Rig Veda 4.21.3: Mandala 4, Sukta 21, Mantra 3
Sukta 4.21
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
आ यात्विन्द्रो दिव आ पृथिव्या मक्षू समुद्रादुत वा पुरीषात् । स्वर्णरादवसे नो मरुत्वान्परावतो वा सदनादृतस्य ॥
ā́ yā́tv índro divá ā́ pṛthivyā́ mákṣū samudrā́d utá vā́ purī́ṣāt | svàr-narād ávase no marútvān parāváto vā́ sádanād ṛtásya ||
愿因陀罗自天而来，自地而来；愿他迅疾自海渊而来，或自丰厚充盈（purīṣa）而来。愿他从光明之人力（svar-narā）而来，为护佑我等，携同马鲁特（Marut）；无论来自遥远彼岸，或来自真理之座（ṛta）。
Word by Word
- आ
- hither; towardsIndeclinableउपसर्गः (आगमनार्थः)Root आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- यातु
- let (him) comeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Root या (धातु)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- दिवः
- from heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी, एकवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक: दिव्/द्यौ)
- आ
- hitherIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- पृथिव्याः
- from the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी, एकवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- मक्षु
- quicklyIndeclinableकाल/रीतिवाचक-अव्ययम्Root मक्षु (अव्यय)
- समुद्रात्
- from the oceanNounपुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी, एकवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and; or alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्Root उत (अव्यय)
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्Root वा (अव्यय)
- पुरीषात्
- from the flood/mire (watery mass)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी, एकवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वर्णरात्
- from (him) who gives gold; the gold-bestowing (one)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी, एकवचनम् (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role ApādānaRoot स्वर्णर (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समासः: स्वर्ण + रा/रात)
- अवसे
- for help; for aidNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot अवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us; ourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनम्Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- मरुत्वान्
- accompanied by the MarutsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot मरुत्वन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
- परावतः
- from afar; from the distant regionNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी, एकवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot परावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्Root वा (अव्यय)
- सदनात्
- from the seat/dwellingNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी, एकवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋतस्य
- of ṛta (cosmic order/truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Root ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (Vedic sandhi resolved): आ | यातु | इन्द्रः | दिवः | आ | पृथिव्याः | मक्षु | समुद्रात् | उत | वा | पुरीषात् | स्वर्णरात् | अवसे | नः | मरुत्वान् | परावतः | वा | सदनात् | ऋतस्य । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) आ + यातु → आ यातु (उपसर्ग-क्रिया, संधि-परिवर्तन नहीं) (2) समुद्रात् + उत → समुद्रादुत (त् + उ → द् उ, पदपाठे समुद्रात् | उत) (3) वा + पुरीषात् → वा पुरीषात् (4) मरुत्वान् + परावतः → मरुत्वान्परावतः (न् + प → न्प) (5) सदनात् + ऋतस्य → सदनादृतस्य (त् + ऋ → द् ऋ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Let Indra come from heaven, from earth, swiftly from the ocean or from the rich fullness; from the luminous man-strength, for our protection, with the Maruts—whether from afar or from the seat of ṛta.
Inner meaning
Indra is invoked from all planes: heaven and earth (higher and lower consciousness), ocean-depth (subconscient vastness), and purīṣa (rich fullness—fertile abundance). The seeker calls the illumined power to arrive swiftly from wherever it stands concealed. ‘Svar-narā’ signifies luminous manhood: the heroic, radiant vital-mental strength that can act in life. With the Maruts (storm-gods) as allies—dynamic energies that clear and uplift—Indra is asked to come even from the parāvat (far beyond) or from the sadana of ṛta (seat of Truth): the stable plane where right order is native. The mantra is a comprehensive call for the descent of governing illumination into every layer of being.
Universal truth
Help can come from any depth or height of reality when we invoke sincerely. Transformation requires the higher power to touch all strata—conscious, vital, and subconscient—supported by dynamic energies that remove inertia.
Themes
Cosmic-invitation, Indra-Maruts, Ṛta-seat, Descent-from-depths
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.21.1, RV 4.21.2, RV 4.18
Family tradition
Vāmadeva frequently universalizes the invocation—calling the deity from all worlds—reflecting a yoga of totality: no part of being is left outside the descent.
Significance
A mantra of ‘integral arrival’: it summons illumined governance into the subconscient depths and the embodied life, not only the heights of mind.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Maruts)
- Epithets
- Marutvān (accompanied by Maruts), Svar-nara (luminous-heroic), Abhibhū (victorious)
- Related deities
- Maruts, Agni, Varuṇa (ṛta), Soma
Cosmic role
Mediator of descent across planes; leader of storm-forces that clear obstruction; establisher of ṛta in the human field.
Inner power
Illumined dynamism entering all layers—especially the oceanic subconscient—supported by energizing Marut forces.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation with Marut association in Soma rites; calling the deity from multiple quarters/realms
आ या॒त्विन्द्रो॑ दि॒व आ पृ॑थि॒व्या म॒क्षू स॑मु॒द्रादु॒त वा॒ पुरी॑षात् । स्व॑र्णरा॒दव॑से नो म॒रुत्वा॑न्परा॒वतो॑ वा॒ सद॑नादृ॒तस्य॑ ॥
आ । या॒तु॒ । इन्द्रः॑ । दि॒वः । आ । पृ॒थि॒व्याः । म॒क्षु । स॒मु॒द्रात् । उ॒त । वा॒ । पुरी॑षात् । स्वः॑ऽनरात् । अव॑से । नः॒ । म॒रुत्वा॑न् । प॒रा॒ऽवतः॑ । वा॒ । सद॑नात् । ऋ॒तस्य॑ ॥
ā | yātu | indraḥ | divaḥ | ā | pṛthivyāḥ | makṣu | samudrāt | uta | vā | purīṣāt | svaḥ-narāt | avase | naḥ | marutvān | parāvataḥ | vā | sadanāt | ṛtasya
44
4 × ~11
Rapid invocatory sweep across cosmic regions; lists create a scanning, all-direction call.
Produces a feeling of total invocation and opening; mobilizes hidden layers and invites a swift descent.
- diva ā pṛthivyāḥ
- Literal: from heaven, from earth. Symbolic: from higher mind and embodied nature; integration of above and below
- makṣū
- Literal: swiftly. Symbolic: immediate responsiveness; urgency of the aspiration
- samudrāt
- Literal: from the ocean. Symbolic: from the subconscient/inconscient vast; deep store of energies and hidden movements
- purīṣāt
- Literal: from rich fullness/abundance. Symbolic: from the fertile plenitude of life-force and substance when purified and made luminous
- svarṇarāt (svaḥ-narāt)
- Literal: from the luminous man-strength. Symbolic: from heroic luminous vitality; the force that acts in the world under light
- avase
- Literal: for protection. Symbolic: guidance and safeguarding during descent and change
- marutvān
- Literal: with the Maruts. Symbolic: accompanied by dynamic powers that purify, energize, and break resistance
- parāvataḥ
- Literal: from afar/beyond. Symbolic: from transcendent ranges of consciousness
- sadanāt ṛtasya
- Literal: from the seat of ṛta. Symbolic: from the stable plane of Truth-Right where order is inherent
Universal summons to Indra from all regions/planes, typical of Soma-invitations; also thematically bridges cosmic planes (div/earth/ocean/ṛta-seat)
When invoking presence and aid broadly—before confronting obstacles or beginning a major pressing/recitation segment
Āvāhana-like call; establishing protective, energizing presence
Use when feeling stuck, heavy, or subconsciously blocked; chant to invite help into ‘deep ocean’ layers and daily life.
sam-udra ‘gathered waters’ indicates depth-totality; purīṣa in RV can denote a ‘rich, swelling substance’ (not later ‘excrement’ sense), hence a matrix of formation; svar from √svar/√sūr ‘shine’; ṛta from √ṛ ‘to fit, move rightly’—truth in ordered motion.
Ṛta as a ‘seat’ (stable plane of truth), Cosmic verticality (div–pṛthivī–samudra), Descent of power into the human
Indra is invoked from the ‘seat of ṛta’—the source-plane of right order that can reorganize lower nature.
Truth as a stable abode (sadana) from which effective help descends.
All-world linkage: higher truth influences earth-life and even oceanic depths; transformation is cosmically connected.
Integral ascent/descent cosmology: multiple planes (heaven/earth/ocean/beyond) interacting through divine powers.
Heaven=higher mind; earth=body-life; ocean=subconscient; storm=purifying dynamic energies; fullness=plentitude of transformed life-substance.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘summoning from all worlds’ mythologem: the deity is invoked from heaven, earth, ocean-depth, and the seat of ṛta—mapping Indra’s action across planes of consciousness from the luminous to the deep subconscient.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dyauḥ/divá from PIE *dyeu- ‘sky, shine’ (cf. Greek Zeus). pṛthivī relates to ‘broad’ (PIE *pl̥th₂u-; cf. English ‘forth’ is different, but ‘broad’ idea is IE-wide). ṛta is Indo-Iranian (Avestan aša) expressing an inherited concept of cosmic order.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi calls Indra not to a single ritual spot only, but to the entire inner cosmos of the seeker. The request ‘for our protection’ frames Indra as the power that can descend from truth-plane (ṛta) into embodied life and even into the oceanic depths to uplift them.
Call illumined force into all layers—especially the ‘ocean’ of subconscious habit; invite Marut energy to clear inertia.
mūlādhāra (subconscient base) rising to ājñā (illumination)
3-part breath (dirgha pranayama): abdomen–chest–clavicle to contact ‘earth–heaven’ axis; then a few cleansing exhales
wide-open, receptive, energized
Chant 9 times while visualizing a vertical channel from crown to base; on ‘samudrāt’ feel light entering deep below; on ‘sadanād ṛtasya’ feel a calm, true order descending and settling.
Keep the enumerative phrases clear; udātta accents should ‘step’ through the list (diva… pṛthivyā… samudrāt…).
Do not rush despite ‘makṣū’; maintain clarity on each realm named; give ‘ṛtasya’ a reverent, settling cadence.
makṣū: kṣ cluster crisp; long ū, samudrād: dental d; long ā in -rād, purīṣāt: long ī; retroflex ṣ, svaḥ-narāt: visarga in svaḥ lightly; keep compound clear, marutvān: retroflex ṇ not present; keep ‘t’ dental; long ān, parāvataḥ: long ā; v soft, ṛtasya: vocalic ṛ; dental t
invoking and expansive, with energized clarity
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