Rig Veda 10.175.3: Mandala 10, Sukta 175, Mantra 3
Sukta 10.175
- Rishi
- Same sukta context
- Devata
- Grāvāṇaḥ
- Chandas
- Likely Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
ग्रावाण उपरेष्वा महीयन्ते सजोषसः । वृष्णे दधतो वृष्ण्यम् ॥
grāvāṇa úpareṣv ā́ mahīyánte sajóṣasaḥ | vṛ́ṣṇe dádhato vṛ́ṣṇyam ||
أحجارُ العصر على الألواحِ العُليا تشتدّ قوّتُها في وفاقٍ واحد؛ وتُودِعُ القوّةَ الفحوليّةَ في القويّ—فتُقيمُ القوّةَ في قلبِ القوّة.
Word by Word
- ग्रावाणः
- the pressing-stonesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot ग्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक) < PIE *gʷerh₂-?; ‘stone, pressing-stone’
- उपरेषु
- on the upper (stones/surfaces)Noun (locative plural; used as place) / Adjective used substantivelyपुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot उपर (प्रातिपदिक) ‘upper, elevated; stone/rock surface’
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableनिपात/उपसर्ग; क्रियाविशेषकRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- महीयन्ते
- become great / are exaltedVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम पुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRoot मह्/महि (धातु; ‘to be great, to grow great’) → महीयते (आत्मनेपद)
- सजोषसः
- in concord, togetherAdjective (used predicatively of the subject) / Noun-likeपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण-भावेन कर्तृसमनाधिकरण)Root स-जोषस् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘together in enjoyment/accord; in companionship’
- वृष्णे
- for the Bull (Indra)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘bull; the strong one (Indra)’
- दधतः
- of/for (him) placing, bestowingParticiple (verbal adjective)वर्तमान कृदन्त (परस्मैपदीय-प्रयोग), षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (सम्बन्ध/निर्देश: ‘of/for him who places’)Role कर्तृ (कृदन्तेन सूचितः)Root धा (धातु) ‘to place, set, put’ → दधत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- वृष्ण्यम्
- bull-strength, manly mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वृष्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक) ‘bull-like strength, virility, manly power’
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठ: ग्रावा॑ण॒ उप॑रे॒ष्वा म॑ही॒यन्ते॑ स॒जोष॑सः । वृष्णे॒ दध॑तो॒ वृष्ण्य॑म् ॥ पद-विच्छेद (sandhi resolution): 1) उपरेष्वा = उपरेषु + आ (सवर्णदीर्घ-सन्धि: उ + आ → वा/वाऽ; here written ‘ष्वा’ in saṃhitā).
- ‘ग्रावाणः’ plural nominative
- ‘महीयन्ते’ finite verb
- ‘वृष्णे’ dative
- ‘दधतः’ genitive sg. of present participle
- ‘वृष्ण्यम्’ accusative sg.
The meaning
Outer meaning
The pressing-stones on the upper boards grow mighty together; they place the manly strength into the Strong One.
Inner meaning
When the disciplined forces (grāvāṇaḥ) are set on the ‘upper’ basis (upareṣu)—the higher poise of the being—they increase in power in harmony (sajoṣasaḥ). They then establish vṛṣṇyam (virile, victorious energy) in the Vṛṣan (the Strong One—often Indra as the empowered illumined mind). This is the yoga of coordinated faculties feeding the central power of illumination with purified strength.
Universal truth
When our energies are uplifted to a higher standpoint and made concordant, they naturally augment the central strength that leads us—true power is born of harmony and elevation.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Empowerment of Indra, Harmonization, Potency (vṛṣṇya)
The seer
- Rishi
- Same as RV 10.175 (late-maṇḍala Soma-pressing context; rishi attribution varies by edition).
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.175.1, Rig Veda 10.175.2, Rig Veda 10.175.4
Significance
The rishi presents a key inner law: concord (sajoṣas) is the condition for magnification (mahīyante) and for feeding the central Indra-force with vṛṣṇya—strength that conquers obscurity.
The deity
- Devata
- Grāvāṇaḥ (operative powers) and Vṛṣan (likely Indra)
- Epithets
- vṛṣan (the Strong/Bull), sajoṣas (harmonizing powers, implied for grāvāṇaḥ)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Transforms raw Soma into empowering force for Indra; increases might through coordinated action.
Inner power
Unified energies that build a concentrated victorious center; transmutation of vitality into illumined strength.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing: description/affirmation of the stones’ effective action and their empowerment of Indra.
ग्रावा॑ण॒ उप॑रे॒ष्वा म॑ही॒यन्ते॑ स॒जोष॑सः । वृष्णे॒ दध॑तो॒ वृष्ण्य॑म् ॥
ग्रावा॑णः । उप॑रेषु । आ । म॒ही॒यन्ते॑ । स॒ऽजोष॑सः । वृ॒ष्णे॒ । दध॑तः । वृष्ण्य॑म् ॥
grāvāṇaḥ | upareṣu | ā | mahīyante | sa-joṣasaḥ | vṛṣṇe | dadhataḥ | vṛṣṇyam
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3 × 8 syllables
Balanced and compact; conveys coordinated movement and steady increase.
Encourages inner unification; rhythm supports the sense of ‘gathering strength’ and ‘placing it’ into the central power.
- उपरेषु (upareṣu)
- Literal: on the upper boards. Symbolic: higher foundation/poise of consciousness above the ordinary mind
- महीयन्ते (mahīyante)
- Literal: they become great/mighty. Symbolic: energies intensify when aligned to the higher aim
- सजोषसः (sajoṣasaḥ)
- Literal: in one accord, harmoniously. Symbolic: integration of faculties; no inner division
- वृष्णे (vṛṣṇe)
- Literal: to the Strong One. Symbolic: Indra as the concentrated power of victorious illumination
- वृष्ण्यम् (vṛṣṇyam)
- Literal: virile strength, manliness. Symbolic: dynamic force (śakti) purified and directed toward victory
Soma pressing: empowerment of Indra through expressed Soma; inwardly, harmonized faculties establish concentrated strength in the central will.
During the pressing proper, as the juice is being expressed and offered toward Indra’s strengthening.
Chant while pressing; conceptually ‘placing strength’ into the deity through the rite.
Use when needing coordinated effort: chant before teamwork or focused study—gather scattered energies to the ‘upper’ poise and feed the central intention with strength.
√mah ‘be great’ marks intensification of force. sa-joṣas ‘together in joṣa’ (joṣ ‘delight, consent’) indicates harmonization—inner faculties consenting to one movement. vṛṣan ‘bull/strong’ from √vṛṣ ‘to rain, be potent’ suggests overflowing power; vṛṣṇya ‘virility/potency’ is the concentrated force established by √dhā ‘to place’ (PIE *dʰeh₁-; cf. Greek tithēmi, Latin facere is different; better: English ‘do’ not cognate; but ‘deed’ not).
harmonization (sa-joṣas) as prerequisite for power, installation of force (dhā) into the central being
Sajoṣas expresses ṛta as harmony; power grows by right coordination.
The ‘upper’ standpoint suggests truth-perspective guiding force.
Elevation and harmonization produce a stronger formation—microcosmic creation of a victorious center.
Aurobindonian psychology: ascent to higher consciousness, integration, then dynamic victory (Indra-strength).
Upper boards = higher mind/poise; stones = disciplines; bull-strength = dynamic śakti in illumined mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Empowerment of the Strong One (Indra-type vṛṣan) by the coordinated pressing: the mythic idea that divine victory-force is increased by Soma. Psychologically, when faculties consent together, they establish potency in the central will, enabling conquest of obstruction.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhā ‘place’ reflects PIE *dʰeh₁- (cf. Greek títhēmi). √mah may connect to PIE *megʰ- ‘great’ (cf. Greek megas, Latin magnus).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi observes and affirms a mechanism: coordinated powers (stones) magnify and ‘install’ strength into the vṛṣan. The devatā is strengthened by the rite; the rite is guided by the inspired word—mutual reinforcement.
Sajoṣas (harmonize) the faculties; then place energy into the central intention (Indra within).
maṇipūra (strength)
Box breathing 4-4-4-4 for 8 rounds; on retention feel energies ‘gathering on the upper board’; on exhale place strength into the heart of will.
Unified dynamism—steady force without agitation.
Scan body-mind for scattered parts; invite them into one accord; visualize a central luminous ‘Indra’ in the brow; offer gathered strength there.
Let the cadence emphasize ‘sajoṣasaḥ’ (togetherness) and ‘vṛṣṇe…vṛṣṇyam’ (strength into the Strong). Use recension svara if available.
Slight lift on ‘mahīyante’ and a firm landing on ‘vṛṣṇyam’.
upareṣv ā: keep sandhi flow, avoid inserting extra vowel breaks, sajoṣasaḥ: clear ṣ, and final visarga light, vṛṣṇe/vṛṣṇyam: retroflex ṣ and vocalic ṛ precise
Resonant, steady, ‘gathering’ tone—avoid haste.
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