Rig Veda 1.63.6: Mandala 1, Sukta 63, Mantra 6
Sukta 1.63
- Rishi
- Gotama Rāhūgaṇa
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
त्वां ह त्यदिन्द्रार्णसातौ स्वर्मीळ्हे नर आजा हवन्ते । तव स्वधाव इयमा समर्य ऊतिर्वाजेष्वतसाय्या भूत् ॥
tvā́ṃ ha tyád indrā́rṇa-sātau svàr-mīḷhe nára ā́jā havante | táva svadhāva iyám ā́ sa-maryé ūtír vā́jeṣv atasā́yyā bhūt ||
تو ہی، اے اندر، طاقتوں کے سیلاب کو حاصل کرنے میں، روشن دنیا کو پانے میں، لوگ جنگ میں پکارتے ہیں۔ اے خود طاقتور، تیری یہ مدد ملاقات میں قریب آئے اور طاقت کی پوریتیوں میں ناقابل مزاحمت بن جائے۔
Word by Word
- त्वाम्
- you (as the one addressed/aimed at)Pronounद्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ह
- indeed, surelyIndeclinableनिपात (उपपद/अवधारण/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थ)Root ह (निपात)
- त्यत्
- that (very one/that thing)Pronounद्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole कर्म (सम्बन्धेन: त्वाम्…त्यत् = ‘that you’/‘that (one)’)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounसम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्णसातौ
- in the winning of the flood/stream (in battle)Nounसप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (युद्ध/संग्राम-प्रसङ्गे ‘अर्णसाति’)Role अधिकारणRoot अर्णसाति (प्रातिपदिक; अर्णस् + साति)
- स्वर्मीळ्हे
- in the heaven-winning (contest), in the prize-winningAdjectiveसप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक (स्थाने/अवस्थायाम्)Role अधिकारणRoot स्वर्मीळ्ह (प्रातिपदिक; स्वः + मीळ्ह ‘पुरस्कृत/प्रशस्त’)
- नरः
- men, heroesNounप्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole कर्तृRoot नर (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, hither (in invocation)Indeclinableउपसर्गः (ह्वे-धातोः सह ‘आह्वान’ अर्थे)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- जाः
- the born ones, folkNounप्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole कर्तृ (नरः…जाः = ‘men, the born/people’)Root जा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘जात/जन’ अर्थे, RV-प्रयोगः)
- हवन्ते
- they call, invokeVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot ह्वे (धातु)
- तव
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वधावः
- O self-empowered one, possessing svadhāAdjectiveसम्बोधन/प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बोधन/कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot स्वधावन् (प्रातिपदिक; स्वधा + वन्)
- इयम्
- thisPronounप्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole कर्तृRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- unto, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्गः (गम्/इ-भावे ‘आ-’ = ‘towards/unto’)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- समर्यः
- battle, warlike encounter (or battle-host)Nounप्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole कर्तृ (इयम्…समर्यः = ‘this battle/warrior-host’)Root समर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘समर’ सम्बन्धी)
- ऊतिः
- help, aidNounप्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole कर्तृRoot ऊति (प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजेषु
- in contests/prize-races, in battles for bootyNounसप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole अधिकारणRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- अतसाय्या
- unfailing, not-to-be-overcomeAdjectiveप्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (ऊतिः-विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot अतसाय्य (प्रातिपदिक; न-उपसर्ग-भावः ‘अ-’ + तसाय्य/तस ‘क्षय/क्षति’ धात्वर्थ-सम्बन्धः; RV-विशेषण)
- भूत्
- has become, came to beVerbलुङ् (अorist/इष्ट-लुङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot भू (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (Vedic sandhi resolved): त्वाम् | ह | त्यत् | इन्द्र | अर्णसातौ | स्वर्मीळ्हे | नरः | आ | जाः | हवन्ते || तव | स्वधावः | इयम् | आ | समर्यः | ऊतिः | वाजेषु | अतसाय्या | भूत् || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) त्यदिन्द्र → त्यत् + इन्द्र (त् + इ → द्)
- (2) इयमा → इयम् + आ (म् + आ → मा)
- (3) समर्य ऊतिः → समर्यः + ऊतिः (विसर्ग-सन्धिः: अः + ऊ → ओ/उ-प्रभाव; संहितायां ‘समर्य ऊतिः’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
In the battle for winning the flood (of wealth/energies) and for gaining the luminous world (svarga), men call upon Indra. May Indra’s self-powered help come near in the encounter and become irresistible in the attainments of force.
Inner meaning
In the inner struggle, the seeker calls Indra (illumined mind) when the “flood” of life-energies (arṇas) must be conquered and turned toward the higher world of light (svar). Indra’s svadhā—his inherent autonomous power—descends as an upholding force (ūti) in the crisis of sādhanā, making the will and capacities (vāja) invincible against resistance.
Universal truth
When consciousness turns to the higher Intelligence, the chaotic flood of impulses can be mastered and converted into luminous power; help comes most decisively at the point of conflict, and the inner victory becomes ‘irresistible’ when it is aligned with the self-existent divine strength.
Themes
invocation in conflict, gaining the luminous world, divine help, invincibility
The seer
- Rishi
- Gotama Rāhūgaṇa
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 1.62, RV 1.63, RV 1.64 (Gautama family context)
Family tradition
Gotama seers noted for hymns to Indra emphasizing victorious illumination and right action (ṛta-driven conquest).
Significance
Gotama’s vision frames Indra as the inner champion who converts raw energies into luminous attainment; the rishi’s ‘battle’ is primarily psychological—opening the way for the light (go/rays) and force (vāja) through inspired speech (brahman).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- svadhāvaḥ (self-powered), śūra (hero), vajrin (bolt-bearer, implied in the hymn-context), maghavan (bountiful, contextual)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Maruts, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstructions and establisher of the luminous world-order; releases the waters/cows (powers of light and flow) and secures wide space for life under ṛta.
Inner power
Illuminated Mind and decisive Will that smites the ‘coverer’ forces, brings clarity, courage, and victorious effectiveness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra within Soma-yajña sequences; also adaptable as a battle/victory invocation in śrauta recitation.
त्वां ह॒ त्यदि॒न्द्रार्ण॑सातौ॒ स्व॑र्मीळ्हे॒ नर॑ आ॒जा ह॑वन्ते । तव॑ स्वधाव इ॒यमा स॑म॒र्य ऊ॒तिर्वाजे॑ष्वत॒साय्या॑ भूत् ॥
त्वाम् । ह॒ । त्यत् । इ॒न्द्र॒ । अर्ण॑ऽसातौ । स्वः॑ऽमीळ्हे । नरः॑ । आ॒जा । ह॒व॒न्ते॒ । तव॑ । स्व॒धा॒ऽवः । इ॒यम् । आ । स॒ऽम॒र्ये । ऊ॒तिः । वाजे॑षु । अ॒त॒साय्या॑ । भू॒त् ॥
tvām | ha | tyat | indra | arṇa-sātau | svaḥ-mīḷhe | naraḥ | ājā | havante | tava | svadhāvaḥ | iyam | ā | sa-marye | ūtiḥ | vājeṣu | atasāyyā | bhūt
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4 pādas × 11 syllables (with typical Vedic resolutions/caesura)
Forceful, marching cadence suited to invocation in conflict; strong mid-line lift (triṣṭubh drive).
Energizes courage and mental clarity; supports a ‘forward-pressing’ inner movement toward victory and light.
- अर्णसातौ (arṇasātau)
- Literal: in the winning/conquest of the flood. Symbolic: mastery of the rushing life-forces, emotions, and subconscient energies
- स्वर्मीळ्हे (svarmīḻhe)
- Literal: in the winning of svar (luminous world). Symbolic: attainment of higher illumination and truth-consciousness
- आजा / समर्ये (ājā / samarye)
- Literal: in battle/encounter. Symbolic: the decisive inner confrontation with ignorance and inertia
- स्वधावः (svadhāvaḥ)
- Literal: self-powered, possessing svadhā. Symbolic: autonomous divine efficacy; power that does not depend on external supports
- ऊतिः (ūtiḥ)
- Literal: help, aid. Symbolic: protective and strengthening descent of divine support in sādhanā
- वाजेषु (vājeṣu)
- Literal: in the prizes/strengths. Symbolic: plenitudes of effective force—capacities, victories, fulfillments
Battle/victory invocation within the Soma liturgy; calling Indra’s ūti for overcoming obstacles and gaining svaḥ
During Indra praises in Soma pressing/offerings; invoked at moments seeking overcoming and gain of strength.
Recitation with offerings (oblations) to Indra; mental ‘calling’ (havana) for aid.
Use as a mantra of inner crisis-management: recite before demanding work, conflict-resolution, or when needing decisive clarity and strength.
arṇa ‘wave/flood’ used for surging force; svaḥ (PIE *sweh₂l?; Vedic svaḥ as luminous world) marks the plane of light. svadhā indicates ‘one’s own placing/power’ (sva + √dhā), an inherent capacity. vāja from √vaj ‘to be strong’ → not mere food/prize but concentrated force and fullness.
svadhā as intrinsic power, ūti as fostering grace, vāja as plenitude of force
Indra’s help is ‘irresistible’ when the striving aligns with ṛta—right intention and right movement.
Svar as truth-light; victory is the establishment of truth-consciousness over confusion.
Release and channeling of the ‘flood’ into ordered power—creation as transformation of raw waters into luminous force.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent to light with descent of power; inner sacrifice as psychological evolution.
Waters = streams of consciousness/energies; svar = plane of illumination; battle = inner tapas against resistance.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘winning of the flood’ and ‘winning of svaḥ’: a victory pattern where Indra’s aid secures both energy (arṇa) and light-world (svaḥ). Innerly, the seeker calls Indra in the clash of life to gain surging power and ascent into luminous consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- svadhā (sva + √dhā) uses inherited reflexive ‘own’ (PIE *s(w)e-) and √dhā (PIE *dʰeh₁- ‘set’), a transparent formation meaning ‘self-established power’. vāja from √vaj preserves an old strength-lexicon, comparable in function to Indo-European ‘prize/strength’ terms used in heroic poetry.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Humans call Indra precisely at the threshold of decisive contest; the hymn asks that Indra’s ūti ‘come near’ (ā) and become unbeatable. The exchange is: invocation + offering → descent of fostering power that turns struggle into luminous gain.
Invoke the illumined mind to master turbulent energies and convert them into effective strength under truth-light.
maṇipūra (will/force) and ājñā (illumination)
Moderate paced japa with brief kumbhaka after ‘indrārṇasātau’ to feel mastery of the ‘flood’.
Dynamic concentration (tapas) moving toward clear, victorious discernment.
Before action, offer the ‘battle’ inwardly: name the obstruction, call Indra, then act from widened, luminous calm; repeat until the sense of ‘irresistible’ support stabilizes.
Vedic tri-svara (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as per śākha; maintain clear udātta rises on key vocatives like ‘índra’.
Keep the vocative ‘indra’ bright; sustain the cadence through each triṣṭubh pāda with a slight caesura after ~4–5 syllables.
tvāṃ (nasalized long ā with anusvāra), arṇasātau (retroflex ṇ; clear long ā), svarmīḻhe (ḻh cluster—softly articulated; keep ī long), svadhāva (dhā aspirated; long ā), ūtir (long ū), vājeṣu (j soft; ṣ retroflex)
Firm, upward-leading, ‘victory-call’ tone; avoid harshness—let strength be luminous.
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