Rig Veda 8.97.7: Mandala 8, Sukta 97, Mantra 7
Sukta 8.97
मा न इन्द्र परा वृणग्भवा नः सधमाद्यः । त्वं न ऊती त्वमिन्न आप्यं मा न इन्द्र परा वृणक् ॥
mā́ na indra parā́ vṛṇag bhávā naḥ sadha-mā́dyaḥ | tváṃ na ūtī́ tvám ín na ā́pyaṃ mā́ na indra parā́ vṛṇak ||
హే ఇంద్రా! మమ్మల్ని దూరం చేయకు; మా కొరకు సధమాద్య (సామూహిక ఉల్లాస/మద) యొక్క సహచరుడవు. నీవే మా ఊతి (రక్ష/సహాయం); నీవే మా ఆప్య (అంతరంగ స్వంతం). హే ఇంద్రా! మమ్మల్ని దూరం చేయకు.
Protective refrain-like petition within Soma praise: maintaining Indra’s favor/presence.
grace and non-rejection, divine companionship in the inner work, belonging (āpya) as sustained connection to the life-waters
Asks that the right order not be interrupted by withdrawal of the guiding power.
Truth here is fidelity—keeping the inner covenant with the Light.
Sustenance rather than origin: maintenance of contact between human and divine power.
Bhakti-tinged Vedic psychology: personal relation with a cosmic power as inner faculty.
Feast = shared field of delight; abandonment = eclipse of light; companionship = continuous inner guidance.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Not a combat myth but the covenant of companionship: Indra as ally in the shared Soma-joy. The fear is separation (‘do not reject’), and the desired mythic relation is the god who remains present as helper and intimate power.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- pate is absent here, but √vṛ ‘choose’ and √mad ‘exhilarate’ show archaic verbal semantics; the refrain-like repetition is a common early Indo-European hymn device for emphasis and performative force.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi speaks from dependence and closeness: Indra is both ūtī (aid) and āpya (one’s own sustaining kin-power). The relationship is not transactional alone but relational—continued presence is itself the boon.
Stabilize relationship with inner illumination; cultivate trust and continuity.
hṛdaya (heart)
Japa on the exhale: ‘mā na indra parā vṛṇak’; 27 or 54 repetitions
From insecurity to surrendered steadiness; from fluctuation to companionship
When the mind feels ‘far from light’, repeat the refrain gently until a sense of inner kinship (āpyam) arises; then sit in quiet gratitude without forcing experiences.
Keep the refrain identical both times; maintain stable pitch contours for memorability; follow Vedic udatta/anudatta where known from recitation tradition.
Stress ‘indra’ and ‘ūtī’; let ‘mā naḥ’ be tender but firm. Pause briefly before repeating the final refrain.
vṛṇak: retroflex ṇ; final k is unreleased, crisp, sadhamādyaḥ: keep long ā; ‘dh’ aspirated, āpyam: long ā, then ‘py’ cluster cleanly
Soft, intimate, pleading-turned-steady.
27
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