Rig Veda 8.97.7: Mandala 8, Sukta 97, Mantra 7
Sukta 8.97
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion) and Shanta (peace)
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 ||
ہمیں دور نہ پھینکیں اے اندر؛ ہمارے لیے مشترکہ جذبے میں ساتھی بنیں۔ آپ ہمارا سہارا ہیں؛ آپ ہی ہمارا قریبی تعلق ہیں۔ ہمیں دور نہ پھینکیں اے اندر۔
Word by Word
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (prohibitive particle)Root मा (निषेध) / mā́
- नः
- to us / ourPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (enclitic ‘nas’ = our/to us)Role Sampradāna (to us) / Possessor (our)Root अस्मद्
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (addressed deity)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) / Indra
- परा
- awayIndeclinableउपसर्ग/क्रियाविशेषण (away, forth)Root परा (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वृणक्
- choose (us) / selectVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ/प्रार्थनार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (वेदिक रूप: वृणक् = वृणु/वृणुहि प्रकार)Role क्रियाRoot वृ (वृणोति ‘to choose, select’)
- भवा
- be (for us) / becomeVerbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot भू (भवति ‘to be, become’)
- नः
- to us / ourPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (enclitic)Role Sampradāna (to us)Root अस्मद्
- सधमाद्यः
- companion in the soma-feast / fellow-revelerAdjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (as predicate-nominative of ‘be’)Root सधमाद्य (प्रातिपदिक; सध- ‘साथ’ + माद्य ‘उत्सव/मद’)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot युष्मद्
- नः
- to usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (enclitic)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- ऊती
- help, aidNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (predicate-nominative: ‘(you are) help’)Root ऊति (प्रातिपदिक; √अव/ऊ ‘to help, protect’ से) / ū́ti-
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot युष्मद्
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic particle)Root इत् (निपात)
- नः
- to usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (enclitic)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- आप्यम्
- near, accessible, friendlyAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (predicate: ‘(you are) near/accessible’)Role Kartā (predicate-nominative)Root आप्य (प्रातिपदिक; आप् ‘जल/आपः’ अथवा ‘प्राप्ति’ से; ‘near/related/accessible’)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थक अव्ययRoot मा (निषेध)
- नः
- to usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (enclitic)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- परा
- awayIndeclinableक्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्गRoot परा (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
- वृणक्
- choose (us)Verbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (वेदिक रूप)Role क्रियाRoot वृ (वृणोति)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (resolved): मा | नः | इन्द्र | परा | वृणक् | भवा | नः | सधमाद्यः | त्वम् | नः | ऊती | त्वम् | इत् | नः | आप्यम् | मा | नः | इन्द्र | परा | वृणक् । 1) ‘वृण॒ग्भवा॑’ = ‘वृणक् + भवा’ (क् + भ् संधि: क् → ग् before voiced stop)
- 2) ‘त्वमिन्न’ = ‘त्वम् + इत् + नः’ (म् + इ → मि; इत्-निपातः संधौ ‘इन्न’ इव दृश्यते)
- 3) ‘ऊ॒ती’ स्वतंत्रं पदम् (स्त्री. प्रथमा एक.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Do not cast us away, O Indra; be for us a companion in the common ecstasy. You are our help; you indeed are our intimate belonging. Do not cast us away, O Indra.
Inner meaning
The seeker fears separation from the illumined power and prays for abiding companionship (sadhamādyaḥ: sharing the same intoxication/rapture—Soma-ānanda). Indra is invoked as both outer aid (ūtī) and inner kinship (āpyam: one’s own, intimate, ‘of our family’). Psychologically, it is the insistence that illumination must not be episodic; it should become a constant ally and an inner possession—so that the mind does not relapse into obscurity and abandonment.
Universal truth
Spiritual growth requires continuity: not occasional inspiration but a stable relationship with the higher intelligence that guides, protects, and becomes inwardly one with us.
Themes
protection prayer, divine friendship, Soma fellowship, dependence on Indra
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.97.1-11
Family tradition
A prayer-strand within Indra hymns where the relationship becomes personal and continuous; attribution uncertain.
Significance
Marks a shift from summoning Indra to establishing intimacy—illumination as a permanent companion rather than a visiting power.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Indra (lord of luminous mind)
- Related deities
- Soma (shared ecstasy), Agni (inner priest sustaining continuity)
Cosmic role
Protector and helper of the sacrificer; ensures victory over forces of darkness and division.
Inner power
Steadying presence of discernment and courage; prevents backsliding into tamas and confusion.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective/continuity prayer within Indra-Soma sequences
मा न॑ इन्द्र॒ परा॑ वृण॒ग्भवा॑ नः सध॒माद्य॑: । त्वं न॑ ऊ॒ती त्वमिन्न॒ आप्यं॒ मा न॑ इन्द्र॒ परा॑ वृणक् ॥
मा । नः॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । परा॑ । वृ॒ण॒क् । भव॑ । नः॒ । स॒ध॒ऽमाद्यः॑ । त्वम् । नः॒ । ऊ॒ती । त्वम् । इत् । नः॒ । आप्य॑म् । मा । नः॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । परा॑ । वृ॒ण॒क् ॥
mā | naḥ | indra | parā | vṛṇak | bhava | naḥ | sadha-mādyaḥ | tvam | naḥ | ūtī | tvam | it | naḥ | āpyam | mā | naḥ | indra | parā | vṛṇak
Likely Anuṣṭubh or a shorter Book 8 pragātha-like cadence (the verse has a refrain-like repetition)
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4 pādas of ~8 syllables (if Anuṣṭubh), with refrain repetition of the opening plea
Supplicatory, mantra-like, circular; the repeated line acts as a protective seal.
Creates a feeling of closeness and safeguarding; effective as a daily protective remembrance.
- मा नः ... परा वृणक् (mā naḥ ... parā vṛṇak)
- Literal: do not choose (cast) us away. Symbolic: do not withdraw the light; prevent relapse into lower nature
- सधमाद्यः (sadhamādyaḥ)
- Literal: sharing the same feast/intoxication. Symbolic: companionship in divine delight; collective ecstasy of consciousness
- ऊती (ūtī)
- Literal: help, protection. Symbolic: active guidance and saving force in struggle
- आप्यम् (āpyam)
- Literal: belonging, intimate kin. Symbolic: inner nearness—Indra as an inmost faculty awakened in us
Protective refrain-like petition within Soma praise: maintaining Indra’s favor/presence.
As a plea during offerings when seeking Indra’s continued presence and favor
Refrain-like supplication; reaffirming bond between deity and sacrificer
Use as a daily ‘do-not-abandon’ prayer during periods of doubt, depression, or spiritual dryness.
vṛṇak: from √vṛ ‘choose’ with separative parā → ‘choose away, reject’. sadha-mādya: sadha ‘together/common’ + mādya ‘intoxication/joy’ from √mad. ūtí: from √av/√ū? conventional RV noun ‘help, favor’. āpya: ‘belonging to waters/home’ (āp ‘waters’), extended to ‘intimate, of one’s own circle’ in RV usage.
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.
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