Rig Veda 10.167.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 167, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.167
- Rishi
- Not securely determinable from the supplied excerpt alone
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Likely Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
स्वर्जितं महि मन्दानमन्धसो हवामहे परि शक्रं सुताँ उप । इमं नो यज्ञमिह बोध्या गहि स्पृधो जयन्तं मघवानमीमहे ॥
svàrjitaṁ máhi mandānáṁ ándhaso havāmahe pári śakráṁ sutā́m̐ úpa | imáṁ no yajñám ihá bodhyā́ gáhi spṛ́dho jáyantaṁ maghávānam īmahe ||
เราขอวิงวอนผู้ยิ่งใหญ่ ผู้พิชิตสวรรค์ ผู้เปรมปรีดิ์ในแก่นโสมะ; เราเชื้อเชิญผู้ทรงพลัง (ศักระ) มายังน้ำคั้นที่บีบแล้ว. ขอทรงตื่นรู้ต่อยัญพิธีของเราที่นี่และเสด็จมา; เราแสวงหาอินทระผู้เอื้อเฟื้อ ผู้มีชัยเหนือแรงต้านทั้งปวง.
Word by Word
- स्वः-जितम्
- heaven-winning, winning the skyAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (as epithet of शक्रम्)Role विशेषण (of कर्म)Root स्वर् (स्वः) + √जि (जये)
- महि
- greatly, indeedIndeclinableअव्यय (intensifier)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot महि (indecl.; from मह्/महā ‘great’)
- मन्दानम्
- exhilarated, gladdenedAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (agreeing with शक्रम्)Role विशेषण (of कर्म)Root √मन्द् (मन्दते ‘to be exhilarated, rejoice’)
- अन्धसः
- of the soma-juiceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive: ‘of soma’)Root अन्धस् (soma-juice, intoxicating draught)
- हवामहे
- we invoke, we callVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रिया (यजमानाः as implied कर्ता)Root √ह्वे/√ह्वा (ह्वयति/ह्वयते ‘to call, invoke’)
- परि
- around, all aboutIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)उपसर्ग/अव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण/सम्बन्ध (with उप)Root परि
- शक्रम्
- Śakra (Indra), the mighty oneNoun (proper/epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्म (object of हवामहे)Root शक्र (epithet of इन्द्र)
- सुतान्
- the pressed (soma-draughts)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन (understood: सोमाः)Role कर्म (object with उप: ‘pressed (somas)’)Root √सु (सुनोति ‘to press’); सुत (pressed)
- उप
- near, towardsIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)उपसर्ग/अव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण (direction/approach)Root उप
- इमम्
- thisPronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्म (object of बोधि)Root इदम्
- नः
- for us, of usPronounषष्ठी-बहुवचन (enclitic genitive)Role सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (for us / our)Root अस्मद्
- यज्ञम्
- sacrifice, riteNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्म (object of बोधि)Root यज्ञ
- इह
- hereIndeclinableदेशवाचक-अव्ययRole अधिकरण (locative sense)Root इह
- बोधि
- take notice!, be aware!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रिया (addressed to Indra)Root √बुध् (बोधते/बुध्यते ‘to notice, awaken, be aware’)
- आ
- hither, towards (us)Indeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गRole क्रियाविशेषणRoot आ
- गहि
- come!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; Vedic imperative form ‘गहि’Role क्रिया (addressed to Indra)Root √गम् (गच्छति ‘to go’)
- स्पृधः
- rivals, hostile contendersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचनRole कर्म (object of जयन्तम्: ‘conquering rivals’)Root स्पृध् (f.) ‘rivalry, contest’; also ‘rivals’ by extension
- जयन्तम्
- conquering, victoriousParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (agreeing with मघवानम्)Role विशेषण (of कर्म)Root √जि (जये) ‘to conquer’
- मघवानम्
- Maghavan (Indra), the bountifulNoun (proper/epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्म (object of ईमहे)Root मघवन् (epithet of इन्द्र ‘bountiful, munificent’)
- ईमहे
- we seek, we imploreVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रिया (we as kर्ता)Root √यम्/√इ (Vedic: √ई ‘to seek, request, implore’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi resolution): स्वर्जितं → स्वः-जितम् (स्वः + जितम्)
- मन्दा॒नमन्ध॑सो → मन्दानम् अन्धसः
- सु॒ताँ उप॑ → सुतान् उप
- इ॒मं नो॑ → इमम् नः
- य॒ज्ञमि॒ह → यज्ञम् इह
- बो॒ध्या ग॑हि → बोधि आ गहि (आ-उपसर्ग separated)
- स्पृधो॒ जय॑न्तं → स्पृधः जयन्तम्. Accent marks are retained in the source but not re-applied per pada here
The meaning
Outer meaning
The singers call Indra, the heaven-winner, exulting in Soma; they invoke the strong one to the pressed draughts. They ask him to awaken to the sacrifice and come, and they seek the bounteous victor over rivals.
Inner meaning
The mantra is an invitation to the illumined Mind (Indra) to awaken in the practitioner’s inner sacrifice. ‘Soma-essence’ is the distilled delight that makes the mind exult (mandāna). ‘Awaken here’ is crucial: illumination must become present, not merely ideal. ‘Spṛdhaḥ’ are opposing forces—doubts, inertia, obscurity (Vṛtra-like coverings). Indra as Maghavan is the generous distributor of power and joy, enabling victory over inner resistance and establishing svar-jit consciousness.
Universal truth
When delight supports aspiration and the higher mind is invited to awaken in the present moment, opposing forces lose their hold and an inner victory becomes possible.
Themes
Invocation, Victory motif, Soma delight and empowerment
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.167.1
Significance
A direct yogic call: awaken Indra within the sacrifice of the moment; let Soma-delight fuel victorious illumination over inner conflict.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Svar-jit (Heaven-winner), Śakra (Strong), Maghavan (Bounteous), Mahi (Mighty)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Maruts (supporting forces)
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods; breaker of coverings; establishes the luminous heaven in the human consciousness.
Inner power
Awakening force of illumination; victorious energy over resistance; generous bestower of inner powers.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation at Soma offerings
स्व॒र्जितं॒ महि॑ मन्दा॒नमन्ध॑सो॒ हवा॑महे॒ परि॑ श॒क्रं सु॒ताँ उप॑ । इ॒मं नो॑ य॒ज्ञमि॒ह बो॒ध्या ग॑हि॒ स्पृधो॒ जय॑न्तं म॒घवा॑नमीमहे ॥
स्वः॒ऽजित॑म् । महि॑ । म॒न्दा॒नम् । अन्ध॑सः । हवा॑महे । परि॑ । श॒क्रम् । सु॒तान् । उप॑ । इ॒मम् । नः॒ । य॒ज्ञम् । इ॒ह । बो॒धि॒ । आ । ग॒हि॒ । स्पृधः॑ । जय॑न्तम् । म॒घऽवा॑नम् । ई॒म॒हे॒ ॥
svaḥ-jitam | mahi | mandānam | andhasaḥ | havāmahe | pari | śakram | sutān | upa | imam | naḥ | yajñam | iha | bodhi | ā | gahi | spṛdhaḥ | jayantam | magha-vānam | īmahe
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4×11
Invocatory and surging; alternates calling and command (‘bodhi ā gahi’).
Creates a dynamic ascent—first exhilaration (Soma), then awakening, then victory; energizes practice.
- स्वर्जित (svarjit)
- Literal: heaven-winning. Symbolic: consciousness that conquers illumination and lives in it
- महि (mahi)
- Literal: great, mighty. Symbolic: vastness and power of the illumined mind
- मन्दान (mandāna)
- Literal: exultant, rejoicing. Symbolic: mind uplifted by Soma-delight
- अन्धस् (andhas)
- Literal: Soma-juice, essence. Symbolic: distilled bliss-substance nourishing higher consciousness
- शक्र (śakra)
- Literal: strong, mighty. Symbolic: forceful luminous intelligence able to break resistance
- यज्ञ (yajña)
- Literal: sacrifice. Symbolic: inner offering of works, thoughts, and energies to the Divine
- बोधि (bodhi)
- Literal: awaken, become aware. Symbolic: descent/awakening of higher consciousness in the present field
- स्पृध (spṛdh)
- Literal: rivals, opponents. Symbolic: inner resistances, conflicting impulses, obscuring forces
- मघवान् (maghavān)
- Literal: bounteous. Symbolic: giver of inner riches—light, strength, joy
Soma pressing and Indra-invocation; suitable for Soma offerings where Indra is invited to ‘awaken’ to the rite and drink.
During Soma-pressing sequences; inviting Indra to the libation and to the yajña.
Calling (havāmahe/īmahe), offering pressed Soma, inviting the deity to ‘come’.
Use as a pre-meditation invocation: ‘Awaken here’—set intention for present-moment illumination and courage against inner obstacles.
(svar-jit) = svar ‘luminous world’ (√svar ‘shine’) + jit (√ji ‘conquer’). (śakra) from √śak ‘be able, have power’ (PIE *sekʷ- ‘to be able’ often proposed): highlights effective capacity. (spṛdh) ‘rival, hostility’ from √spṛdh ‘contend’: inner-psychological ‘opposition’ to the ascent. (andhas) ‘Soma-juice’ (also ‘sap’): semantic bridge from sap → delight/strength.
Victory over opposition (spṛdh), Awakening (bodhi) as emergence of consciousness, Bounty (maghavan) as spiritual abundance
Indra’s victory over spṛdhaḥ restores right functioning of the being.
Awakening (bodhi) aligns perception with truth; victory is truth’s establishment in mind.
Ascent and conquest of higher plane (svar) supported by Soma essence.
Vedic yoga of invocation and descent (awakening here) aligned with integral practice.
Pressed Soma = refined delight from experience; draughts = repeated inner tastings; awakening = dawn-like emergence of light in mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as ‘svar-jit’ (winner of the luminous heaven) and ‘spṛdh-jayant’ (conqueror of rivals): the archetype of the champion who, strengthened by Soma, overcomes opposing powers. Inner sense: the awakened Indra-force in the mind conquers resistances that block ascent to truth-light.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The compound svar-jit parallels archaic IE poetic compounding (goal + conqueror). √ji ‘conquer’ has Indo-Iranian parallels (Avestan jii-). mad/mand ‘exult’ and andhas ‘sap/juice’ preserve inherited semantic fields linking intoxication, vitality, and divine empowerment.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi’s call is simultaneously ritual and psychological: ‘bodhi’ requests Indra’s conscious presence within the sacrifice (the inner work). Indra’s reciprocity is victory and bounty—transforming the human field by overcoming spṛdh (conflicting impulses/forces) and establishing abundance.
Invite the illumined mind to awaken now; face inner opposition with steady courage.
Anāhata (invocation/faith)
Inhale on havāmahe (invocation), exhale on bodhi ā gahi (surrender and descent).
From inspired uplift (Soma-exultation) to awakened luminous attention and victorious steadiness.
Chant 3 times, then sit; on each exhale mentally repeat ‘bodhi’; notice one ‘spṛdh’ (resistance) and offer it into the inner sacrifice.
Needs accented saṃhitā for precise svara; keep Triṣṭubh cadence with clear lift on bodhi and forward motion on ā gahi.
Phrase as call → offering → command: (havāmahe) (sutān upa) (bodhi ā gahi) (spṛdho jayantam).
svarjitam: pronounce ‘svar’ as one unit, not ‘su-var’, mandānam: long ā, sutām̐: nasalization (anunāsika) before upa, spṛdhaḥ: vocalic ṛ clear, final ḥ audible
Invocatory, bright, slightly urgent on ‘bodhi ā gahi’.
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