Rig Veda 2.21.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 21, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.21
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अनानुदो वृषभो दोधतो वधो गम्भीर ऋष्वो असमष्टकाव्यः । रध्रचोदः श्नथनो वीळितस्पृथुरिन्द्रः सुयज्ञ उषसः स्वर्जनत् ॥
anānudó vṛṣabhó dódhato vadhó gambhīrá ṛ́ṣvo asamaṣṭa-kāvyaḥ | radhra-codáḥ śnáthano vīḷitáspṛthur índraḥ su-yajñá uṣásaḥ svàr janat ||
వెనక్కు నెట్టలేనివాడు—ఆ వృషభ ఇంద్రుడు; కంపించే శత్రువుకు అతని ప్రహారశక్తి గంభీరమూ, ఉన్నతమూ; ప్రేరిత వాక్యంలో అతడు సాటిలేనివాడు; సూటి మార్గగతిని ప్రేరేపించి, ప్రతిఘటనను చూర్ణం చేసి, విస్తృతంగా దూరం వరకూ వ్యాపించువాడు—ఉషస్సుల కొరకు ప్రకాశమయ స్వర్లోకాన్ని ప్రదర్శించాడు.
Word by Word
- अ॒ना॒नु॒दः
- unyielding, not to be repelledAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root अनानुद् (प्रातिपदिक; न-आनुद् ‘not-repelling/unyielding’)
- वृषभः
- bull (mighty one)Noun (used as epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (इन्द्रः)Root वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक) < वृष्
- दोधतः
- shaking, causing to trembleParticiple (adjectival)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root दुध् (धातु) → दोधत् (वर्त. कृदन्त/प्र. कृदन्त) प्रत्यय -अत्
- वधः
- slaying; slayerNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā/विशेष्य (इन्द्रस्य ‘slayer’ अर्थे)Root वध (प्रातिपदिक) < वध्
- गम्भीरः
- deep, profoundAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root गम्भीर (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋष्वः
- lofty, greatAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root ऋष्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- असमष्टकाव्यः
- not (needing to be) hymned/poetically arranged; beyond compositionAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root अ-समष्ट-काव्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘not composed/arranged as a poem’)
- रध्रचोदः
- impeller against harm; driver away of injuryNoun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root रध्र-चोद (प्रातिपदिक; रध्र ‘harm/defect’ + चोद ‘impeller’)
- श्नथनः
- crusher, breakerAgent-noun (adjectival)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root श्नथ् (धातु) → श्नथन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त ‘breaker’)
- वीळितस्पृथुः
- broad (in power) against the closed/fortified (places); wide-rangingAdjective (compound epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root वीळित-स्पृथु (प्रातिपदिक; वीळित ‘closed/fastened, stronghold’ + स्पृथु ‘broad’)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुयज्ञः
- of good sacrifice; well-worshippedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root सु-यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; सु ‘good’ + यज्ञ ‘sacrifice’)
- उषसः
- of DawnNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम् (वेदे बहुधा ‘उषसः’ = उषसः ‘of Dawn’)Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)Root उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वः
- heaven; the light (of heaven)Indeclinable/Noun (Vedic)अव्ययम् (गत्यर्थ/लक्ष्यार्थे)Role Karma (लक्ष्य/प्राप्य-रूपेण)Root स्वर्/स्वः (अव्यय/नाम; ‘heaven, light’)
- अजनत्
- generated, producedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)Root जन् (धातु) — लुङ् (अorist) 3 एकवचनम्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): अनानुदः | वृषभः | दोधतः | वधः | गम्भीरः | ऋष्वः | असमष्टकाव्यः || रध्रचोदः | श्नथनः | वीळितस्पृथुः | इन्द्रः | सुयज्ञः | उषसः | स्वः | अजनत् । मुख्य सन्धि/समास: (1) असमष्टकाव्यः = अ-समष्ट-काव्यः (नञ्-समास/बहुव्रीह्यादि-विशेषणरूपेण)। (2) रध्रचोदः = रध्र + चोदः (तत्पुरुष-समास)। (3) वीळितस्पृथुः = वीळित + स्पृथुः (समास; ‘वीळित’ = बन्द/दृढ/दुर्ग-भाव)
- (4) उषसः स्वः अजनत्—‘उषसः’ षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः (‘उषसः [समये/हेतोः]’), ‘स्वः’ कर्मवत् लक्ष्यरूपेण।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra cannot be driven back, a bull; deep and lofty in smiting the shaking adversary; unmatched in inspired speech; impelling the straight course, crushing resistance, wide—he brought forth the luminous world for the Dawns.
Inner meaning
Indra is the irreversible forward power (anānuda) of the illumined Mind—once awakened, it refuses regression. As vṛṣabha (bull), he embodies concentrated strength. His smiting is ‘deep and lofty’ (gambhīra, ṛṣva): it works in the subconscient depth and the heights of mind. ‘Unmatched in inspired word’ (asamaṣṭa-kāvya) indicates that true mantra-knowledge is intrinsic to illumination. He impels the straight path (radhracodaḥ) — the inner alignment to ṛta — and crushes the compacted resistance (vīḻita-spṛt, śnathana). The result is the birth of svar (luminous world) for the Dawns: the emergence of repeated illuminations (uṣasaḥ) in the consciousness, not a single flash but a new world-state.
Universal truth
Real progress is irreversible when it reaches both depth and height. Illumination must become a new ‘world’ in us—stable, repeatable dawns of clarity—by crushing the resistance that distorts the straight path.
Themes
dawn and light manifestation, Indra as crusher of resistance, kavi/kāvya inspiration, expansiveness (pṛthu)
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (Bhr̥gu lineage)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.21, Rig Veda 2.3, Rig Veda 2.12
Family tradition
Bhārgava emphasis on inspired speech (kāvya) appears here: Indra’s victory is inseparable from mantra and right direction (ṛta-path).
Significance
The rishi links Indra’s force to the birth of dawns—suggesting a psychology of repeated awakening and stabilization of light.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- anānuda, vṛṣabha, gambhīra, ṛṣva, asamaṣṭakāvya, radhracoda, śnathana, pṛthu, suyajña
- Related deities
- Uṣas, Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Establisher of svar (luminous world) and helper of Uṣas; crusher of resistance; impeller of right movement.
Inner power
Irreversible illumined will that acts in depth and height, bringing stable dawns of clarity.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise in Soma contexts; also suitable as a stotra for invoking dawn-like clarity and victorious alignment
अ॒ना॒नु॒दो वृ॑ष॒भो दोध॑तो व॒धो ग॑म्भी॒र ऋ॒ष्वो अस॑मष्टकाव्यः । र॒ध्र॒चो॒दः श्नथ॑नो वीळि॒तस्पृ॒थुरिन्द्र॑: सुय॒ज्ञ उ॒षस॒: स्व॑र्जनत् ॥
अ॒न॒नु॒ऽदः । वृ॒ष॒भः । दोध॑तः । व॒धः । ग॒म्भी॒रः । ऋ॒ष्वः । अस॑मष्टऽकाव्यः । र॒ध्र॒ऽचो॒दः । श्नथ॑नः । वी॒ळि॒तः । पृ॒थुः । इन्द्रः॑ । सु॒ऽय॒ज्ञः । उ॒षसः॑ । स्वः॑ । ज॒न॒त् ॥
ananu-daḥ | vṛṣabhaḥ | dodhataḥ | vadhaḥ | gambhīraḥ | ṛṣvaḥ | asamaṣṭa-kāvyaḥ | radhra-codaḥ | śnathanaḥ | vīḷitaḥ | pṛthuḥ | indraḥ | su-yajñaḥ | uṣasaḥ | svaḥ | janat
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4 × ~11 syllables
Majestic and weighty; long vowels and heavy consonant clusters convey ‘depth’ and ‘crushing’.
Creates a sense of immovable strength and widening clarity; supportive for breaking inertia.
- अनानुद (anānuda)
- Literal: not to be driven back. Symbolic: irreversible spiritual momentum; no relapse into old darkness
- वृषभ (vṛṣabha)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: concentrated strength of will and illumination
- गम्भीर (gambhīra)
- Literal: deep. Symbolic: action in the subconscient depth
- ऋष्व (ṛṣva)
- Literal: lofty, high. Symbolic: ascent to higher mind/overmind-like height
- काव्य (kāvya)
- Literal: poetic inspiration. Symbolic: mantric knowledge; inspired speech as truth-force
- रध्रचोद (radhracoda)
- Literal: impeller of the straight course. Symbolic: force that aligns nature to ṛta, right movement
- श्नथन (śnathana)
- Literal: crusher, smasher. Symbolic: breaking hard knots of resistance
- वीळित (vīḻita)
- Literal: compressed, compacted. Symbolic: dense obstruction in the subconscient/vital
- स्वः (svaḥ)
- Literal: luminous heaven. Symbolic: world of truth-light established in consciousness
- उषसः (uṣasaḥ)
- Literal: dawns. Symbolic: recurring illuminations; awakenings that reveal the path
Indra praise highlighting his role in bringing svar (light) for uṣas; recited as part of Soma laud sequences.
When seeking Indra’s protection and right leading of the rite; thematically linked with dawn invocations as well.
Recitation with offerings; mentally ‘opening’ the luminous world (svar) as a field for the sacrifice.
Chant at the start of the day or before meditation to establish irreversible forward momentum and invite repeated ‘dawns’ of insight.
an-anudá: privative + √nud ‘push, drive’ → ‘not repulsed’. vṛṣabha ‘bull’ from √vṛṣ ‘to rain, be virile’ (overflowing force). vadha ‘smiting’ from √vadh ‘strike/kill’. gambhīra ‘deep’ (metaphor of profundity). ṛṣva ‘high’. kāvya from kavi ‘seer-poet’ (root √ku/√kav ‘to see, be wise’). śnathana from √śnath ‘crush’. √jan ‘beget, generate’ (PIE *ǵenh₁-; cf. Latin gignere, English kin).
manifestation of Light (svar) into consciousness, perfecting sacrifice (su-yajña) as inner integration, irresistible will (anānuda)
radhracodaḥ: the power that compels the being into right alignment and prevents deviation.
svar-jana: the generation of a truth-world within consciousness.
World-birth: luminous world is ‘generated’ for the dawns—creation as awakening and stabilization of light.
Upward ascent and downward action: illumination establishes a new plane and reforms the lower nature.
dawn
Bull = concentrated force; dawn = awakening illumination; sky = higher mind; crushing = removal of dense subconscient knots; straight path = ṛta alignment.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra ‘generates svar for the Dawns’: a cosmogonic/psychogonic motif where the victorious power brings out the luminous world so illumination can arise. Inner sense: Indra’s force births a higher light-plane in the being, enabling successive dawnings of awareness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √jan ‘generate’ is a clear PIE inheritance (*ǵenh₁-). The bull symbol (vṛṣabha) resonates with widespread IE poetic imagery of virile, overflowing power associated with storm gods.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi frames Indra not only as warrior but as illuminator and sacrificer (su-yajña). The reciprocal bond is: human offers the right sacrifice (outer and inner), Indra responds by widening and deepening consciousness and bringing forth svar for the dawning perceptions.
Establish irreversible forward movement; visualize the ‘straight path’ in mind and action; invite dawn-clarity repeatedly.
Ājñā (clarity/command) with Sahasrāra orientation (lofty ṛṣva)
Slow-meditative breathing; on inhale feel ‘svar’ widening above the head; on exhale feel ‘śnathana’ crushing a knot in the belly/subconscient.
Widened luminous poise with firm will; calm strength.
Use when you feel regression. Chant 3 times slowly; then sit and imagine a dawn spreading behind the forehead, while a dense dark knot below loosens and breaks.
Tri-svara; maintain weight on heavy clusters; let the cadence broaden on ‘pṛthuḥ’ (wide).
Keep ‘anānudo vṛṣabho’ firm and grounded; slightly expand the tone on ‘svar janat’ to convey ‘world-birth’.
(anānudaḥ): long ‘ā’ at start; dental ‘d’, (dodhataḥ): repeat ‘do’ clearly, (gambhīra): nasal ‘mbh’ cluster, (ṛṣva): syllabic ‘ṛ’; ‘ṣv’ cluster, (śnathanaḥ): ‘śn’ conjunct; avoid inserting vowel, (vīḻita): careful retroflex ‘ḻ’ sound; if unavailable, approximate with clear retroflex lateral quality
Deep, steady, authoritative; end with a luminous lift on the dawn-world phrase.
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