Rig Veda 3.31.7: Mandala 3, Sukta 31, Mantra 7
Sukta 3.31
अगच्छदु विप्रतमः सखीयन्नसूदयत्सुकृते गर्भमद्रिः । ससान मर्यो युवभिर्मखस्यन्नथाभवदङ्गिराः सद्यो अर्चन् ॥
ágacchad u viprátamaḥ sakhīyán asū́dayat sukṛ́te gárbham ádriḥ | sasā́na máryo yúvabhir makhasyán áthābhavad áṅgirāḥ sadyó arcan ||
تقدَّمَ الأشدُّ إلهامًا، يبتغي صُحبةَ الرفاق؛ فالحَجَرُ (أَدري) أخرجَ إلى الولادة، لِصاحبِ العملِ الصالح، الجنينَ الخفيَّ (جنينَ النور). وغلبَ الفتى البطلُ بقُواهُ الفتيّة، مندفعًا في القُربانِ البهيج؛ ثمَّ إنَّ الأَنْغيراسَةَ على الفورِ انفجروا بترنيمةِ الإشراق.
Soma sacrifice context (pressing/udgītha-like chanting imagery); usable in Soma-yāga recitations celebrating Indra’s release of light (general application; specific śrauta viniyoga varies by tradition)
Ṛta (right order realized through right action), manifestation of the hidden truth (garbha → jāti), alliance of powers (sakhyam) in the yogic/sacrificial ascent
The birth of the garbha and the Angiras chant indicate alignment with the true order—revelation becomes spontaneous when Ṛta is contacted.
Truth manifests as inspired speech/song after the obstruction yields.
Hidden embryo in the rock: creation as emergence of the concealed divine content within matter/subconscient.
Yoga of transformation: vital energies (yuvabhiḥ) are harnessed for revelation; mantra as outcome of realization.
Dawn-like emergence (implicit)
From hard inertia to living birth of light; youthful force as purified prāṇa; mantra as the natural voice of awakened consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Angirasa ‘finding/releasing’ myth in compressed form: the press-stone (adri) brings forth a concealed garbha—symbolically the hidden light/knowledge (often figured as cows or dawn-rays) released by concentrated force and right working. The immediate chanting of the Angirases marks the breakthrough of illumination after the release.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- agacchat (√gam) continues PIE *gʷem- ‘to go/come’ (cf. Greek βαίνω in functionally similar motion domain; English ‘come’ via Germanic *kweman). bhū (abhavat) continues PIE *bʰuH- ‘to be, become’ (cf. English ‘be’). arc (arcan) ‘shine/praise’ aligns with an Indo-European linkage between radiance and laudation (poetic speech as light).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer’s movement ‘seeking comradeship’ (sakhiyán) indicates a reciprocal pact: human aspiration aligns with Indra’s victorious force and the Angirasa powers of revelation. The offering/pressing is the human-side act of right work (sukṛta), answered by the divine-side birth/release of the concealed light (garbha), culminating in mantra-utterance (arcan) as shared realization.
Unify the parts of the being (‘comradeship’): call scattered energies to cooperate under a single aspiration; feel the ‘stone’ soften and the hidden light begin to form.
Manipura (heroic force) to Anahata (integration/comradeship) to Vishuddha (chant/expression)
Kapalabhati light (30–60 strokes) to awaken force, then slow breathing and one recitation; end in silent listening for the ‘arcan’ within.
From energized striving to joyful release and inspired expression.
Do the work (sukṛta): one sincere offering of habit/desire each day. When breakthrough comes, don’t grasp—let the Angiras ‘song’ (clear insight/true words) arise and write it down or chant softly.
Triṣṭubh flow; keep energetic articulation in first three pādas, then allow a bright lift on ‘aṅgirāḥ sadyō arcan’.
Mark pauses: agacchad u | vipratamaḥ sakhīyan || … ; avoid compressing ‘sukṛte garbham adriḥ’.
अगच्छदु: ‘a-gac-cha-du’ (clear cch), सखी॒यन्: ‘sa-khī-yan’, अङ्गिराः: ‘aṅ-gi-rāḥ’ with nasal ṅ, सद्यः: ‘sad-yaḥ’
Heroic and bright; end with ringing clarity on the final chant phrase.
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