अस्माकमिन्द्रः समृतेषु ध्वजेष्वस्माकं या इषवस्ता जयन्तु। अस्माकं वीरा उत्तरे भवन्त्वस्माँ उ देवा अवता हवेषु॥
asmākam indraḥ samṛteṣu dhvajeṣv asmākaṁ yā iṣavas tā jayantu । asmākaṁ vīrā uttare bhavantv asmā̃ u devā avatā haveṣu ॥
PM's MessageFrom difficult terrains to snowy peaks, the bravery and valor of our army is something that makes every countryman proud. Heartfelt greetings to the soldiers standing guard at the border!
Meaning of Asmākam Indraḥ Samṛteṣu Dhvajeṣv
O Lord! Let our heroes and our flag be victorious. May our warriors remain brave and noble, and may your blessings and protection always be bestowed on us!
Word by word
- अस्माकम्asmākam
ours
अस्मद्
- इन्द्रःindraḥ
Indra
इन्द्र
- समृतेषुsamṛteṣu
in conflicts, in battles
सम् + √ऋ
- ध्वजेषुdhvajeṣu
the banners
ध्वज
- याः इषवःyā iṣavaḥ
which arrows
इषु
- ताः जयन्तुtā jayantu
let them conquer
√जि
- वीराःvīrāḥ
heroes
वीर
- उत्तरेuttare
uppermost
उद् + तर
- भवन्तुbhavantu
let them be
√भू
- अस्मान्asmān
us
अस्मद्
- देवाःdevāḥ
O gods
√दिव्
- अवतavata
protect
√अव्
- हवेषुhaveṣu
in the invocations
√हु
Commentary
This powerful mantra, found in three of the four Vedas, is part of the 'Apratiratha Suktam'. It is a profound collective prayer for strength, victory, and divine guardianship. Historically, such verses were used to inspire warriors and maintain high morale before righteous battles. Today, it reflects the nation's gratitude and prayer for the armed forces, emphasizing that true victory is a combination of human valor ('Vira') and spiritual grace ('Deva'). The shared meaning opens with a general address to the gods, while the verse claims Indra specifically as ours and asks that our arrows (iṣavaḥ) prevail. It belongs to the Apratiratha hymn, recited before battle.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Rigveda
View source pageसुत्रामाणं पृथिवीं द्यामनेहसं सुशर्माणमदितिं सुप्रणीतिम् । दैवीं नावं स्वरित्रामनागसो अस्रवन्तीमा रुहेमा स्वस्तये॥
sutrāmāṇaṃ pṛthivīṃ dyām anehasaṃ suśarmāṇam aditiṃ supraṇītim । daivīṃ nāvaṃ svaritrām anāgaso asravantīm ā ruhemā svastaye ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra envisions earth, heaven and Aditi as a secure divine boat that carries people toward well-being.
सहृदयं सांमनस्यमविद्वेषं कृणोमि वः। अन्यो अन्यमभि हर्यत वत्सं जातमिवाघ्न्या॥
sahṛdayaṁ sāṃmanasyam avidveṣaṁ kṛṇomi vaḥ । anyo anyam abhi haryata vatsaṁ jātam ivāghnyā ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra calls people to shared feeling, concord and freedom from hatred, with a cow's tenderness for her newborn calf as its model.
स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः। स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु॥
svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ । svasti nas tārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ svasti no bṛhaspatir dadhātu ॥
A Rigveda svasti mantra in which Indra, Pushan, Tarkshya and Brihaspati are each asked to bestow well-being upon us.
More subhashitams on Courage
View topic pageदेव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatamidaṃ jagadātmaśaktyā niśśeṣadevagaṇaśaktisamūhamūrtyā । tāmambikāmakhiladevamaharṣipūjyāṃ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A prayer from Devi Mahatmyam to Ambika, who pervades the world and embodies all divine powers, asking for blessings for everyone.
वत्सराजोऽपि तं प्राप्तं प्रदत्तोपायनं नृपम्। प्रीत्या सम्मानयामास शूरा हि प्रणतिप्रियाः॥
vatsarājo 'pi taṃ prāptaṃ pradattopāyanaṃ nṛpam । prītyā sammānayāmāsa śūrā hi praṇatipriyāḥ ॥
Vatsaraja honours a king who comes with gifts, illustrating the brave person's regard for respectful homage.
भस्मीकृतस्वार्थसौख्यपरिचर्चितविग्रहाः। स्वराज्ययोगनिर्मग्ना धन्यास्ते वीरयोगिनः॥
bhasmīkṛtasvārthasaukhyaparicarcitavigrahāḥ । svarājyayoganirmagnā dhanyās te vīrayoginaḥ ॥
The verse praises heroic practitioners who renounce personal comforts and devote themselves fully to self-rule.