Rig Veda 6.21.8: Mandala 6, Sukta 21, Mantra 8
Sukta 6.21
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
स तु श्रुधीन्द्र नूतनस्य ब्रह्मण्यतो वीर कारुधायः । त्वं ह्यापिः प्रदिवि पितॄणां शश्वद्बभूथ सुहव एष्टौ ॥
sa tu śrudhīndra nūtanasya brahmaṇyato vīra kāru-dhāyaḥ | tvaṃ hy āpiḥ pra-divi pitṝṇāṃ śaśvad babhūtha su-hava eṣṭau ||
ฉะนั้นขอทรงสดับเถิด โอ้อินทรา ถ้อยคำใหม่ของผู้แสวงหาพรหมัน (brahman) โอ้วีรบุรุษ ผู้ค้ำจุนงานของกวี. เพราะท่านแท้จริงคือญาติใกล้ชิดในแดนฟ้าก่อน (pradiv) ของบรรพชน; ในการวอนขอ ท่านเป็นผู้ถูกเรียกได้โดยง่ายอยู่เสมอ.
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (स-आदेशः)
- तु
- but/indeedIndeclinableनिपातःRoot तु
- श्रुधि
- hear! listen!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Root श्रु (धातुः)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिकम्)
- नूतनस्य
- of the newAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम् (ब्रह्मणः विशेषणम्)Root नूतन (प्रातिपदिकम्)
- ब्रह्मण्यतः
- of the pious/ritual-minded (one)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम् (कारुधायः विशेषणम्)Root ब्रह्मण्यत् (प्रातिपदिकम्; ब्रह्मन् + यत्/ण्यत्)
- वीर
- O heroNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot वीर (प्रातिपदिकम्)
- कारुधायः
- of the singer/poetNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Root कारुधा (प्रातिपदिकम्; कारु + धा)
- त्वम्
- thouPronounउत्तम-पुरुषार्थकः सर्वनाम-शब्दः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot युष्मद्
- हि
- for/indeedIndeclinableनिपातःRoot हि
- आपिः
- a helper/ally; supportNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot आपि (प्रातिपदिकम्)
- प्रदिवि
- in the highest heavenIndeclinable (locative adverbial) / Noun-formसप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभाववत् (स्थानवाचकम्)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot प्र + दिव् (दिव्/द्यौः-सम्बद्धः प्रातिपदिकम् ‘दिवि’)
- पितॄणाम्
- of the Fathers (ancestors)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Root पितृ (प्रातिपदिकम्)
- शश्वत्
- always, perpetuallyIndeclinable (adverb) / Adjectiveक्रियाविशेषणम्Root शश्वत् (प्रातिपदिकम्)
- बभूथ
- thou hast been / becameVerbलिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्णभूत), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Root भू (धातुः)
- सुहव
- O well-invoked (easy to call)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot सुहव (प्रातिपदिकम्; सु + हव)
- एष्टौ
- in the seeking/prayer; in the rite of requestNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम् (वेदिके ‘-औ’ = ‘-आम्/ -ौ’ प्रकारः; ‘एष्टौ’ = ‘एष्टौ/एष्ट्याम्’ इति यज्ञ-प्रार्थनास्थले)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot एष्टि (प्रातिपदिकम्)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: सः | तु | श्रुधि | इन्द्र | नूतनस्य | ब्रह्मण्यतः | वीर | कारुधायः | त्वम् | हि | आपिः | प्रदिवि | पितॄणाम् | शश्वत् | बभूथ | सुहव | एष्टौ । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) श्रु॑धीन्द्र॒ → श्रुधि + इन्द्र (इ-आगमः; ‘इन्द्र’ सम्बोधन). (2) ह्या॒पिः → हि + आपिः (इ + आ → या; ‘ह्यापिः’). (3) शश्व॑द्ब॒भूथ॑ → शश्वत् + बभूथ (त् + ब → द्ब्; परसवर्ण/व्यञ्जन-सन्धिः). स्वरचिह्नाः मन्त्रपाठानुसारं
- पदपाठे सामान्यतः स्वरचिह्न-लोपः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is asked to hear the new hymn of the brahman-seeking poet. Indra is described as a close kin in the high heaven of the Fathers, ever easy to call in the act of seeking.
Inner meaning
The aspirant offers a ‘new word’ (nūtanasya…brahmaṇyataḥ) —a fresh formulation born of present experience, not mere repetition. Indra is invoked as the ever-available intimate ally (āpiḥ) in the ‘fore-heaven of the Fathers’ (pradivi pitṝṇām): the luminous plane of ancestral spiritual attainments, the accumulated siddhi of the lineage of seekers within us. In eṣṭi (seeking), Indra is suhava—easily called—meaning illumination responds swiftly when aspiration is sincere and the word is living.
Universal truth
Living spiritual speech renews the path; the guiding light is intimate and accessible, and the gains of the past (ancestral attainments) become support for present seeking.
Themes
New mantra (nūtana), Ancestral continuity (pitṛ), Indra as intimate ally (āpi)
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya)
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.21, RV 6.23, RV 6.61 (Sarasvatī—linked to inspired speech, thematic)
Family tradition
Mantric craftsmanship joined to aspiration; renewal of hymn as renewal of realization.
Significance
Affirms that revelation must be fresh (nūtana) and that the ‘Fathers’—past attainments—are living supports when invoked rightly.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- suhava (easy to call), vīra (hero), āpi (close kin)
- Related deities
- Pitṛs (Fathers), Bṛhaspati (brahman power), Sarasvatī (inspired flow)
Cosmic role
Maintains the continuity of the luminous tradition; answers the call of aspiration with illumination.
Inner power
Responsive inner light; intimate guidance that supports the forming of true speech and right seeking.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra stuti offered by the hotṛ; also suitable in ancestor-related rites by thematic association with pitṛs (though not a primary pitṛ-mantra).
स तु श्रु॑धीन्द्र॒ नूत॑नस्य ब्रह्मण्य॒तो वी॑र कारुधायः । त्वं ह्या॒३॒॑पिः प्र॒दिवि॑ पितॄ॒णां शश्व॑द्ब॒भूथ॑ सु॒हव॒ एष्टौ॑ ॥
सः । तु । श्रु॒धि॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । नूत॑नस्य । ब्र॒ह्म॒ण्य॒तः । वी॒र॒ । का॒रु॒ऽधा॒यः॒ । त्वम् । हि । आ॒पिः । प्र॒ऽदिवि॑ । पि॒तॄ॒णाम् । शश्व॑त् । ब॒भूथ॑ । सु॒ऽहवः॑ । आऽइ॑ष्टौ ॥
saḥ | tu | śrudhi | indra | nūtanasya | brahmaṇyataḥ | vīra | kāru-dhāyaḥ | tvam | hi | āpiḥ | pra-divi | pitṝṇām | śaśvat | babhūtha | su-havaḥ | āiṣṭau
44
4 × ~11
Invocatory and intimate; less martial, more connective.
Creates a sense of closeness with the deity and continuity with a higher heritage.
- नूतनस्य (nūtanasya)
- Literal: new. Symbolic: fresh realization; living mantra born from current consciousness
- ब्रह्मण्यतः (brahmaṇyataḥ)
- Literal: one devoted to brahman. Symbolic: the seeker turned toward inspired truth and higher consciousness
- कारुधायः (kārudhāyaḥ)
- Literal: upholder of the poet’s work. Symbolic: sustainer of right formation—crafting and holding the mantric vibration
- आपिः (āpiḥ)
- Literal: near relation, close friend. Symbolic: intimate inner presence of the illumined Mind as companion
- प्रदिवि (pradivi)
- Literal: in the fore-heaven. Symbolic: higher mental/supramental antechamber; plane of luminous predecessors
- पितॄणाम् (pitṝṇām)
- Literal: of the Fathers. Symbolic: ancestral powers: past realizations, inner lineage, guiding formations
- सुहवः (suhavaḥ)
- Literal: easy to call. Symbolic: readily responsive divine help when the call is true
- एष्टौ (eṣṭau)
- Literal: in seeking. Symbolic: the act of aspiration/inquiry as sacrifice
Invocation emphasizing continuity with Pitṛs and present renewal (nūtana brahman); suitable where ancestral lineage and present inspiration are ritually linked.
When presenting a fresh offering of praise; in moments of renewed aspiration.
Recitation accompanying offering and invitation for Indra to ‘hear’ the new brahman.
Use when restarting practice after a break: ‘new word’ = recommitment; ‘Fathers’ = remember past supports/teachers.
śrudhi from √śru ‘hear’. brahmaṇyata ‘seeking brahman’ from brahman + desiderative/affiliative formation. āpi ‘kin, friend’ (near/attached). pitṛ ‘father’ from PIE *ph₂tḗr. su-hava ‘easy to call’ from √hū. √bhū ‘become’ → babhūtha.
Brahman (mantric truth-force), Pitṛ-loka as prior attainment/fore-heaven, Divine responsiveness (su-hava)
Right seeking (eṣṭi) aligns the aspirant with ṛta; Indra responds as guardian of the path.
The ‘new word’ must be true speech—born from experience, not imitation.
Continuity of realization across time (pitṛs) and renewal in the present (nūtana).
Integral yoga reading: tradition is living, renewed by experience; higher planes support descent of light.
Upper sky = higher mind/wideness; Fathers = stored luminous formations; hearing = receptivity of the higher to the human call.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The 'Indra among the Fathers' motif: Indra is established in the fore-heaven of ancestral realizers and is thus accessible to the present seeker. The mythic continuity becomes psychological inheritance—past attainments support present aspiration.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- pitṛ (pitṝṇām) < PIE *ph₂tḗr (Lat pater). √śru (śrudhi) < PIE *ḱleu- ‘hear’. √bhū (babhūtha) < PIE *bʰuH-.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi appeals to Indra’s established kinship with the line of Fathers: because Indra has been ‘su-hava’ in the ancestral seeking, he should also hear the new brahman now. The reciprocity is grounded in lineage plus renewal.
Renewed aspiration with living speech; feel Indra as intimate guide above the head-space.
sahasrāra/upper head (pradivi) and viśuddha (true word)
Slow ujjāyī 7–9 breaths, then chant softly.
Receptive devotion with quiet confidence.
Before chanting, form one fresh, sincere sentence of aspiration (‘new word’) inwardly; chant; then feel gratitude to inner ‘Fathers’ (past supports) and open upward for response.
Keep gentle but clear Vedic accents on śrudhī́ndra, nū́tanasya, brahmaṇyatáḥ, pitṝṇā́m, suháva.
First pāda as direct request; second as affirmation—let the tone warm and soften on suhava eṣṭau.
śrudhīndra: do not drop the ‘dh’—śru-dhīn-dra., kārudhāyaḥ: kā-ru-dhā-yaḥ with long ā in dhā., pitṝṇām: sustain ṝ (pitr̥̄) cleanly.
Soft, intimate, clear; sustain vowels for ‘hearing’.
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