Rig Veda 4.24.4: Mandala 4, Sukta 24, Mantra 4
Sukta 4.24
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
क्रतूयन्ति क्षितयो योग उग्राशुषाणासो मिथो अर्णसातौ । सं यद्विशोऽववृत्रन्त युध्मा आदिन्नेम इन्द्रयन्ते अभीके ॥
kratūyánti kṣitáyo yóga ugrāśuṣāṇāso mithó arṇasātáu | sáṃ yád viśo’vavṛtranta yudhmā ād ín néma indrayante abhīké ||
హే ఉగ్రా (మహాబలవంతుడా), యోగంలో (సంయోగంలో) ప్రజలు తమ క్రతు (సంకల్పశక్తి)ను కార్యంలో ప్రవేశపెడతారు, పరస్పర ఉత్సాహంతో అర్ణ (ప్రవాహం/ప్లావనం) సాధనకై. యుద్ధంలో కులసమూహాలు (విశః) దగ్గరగా కుదురుకున్నప్పుడు, ఆ సమీపంలోనే వారు ఇంద్రుని వైపు మొగ్గి ఆయనను పిలిచి, ఆయన శక్తిని ముందుకు నెట్టుతారు (ప్రేరేపిస్తారు).
Word by Word
- क्रतूयन्ति
- they act with resolve / they show (their) will/skillVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्र. 3, बहुवचनRole क्रिया (मुख्य क्रिया)Root क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक) → क्रतूय (नामधातु/denominative) < √इ (इण्) (नामधातु-प्रत्यय -य)
- क्षि॒तयः
- the peoples, the settled tribesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot क्षिति (स्त्री) / क्षित् (प्रातिपदिक)
- योगे
- in the yoking / in the encounter (battle-joining)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot योग (प्रातिपदिक) < √युज्
- उग्राः
- fierce, formidableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (क्षि॒तयः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- उषाणासः
- eager, ardentAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (क्षि॒तयः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot उषाण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √वस्/उष् (वेद. ‘उषाण’ = ‘उत्सुक/प्रदीप्त/उष्ण’ भाव)
- मिथः
- mutually, with one anotherIndeclinableअव्ययRole अव्यय-भाव (परस्पर-सम्बन्ध)Root मिथस् (अव्यय)
- अर्णसातौ
- in the winning of the flood/stream (booty), in the contest for the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अर्णसाति (स्त्री) (समास/प्रातिपदिक: अर्णस् + साति ‘प्राप्ति/लाभ’)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableउपसर्ग (अववृत्रन्ते इति क्रियायोगे)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot सम् (उपसर्ग)
- यत्
- whenIndeclinable/Relativeअव्यय-सम्बन्ध (यदा/यत्-प्रयोगः)Role सम्बन्ध (काल/निमित्त)Root यद् (सर्वनाम)
- विशः
- the clans, the communitiesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot विश् (स्त्री) ‘जन/कुल/प्रजा’
- अववृत्रन्ते
- they close in / they surround / they roll down uponVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्र. 3, बहुवचनRole क्रिया (उपवाक्य-क्रिया)Root √वृत् (वृञ्) ‘to turn/roll/cover’ + अव (उपसर्ग) + अव (उपसर्ग) (वेद. द्विरुपसर्गः)
- युध्माः
- warlike, battle-readyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (विशः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot युध्म (प्रातिपदिक) < √युध्
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableउपसर्ग (इन्द्रयन्ते इति क्रियायोगे)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- इद्
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपात (एव/खलु-अर्थे)Role निपातRoot इद् (निपात)
- नेमः
- the allotted share / the due portionNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (इन्द्रयन्ते इति क्रियायाः)Root नेम (प्रातिपदिक) ‘भाग/सीमा/नियमित-भाग’
- इन्द्रयन्ते
- they seek/press for Indra; they make (it) Indra-like; they call on IndraVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्र. 3, बहुवचनRole क्रिया (मुख्य क्रिया)Root इन्द्रय (नामधातु/denominative) < इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + -य (नामधातु)
- अभीके
- nearby, at close quartersNoun (locative adverbial)नपुंसकलिङ्ग/अव्ययीभाववत्, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अभीक (प्रातिपदिक) ‘निकट/समीप’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविच्छेद): क्रतूयन्ति | क्षितयः | योगे | उग्राः | उषाणासः | मिथः | अर्णसातौ | सम् | यत् | विशः | अववृत्रन्ते | युध्माः | आ | इद् | नेमः | इन्द्रयन्ते | अभीके || 1) ‘योग॑ उग्राः’ = ‘योगे उग्राः’ (ए/ओ-परिवर्तनः: सप्तमी एकवचन ‘योगे’ पदपाठे; संहितायां ‘योग’ इव दृश्यते)
- 2) ‘यद्विशोऽववृत्रन्त’ = ‘यत् विशः अववृत्रन्ते’ (त् + व → द्व; ‘विशः’ + ‘अ…’ → ‘विशोऽ…’ अवग्रहः; क्रियापदस्य आत्मनेपद-बहुवचन ‘…न्ते’ पदपाठे)
- 3) ‘आदिन्नेम’ = ‘आ इद् नेमः’ (आ + इद् → आद्; इद् + नेमः → इन्नेमः)
- 4) ‘अर्ण॑सातौ’ समास-प्रातिपदिक (अर्णस् + साति) सप्तमी एकवचन
The meaning
Outer meaning
Peoples set their will to action in the joining, mighty one, eager in mutual striving for winning the flood. When clans close together in battle, then, in nearness, they press toward Indra.
Inner meaning
Kratūyanti: the faculties and communities of the being (kṣitayaḥ/viśaḥ) concentrate will (kratu) in the yoga—joining/union—where forces meet and are yoked. The goal is arṇasātau: winning the flood, the plenitude of life-energy and inspiration released when obstruction is overcome. When inner powers gather and confront resistance, the being ‘indrayante’—turns toward Indra, intensifies the Indra-force—especially in abhīke, the intimate nearness where the decisive inner battle is fought and won.
Universal truth
When the will is unified and energies are yoked toward a single purpose, abundance follows. In the closest pressure of challenge, turning to higher intelligence is most effective.
Themes
inner battle, invocation of Indra, convergence of faculties, winning the flood of plenitude
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.24 (entire hymn), RV 4.26, RV 4.27
Family tradition
RV 4 is Vāmadeva’s maṇḍala; his diction frequently uses collective terms (viśaḥ, kṣitayaḥ) to indicate coordinated inner powers in yoga.
Significance
This verse maps ‘battle’ to yoga-integration: unify will, yoke forces, invoke illumination, win plenitude.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- ugra (mighty), yudhma (battle-strong, implied in context)
- Related deities
- Maruts, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Catalyst of victorious union; releaser of the waters/floods of plenitude.
Inner power
Dynamic illumination that coordinates the being’s forces into one victorious movement.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra hymns in Soma ritual; also communal prayers for victory and abundance
क्र॒तू॒यन्ति॑ क्षि॒तयो॒ योग॑ उग्राशुषा॒णासो॑ मि॒थो अर्ण॑सातौ । सं यद्विशोऽव॑वृत्रन्त यु॒ध्मा आदिन्नेम॑ इन्द्रयन्ते अ॒भीके॑ ॥
क्र॒तु॒अन्ति॑ । क्षि॒तयः॑ । योगे॑ । उ॒ग्र॒ । आ॒शु॒षा॒णासः॑ । मि॒थः । अर्ण॑ऽसातौ । सम् । यत् । विशः॑ । अव॑वृत्रन्त । यु॒ध्माः । आत् । इत् । नेमे॑ । इ॒न्द्र॒य॒न्ते॒ । अ॒भीके॑ ॥
kratuanti | kṣitayaḥ | yoge | ugra | āśuṣāṇāsaḥ | mithaḥ | arṇa-sātau | sam | yat | viśaḥ | avavṛtranta | yudhmāḥ | āt | it | neme | indrayante | abhīke
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4 × ~11
Martial and collective; strong consonant clusters mirror gathering forces.
Energizes coordination; good for group chanting—creates a shared field of resolve and uplift.
- क्रतूयन्ति (kratūyanti)
- Literal: they exercise will/resolve. Symbolic: concentration of intention; executive will aligned to yoga
- योगे (yoge)
- Literal: in the yoking/joining. Symbolic: inner union; integration of forces toward the goal
- अर्णसातौ (arṇasātau)
- Literal: winning the flood. Symbolic: attainment of plenitude—prāṇa, inspiration, joy released
- विशः (viśaḥ)
- Literal: clans/communities. Symbolic: sub-personalities/energies within the being
- अववृत्रन्त (avavṛtranta)
- Literal: they closed/covered around. Symbolic: tightening confrontation with the coverer/resistance
- इन्द्रयन्ते (indrayante)
- Literal: they Indra-ize/press toward Indra. Symbolic: increase illumination-force; invoke and embody Indra-power
- अभीके (abhīke)
- Literal: in nearness, close quarters. Symbolic: intimate inner crisis where transformation happens
Indra-stotra used within Soma-yajña contexts (e.g., Agniṣṭoma/Ukthya sequences) to strengthen the Indra-invocation at pressing and offering; functionally supports calling the Indric force for victory and abundance.
When seeking strength in collective effort (clan/army/assembly); in ritual, during Indra praises around libations.
Chant while making offerings; psychologically, align multiple motives into one will.
For teams/communities: chant before collaborative work to unify intention and invite clear leadership (inner Indra).
Key terms: (1) kratu—noun from √kṛ ‘to do/make’ with sense of ‘effective will, planning intelligence’; ‘kratūyanti’ = denominative/causative-like verbal formation meaning ‘to exert kratu’. (2) yoga from √yuj ‘to yoke, join, concentrate’; here the inner ‘harnessing’ of forces. (3) ugra ‘powerful, fierce’ (often Indra). (4) āśuṣāṇá- participial formation from desiderative/intensive sense around √aś/āś ‘to desire, seek eagerly’ (traditional: ‘eager’). (5) arṇa ‘wave, flood, stream’ (also symbolic abundance); -sāti from √san ‘to win, gain’ → ‘winning of the flood/flow’. (6) avavṛtranta: preverb ava- + √vṛt ‘turn/cover/enclose’ in middle: ‘they closed in/formed an encirclement’. (7) indrayante: denom. verb from Indra-name, ‘to make for Indra, to invoke/impel toward Indra’; indicates turning of energies to the Indric force at crisis. (8) abhīka ‘near, immediate’ (abhi + īka/īc- ‘towards/near’ in sense of proximity).
Kratu (effective will/intelligent resolve), R̥ta (order expressed through right convergence of powers in conflict), Satyam–R̥tam–Bṛhat (implicit: victorious expansion through truth-force)
Yoga as yoking into ṛta; Indra restores right order by releasing the waters of fullness.
Plenitude released through victorious coordination of forces.
Vedic yoga of integration (yoga as yoking of powers)
Waters/flood = surge of life-force, inspiration, delight; battle = friction of transformation; nearness = intensified sadhana.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The battle-climax mythologem: when the tribes/faculties close in at decisive proximity (abhīke, neme), they turn Indra-ward to obtain victory and the ‘winning of the flood’ (arṇa-sāti). Mythically this echoes Indra’s function as the breaker of obstruction and releaser of waters/plenitude; psychologically it is the calling of the illumined Force at the critical knot of inner conflict.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yuj ‘yoke’ (yoga) continues PIE *yeug- ‘to join/yoke’ (cf. Latin iugum, English yoke). √san ‘win’ in -sāti aligns with PIE *senh₁- ‘to reach/attain’ (cognate patterns in Indo-Iranian semantics of ‘gaining’). √vṛt ‘turn/roll/enclose’ relates to PIE *wert- ‘to turn’ (cf. Latin vertere, English -ward via Germanic developments). These inherited roots support the verse’s semantics of joining forces, turning/closing in, and attaining the sought plenitude.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer frames a reciprocity of crisis and aid: human/inner powers organize themselves by kratu and yoga, but at the moment of close-pressed struggle they ‘indrayante’—they actively turn themselves toward Indra. The relationship is thus not passive petition but a coordinated offering of will and convergence that invites the Indric descent of victorious force and abundance.
Unify scattered motives into one kratu; feel energies yoking into a single upward current; invoke Indra at the peak intensity.
maṇipūra (will) and ājñā (guidance)
Kapalabhāti light (30 strokes) then stillness; chant once with full-bodied resonance.
Collected force; heightened clarity in action.
Before action, list 3 conflicting pulls; on each chant, let one dissolve into the central intention. Conclude with 1 minute of silent ‘wide-water’ visualization filling the system.
RV accents; emphasize ‘yóge’ and ‘índrayante’; keep pāda 3 consonant clusters crisp.
Let ‘kratūyanti’ rise and drive; keep a brief pause after ‘saṃ yat’ to mark convergence.
: ‘kra-tū-yan-ti’ long ū, : ‘ā-śu-ṣā-ṇa-saḥ’ retroflex ṣ, long ā, : ‘a-va-vṛ-tran-ta’, : ‘a-bhī-ke’ long ī
Energizing, collective, rhythmic—best with steady beat.
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