Rig Veda 8.88.4: Mandala 8, Sukta 88, Mantra 4
Sukta 8.88
- Rishi
- Gautama
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
योद्धासि क्रत्वा शवसोत दंसना विश्वा जाताभि मज्मना । आ त्वायमर्क ऊतये ववर्तति यं गोतमा अजीजनन् ॥
yóddhāsi kratvā́ śávasotá daṃsánā víśvā jātā́bhi májmanā | ā tvā́yám arká ūtáye vavartati yáṃ gotamā́ ajī́janan ||
నీవు క్రతు (సంకల్పం) చేత యోధుడవు; శవస్ (బలం) చేత కూడా. కార్యసాధక శక్తి (దంసనా) అనే మహిమతో జనించిన సమస్తాన్ని నీవు మించిపోతావు. రక్ష (ఊతి) కొరకు ఈ అర్క్-స్తుతి నీ వైపు మళ్లుతుంది—గౌతములు జనింపజేసిన ప్రేరిత వాక్యమది.
Word by Word
- योद्धा
- a fighter, warriorNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युध् (धातु) → योद्धृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) अथवा योद्धा (नाम)
- असि
- you areVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (सम्बन्ध-क्रिया)Root अस् (धातु)
- क्रत्वा
- by (your) resolve/insight, through will-powerNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- शवसा
- by strength, with mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot शवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableनिपातRole (समुच्चय)Root उत (निपात)
- दंसना
- by wondrous skill/deedsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot दंसना (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक—‘अद्भुतकर्म/कौशल’)
- विश्वा
- allAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (कर्मपद)Role कर्मRoot विश्व (सर्व/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- जाताभिः
- with (all) births/creatures that are bornNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (जाताः ‘उत्पत्तयः/जातयः’), तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जन्)
- मज्मना
- by greatness, with vast powerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot मज्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक ‘महत्त्व/परिमाण/बल’)
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableउपसर्ग (आ-)Role (दिशा/आगमन)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- त्वा
- youPronounद्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- अयम्
- thisPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम)
- अर्कः
- hymn, praise-songNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊतये
- for help, for aidNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot ऊति (प्रातिपदिक)
- ववर्तति
- turns/rolls/comes forth (towards)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (पुनरुक्त/इंटेन्सिव्-प्राय) ‘ववर्त-’Role (सम्बन्ध-क्रिया)Root वृत् (धातु) (वैदिक पुनरुक्त-परस्मैपद)
- यम्
- whomPronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot यद् (सर्वनाम)
- गोतमाः
- the Gotamas (Gautama seers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot गोतम (ऋषि-नाम; प्रातिपदिक)
- अजीजनन्
- they generated/produced, they begotVerbलुङ् (अओरिस्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole (सम्बन्ध-क्रिया)Root जन् (धातु) + अ (अग्मेण augment) → अजीजनन् (कारित/पुनरुक्त-आओरिस्ट-प्राय)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): योद्धा॑सि → योद्धा + असि
- शव॑सो॒त → शवसा + उत
- दं॒सना॒ → दंसना (स्वतन्त्र पद)
- विश्वा॑ → विश्वा
- जा॒ताभि → जाताभिः (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते)
- म॒ज्मना॑ → मज्मना
- आ त्वा॒यम॒र्कः → आ + त्वा + अयम् + अर्कः
- ऊ॒तये॑ → ऊतये
- ववर्तति (असन्धि)
- यं गोत॑मा॒ → यम् + गोतमाः
- अजी॑जनन् (असन्धि). वैदिकस्वराः (उदात्त/स्वरित/अनुदात्त) मूलपाठानुसारं, पदच्छेदे सामान्यतः न पुनर्लिखिताः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
You are a warrior by will and force and by effective power you surpass all that is born. This chant turns to you for protection—the inspired utterance the Gautamas have produced.
Inner meaning
Indra is the inner warrior: not merely brute strength (śavas) but conscious will (kratu) and effective works (daṃsanā). He exceeds all formed things (viśvā jātābhi) because illumination stands above the created mental-vital habits. The ‘arka’ is the inspired word/solar chant that turns (vavartati) toward Indra for protection—meaning the mantra itself is a vehicle that reorients consciousness to the higher power. The explicit ‘Gotamāḥ’ signals a lineage of seers whose word is shaped to call down victorious light.
Universal truth
True mastery is will guided by light, expressed through effective action; the right word and aspiration can pivot the whole being toward protection and progress.
Themes
Hymn as power, Invocation for protection, Indra as warrior, Seer-family authorship
The seer
- Rishi
- Gotamāḥ (Gautamas)
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 1.62-64 (Gautamas), RV 1.84 (Gautama), RV 8.88 (this hymn sequence)
Family tradition
Gautama hymns often emphasize the creative potency of the inspired word (arka) and Indra’s role as victorious illumination that breaks limitations and establishes wideness.
Significance
The mantra declares the rishi-function: the seer ‘brings forth’ a living word that turns consciousness toward the protecting, victorious Indra.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- yoddhā (warrior), kratvā (by will), śavasā (by force), daṃsanā (of effective works)
- Related deities
- Agni (initiator of the inner sacrifice), Bṛhaspati (word-force), Soma (ecstatic power that strengthens Indra)
Cosmic role
Leader in the battle for light; ensures the triumph of the gods (powers of truth) over the forces that bind creation.
Inner power
Union of illumined will and executive force; capacity to exceed formed limitations and protect the aspirant through decisive breakthroughs.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra stotra within Soma rites; also protective invocation (ūtī) contexts
योद्धा॑सि॒ क्रत्वा॒ शव॑सो॒त दं॒सना॒ विश्वा॑ जा॒ताभि म॒ज्मना॑ । आ त्वा॒यम॒र्क ऊ॒तये॑ ववर्तति॒ यं गोत॑मा॒ अजी॑जनन् ॥
योद्धा॑ । अ॒सि॒ । क्रत्वा॑ । शव॑सा । उ॒त । दं॒सना॑ । विश्वा॑ । जा॒ता । अ॒भि । म॒ज्मना॑ । आ । त्वा॒ । अ॒यम् । अ॒र्कः । ऊ॒तये॑ । व॒व॒र्त॒ति॒ । यम् । गोत॑माः । अजी॑जनन् ॥
yoddhā | asi | kratvā | śavasā | uta | daṃsanā | viśvā | jātā | abhi | majmanā | ā | tvā | ayam | arkaḥ | ūtaye | vavartati | yam | gotamāḥ | ajījanan
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Martial and forward-driving; strong caesuras support ‘warrior’ imagery.
Elicits resolve and readiness; the phrase ‘ā tvāyam arka’ naturally turns the mind toward invocation.
- योद्धा (yoddhā)
- Literal: warrior. Symbolic: inner champion against ignorance and inertia
- क्रतु (kratu)
- Literal: will, resolve, intelligence. Symbolic: conscious divine intention in the mind
- शवस् (śavas)
- Literal: force, strength. Symbolic: dynamic energy that executes the will
- दंसना (daṃsanā)
- Literal: wondrous deeds, effective power. Symbolic: power of realization—works that change the inner fact
- अर्क (arka)
- Literal: hymn/chant; also ‘ray’. Symbolic: inspired word as ray of illumination; mantra as turning-point
- ऊतये (ūtaye)
- Literal: for help/protection. Symbolic: guardianship of the higher consciousness over the seeker
- अजीजनन् (ajījanan)
- Literal: they generated/brought forth. Symbolic: seer-creation: mantra as a formed power (śakti)
Indra-stotra used to invoke protection (ūti) and victorious force during Soma offering; also suitable as a general protective invocation in Indra sequences.
When seeking Indra’s protection and victorious help; in sequences of praise by a rishi-family.
Recitation as a turning (āvartana) of attention toward the deity; offering accompanied by chant.
Use before challenging decisions or disciplined practice: align will (kratu) and force (śavas) under illumination.
krátu- from √kṛ ‘to do/make’ with sense of ‘effective will/intelligence’ → inner: will that knows how to act. śávas- ‘force’ (cf. √śū/śvi ‘swell/strengthen’ traditions) → dynamic energy. daṃsánā ‘wondrous skill/effectiveness’ linked to √daṃś ‘to show power/perform’ → capacity of accomplished works. arká- ‘hymn, ray’ related to √arc ‘to shine, praise’ → speech as light. vavartati: intensive/perfect-like from √vṛt ‘to turn’ → the mantra itself as a turning of consciousness toward Indra.
Kratu (will guided by truth), Majman (plenitude/abundance of being)
Indra’s ‘effective works’ are r̥ta in action—right force accomplishing right ends.
Indra surpasses ‘all that is born’ because truth-consciousness is prior/superior to formations.
Mantra as creative act: the seers ‘generate’ a power that calls down protection.
Mantra-śakti psychology (Aurobindo/Kashyap): inspired word as force that reconfigures consciousness.
Dawn/day (arka as ray; protective turning toward light)
Arka = ray-word; sun = illumined mind; battle = inner struggle against obscurity; protection = higher consciousness holding the seeker.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the cosmic warrior whose will (kratu) and force (śavas) exceed all manifested formations. The ‘mythic action’ is not a single slaying here but the perpetual victory of luminous force over the totality of created resistances; the arka itself becomes an instrument that ‘turns toward’ Indra to draw down protection.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- arká (praise/light) aligns with an Indo-European poetics where speech is ‘shine’ (cf. √arc ‘to shine/praise’). The turning verb √vṛt has broad IE cognacy (Lat. vertere) supporting the image of hymn as a ‘turning’ of mind/energy toward the deity.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Gautamas ‘generate’ (ajījanan) the arka, implying mantra as a produced power-substance. The devatā is approached not merely as recipient of praise but as the active protector whose warrior-nature is invoked to stand within the seeker’s struggle.
Unite will (kratu) and force (śavas) under the guidance of illumination; use the mantra as a ‘turning’ of the whole being toward protection.
Maṇipūra (will/force) rising to Ājñā (illumination)
Inhale on ‘ā tvāyam arka’, exhale on ‘ūtaye vavartati’—feel the inward pivot toward refuge in the higher power.
Dynamic alignment—protected action.
Chant, then pause: ask inwardly for the right decision-force; act only after a felt ‘turn’ toward clarity rather than impulse.
Keep udatta lift on key power-words (yoddhā́, kratvā́, śávasā́) and on the turning-invocation ‘ā́ tvā́’; let svarita fall naturally after peaks.
Mark the pivot: slightly emphasize ‘ā tvāyam arka ūtaye’ as the turning point of the verse.
yoddhāsi: double ‘ddh’ articulated, kratvā: short ‘a’ + conjunct ‘tv’ clean, daṃsanā: nasal ‘ṃ’ before ‘s’ lightly, majmanā: ‘j’ soft, not ‘zh’, gotamā: long ‘ā’ clear, ajījanan: long ‘ī’; ‘jan’ dental ‘n’
Heroic, centered, with a protective warmth on ‘ūtaye’.
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