Rig Veda 4.32.3: Mandala 4, Sukta 32, Mantra 3
Sukta 4.32
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
दभ्रेभिश्चिच्छशीयांसं हंसि व्राधन्तमोजसा । सखिभिर्ये त्वे सचा ॥
dabhrebhíś cic cháśīyāṃsaṃ haṃ́si vrā́dhantam ójasā | sakhíbhir yé tvé sacā́ ||
కొద్దిమంది (సహచరులు) ఉన్నా నీవు, నీ ఓజస్సుతో, ప్రతిఘటనలో ఉబ్బిపొంగే బలవంతుణ్ని సంహరిస్తావు—నీతో (సచా) కలిసి ఉండే సఖులతో కలిసి.
Word by Word
- द॒भ्रेभिः
- with a few / with small (means)Adjective (used substantively)पुं./नपुं. (प्रयोगानुसार), तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole करणRoot दभ्र (प्रातिपदिक ‘अल्प/थोड़ा’)
- चित्
- even; indeedIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic/limiting particle)Root चित् (अव्यय/निपात)
- शशीयान्सम्
- a stronger/greater oneAdjective (comparative)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (कर्मपद-विशेषण)Role कर्म (विशेष्य-विशेषणभावेन)Root शश्/शंस्? (वेद. तुलनात्मक-रूप ‘शशीयस’ = अधिक/श्रेष्ठ/बलवान्)
- हंसि
- you strike / you slayVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot हन् (√हन् ‘to strike, slay’)
- व्राधन्तम्
- the exulting/insolent oneParticiple (present active)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (वर्तमान कृदन्त -न्त)Role कर्मRoot व्राध् (√व्राध् ‘to be proud/exult, to swell; to be insolent’)
- ओजसा
- with strength; by mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole करणRoot ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक ‘बल, शक्ति’)
- सखिभिः
- with companions/friendsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole करण/सहकार (सहभावे)Root सखि (प्रातिपदिक ‘मित्र’)
- ये
- who (those who)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (उपवाक्ये)Root य (यद्-प्रातिपदिक, सम्बन्धबोधक सर्वनाम)
- त्वे
- in you; with youPronounसप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (वेद. ‘त्वे’ = ‘त्वयि’)Role अधिकरणRoot त्वम् (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
- सचा
- together with; in companionshipIndeclinableअव्यय (सहभावार्थे)Root सच् (अव्यय ‘सह, साथ’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: द॒भ्रेभिः | चित् | शशीयान्सम् | हंसि | व्राधन्तम् | ओजसा | सखिभिः | ये | त्वे | सचा । 1) शशीयान्सम् = शशीयान् + सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय ‘सम्’), अन्त्य -न् + सम् → -न्सम्
- 2) त्वे is Vedic locative of त्वम् (classical: त्वयि)
- 3) सचा is an indeclinable meaning ‘together/along with’, often used with a locative (त्वे) to express companionship
The meaning
Outer meaning
Even with the few, you strike down the mightier one who swells in resistance, by your force—together with the comrades who cleave to you.
Inner meaning
Even when our conscious instruments are few (limited clarity, small will), Indra can overthrow the seemingly stronger resistance (vrādhantam)—the inflated ego-force or subconscient pressure that ‘swells’ against transformation. The ‘comrades’ are the allied powers in us (right thoughts, sincere impulses, supportive energies—Marut-like forces) that adhere to Indra’s movement and make victory possible.
Universal truth
A small but sincere alignment with truth can defeat large-seeming resistance; inner victory depends on right alliance with the higher intelligence, not on the magnitude of outer resources.
Themes
Victory over resistance, Ojas (force), Comradeship with Indra, Overcoming the stronger obstruction
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.32
Family tradition
Associated contextually with the Gautamas in RV 4.32; verse-specific attribution not explicit in supplied data.
Significance
A classic seer-insight of the battle: resistance may look larger, but Indra’s ojas with loyal inner allies ensures the breakthrough.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- ojasvin (strong in ojas), vṛtrahan (slayer of obstruction; implied), sakhā (friend/ally; implied by companionship)
- Related deities
- Maruts (comrades in battle), Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods; establishes the victory of light over the swelling coverer.
Inner power
Decisive discriminating force that dismantles the ‘inflation’ of ignorance and restores courage.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise in Soma sacrifice cycles; victory/protection stotra
द॒भ्रेभि॑श्चि॒च्छशी॑यांसं॒ हंसि॒ व्राध॑न्त॒मोज॑सा । सखि॑भि॒र्ये त्वे सचा॑ ॥
द॒भ्रेभिः॑ । चि॒त् । शशी॑यांसम् । हंसि॑ । व्राध॑न्तम् । ओज॑सा । सखि॑ऽभिः । ये । त्वे इति॑ । सचा॑ ॥
dabhrebhiḥ | cit | śaśīyāṃsam | haṃsi | vrādhantam | ojasā | sakhi-bhiḥ | ye | tve iti | sacā
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Martial, hammering emphasis—well-suited to ‘smiting’ imagery.
Builds confidence and fighting spirit; helps the listener feel resistance as conquerable.
- दभ्रेभिः (dabhrebhiḥ)
- Literal: with the few, with small means. Symbolic: limited but sincere inner resources; a small opening in consciousness
- शशीयांसम् (śaśīyāṃsam)
- Literal: the mightier/stronger. Symbolic: habit-energy and entrenched patterns that appear stronger than the seeker
- व्राधन्तम् (vrādhantam)
- Literal: swelling, growing, waxing. Symbolic: inflated resistance—ego, desire, fear, or obscurity that expands when challenged
- ओजसा (ojasā)
- Literal: by force, by vigor. Symbolic: spiritual strength of illumined mind; concentrated power to cut through
- सखिभिः (sakhibhiḥ)
- Literal: with comrades, friends. Symbolic: supporting inner powers—right impulses, disciplined energies, helpful forces that join the divine action
- सचा (sacā)
- Literal: together with, in company. Symbolic: yoga of alliance—staying joined to the higher guidance
Stuti emphasizing Indra’s victory even with small supports—encouraging confidence in divine aid during offering/struggle.
Invoked when seeking strength against obstacles—ritual and psychological.
Recitation to call Indra’s ojas; aligns the sacrificer with divine allies.
Use before challenging work, addiction-breaking, or fear-facing: ‘few means’ but strong alignment.
haṃsi: √han ‘smite’; ojas-: strength/vigor (often the effective force of being); sacā: adverb from √sac ‘accompany’; dabhrá-: ‘small, few’; vrādh-: ‘grow, swell’ (here pejorative: swelling obstruction).
Divine force surpassing apparent limitation (dabhra vs śaśīyāṃs), Alliance of inner faculties (sakhis) with the higher Power
Resistance is the swelling of anṛta; Indra’s act restores right order.
Truth does not require numerical strength; it requires right force (ojas) and fidelity (sacā).
Cosmic battle as evolutionary progress: the stronger darkness is overcome by higher-force alignment.
Integral Yoga hermeneutic: inner battle with the subconscient/ego and descent of higher mind-force.
The ‘swelling’ is like a cloud mass of obscurity; Indra’s lightning is the sharp insight-force that breaks it open.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Heroic reversal: Indra defeats the ‘stronger’ obstruction even with ‘few’ supports—an archetype of divine superiority over inflated resistance (the inner Vṛtra-like swell).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The smiting verb √han and the heroic comparative (‘mightier’) fit IE battle diction. The comitative structure (‘with comrades who accompany you’) parallels IE warrior-band motifs around a chief deity/hero.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer grounds trust: even if human means are small, Indra’s ojas and the allied ‘sakhis’ (supporting powers/faculties) secure victory. The relationship is one of reliance and coordinated companionship.
See the ‘swelling resistance’ as a formation, not the Self; invoke Indra’s ojas to strike through it.
maṇipūra (will/force)
Brisk, steady breathing for 7–11 cycles; then chant once with strong exhale on ‘ojasa’.
From intimidation to mastery; a warrior-like steadiness.
Name the resistance (habit/fear); chant; then take one concrete action immediately—Indra’s help completes itself through decisive movement.
Maintain udātta lifts on action-words (háṃsi / ójasā) as per Vedic accent tradition; keep cadence firm across pāda breaks.
Slightly stress ‘haṃsi’ (strike) and ‘ojasā’ (by force); keep ‘sacā’ joined, not clipped.
dabhrebhiḥ: aspirate bh; final ḥ light, śaśīyāṃsam: palatal ś; long ī; nasal ṃ before s, vrādhantam: long ā; dh voiced aspirate
Firm, martial, steady pitch.
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