Rig Veda 2.16.1: Mandala 2, Sukta 16, Mantra 1
Sukta 2.16
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada Bhārgava
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
प्र वः सतां ज्येष्ठतमाय सुष्टुतिमग्नाविव समिधाने हविर्भरे । इन्द्रमजुर्यं जरयन्तमुक्षितं सनाद्युवानमवसे हवामहे ॥
prá vaḥ satā́ṃ jyéṣṭhatamāya suṣṭutím agnā́v iva samidhāné havírbhare | índram ajúryaṃ járayantam ukṣitáṃ sanā́d yúvānam aváse havāmahe ||
Вперёд для вас несу я прекрасную хвалу — как приносят возлияние к возжжённому Агни, — Индре, старейшему среди праведных. Индру — неувядающего, вновь и вновь обновляющегося, исполненного изобильной силы, древнего и всё же юного — призываем мы на помощь и в защиту.
Word by Word
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableupasarga (preverb)Root प्र (upasarga)
- वः
- of you / yourPronoungenitive pluralRole सम्प्रदान (beneficiary/possessor)Root युष्मद्
- सताम्
- of the good/true onesNoun/Adjectivegenitive plural (m./n.)Role सम्बन्ध (genitival relation)Root सत् (प्रा. √अस् ‘to be’)
- ज्येष्ठतमाय
- to the most eminent/eldestAdjectivedative singular masculineRole सम्प्रदानRoot ज्येष्ठतम (superl. of ज्येष्ठ)
- सुष्टुतिम्
- well-formed praise (hymn)Nounaccusative singular feminineRole कर्मRoot सु-ष्टुति (from √स्तु ‘to praise’)
- अग्नौ
- in/at AgniNounlocative singular masculineRole अधिकरणRoot अग्नि
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableparticle of comparisonRoot इव
- समिधाने
- when kindled / in the kindlingParticiple/Adjectivelocative singular masculine (present middle participle sense: ‘being kindled’)Role अधिकरणRoot समि-धा (kṛdanta from √धा ‘to place’, with सम्) / समिध् ‘kindling’ (ritual term)
- हविर्भरे
- at the bringing/oblation-bearing (rite)Noun (compound)locative singular masculineRole अधिकरणRoot हविर्भर (havis + √भृ ‘to bear/bring’)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounaccusative singular masculineRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र
- अजुर्यम्
- unaging, undecayingAdjectiveaccusative singular masculineRole विशेषण (of कर्म: इन्द्रम्)Root अजुर्य (a- + जुर्य, from √जॄ/जुर् ‘to grow old, decay’)
- जरयन्तम्
- wearing down (the enemy), making (them) witherParticipleaccusative singular masculine (present active participle)Role विशेषण (of कर्म: इन्द्रम्)Root जरयन्त् (causative present participle from √जॄ/जर् ‘to make old/consume’; Vedic: ‘wearing down (foes)’)
- उक्षितम्
- strengthened/anointedParticipleaccusative singular masculineRole विशेषण (of कर्म: इन्द्रम्)Root उक्षित (PPP from √वक्ष्/उक्ष् ‘to sprinkle, anoint; to strengthen’)
- सनात्
- from of old, since ancient timesIndeclinableadverbRoot सनात्
- युवानम्
- young, youthfulAdjective/Nounaccusative singular masculineRole विशेषण (of कर्म: इन्द्रम्)Root युवान्
- अवसे
- for help, for protectionNoundative singular neuterRole सम्प्रदान (purpose/benefit)Root अवस् (from √अव ‘to help/protect’)
- हवामहे
- we invoke/callVerbpresent indicative, 1st person plural, middle (ātmanepada)Role क्रिया (main verb)Root √ह्वा (Vedic: √ह्वे) ‘to call, invoke’
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: (1) वः + सताम् → वः सताम् (no change)
- (2) सुष्टुतिम् + अग्नौ → सुष्टुतिमग्नौ (m + a → ma)
- (3) अग्नौ + इव → अग्नाविव (au + i → āv i)
- (4) समिधाने + हविर्भरे kept as two padas (ritual locatives)
- (5) इन्द्रम् + अजुर्यम् → इन्द्रमजुर्यम् (m + a → ma)
- (6) सनात् + युवानम् → सनाद्युवानम् (t + y → dy)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet brings a fine hymn forward like an oblation to kindled Agni, calling Indra—eldest of the true, undecaying, ever-renewing, abundantly strengthened, ancient yet young—for help and protection.
Inner meaning
The hymn itself becomes havis: an inner offering. As Agni is kindled, so aspiration is lit; into that flame the seeker pours inspired speech to summon Indra, the foremost power among the ‘sat’ (true beings/true movements). Indra is ajurya (not wasting): the illumined mind does not decay; it renews itself (jarayantam) by constant growth in consciousness. ‘Ancient yet young’ points to the timeless divine principle that is ever fresh in experience. The call is for avas (protection): a guarding and guiding force that enables the inner sacrifice to proceed.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress depends on offering—sincere, luminous speech and intention—into the inner fire. The higher intelligence that leads the journey is timeless and always renewable; when invoked, it protects and strengthens the seeker’s path.
Themes
invocation, Indra as foremost, speech-offering, ever-young power
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada Bhārgava
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.16.2, RV 2.16.3, RV 2.16.4
Family tradition
Bhārgava hymns often treat praise as effective offering; Indra is invoked as protector and renewer of power.
Significance
Sets the keynote of the hymn: invocation through inner sacrifice, seeking Indra’s ever-renewing force and protection.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Satāṃ jyeṣṭha (foremost of the true), Ajurya (undecaying), Ukṣita (abundantly strengthened/poured), Yuvan (ever young)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Champion of truth-forces; receiver of offerings; protector of the sacrificer’s journey.
Inner power
Renewing illumination that grows with use—strengthens will, clears mind, protects from relapse.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation at the opening of a hymn sequence; general Indra-stotra usage.
प्र व॑: स॒तां ज्येष्ठ॑तमाय सुष्टु॒तिम॒ग्नावि॑व समिधा॒ने ह॒विर्भ॑रे । इन्द्र॑मजु॒र्यं ज॒रय॑न्तमुक्षि॒तं स॒नाद्युवा॑न॒मव॑से हवामहे ॥
प्र । वः॒ । स॒ताम् । ज्येष्ठ॑तमाय । सु॒ऽस्तु॒तिम् । अ॒ग्नौऽइ॑व । स॒म्ऽइ॒धा॒ने । ह॒विः । भ॒रे॒ । इन्द्र॑म् । अ॒जु॒र्यम् । ज॒रय॑न्तम् । उ॒क्षि॒तम् । स॒नात् । युवा॑नम् । अव॑से । ह॒वा॒म॒हे॒ ॥
pra | vaḥ | satām | jyeṣṭhatamāya | su-stutim | agnau-iva | sam-idhāne | haviḥ | bhare | indram | ajuryam | jarayantam | ukṣitam | sanāt | yuvānam | avase | havāmahe
44
4 × ~11
Ceremonial forward movement; offering-like cadence with a strong invocation close.
Creates a sense of ‘bringing forward’ and placing an offering; evokes steadiness and uplifting strength.
- अग्नौ इव समिधाने (agnāv iva samidhāne)
- Literal: as in kindled Agni. Symbolic: As aspiration is lit, offering becomes effective
- हविः (havis)
- Literal: oblation. Symbolic: Inner offering—speech, will, sincerity
- सताम् ज्येष्ठतम (satāṃ jyeṣṭhatama)
- Literal: eldest of the true. Symbolic: Foremost guiding intelligence among truth-forces
- अजुर्य (ajurya)
- Literal: undecaying. Symbolic: Stable luminous consciousness not subject to diminishment
- सनाद् युवानम् (sanād yuvānam)
- Literal: ancient, yet young. Symbolic: Timeless principle with ever-fresh awakening
- अवसे (avase)
- Literal: for help/protection. Symbolic: Guardianship of the inner journey
Opening invocation in Indra hymn for Soma pressing; hymn treated as havis offered into the inner/outer fire to draw Indra’s protective force (avase).
At commencement of Indra praise, especially with Agni kindling and Soma contexts.
Recitation as ‘havis’—verbal offering; aligns the sacrificer with protective power.
Use as a prelude mantra before work/effort: invoke non-decaying clarity and protection from dispersion.
: su- + √stu ‘praise’. : loc. of pres. mid. ptc. of √idh ‘kindle’ (PIE *h₁eydʰ- ‘kindle’). : compound with √bhṛ ‘bear, bring’ (PIE *bʰer-). : a- + √jur ‘to wear out, grow old’. : PPP of √ukṣ ‘sprinkle; strengthen/increase’ (also ‘bull’ vṛṣan imagery elsewhere). : 1pl middle of √hū ‘call’.
mantra as offering (vāc as havis), eternal-yet-young divine power (sanād yuvānam), protection/help (ava) as sustaining grace
Right order is maintained by correct offering and right invocation—speech aligned to truth.
The ‘sat’ indicates stable truth-being; Indra as leader of true movements.
Renewal: ancient principle manifesting as fresh strength.
Integral yoga resonance: offering (yajña) as method; ever-young divine power.
dawn/early rite (implied by kindling)
Kindled fire = awakened aspiration; oblation = focused will/speech; poured strength = increased prāṇa and clarity.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The yajña-as-psychic-action mythologem: the hymn is carried like oblation to the kindled fire, invoking Indra as the foremost power for protection. Inner sense: speech-offering kindles the inner fire and calls the illumined force that renews youthfulness of consciousness while wearing down hostile inertia.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √bhṛ ‘to bear/bring’ (haviḥ-bhare) continues PIE *bʰer- (English ‘bear’). √hū ‘call’ (havāmahe) has Indo-Iranian parallels (Avestan zaoθra is different; but vocative/invocation formulas are shared stylistically across IE poetics). The formulaic simile ‘as to Agni’ reflects inherited Indo-European sacrificial poetics where word and offering correspond.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers crafted praise as a substance; Indra is invoked not abstractly but as a living helper (avase). The relationship is pedagogic and protective: the singer sustains the rite through vāc; Indra sustains the singer’s path by force that is both ancient (sanāt) and perpetually fresh (yuvānam).
Offer speech and intention into the inner fire; invoke Indra as protector of clarity.
maṇipūra (inner fire/will) + ājñā (illumined guidance)
3 deep breaths; on exhale silently ‘pra vaḥ…’; then a brief inner offering (one sincere intention).
Collected, energized, protected—ready for action guided by light.
Chant once slowly before practice; visualize a small flame at the navel/heart; place the day’s effort into it as havis and call Indra for avas (guarding clarity).
Tri-svara; keep pra vaḥ as a clear forward impulse; maintain cadence like carrying an offering.
Slight emphasis on jyeṣṭhatamāya and avase; let sanād yuvānam be expansive.
suṣṭutim: ṣṭ cluster clean., samidhāne: clear dh; long ā., ajuryam: keep j voiced; do not soften to ‘zh’., ukṣitam: retroflex ṣ, short i.
Bright, steady, offering-toned; end with a protective firmness on havāmahe.
1
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
