizes mind aligned to ṛta—right direction and rhythm.
Vacas as truth-bearing power: speech that manifests what it knows.
Manifestation through Word: inspired speech carries plenitude into form (rayi/vibhūti).
Vedic mantra-yoga: consciousness expands by inspired thought and word-power invoking divine mind.
Chariot = disciplined vehicle of mind; path = right rhythm of progress; offerings = inner surrender; rayi = widening fullness of being.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The core mythologem is the 'summoning of Indra by offering and hymn'—not a battle scene yet, but the ritual-psychological mechanism by which the Hero-Power is drawn into the human field. The dhī (illumined intelligence) is pictured as chariot-established: the mythic chariot becomes the inner vehicle of progress, and rayi/vibhūti is the resulting expansion of being.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √hū ‘call’ (havante) continues PIE *ḱeuH-/ *ǵʰeuH- type ‘call/cry’ semantic field (Indo-Iranian developments show specialized ritual ‘invoke’). √vac ‘speak’ (vāc/vacas) aligns with PIE *wekʷ- ‘to speak’ (cf. Lat. vox, Engl. voice via Germanic). √bhū ‘become’ (vibhūti) reflects PIE *bʰuH- ‘to be, become’ (cf. Greek phýsis ‘growth/nature’).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The poet (kāru) offers havya through vāc and receives rayi/vibhūti: a reciprocal economy where speech-surrender is the human contribution and Indra’s descent is the answering force. Psychologically, the seer’s dhī becomes the prepared vehicle (ratha) for Indra’s power, yielding an ever-new, undecaying movement of consciousness.
Unify intention (dhī) and mantra (vacas) to invoke Indra’s clear action; feel ‘rayi’ as widening calm strength.
āñjā (brow) for illumined thought; viśuddha (throat) for word-power
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) for 12 rounds; then chant on natural exhale, sensing thought riding the breath like a chariot.
Ever-new clarity (navīyaḥ) with stable forward movement; widening of mind-space.
Before chanting, set one clear inner offering (attention + sincerity). Chant while imagining the mind seated firmly on a luminous chariot-track; after chanting, sit silently and let one inspired direction arise without forcing.
Tri-svara; emphasize udātta on invocative tvā and key nouns (dhíyaḥ, rayíḥ) according to Śākala accents.
Keep caesura after each pāda; let ‘dhiyo ratheṣṭhām’ be articulated as one coherent image (no rushed split).
purutamasya: articulate ṛ lightly (puru-tamasya)., rathéṣṭhām: clear retroflex ṣṭh cluster., ajarám navīyaḥ: keep short a vs long ī distinct., vacas-yā: keep palatal c crisp.
Clear, resonant, slightly uplifting; avoid heaviness—keep ‘ever-new’ freshness.
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