Rig Veda 3.45.2: Mandala 3, Sukta 45, Mantra 2
Sukta 3.45
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
वृत्रखादो वलंरुजः पुरां दर्मो अपामजः । स्थाता रथस्य हर्योरभिस्वर इन्द्रो दृळ्हा चिदारुजः ॥
vṛtrakhādó valaṃrujáḥ purā́ṃ darmó apām ajáḥ | sthātā́ ráthasya háryor abhisvará índro dṛḷhā́ cid ārujáḥ ||
వృత్ర-ఖాద (వృత్ర-ఆవరణాలను భక్షించేవాడు), వల-రుజ (వల-ఆవరణాన్ని ఛేదించేవాడు), పురాం-దర్మ (పురాలను చీల్చేవాడు), అపామజ (అప్సు—జలప్రవాహాలను ప్రేరేపించేవాడు): హర్యోరథంపై నిలిచి, అభిస్వర (గర్జనమయ దాడి)తో ఇంద్రుడు దృఢంగా నిలిచినదానినీ చూర్ణం చేస్తాడు.
Word by Word
- वृत्रखादः
- Vṛtra-devouringAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धे इन्द्रस्य)Root वृत्र- (प्रातिपदिक) + खाद (कृदन्त, √खाद् ‘खादने’)
- वलम्
- the cave/stone enclosure (Vala)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (रुजः इत्यस्य)Root वल (प्रातिपदिक)
- रुजः
- (thou/he) didst break / hast brokenVerbलिट् (परोक्सभूत), मध्यम/प्रथम?—वैदिके लिट्-रूपं; 2/3 एकवचन-प्रयोगः (स्तुत्यर्थे), परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot √रुज् (रुजोँ) ‘भङ्गे/विदारणे’
- पुराम्
- fortressesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्म (दर्मः इत्यस्य)Root पुर्/पुरा (प्रातिपदिक ‘नगर/दुर्ग’)
- दर्मः
- the splitter/breacherNoun (agent/epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/विशेष्य (इन्द्रः)Root दर्म (प्रातिपदिक; ‘भेदक/विदारक’, इन्द्र-विशेषण)
- अपाम्
- of the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (अजः इत्यस्य)Root अप् (प्रातिपदिक ‘जल’)
- अजः
- the impeller/driver (of the waters)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/विशेष्य (इन्द्रः)Root अज (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अज’ = ‘प्रेरक/चालक’ वैदिके, इन्द्र-विशेषण)
- स्थाता
- the establisher/one who standsNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/विशेष्य (इन्द्रः)Root √स्था ‘तिष्ठति’ + तृ (कृदन्त)
- रथस्य
- of the chariotNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (स्थाता इत्यस्य)Root रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- हर्योः
- of the two bay steedsNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, द्विवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (रथस्य/अभिस्वरः इत्यादि)Root हरि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘हरि’ = इन्द्रस्य अश्वः)
- अभिस्वरः
- the loud-sounding/roaring oneNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/विशेष्य (इन्द्रः)Root अभि- + स्वर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘स्वर’ = नाद/स्वर, ‘अभिस्वर’ = ‘उच्चनाद/घोष’)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (मुख्य)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- दृळ्हा
- firm/strong (ones)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया/प्रथमा बहुवचन?—अत्र ‘दृळ्हा (पुरः)’ इति कर्मविशेषणं; द्वितीया बहुवचन-प्रयोगः (पुराम् अन्वयः)Role कर्म-विशेषण (पुराम्)Root दृळ्ह (प्रातिपदिक; ‘दृढ’ वैदिक-रूप)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role सम्बन्ध/निपात (अपि/एव-भावे)Root चित् (अव्यय)
- आरुजः
- thou/he hast shatteredVerbलिट् (परोक्सभूत), एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् (स्तुत्यर्थे)Role क्रियाRoot आ- + √रुज् ‘भङ्गे/विदारणे’
Sandhi Notes
- मन्त्रपाठे ‘व॑लंरु॒जः’ इति संहितायां वलम् + रुजः (अकारान्त-नपुं. द्वितीया एक. + लिट्-रूप) इति पदच्छेदः। ‘हर्यो॑रभिस्व॒र’ = हर्योः + अभिस्वरः (विसर्ग-लोपः/स्वर-संधिः)। ‘दृ॒ळ्हा चि॑दारु॒जः’ = दृळ्हा + चित् + आरुजः (निपात ‘चित्’ परतः ‘आ-’ आरम्भः)। शेषपदानि संहितायामेव पदरूपाणि।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra devours Vṛtra, breaks Vala, splits cities, drives forth the waters; standing on the chariot of the tawny powers with resounding onset, he shatters even the firmly fixed.
Inner meaning
A concentrated psychological portrait of Indra’s victory-work. Vṛtra is the ‘coverer’—the mass of subconscient resistance that blocks the flow of light and joy. Vala is the enclosure that pens the cows (rays of knowledge) in darkness; breaking Vala is releasing hidden illuminations. ‘Cities’ (purāḥ) are rigid formations of the ego-nature—habitual structures that defend obscurity. ‘Waters’ are the flowing energies of consciousness (inspiration, wideness, delight) whose ‘birth’ is obstructed until Indra drives them out. Mounted on the chariot of harī (luminous action-forces), Indra advances with abhisvara (resounding, decisive onset) and breaks even what seems immovable—deep-seated samskāras and fixed falsehoods.
Universal truth
Freedom and knowledge require a force that can confront entrenched resistance. Illumined intelligence, when allied with dynamic energies, can break the most fixed inner structures and release the long-blocked streams of consciousness.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying, Vala-breaking, Fortress-splitting, Waters-release, Indra’s irresistible force
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra
- Other hymns
- RV 1.32 (parallel mythic-psychological theme), RV 3.44 (Indra’s sustaining), RV 3.45 (this victory sequence)
Family tradition
The Viśvāmitra Indra hymns are classic sources for the Vṛtra/Vala symbolism later used by Sri Aurobindo to articulate the psychology of liberation and illumination.
Significance
Viśvāmitra’s ‘battle hymns’ are inner warfare manuals: they describe how illumination acts against subconscious resistance and releases the ‘waters’ and ‘cows’—streams and rays of awakened consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- vṛtrahan/vṛtrakhāda (slayer/devourer of Vṛtra), vala-bhid (breaker of Vala), vajrin (wielder of vajra—implied by the victory function)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (opener of the cave of cows), Sarasvatī (flow of inspired speech/waters), Maruts (storming energies)
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods; liberator of light and waters; destroyer of demonic resistance to r̥ta.
Inner power
Force of illumined mind that attacks and dissolves obstruction, releasing inspiration and knowledge into the system.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra victory-stotra in Soma ritual; often aligned with moments of energizing the sacrifice and overcoming obstacles.
वृ॒त्र॒खा॒दो व॑लंरु॒जः पु॒रां द॒र्मो अ॒पाम॒जः । स्थाता॒ रथ॑स्य॒ हर्यो॑रभिस्व॒र इन्द्रो॑ दृ॒ळ्हा चि॑दारु॒जः ॥
वृ॒त्र॒ऽखा॒दः । व॒ल॒म्ऽरु॒जः । पु॒राम् । द॒र्मः । अ॒पाम् । अ॒जः । स्थाता॑ । रथ॑स्य । हर्योः॑ । अ॒भि॒ऽस्व॒रे । इन्द्रः॑ । दृ॒ळ्हा । चि॒त् । आ॒ऽरु॒जः ॥
vṛtra-khādaḥ | valam-rujaḥ | purām | darmaḥ | apām | ajaḥ | sthātā | rathasya | haryoḥ | abhi-svare | indraḥ | dṛḷhā | cit | ārujaḥ
24
3×8 (probable)
Hammer-like epithets; rapid succession of compound titles creates martial compression.
Elicits courage and a ‘cutting through’ sensation; supports breaking inertia during practice.
- vṛtra-khādaḥ
- Literal: devourer of Vṛtra. Symbolic: power that consumes subconscious obstruction
- valaṃ-rujaḥ
- Literal: breaker of Vala. Symbolic: opener of the enclosure hiding inner light/knowledge
- purāṃ darmaḥ
- Literal: splitter of cities/forts. Symbolic: breaker of rigid ego-formations and defensive habits
- apām ajaḥ
- Literal: driver/impeller of the waters’ birth. Symbolic: bringer-forth of consciousness-streams (inspiration, wideness, delight)
- ratha
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: instrument of action; coordinated life-force
- harī
- Literal: tawny horses. Symbolic: luminous dynamic energies
- abhisvara
- Literal: with resounding onset/cry. Symbolic: decisive forward attack of truth-force
- dṛḻhā
- Literal: firm, fixed. Symbolic: entrenched patterns; hardened obscurity
Heroic epithet-stanza in Soma praise; strengthens the invocation by enumerating Indra’s powers of breaking obstruction and releasing waters/lights
When invoking Indra’s help to ‘open’ and ‘release’—symbolically aligned with pressing/flow of Soma and the release of waters.
Stuti emphasizing Indra’s destructive-liberating function.
Chant when facing compulsions, addictions, procrastination, or heavy moods—use as a mantra of ‘inner breakthrough’.
vṛtra- ‘coverer’ (from √vṛ ‘cover’) and vala- ‘enclosure/cave’ are two major obstruction symbols; here compounded with action nouns: khāda ‘eater’ and ruja ‘breaker’ (√ruj ‘break’). pur ‘fortified place’ (purām) becomes inwardly rigid formations. apām ajáḥ: √aj ‘drive’ frames Indra as impeller of waters—release of life-force/consciousness-streams. abhi-svara suggests a resonant command or onset; the sound-image aligns with Indra’s thunderous advance.
Breaking of subconscious enclosures (Vala), Removal of coverings (Vṛtra), Release of flowing consciousness (āpas as streams of being)
Vṛtra/Vala represent anṛta’s constriction; Indra restores r̥ta by opening the blocked flows.
Satya appears as released light (cows) and released flows (waters) once coverings are broken.
Liberation of hidden plenitudes (light and waters) from the cave/enclosure; renewal of the world through victory.
Aurobindonian psychological exegesis of Vedic myth (inner battle and release).
Storm = forceful awakening; forts = rigid habit-structures; enclosure = subconscious repression; waters = liberated consciousness-energy.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A compressed cluster of Indra’s central mythic actions: Vṛtra-devouring, Vala-breaking, fortress-splitting, and waters-driving (release). Innerly, it is the total conquest over coverings and enclosures of the subconscient, resulting in the liberation of the streams of consciousness and force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √ruj ‘break’ resonates with widespread IE ‘break/smash’ verb fields used in heroic poetry; √sthā (sthātā) is PIE *steh₂; √aj ‘drive’ parallels IE charioteer/driver motifs. The formula ‘even the firm he breaks’ (dṛḷhā cid ārujaḥ) is a typical intensifying clause found across archaic IE praise styles.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi strengthens the bond by reciting Indra’s epithets as functional powers: naming the god’s capacities is itself a way of invoking them. The implied dakṣiṇā is Soma and praise; the return is the breaking of the seeker’s hardened inner formations and the release of inner waters (life-force, clarity).
Direct confrontation with a specific inner obstruction; invoke a clean decisive force to break it.
maṇipūra (breakthrough will) and ājñā (discernment)
Kapalabhāti-light (if suitable) 30–60 strokes, then stillness; chant to direct the awakened force precisely at the ‘knot’.
Forceful clarity; battle-ready concentration.
Choose one entrenched pattern (‘dṛḻhā’). While chanting, feel a forward surge (abhisvara) from navel to forehead; then sit and allow ‘waters’—fresh energy/ideas—to rise without censorship.
Ṛgvedic svaras per marked text; many compounds carry clear accent peaks—keep them distinct rather than monotone.
Strike epithets cleanly: vṛtra-khādaḥ, valaṃ-rujaḥ; pause micro-beats between titles to preserve power.
vṛtra: vocalic ṛ; retroflex ṭr cluster, khādaḥ: aspirate kh; long ā, valaṃrujaḥ: anusvāra ‘ṃ’ before r; j as soft ‘j’, dṛḻhā: retroflex ḻh; hold the consonant carefully, ārujaḥ: long ā; ru-jaḥ separated
Strong, percussive articulation; steady breath support.
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