Rig Veda 7.21.6: Mandala 7, Sukta 21, Mantra 6
Sukta 7.21
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
अभि क्रत्वेन्द्र भूरध ज्मन्न ते विव्यङ्महिमानं रजांसि । स्वेना हि वृत्रं शवसा जघन्थ न शत्रुरन्तं विविदद्युधा ते ॥
abhí krátvendra bhū́r ádha jmánn á te vivyag mahimā́naṃ rájāṃsi | svénā hí vṛtráṃ śávasā jaghántha ná śátrur ántaṃ vividád yudhā́ te ||
Por tua vontade, ó Indra, tornaste-te vasto; então tua grandeza se espalhou pelos mundos, pelos espaços. Pois com tua própria força abateste Vṛtra; nenhum inimigo encontrou o limite do teu combate.
Word by Word
- अभि
- towards, untoIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/दिशा)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- क्रत्वे
- in/with (your) resolve, power of willNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot क्रतु-
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot इन्द्र-
- भूर्
- be!, become!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यम पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (मुख्य क्रिया)Root भू (धातु)
- अध
- then, now, moreoverIndeclinableअव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अनुक्रम)Root अध (अव्यय)
- ज्मन्
- on earth; among men (in the world)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (अव्यक्त-रूप)Role Adhikaraṇa (स्थल/क्षेत्र: ‘on earth/among men’)Root ज्मन्-
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)Root त्वद्- (युष्मद्)
- विव्यङ्महि
- we have spread forth / made manifestVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट); उत्तम पुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole Kartā (वयं) / (मुख्य क्रिया)Root व्यच्/विच् (धातु; ‘विस्तार/प्रकाश’), उपसर्ग: वि-
- महिमानम्
- greatness, majestyNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot महिमन्-
- रजांसि
- the spaces/regions (mid-air, realms)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनRole Karma (सह-उद्देश्य/विषय)Root रजस्-
- स्वेन
- by your own (power)Adjective (pronominal)नपुंसक/पुं; तृतीया एकवचन (सामान्यतः ‘स्वेन’ = ‘by your own’)Role KaraṇaRoot स्व-
- हि
- for, indeedIndeclinableअव्यय/निपातRole (सम्बन्ध-बोधक)Root हि (निपात)
- वृत्रम्
- Vṛtra (the obstructor)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वृत्र-
- शवसा
- with might, by strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot शवस्-
- जघन्थ
- you have slainVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट); मध्यम पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (मुख्य क्रिया)Root हन् (धातु)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRole (निषेधक)Root न (अव्यय)
- शत्रुः
- the enemyNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot शत्रु-
- अन्तम्
- end, limitNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अन्त-
- विविदत्
- found, discoveredVerbलङ्/इम्पर्फेक्ट (आर्ष); तृतीय पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (मुख्य क्रिया)Root विद् (धातु ‘जान’), उपसर्ग: वि-
- युधा
- in battle, by fightingIndeclinableअव्यय (प्रकार/साधन: ‘in battle’)Role Adhikaraṇa (स्थितिः/प्रकारः)Root युध्/युधा (अव्यय/इन्स्ट्र. प्रयोग)
- ते
- yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SambandhaRoot त्वद्- (युष्मद्)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): अभि | क्रत्वे | इन्द्र | भूर् | अध | ज्मन् | ते | विव्यङ्महि | महिमानम् | रजांसि | स्वेन | हि | वृत्रम् | शवसा | जघन्थ | न | शत्रुः | अन्तम् | विविदत् | युधा | ते । विशेष: (1) ‘विव्यङ्महि’ = वि- + (व्यच्/विच्) लिट् 1पु.बहु.
- वैदिक रूप में ‘-ङ्-’ आगम/अनुनासिकता। (2) ‘भूर्’ लोट् 2पु.एक ‘भू’ का वैदिक संक्षिप्त रूप। (3) ‘विविदत्’ वैदिक लङ्/आर्ष-इम्पर्फेक्ट 3पु.एक
- ‘वि-विद्’। (4) ‘ज्मन्’ वैदिक शब्द ‘पृथिवी/मनुष्यलोक’ अर्थ में
- रूप प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन-प्रयोग जैसा।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, by his will, became vast and his greatness spread through the worlds; by his own strength he slew Vṛtra, and no enemy has discovered the limit of his battle.
Inner meaning
Indra’s kratú (conscious will/intelligent resolve) is the power of expansion in the being: when the higher Mind awakens, it widens the inner worlds (rajāṃsi) and makes room for a greater life. The slaying of Vṛtra is the decisive breakthrough of the Coverer—subconscient resistance that blocks the flow of light and force. Once this divine battle begins, the hostile formations cannot find its ‘end’—they cannot circumscribe or exhaust the soul’s victorious movement.
Universal truth
True growth is not mere accumulation but an expansion of consciousness governed by a clear will. Breakthroughs come when inner resolve aligns with a higher power; then resistance loses its ability to limit the journey.
Themes
cosmic-expansion, vritra-slaying, divine-will, invincibility
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 7.18, RV 7.19, RV 7.24
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s Indra hymns often join ethical truth (ṛta) with victorious force (śavas), presenting conquest as inner illumination rather than mere outer warfare.
Significance
The seer frames Indra’s cosmic victory as a model for the yogic widening and the decisive breaking of inner obstruction.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- kratumat (of mighty will—implied), vṛtrahan (slayer of Vṛtra), maghavan (bountiful)
- Related deities
- Soma (strengthening delight), Agni (will-flame initiating the sacrifice), Maruts (storm-forces aiding the battle)
Cosmic role
Expander of the worlds; champion who releases the pent-up waters/lights by striking the Coverer.
Inner power
Illuminated mind-will that widens consciousness and executes decisive breakthroughs against inertia and darkness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra hymns in Soma rites; stotra/śastra praising Vṛtrahan
अ॒भि क्रत्वे॑न्द्र भू॒रध॒ ज्मन्न ते॑ विव्यङ्महि॒मानं॒ रजां॑सि । स्वेना॒ हि वृ॒त्रं शव॑सा ज॒घन्थ॒ न शत्रु॒रन्तं॑ विविदद्यु॒धा ते॑ ॥
अ॒भि । क्रत्वा॑ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । भूः॒ । अध॑ । ज्मन् । न । ते॒ । वि॒व्य॒क् । म॒हि॒मान॑म् । रजां॑सि । स्वेन॑ । हि । वृ॒त्रम् । शव॑सा । ज॒घन्थ॑ । न । शत्रुः॑ । अन्त॑म् । वि॒वि॒द॒त् । यु॒धा । ते॒ ॥
abhi | kratvā | indra | bhūḥ | adha | jman | na | te | vivyak | mahimānam | rajāṃsi | svena | hi | vṛtram | śavasā | jaghantha | na | śatruḥ | antam | vividat | yudhā | te
44
4 × ~11
Expansive yet forceful; the cadence mirrors widening followed by a striking blow.
Builds confidence and uplift; felt sense of inner space opening, then a clean decisive cut through heaviness.
- क्रतु (kratu)
- Literal: will, resolve, intelligence. Symbolic: conscious intentional force that organizes the inner sacrifice
- भूर् (bhūr)
- Literal: became vast. Symbolic: widening of consciousness; liberation from cramped ego-structure
- रजांसि (rajāṃsi)
- Literal: spaces/worlds. Symbolic: planes of the being—mental, vital, physical—opened to higher influence
- वृत्र (vṛtra)
- Literal: the Coverer. Symbolic: subconscient obstruction; inertia and darkness blocking the flow
- शवस् (śavas)
- Literal: force, strength. Symbolic: spiritual energy (vīrya) that executes the will
- युधा (yudhā)
- Literal: by battle. Symbolic: inner struggle: disciplined confrontation with resistance
Praise of Indra’s kratú and Vṛtra-slaying; invoked for expansion of consciousness and victory over obstruction
Soma pressing; also suitable for daily japa when confronting stagnation or fear.
Chant with offering intention (inner Soma: collected joy) before meditation.
Use as an ‘expansion + breakthrough’ affirmation before challenging work or inner transformation.
kratú is central: not mere ‘ritual’ but effective will/intelligence (root cluster √kṛ ‘do’ + semantic of power/plan). vivyaj from √vyac ‘extend, pervade’ conveys pervasion across rajāṃsi (worlds/planes). Vṛtra from √vṛ ‘cover’ is the archetypal ‘coverer’; Indra’s śavas is the force that uncovers.
Kratu (effective will/intelligence), Mahimā (expansive greatness), Uncovering of truth (anti-Vṛtra)
Indra’s will upholds ṛta by breaking the Coverer that violates right movement.
Truth manifests as measurable widening and effective conquest of obscuration.
Expansion of the worlds through awakened will; release of blocked flows.
Integral Yoga resonance: widening (bṛhat) and transformation through higher mind-force.
monsoon (mythic storm imagery)
Storm = dynamic illumination; opened spaces = widened mind; released waters = freed life-energy and joy.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra’s Vṛtra-slaying paired with cosmic expansion: by kratu he becomes vast and pervades the worlds; by śavas he kills the Coverer. The inner sense is the widening of consciousness and the decisive breaking of ignorance.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid ‘know/find’ (vividat) = PIE *weyd- ‘see/know’ (Lat. videre). √han (jaghantha) = PIE *gʷhen-. The conceptual pair ‘coverer’ vs. ‘uncovering force’ is expressed through √vṛ (cover) and Indra’s śavas, echoing IE dragon/covering myths.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi contemplates Indra’s limitless battle and pervading greatness to draw that same kratu into the human arena (jman): the god’s cosmic action becomes the template for the seeker’s inner victory and expansion.
Widening (bṛhat-bhāva) and decisive removal of a specific obstruction (Vṛtra) in the practice.
viśuddha (expansive space) / ājñā (decisive illumination)
Box-breath 4-4-4-4 for widening; then long exhale 8 while mentally repeating ‘svenā hi vṛtraṃ…jaghantha’.
Widened, luminous, battle-ready without agitation.
First widen awareness to include body–life–mind as ‘rajāṃsi’. Then identify one ‘covering’ habit; invoke Indra’s will-force to strike it, ending with silent spaciousness.
Maintain udātta prominence on ‘índra’, ‘kratvā́’, ‘mahīmā́nam’, ‘vṛtrám’, ‘jaghántha’.
Let pāda 1 expand (slightly lengthen vowels), pāda 3 strike (crisper consonants) to mirror meaning.
kratvendra: split as ‘kratvā indra’ in articulation, vivyaṅ: nasal ‘ṅ’ before consonant, jaghantha: aspirated ‘th’, yudhā: short u, retroflex ḍh? (here dhā: dental ‘dh’)
Bright, upward, then forceful on the Vṛtra line; end resolute.
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