Rig Veda 8.49.6: Mandala 8, Sukta 49, Mantra 6
Sukta 8.49
- Rishi
- Kaṇva
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
उग्रं न वीरं नमसोप सेदिम विभूतिमक्षितावसुम् । उद्रीव वज्रिन्नवतो न सिञ्चते क्षरन्तीन्द्र धीतयः ॥
ugráṃ na vīráṃ namásópa sedima vibhūtím ákṣitāvasum | udrī́ iva vajrinn avató na siñcate kṣárantīndra dhītáyaḥ ||
ఆ ఉగ్ర వీరుని సమీపంలో మేము నమస్కారంతో కూర్చుంటాము—నీ విభూతి, నీ అక్షయ సంపద. హే వజ్రిన్ ఇంద్రా, పై నుండి నిండిన నీటితొడుగు కుమ్మరించునట్లు, ప్రేరిత ధీతులు (ప్రజ్ఞా-ప్రవాహాలు) ధారలుగా స్రవిస్తాయి.
Word by Word
- उग्रम्
- fierce, mightyAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (विशेष्यं—इन्द्रम्/सोमम् इत्यादि)Role कर्म (स्तुत्य/नमस्य-वस्तु)Root उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा/सदृशार्थे निपातःRoot न (निपात)
- वीरम्
- hero, championNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (स्तुत्य/नमस्य-वस्तु)Root वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
- नमसा
- with reverence, by homageNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उप
- towards, nearIndeclinableउपसर्गः (सेदिमि इत्यस्य सह)Root उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सेदिम
- I have approached / I have sat down (near)Verbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘I have sat/approached’Role कर्तृ (अहं—ऋषिः/स्तोतृ)Root सद् (धातु) / √सद् ‘सीदति’
- विभूतिम्
- manifest power, mighty presenceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (स्तुत्य-वस्तु/गुणः)Root वि-भूति (प्रातिपदिक; वि + √भू)
- अक्षितावसुम्
- whose wealth is imperishable / possessing un-decaying richesAdjective (compound)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (विभूतिम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण)Root अक्षिता-वसु (बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास; अक्षिता ‘अ-क्षि/अ-क्षय’ + वसु)
- उद्रीव
- like a swelling/raised stream (upward-flowing)Indeclinableउपमान/रीतिवाचक अव्ययम्Root उद् + रीव (अव्ययीभाव/निपात-प्रयोग; ‘उद्’ + ‘रीव’)
- वज्रिन्
- O wielder of the thunderboltNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वज्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अवतः
- of the helper/protectorNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी एकवचन (न—सिञ्चते इत्यत्र सम्बन्धः: ‘of the helper/protector’)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अवत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अव’/‘अवत्’ = help/protection) अथवा ‘अवत’ (रक्षण/सहाय-सम्बन्धी)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमार्थेRoot न (निपात)
- सिञ्चते
- pours, sprinklesVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole कर्तृ (अवतः—उपमान-कर्तृ)Root सिच् (धातु) √सिच्
- क्षरन्ती
- flowing, streamingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (धीतेः/धीति-शब्दस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (धीतेयः—प्रवहन्त्यः)Root क्षर् (धातु) √क्षर्
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- धीतयः
- inspirations, hymns, thoughtsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot धीति (प्रातिपदिक; √धी ‘to think’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: नम॒सोप॑ → नमसा + उप
- सेदिम॒ → सेदिम् (उप + सेदिम् = उप सेदिम्)
- विभू॑ति॒मक्षि॑तावसुम् → विभूतिम् + अक्षितावसुम्
- वज्रिन्नव॒तो → वज्रिन् + अवतः
- क्षर॑न्तीन्द्र → क्षरन्ती + इन्द्र. (Accent marks in the Saṃhitā text are not reproduced in the pada forms here.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
We sit near the fierce hero with reverence—his vast power and undiminishing riches. Like a full water-skin pouring from above, inspired thoughts stream forth, O Indra.
Inner meaning
Approach (upa sedima) is inner nearness: the seeker sits close to the divine Mind with namas (self-offering, surrender). Indra is ‘ugra vīra’—the forceful hero needed to conquer inner resistance. His vibhūti is expansive mastery; his akṣita vasu is inexhaustible spiritual wealth. When contact is established, dhītayaḥ (inspired thought-formations) begin to pour continuously, like a raised waterskin releasing its stored waters—symbol of a higher reservoir opening into the mind.
Universal truth
Reverent inner alignment with higher consciousness unlocks an inexhaustible stream of insight and strength. True wealth is the continuous flow of inspired intelligence.
Themes
Indra as hero, inspiration-stream, vajra power, approach and reverence
The seer
- Rishi
- Kaṇva
- Lineage
- Kāṇva
- Other hymns
- RV 8.49.5, RV 8.49.7, RV 8.48 (Soma and inspired states)
Family tradition
Kaṇva hymns often combine reverent approach with ecstatic outflow of dhī/dhīti as a sign of Indra’s presence.
Significance
Shows the Kaṇva method: surrender (namas) + nearness (upa-āsana) yields a practical sign—continuous streaming of inspired thought.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- ugra, vīra, vajrin
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (inspired word), Soma (delight that fuels inspiration), Agni (leader of inner sacrifice)
Cosmic role
Breaker of the Coverer; establishes victory and distributes inexhaustible riches to the sacrificer.
Inner power
A descending force of illumination that turns the mind into a channel of revelation (kṣaranti dhītayaḥ).
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise within Soma-liturgies; also suitable as a stotra-like reverential approach
उ॒ग्रं न वी॒रं नम॒सोप॑ सेदिम॒ विभू॑ति॒मक्षि॑तावसुम् । उ॒द्रीव॑ वज्रिन्नव॒तो न सि॑ञ्च॒ते क्षर॑न्तीन्द्र धी॒तय॑: ॥
उ॒ग्रम् । न । वी॒रम् । नम॑सा । उप॑ । से॒दि॒म॒ । विऽभू॑तिम् । अक्षि॑तऽवसुम् । उ॒द्रीऽइ॑व । व॒ज्रि॒न् । अ॒व॒तः । न । सि॒ञ्च॒ते । क्षर॑न्ति । इ॒न्द्र॒ । धी॒तयः॑ ॥
ugram | na | vīram | namasā | upa | sedima | vi-bhūtim | akṣita-vasum | udrī-iva | vajrin | avataḥ | na | siñcate | kṣaranti | indra | dhītayaḥ
48
4 × 12 (probable); the simile line has Jagatī’s extended fall at cadence.
Grave opening (reverence) followed by a pouring, continuous movement in the second half.
Creates a devotional stillness that transitions into a felt ‘descent’ of inspiration—useful for contemplative chanting.
- नमसा (namasā)
- Literal: with obeisance. Symbolic: self-giving, humility that opens receptivity
- उप सेदिम (upa sedima)
- Literal: we sit near. Symbolic: inner proximity/attunement; sustained meditation-contact
- उग्रं वीरम् (ugraṃ vīram)
- Literal: fierce hero. Symbolic: forceful luminous power to overcome inertia and fear
- विभूतिम् (vibhūtim)
- Literal: vast power/manifestation. Symbolic: expansive mastery; widened capacity of consciousness
- अक्षितावसुम् (akṣitāvasum)
- Literal: undiminishing wealth. Symbolic: inexhaustible inner resources of light, force, joy
- उद्री (udrī)
- Literal: water-skin/leather bag. Symbolic: stored higher energy releasing into the mind
- धीतयः (dhītayaḥ)
- Literal: inspired thoughts. Symbolic: revelatory formations descending from illumined mind
Praise and seating/approach formula (upa-sad) in Soma context; aligns with invitatory and laud sections
Before or during offerings when seeking Indra’s vibhūti and gifts; can frame a section of recitation as ‘seating near’.
Recite with a gesture of offering (namas) and intention of receptivity; visualize the outpouring of dhītis.
As a pre-meditation invocation: sit upright, bow inwardly, and invite a stream of insight to descend into the mind.
: from √ugr/√vaj? ‘strong, formidable’ (lexical adjective). : from √vīr ‘man/hero’ (PIE *wiHro- ‘man’ often cited). : from √nam ‘bow’. : vi- + √bhū ‘to be, become’ → ‘expansive becoming/presence’. : a- + √kṣi ‘diminish, perish’ → ‘undiminishing’. : ‘good, wealth’ (plentitude). : vajra ‘thunderbolt’ (possibly from √vaj ‘to be strong’). √sic ‘pour’. √kṣar ‘flow, melt away’.
inexhaustible plenitude (akṣita-vasu), descent of inspiration from above (avataḥ), dhītayaḥ as illumined cognition
The lawful ‘pouring’ of dhītis indicates alignment with R̥ta—knowledge flows when the channel is rightly placed.
Dhītis are Satya-forms: true perceptions rather than mental constructions.
Higher reservoir → descent → continuous flow into mind (microcosmic revelation).
Revelation-based epistemology of the Veda; compatible with Aurobindo’s ‘overmind’/illumined mind descents.
Waterskin = gathered inner power (tapas/Soma) stored above; pouring = descent of higher consciousness; streaming = uninterrupted inspiration.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as vajrin whose power releases streams: the thunderbolt-force is not only martial but also cognitive—causing dhītayaḥ to ‘flow’. The mythic ‘strike’ becomes an inner opening by which higher inspiration pours into the human field.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √bhū ‘become’ (vibhūti) is a central Indo-European root (PIE *bʰuH-). √nam ‘bow’ has broad IE parallels (gesture and verb). The imagery of ‘flowing inspiration’ via √kṣar is a Vedic specialization but aligns with IE fluid metaphors for speech/thought.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi ‘sits near’ (upa sedima) as an act of inner alignment; Indra responds not merely with external boons but by an outflow of dhītayaḥ—cognitive formations that constitute the true rātí (gift). Reverence is thus a technique of receptivity.
Sit near (upa-āsana) inwardly: feel a presence above the head; invite a gentle ‘pouring’ of insight into the mind.
Sahasrāra to Ājñā (descent of inspiration)
Inhale up the spine; brief pause imagining a full ‘waterskin’ above; exhale letting dhīti flow down into the brow and heart.
Receptive silence with descending illumination.
Chant 7 times, then sit 7 minutes in silence; note any ‘streaming thought’ that arrives without strain—treat it as dhīti and test it by Satya (clarity, peace, benevolence).
Keep the first half steady and low; let the second half ‘flow’ with connected phrasing, mirroring kṣaranti (streaming).
Accent ‘उग्रं… वीरं’ with firm tone; soften into ‘नमसोप’ reverently; swell slightly on ‘क्षरन्ति… धीतयः’.
‘vibhūtim’: bhū long ū., ‘akṣitāvasum’: kṣ crisp; keep compound smooth., ‘kṣaranti’: kṣa- with clear retroflex resonance; avoid ‘sh’.
Centered, resonant; begin devotional, end luminous and flowing.
7
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