Rig Veda 1.104.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 104, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.104
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
ओ त्ये नर इन्द्रमूतये गुर्नू चित्तान्त्सद्यो अध्वनो जगम्यात् । देवासो मन्युं दासस्य श्चम्नन्ते न आ वक्षन्त्सुविताय वर्णम् ॥
ó tye nárā índram ūtáye gúr nū́ cít tā́n sadyó ádhvano jagamyāt | devā́so manyúṃ dā́sasya ścamnán te ná ā́ vakṣan suvitā́ya várṇam ||
โอ้ พลังอันองอาจเหล่านั้นร้องเรียกพระอินทระเพื่อขอความคุ้มครอง; ขอให้พระองค์มาจากหนทางโดยพลัน ตรงมาถึงพวกเขาเถิด. เหล่าเทพย่ำยีความพิโรธของทาสะ (Dāsa) แล้วจักนำ “วรรณะ” (varṇa) อันสว่างไสวมาให้เรา เพื่อการดำเนินไปอันเป็นมงคล—หนทางเปิดแห่งการเคลื่อนไหวอันชอบธรรม.
Word by Word
- ओ
- O! (exclamation/vocative particle)Indeclinableसम्बोधन/आह्वानार्थ निपातRoot ओ (निपात)
- त्ये
- those (men)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नरः
- men, heroesNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot नर (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊतये
- for help, for aidNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot ऊति (प्रातिपदिक)
- गुः
- they have goneVerbलिट् (परोक्ष/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root गम् (धातु)
- नु
- now, indeedIndeclinableकाल/अनुक्रमसूचक निपातRoot नु (निपात)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअवधारण/अपि-अर्थे निपातRoot चित् (निपात)
- तान्
- themPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सद्यः
- immediatelyIndeclinableकालवाचक अव्ययRoot सद्यः (अव्यय)
- अध्वनः
- of the path/journeyNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- जगम्यात्
- may (he) go/comeVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root गम् (धातु)
- देवासः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- मन्युम्
- wrath, furyNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
- दासस्य
- of the Dāsa (foe)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot दास (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्चम्नन्ते
- they crush/beat downVerbलट् (present), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Root श्चम्न्/शम्न् (धातु; वैदिक रूप)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableउपसर्गः (आ-)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वक्षन्त्
- they convey/bringVerbलट् (present), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root वह् (धातु)
- सुविताय
- for good passage/successNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot सुवित (प्रातिपदिक)
- वर्णम्
- (good) color/appearance; splendorNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (Vedic): इन्द्रमू॒तये॑ → इन्द्रम् + ऊतये
- चि॒त्तान्त्स॒द्यो → चित् + तान् + सद्यः (त् + त् → त्त्; final -d of sadyaḥ not written in saṃhitā)
- अध्व॑नो → अध्वनः
- श्चम्न॒न्ते reflects saṃhitā joining: दासस्य + श्चम्नन्ते (sibilant cluster at word-boundary)
- न॒ आ → नः + आ
- व॑क्षन्त्सुवि॒ताय॒ → वक्षन्त् + सुविताय
The meaning
Outer meaning
The heroic men/powers cry to Indra for help; may he come quickly. The gods crush the wrath of the Dāsa and bring us a luminous color for a good journey—an auspicious path.
Inner meaning
The ‘heroes’ are the aspiring soul-forces in us calling the illumined mind (Indra) for immediate aid. The Dāsa’s ‘wrath’ is the hostile reaction of the lower nature when its rule is challenged—rage, doubt, revolt, depression. The gods (supporting divine powers) crush this reactive force and bring ‘varṇa’—the luminous hue of right consciousness, clarity and right orientation—so the path of action (adhvan) becomes suvitā: a happy, open way aligned with ṛta.
Universal truth
When aspiration calls sincerely, help can be immediate; but progress requires meeting the backlash of the lower nature. Divine support transforms reactive darkness into luminous discernment, opening a right path forward.
Themes
swift aid, battle with Dāsa-forces, illumination and right movement
The seer
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 1.104.1, RV 1.104.3
Family tradition
Āṅgiras seers frequently depict the journey (adhvan) from obscurity to illumination through Indra’s aid and the collective action of the gods.
Significance
Kutsa presents the psychology of immediate invocation: aspiration calls, higher powers respond, and the path becomes luminous and workable.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- ūtī (helper), śūra (hero)
- Related deities
- Devāḥ (supporting divine powers)
Cosmic role
Swift responder to the call; leader who clears the way by overpowering hostile reactions.
Inner power
Prompt descending force of illumination that converts struggle into right movement.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation for protection and right passage (general)
ओ त्ये नर॒ इन्द्र॑मू॒तये॑ गु॒र्नू चि॒त्तान्त्स॒द्यो अध्व॑नो जगम्यात् । दे॒वासो॑ म॒न्युं दास॑स्य श्चम्न॒न्ते न॒ आ व॑क्षन्त्सुवि॒ताय॒ वर्ण॑म् ॥
ओ इति॑ । त्ये । नरः॑ । इन्द्र॑म् । ऊ॒तये॑ । गुः॒ । नु । चि॒त् । तान् । स॒द्यः । अध्व॑नः । ज॒ग॒म्या॒त् । दे॒वासः॑ । म॒न्युम् । दास॑स्य । श्च॒म्न॒न् । ते । नः॒ । आ । व॒क्ष॒न् । सु॒ऽवि॒ताय । वर्ण॑म् ॥
o iti | tye | naraḥ | indram | ūtaye | guḥ | nu | cit | tān | sadyaḥ | adhvanaḥ | jagamyāt | devāsaḥ | manyum | dāsasya | ścamnan | te | naḥ | ā | vakṣan | su-vitāya | varṇam
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4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Urgent and forward-running; quick invocatory turns suited to ‘come at once’.
Energizes aspiration; creates a felt sense of immediate help and opening of the way.
- नरः (naraḥ)
- Literal: men/heroic ones. Symbolic: Inner warrior-forces of aspiration and courage
- ऊतये (ūtaye)
- Literal: for help/protection. Symbolic: Need for sustaining divine support in the inner journey
- अध्वन् (adhvan)
- Literal: path/road. Symbolic: The path of sadhana and right movement in life
- देवासः (devāsaḥ)
- Literal: the gods. Symbolic: Multiple powers of the higher consciousness aiding transformation
- दास (dāsa)
- Literal: Dāsa (enemy). Symbolic: Forces of ignorance in the lower nature; habitual darkness
- मन्यु (manyu)
- Literal: wrath/anger. Symbolic: Reactive revolt of the vital when deprived of its old rule
- वर्ण (varṇa)
- Literal: color/hue. Symbolic: Luminous tone of consciousness; clarity and right discernment
- सुविताय (suvitāya)
- Literal: for good going. Symbolic: A free, auspicious movement along ṛta
Soma rite invocatory: calling Indra swiftly; also martial/abhicāra-adjacent tone of suppressing hostile manyu, but framed as protection and right journey (suvitā).
When seeking swift aid, removal of hostility, and auspicious movement in the rite or journey.
Call-and-response praise; invoking Indra’s immediate arrival and divine support.
Use before challenging tasks or inner confrontations: call for clarity, ask for reactive anger/doubt to be crushed, and for a luminous ‘tone’ to guide decisions.
√av ‘to help, protect’ in; √gam ‘to go/come’ ( optative of perfect/aoristic formation); manyú- ‘impulse, wrath’ from √man ‘to think’ → ‘mental force’ turning into violent surge; √vakṣ/√vah ‘to carry/bring’ in (conveyance of boons); su-vitá ‘good finding/passage’ (su- + √vid/√vīt ‘to find/attain’ in Vedic semantic development).
suvitā (right passage), overcoming hostile manyu (purification of force), radiance/varṇa as illumination
Suvitā (good going) is movement aligned with ṛta—an open path created by truth-force.
Varṇa as luminous truth-vision; the ‘color’ of consciousness that reveals what is right.
Opening of the path—creation of a new way through obstruction by divine intervention.
Vedic yoga of the path (adhvan) and transformation of hostile vital reactions.
Path = life-journey in consciousness; luminous color = clarified perception and right orientation; crushing wrath = pacifying reactive vital.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The gods’ suppression of Dāsa-wrath (manyu) and the arrival of Indra: a standard ‘aid-in-battle’ motif where obstructing powers are crushed and a luminous condition (varṇa) enabling safe passage (suvitā) is brought.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √gam (PIE *gʷem- ‘to go/come’; cf. Gk. baínō is different root; but Skt. gam has clear IE parallels in Avestan gam-). √weh₁gh- in √vah/veh ‘carry’ (ā vakṣan) is a strong PIE cognate set (Lat. vehō). The semantic elevation of varṇa ‘color’ to ‘luminous state’ illustrates Vedic abstraction from sensory to cognitive-spiritual.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer’s active powers (narāḥ) invoke; Indra responds with immediate presence and the host of gods collaborates to subdue inner hostility, returning illumination and right-going to the sacrificer/seeker.
Immediate invocation for help; transforming reactive anger into luminous discernment; opening the path of right action.
ājñā (discernment) and anāhata (courage/aspiration)
Brisk-energetic japa on first half (invocation), then slower exhale-focused chanting on ‘suvitāya varṇam’ to ‘seal’ the opened path.
Alert, forward-moving, confident clarity.
When backlash arises (irritation, revolt), name it as ‘manyu’. Invoke Indra to come ‘sadyas’ (at once). Then sit quietly and feel a ‘luminous color’ spread through the mind—decisions become simple, the next step obvious.
Maintain clear udatta on invocatory words; keep pace slightly quicker than settling verses.
Lift on ‘índram’, ‘ūtáye’, ‘sádyas’; brighten on ‘suvitā́ya várṇam’.
o as a sustained opening call, manyum: nasal ‘ṃ’ before y, ścamnan: cluster ‘śc’ clean, not ‘sk’, varṇam: retroflex ṇ
Clear, calling, and confident; end with luminous softness on ‘varṇam’.
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