Rig Veda 4.17.8: Mandala 4, Sukta 17, Mantra 8
Sukta 4.17
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सत्राहणं दाधृषिं तुम्रमिन्द्रं महामपारं वृषभं सुवज्रम् । हन्ता यो वृत्रं सनितोत वाजं दाता मघानि मघवा सुराधाः ॥
satrā́haṇaṃ dā́dhṛṣiṃ túmram índraṃ mahā́m apā́raṃ vṛṣabháṃ suvájram | hántā yó vṛtráṃ sánitotá vā́jaṃ dā́tā maghā́ni maghávā surā́dhāḥ ||
నిత్య సంహారకుడు, ధైర్యవంతుడు, ఉగ్రవేగి—అటువంటి ఇంద్రుడు; మహానుడు, అపారుడు, వృషభుడు, సు-వజ్రధారి. వృత్రహంత, బలసంపద (వాజ)ను గెలుచుకునేవాడు; అనేక మఘ (దానం/సంపద)లను ప్రసాదించేవాడు—మఘవా, సు-రాధాః (సుప్రసిద్ధ దాత).
Word by Word
- सत्राहणम्
- ever-slaying (always striking down foes)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (स्तुत्य/आह्वेय-विशेष्य ‘इन्द्रम्’ का विशेषण)Root सत्राहन् (प्रातिपदिक; सत्रा + हन्) अथवा सत्राहन्- (विशेषण)
- दाधृषिम्
- bold, daringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (इन्द्रम् का विशेषण)Root दाधृषि- (प्रातिपदिक; √धृष् ‘धर्षणे/साहसे’ से, तीव्र/धृष्ट अर्थ)
- तुम्रम्
- strong, mightyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (इन्द्रम् का विशेषण)Root तुम्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (स्तुत्य/आह्वेय देवता)Root इन्द्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- महाम्
- greatAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (इन्द्रम् का विशेषण)Root महा- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपारम्
- boundlessAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (इन्द्रम् का विशेषण)Root अपार- (प्रातिपदिक; a- + पार)
- वृषभम्
- bull (chief, mighty one)Noun (used as epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (इन्द्रम् का विशेषण/उपाधि)Root वृषभ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुवज्रम्
- with a good/strong thunderboltAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (इन्द्रम् का विशेषण)Root सुवज्र- (प्रातिपदिक; सु- + वज्र)
- हन्ता
- slayerAgent nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (इन्द्रः—‘slayer’)Root √हन् (हिंसागत्योः) → हन्तृ- (कृदन्त, तृच्)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सापेक्ष-सम्बन्ध; ‘who’ = इन्द्रः)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वृत्रम्
- VṛtraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (हननस्य)Root वृत्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सनितः
- by winning, in the winning (of)Indeclinable (adverbial) / Kṛdanta-basedअव्यय (तसिल्: ‘from/through winning’)Role अधिकारण/हेतु-भाव (क्रियाविशेषण: ‘by winning’)Root √सन्/√सनी (लाभे/प्राप्तौ) → सनि- (कृदन्त/नाम); सनितस् (अव्ययीभाव/तसिल्-अन्त)
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableअव्ययRole समुच्चय (and/also)Root उत (निपात)
- वाजम्
- prize, strength, victory-bootyNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (सनितः—‘winning’ का विषय)Root वाज- (प्रातिपदिक)
- दाता
- giverAgent nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (इन्द्रः—‘giver’)Root √दा (दाने) → दातृ- (कृदन्त, तृच्)
- मघानि
- bounties, giftsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (दानस्य)Root मघ- / मघन्- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘gift, bounty’)
- मघवा
- the bountiful oneNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (इन्द्रः)Root मघवन्- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bountiful’)
- सुराधाः
- of good generosity / with good giftsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विसर्गान्त रूप: -आः < -आस्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषण (मघवा का विशेषण)Root सुराधस्- (प्रातिपदिक; सु- + राधस् ‘bounty/aid’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (संधि-विच्छेद): सत्राहणम् | दाधृषिम् | तुम्रम् | इन्द्रम् | महाम् | अपारम् | वृषभम् | सुवज्रम् || हन्ता | यः | वृत्रम् | सनितः | उत | वाजम् || दाता | मघानि | मघवा | सुराधाः || 1) ‘सत्रा’ (सदा) + ‘हणम्’ (हन्-सम्बद्ध विशेषण) → सत्राहणम्
- 2) ‘सनितः’ तसिल्-अन्त अव्यय: ‘सनितस्’ → पदान्ते ‘ः’
- 3) ‘सुराधाः’ प्रथमा एकवचन पुं
- ‘सुराधास्’ का पदान्त विसर्ग-रूप
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is the constant slayer, daring and impetuous; great, boundless, a bull with a good thunderbolt. He kills Vṛtra, wins the prize and force; he gives many gifts, bountiful and perfectly accomplishing.
Inner meaning
A concentrated litany of Indra’s inner attributes: satrāhaṇ (unceasing destroyer of obstruction) indicates persistent conquering power, not a single victory. As vṛṣabha (bull) he is the generative strength of illumined mind; suvajra is the refined, accurate instrument of discernment. By slaying Vṛtra (the coverer), he becomes sanita vājam—winner of vāja, the plenitude of effective force and capacity. From that victory flows maghāni (felicities, attainments) as stable results of sādhanā (surādhāḥ = perfectly successful in the right means).
Universal truth
Spiritual progress needs both persistence and precision: enduring effort against resistance, guided by clear discernment, yields real capacities and lasting attainments—not merely momentary experiences.
Themes
epithet hymn, Vṛtra-han, giver of magha, victory and accomplishment
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.17, Rig Veda 4.19, Rig Veda 4.21
Family tradition
Praise-poetry that enumerates divine qualities to ‘build the form’ of the god in consciousness—an inner upāsanā through mantra.
Significance
This verse functions like a mantric dhyāna: repeated epithets shape the seeker’s inner image of Indra as persistent, boundless, and perfectly effective power.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- satrāhaṇ (constant slayer), dādhṛṣi (daring), tumra (impetuous), mahān (great), apāra (boundless), vṛṣabha (bull), suvajra (good-thunderbolt), maghavā (bountiful), surādhāḥ (perfectly accomplishing)
- Related deities
- Maruts (storm-forces that amplify Indra), Soma (delight that empowers), Agni (will that carries offering)
Cosmic role
Champion who destroys the coverer and wins the ‘prize’—restoring flow of powers (waters, light, force) to the worlds.
Inner power
Persistent breakthrough-energy allied with precise discernment, yielding stable attainments and capacities.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra in Soma context; also suitable for rites seeking victory and prosperity.
स॒त्रा॒हणं॒ दाधृ॑षिं॒ तुम्र॒मिन्द्रं॑ म॒हाम॑पा॒रं वृ॑ष॒भं सु॒वज्र॑म् । हन्ता॒ यो वृ॒त्रं सनि॑तो॒त वाजं॒ दाता॑ म॒घानि॑ म॒घवा॑ सु॒राधा॑: ॥
स॒त्रा॒ऽहन॑न् । दधृ॑षिम् । तुम्र॑म् । इन्द्र॑म् । म॒हाम् । अ॒पा॒रम् । वृ॒ष॒भम् । सु॒ऽवज्र॑म् । हन्ता॑ । यः । वृ॒त्रम् । सनि॑ता । उ॒त । वाज॑म् । दाता॑ । म॒घानि॑ । म॒घऽवा॑ । सु॒ऽराधाः॑ ॥
satrāhanan | dadhṛṣim | tumram | indram | mahām | apāram | vṛṣabham | su-vajram | hantā | yaḥ | vṛtram | sanitā | uta | vājam | dātā | maghāni | magha-vā | su-rādhāḥ
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Rapid epithet-stacking; strong alliterative drive; ideal for energizing invocation.
Raises vital courage and mental sharpness; evokes a ‘charging’ momentum and confidence of victory.
- सत्राहणम् (satrāhaṇam)
- Literal: constant slayer. Symbolic: persistent power that repeatedly clears obstruction
- दाधृषिम् (dādhṛṣim)
- Literal: daring, bold. Symbolic: fearless advance into the unknown within
- तुम्रम् (tumram)
- Literal: impetuous, vehement. Symbolic: swift executive force of illumination
- अपारम् (apāram)
- Literal: boundless. Symbolic: wideness of consciousness beyond limiting formations
- वृषभम् (vṛṣabham)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: generative strength; masterful potency of mind-force
- सुवज्रम् (suvajram)
- Literal: with good thunderbolt. Symbolic: well-formed discriminative will; precise cutting light
- वृत्रम् (vṛtram)
- Literal: Vṛtra, the coverer. Symbolic: obstructive formation; subconscious lid on light
- वाजम् (vājam)
- Literal: prize, strength, plenitude. Symbolic: effective power for works; accomplished capacity
- मघानि (maghāni)
- Literal: gifts, bounties. Symbolic: felicities/attainments: peace, light, force, joy
- सुराधाः (surādhāḥ)
- Literal: of good success/right accomplishment. Symbolic: perfection in method; right means leading to siddhi
Eulogistic accumulation of epithets used to intensify Indra’s presence in Soma offering; supports petitions for victory (vāja) and fullness (magha).
At moments of invoking Indra’s vṛtra-han power; before competitive undertakings in the ritual symbolism.
Recitation with offering; mental ‘arming’ with vajra-like discernment.
Use as a ‘power verse’ before challenging tasks, debates, or when facing persistent inner resistance.
√han ‘to strike/kill’ in satrā-han emphasizes perpetual victory over obstruction; √dhṛṣ ‘to dare’ points to fearless forward energy; √san ‘to win’ frames vāja as a gained plenitude; √rādh ‘to succeed, accomplish, make effective’ (surādhāḥ) indicates not chance ‘luck’ but right effective realization.
vāja as force-plenitude, rādh (effective realization), continuous victory (satrā)
Indra’s slaying restores right circulation of energies—ṛta as free flow.
Victory over the coverer releases evolutionary forces and enables increase (magha).
Integral interpretation: epithets as psychological powers; victory as inner liberation leading to siddhi.
Lightning = sudden discriminative insight; bull = stable potency; storm = cleansing upheaval that clears stagnation.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as archetypal victor: Vṛtra-slayer and winner of vāja. The inner myth is the repeated conquest of resistance and the gaining of a stable ‘plenitude of force’ that can be distributed as magha (felicity) through right accomplishment (rādh).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √han ‘slay’ continues PIE *gʷhen- ‘to strike/kill’ (cf. Avestan jan-, English ‘bane’ is not cognate but the slaying root is widely attested: Greek phénō ‘slay’ is often connected in PIE discussions). The bull-as-power epithet aligns with broader Indo-European poetics where bovine strength images sovereign or storm potency.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer’s strategy is epithets as invocation: naming Indra’s powers (daring, boundless, victorious, giver) is itself a way of calling those same powers into manifestation in the sacrificer. Praise becomes a formative act that invites the gift (magha) and the winning force (vāja).
Invoke Indra’s ‘satrāhaṇ’ power to repeatedly clear the same recurring obstruction until it dissolves.
maṇipūra (will)
Bhastrikā light (if suitable) 20–30 breaths, then stillness; otherwise strong diaphragmatic breathing with long exhale.
Dynamic, conquering, wide and fearless.
Choose one recurring inner ‘Vṛtra’ (doubt, lethargy, craving). Chant once with full force, then sit and feel a wide, boundless space (apāra). From that wideness, apply one precise decision (suvajra) immediately in life.
Epithet chain benefits from clear udatta peaks on each descriptor; keep svarita falls crisp to avoid monotony.
Make micro-pauses between epithets without breaking the pāda flow; emphasize ‘hantā yo vṛtram’ as the pivot.
satrāhaṇam: long ā; retroflex ṇ in haṇ-, dādhṛṣim: retroflex ṣ; keep vowel lengths, tumram: ‘tum’ rounded u; ‘ra’ light, suvajram: ‘su’ clear; ‘vaj’ with voiced j, sanitota: articulate ‘ni’ and ‘to’ distinctly
Resonant, heroic, slightly louder than normal; maintain clarity on consonant clusters.
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