Rig Veda 8.2.31: Mandala 8, Sukta 2, Mantra 31
Sukta 8.2
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Likely Tr̥ṣṭubh/Jagatī family
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
एवेदेष तुविकूर्मिर्वाजाँ एको वज्रहस्तः । सनादमृक्तो दयते ॥
evéd eṣá tuvi-kūrmír vājā́m̐ éko vájra-hastaḥ | sanā́d amṛ́kto dayate ||
இவ்வாறே இந்தத் துவிகூர்மி—தூரம் வரை வேகமாகப் பாய்வோன்—ஒரே வஜ்ரஹஸ்தன், வலத்தின் செழுமைகள் (வாஜங்கள்) அளிக்கிறான்; ஆதிகாலம் முதலே காயமின்றி இருந்து அவன் தன் தானத்தைப் பகிர்ந்தளிக்கிறான்.
Word by Word
- एव
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root एव (निपात)
- इद्
- surely, indeed (emphatic particle)Indeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root इद् (निपात)
- एष
- this (one), hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- तुविकूर्मिः
- of mighty/abundant waves; strong-surgingAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्) / समनाधिकरणम्Root तुवि- + कूर्मि (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समासः)
- वाजान्
- prizes, strengths, spoilsNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- एकः
- alone, singleAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्) / समनाधिकरणम्Root एक (प्रातिपदिक)
- वज्रहस्तः
- having the thunderbolt in handAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्) / समनाधिकरणम्Root वज्र-हस्त (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समासः)
- सनात्
- from of old, since ancient timesIndeclinableअव्यय (कालवाचकः)Role Adhikaraṇa (कालः)Root सनात् (अव्यय; कालवाचक)
- अमृक्तः
- uninjured, unhurt; unblemishedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्) / समनाधिकरणम्Root अ-मृक्त (कृदन्त/विशेषण; √मृज्/मृक्ष् ‘to wipe/clean’ से नकारार्थक)
- दयते
- he gives/apportions; he shows favorVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमा-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot √दा/दय् (Vedic) ‘to apportion, give; show favor’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: एव | इद् | एष | तुविकूर्मिः | वाजान् | एकः | वज्रहस्तः | सनात् | अमृक्तः | दयते । संहितायाम् ‘एवेदेष’ = ‘एव + इद् + एष’ (इद्-निपातस्य संधौ ‘एव + इद्’ → ‘एवेद्’, ततः ‘एवेद् + एष’ → ‘एवेदेष’)। ‘कूर्मिर्वाजान्’ = ‘कूर्मिः + वाजान्’ (विसर्गस्य रकारादेशः: ः + व् → र्व्)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indeed, this Indra, of far-reaching impetus, the one wielder of the thunderbolt, gives the prizes/strengths; from ancient times, unharmed, he bestows.
Inner meaning
Indra is the single decisive power in the illumined mind (ekaḥ vajrahastaḥ): the capacity to cut through confusion with a lightning discrimination (vajra). Tuvikūrmi suggests a vast, far-thrusting surge—illumination that advances in waves, pressing outward the limits of consciousness. Because this power is ‘uninjured’ (amṛktaḥ), it remains intact through inner battles and can always dispense vājān—effective energies and attainments.
Universal truth
There is a faculty in us that can decide cleanly and break stalemates. When we rely on that higher clarity rather than anxiety, it steadily gives results and renews strength.
Themes
Indra sovereignty, vajra symbolism, victorious force, timeless power
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 8.2.29, RV 8.2.30, RV 8.2.32, RV 8.2.33
Family tradition
Kaṇva Indra hymns frequently present Indra as the singular victorious power who bestows vāja (effective energies) and breaks limits.
Significance
The seer emphasizes Indra’s unity (ekaḥ) and invulnerability (amṛktaḥ): a stable inner reliance on higher discernment that repeatedly grants progress.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- tuvi-kūrmi (far-thrusting), vajra-hasta (thunderbolt-handed), eka (the one), amṛkta (uninjured)
- Related deities
- Maruts (impulsions of force), Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods; breaker of limits; giver of vāja—powers of victory and attainment.
Inner power
Higher discriminative intelligence that acts like lightning: swift, accurate, liberating.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise in Soma liturgy (general) and victory-seeking recitations.
ए॒वेदे॒ष तु॑विकू॒र्मिर्वाजाँ॒ एको॒ वज्र॑हस्तः । स॒नादमृ॑क्तो दयते ॥
ए॒व । इत् । ए॒षः । तु॒वि॒ऽकू॒र्मिः । वाजा॑न् । एकः॑ । वज्र॑ऽहस्तः । स॒नात् । अमृ॑क्तः । द॒य॒ते॒ ॥
eva | it | eṣaḥ | tuvi-kūrmiḥ | vājān | ekaḥ | vajra-hastaḥ | sanāt | amṛktaḥ | dayate
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4 × 12 (probable)
Surging and spacious; supports the sense of ‘onrush’ (kūrmi) and largeness (tuvi).
Energizes decisive clarity; good when one needs to cut through indecision and inertia.
- तु॒वि-कूर्मिः (tuvi-kūrmiḥ)
- Literal: of great/strong onrush, far-impelling wave. Symbolic: vast advancing surge of illumination expanding consciousness
- वाजान् (vājān)
- Literal: prizes, strengths, vital powers. Symbolic: energies of achievement; effective capacities released by illumination
- एकः (ekaḥ)
- Literal: one, sole. Symbolic: the unifying power of higher mind that ends inner division
- वज्रहस्तः (vajra-hastaḥ)
- Literal: thunderbolt-handed. Symbolic: decisive discriminative force that shatters obstruction and falsehood
- सनात् (sanāt)
- Literal: from of old. Symbolic: timeless presence of the higher power in human evolution
- अमृक्तः (amṛktaḥ)
- Literal: unhurt, uninjured. Symbolic: invulnerable clarity that cannot be permanently damaged by turmoil
- दयते (dayate)
- Literal: gives, distributes. Symbolic: spontaneous bestowal of strength when invoked and aligned
Praise-assertion (arthavāda-like): affirms Indra’s singular capacity to grant vāja and remain undefeated—supports confidence in rite and inner battle.
When invoking Indra’s decisive help—before competitive rites, contests, or symbolic ‘battle’ moments in ritual sequences.
Chant to invite vajra-like discrimination and the bestowal of vāja (attainments).
Use before difficult conversations or strategic choices: cultivate clean decision and swift follow-through.
‘much, mighty’ + (kūrmi) ‘wave/surge’ suggests overwhelming impetus. (vajra) ‘bolt’ from √/√ semantic field ‘hard/strong’; in RV it is the decisive weapon of truth-force. (hasta) ‘hand’ (PIE *gʰesr- ‘hand’ is debated; Sanskrit hasta is old IE lexeme). (a-mṛkta) ‘unhurt’ from √/√? Vedic form denotes not harmed/untouched. (day) ‘to give, apportion’ (also ‘to be compassionate’ in later Sanskrit) here ‘dispense’.
indefeasible truth-force (amṛkta) as basis of r̥ta-victory, vāja as fullness of effective energy
Vajra is r̥ta’s weapon—discrimination that restores right order in consciousness.
The uninjured power is satya-based: it persists because it is founded on truth, not ego-reaction.
Expansion by onrush: consciousness grows by waves of illumination that widen the field.
Integral yogic psychology: Indra as faculty of luminous mind and executive discernment.
monsoon imagery (symbolic)
Lightning = sudden discrimination; storm-surge = powerful advance of consciousness breaking stagnation.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the unique vajra-bearer who dispenses vāja: mythically the thunder-wielder; psychologically the single decisive power of illumined will that breaks confusion and releases plenitude of force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The weapon-epithet construction (vajra-hasta) parallels IE heroic formulae (‘X-handed’). The distributive verb ‘gives/apportions’ is a common IE praise predicate. The intensifier tuvi- is an archaic Vedic amplificatory prefix-like element.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asserts Indra’s timeless invulnerability (sanād amṛkta) to ground faith and inner confidence. This is a psychological reinforcement: by recognizing the indestructible truth-force, the seeker aligns with it and receives vāja as energized capacity for right action.
Invoke the ‘one clear decision’ in the mind; let it cut through competing impulses.
ājñā (discernment) with support from maṇipūra (executive power)
Short ‘vajra-breath’: inhale 3, exhale 3, 12 rounds—then chant once slowly, once briskly.
Decisive illumination (prakaśa with vīrya).
After chanting, pick the single most truthful next action (ekaḥ). Do it immediately; treat hesitation as Vṛtra’s subtle cover.
Notated svaras not provided; keep a pronounced rise on vajra-hastaḥ and a decisive fall at dayate.
Stress: túvi-kūrmiḥ, vājā́n, ékaḥ, vájra-hastáḥ, sanā́t, amṛ́ktaḥ, dáyate.
tuvikūrmih: keep long ū; cluster rm, vājān: long ā; nasalization minimal unless indicated by anusvāra in your tradition, vajrahastaḥ: ‘jra’ cluster; dental ‘t’ in -staḥ, amṛktaḥ: vocalic ṛ; ‘kt’ crisp
Clear, bright, cutting—like a bell tone; avoid heaviness.
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