इन्द्रं वर्धन्तो अप्तुरः कृण्वन्तो विश्वमार्यम्। अपघ्नन्तो अराव्णः॥
indraṁ vardhanto apturaḥ kṛṇvanto viśvamāryam । apaghnanto arāvṇaḥ ॥
PM's MessageMy humble tribute to all the immortal martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The saga of their indomitable courage and self-respect against the barbarism of the foreign rule will continue to inspire every generation of the country.
Meaning of Indraṁ Vardhanto Apturaḥ Kṛṇvanto
O industrious people! Nurture those benevolent forces within your society that make the nation prosperous, aware and self-reliant. At the same time, firmly resist the destructive forces that create division, injustice and discontent in society.
Word by word
- इन्द्रम्indram
Indra
इन्द्र
- वर्धन्तःvardhantaḥ
augmenting
√वृध्
- अप्तुरःapturaḥ
swift-moving
अप् + √तुर्
- कृण्वन्तःkṛṇvantaḥ
making
√कृ
- विश्वम्viśvam
the whole world
विश्व
- आर्यम्āryam
noble
आर्य
The phrase this verse is best known for.
- अपघ्नन्तःapaghnantaḥ
striking away
अप + √हन्
- अराव्णःarāvṇaḥ
the ungenerous
अ + √रा
Commentary
This famous mantra from the Rigveda presents a grand vision for humanity—'Krinvanto Vishvam Aryam' (Make the whole world noble). It emphasizes the dual responsibility of a conscious society: 1. Indram vardhanto: Strengthening the divine/prosperous forces, and 2. Apaghnanto aravnah: Resisting those who create discord. In the context of Jallianwala Bagh, it resonates as a call to remember the courage of those who stood up against injustice to preserve the nation's dignity. The shared meaning reads the verse as an allegory of social forces, while the text names Indra directly and carries the phrase kṛṇvanto viśvam āryam, making the whole world noble — the line for which this verse is best known.
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.
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.
तन्तुं तन्वन्रजसो भानुमन्विहि ज्योतिष्मतः पथो रक्ष धिया कृतान्। अनुल्बणं वयत जोगुवामपो मनुर्भव जनया दैव्यं जनम्॥
tantuṃ tanvan rajaso bhānum anv ihi jyotiṣmataḥ patho rakṣa dhiyā kṛtān । anulbaṇaṃ vayata joguvām apo manur bhava janayā daivyaṃ janam ॥
A Rigveda mantra invokes luminous paths shaped by insight and culminates in the call to become truly human and bring forth divine qualities.
More subhashitams on Dharma
View topic pageवत्सराजोऽपि 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.
ज्ञानवांश्च तथा वाग्मी कर्मस्वपि च निष्ठितः। एवं युक्तोऽपि न श्रेयान् यदि शीलविवर्जितः॥
jñānavāṃśca tathā vāgmī karmasvapi ca niṣṭhitaḥ । evaṃ yukto'pi na śreyān yadi śīlavivarjitaḥ ॥
Knowledge, eloquence, and skill in work do not make a person worthy of esteem if good character is absent.