Rig Veda 5.39.4: Mandala 5, Sukta 39, Mantra 4
Sukta 5.39
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
मंहिष्ठं वो मघोनां राजानं चर्षणीनाम् । इन्द्रमुप प्रशस्तये पूर्वीभिर्जुजुषे गिरः ॥
maṃhíṣṭhaṃ vo maghónāṃ rājā́naṃ carṣaṇīnā́m | índram úpa práśastaye pūrvī́bhir jujuṣe gíraḥ ||
দানশীলসকলৰ মাজত সৰ্বাধিক দাতা, জনসমূহৰ ৰাজা ইন্দ্ৰক আমি স্তৱৰ্থে ওচৰ চাপোঁ। প্ৰাচীন স্তোত্ৰবাণীত তেওঁ আনন্দ লয়; ঋষিৰ গিৰা তেওঁ গ্ৰহণ কৰে।
Word by Word
- मंहि॑ष्ठम्
- most bountiful / most generousAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रम् विशेषयति)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण)Root मंहिष्ठ (प्रा॰; मंह्/मंहस् ‘उदार/महान्’ से) सुपरलेटिव प्रत्यय -इष्ठ
- वः
- of you (your)Pronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive: ‘of you’)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- मघोनाम्
- of the bountiful ones (patrons)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root मघवन् (प्रा॰; ‘दानशील/समृद्ध’)
- राजानम्
- kingNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (इन्द्रम् के विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन)Root राजन् (प्रा॰)
- चर्षणीनाम्
- of the peoples / of the tribesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिक), षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root चर्षणि (प्रा॰; ‘जन/मनुष्य/कुल’)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (स्तुति/प्रशस्ति का विषय)Root इन्द्र (प्रा॰)
- उप
- towards, untoIndeclinableअव्यय; ‘निकट/प्रति’ अर्थे (प्रशस्तये सह)Role (क्रियाविशेषण/उपपद)Root उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- प्र
- forth, in fullIndeclinableअव्यय; ‘प्रकर्षेण/आगे’ अर्थेRole (क्रियाविशेषण/उपपद)Root प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- शस्तये
- for praise / for laudationNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान (उद्देश्य: ‘प्रशंसा के लिए’)Root शस्ति (प्रा॰; √शंस् ‘स्तुति/प्रशंसा’ से)
- पूर्वीभिः
- with earlier / many formerAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (गिरः विशेषयति)Role करण (साधन: ‘पूर्ववर्ती/बहु’ स्तुतियों से)Root पूर्व (प्रा॰)
- जुजुषे
- has taken delight in / has acceptedVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (अन्तर्निहित: इन्द्रः)Root √जुष् (सेवने/तोषणे) ; वैदिक परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट रूप
- गिरः
- songs, hymnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (जुजुषे का)Root गिर् (प्रा॰; ‘वाणी/स्तुति’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): मंहि॑ष्ठम् | वः | म॒घोनाम् | राजा॑नम् | चर्षणी॒नाम् | इन्द्रम् | उप | प्र | शस्तये | पू॒र्वीभिः | जुजुषे | गिरः । मुख्य सन्धि: (1) इन्द्रम् + उप → इन्द्रमुप (म् + उ = मुप्) । (2) उप + प्र → उपप्र (अव्यय-संयोग) । (3) जुजुषे + गिरः → जुजुषे गिरः (विसर्ग/स्वर-सन्धि नहीं; पदान्ते ‘ए’ के बाद पृथक्)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is praised as the most bountiful among benefactors and the king of the peoples; the singers approach him for praise, and he delights in and accepts the ancient utterances.
Inner meaning
Indra is affirmed as the governing power in the human field (rājā carṣaṇīnām): the illumined Mind that can lead the many faculties (the ‘peoples’ within) toward harmony and victory. The ‘ancient utterances’ are perennial mantric truths—timeless formulations of aspiration—which the divine Power recognizes and takes up, making them effective in the inner sacrifice.
Universal truth
True leadership in life is the rule of awakened intelligence; when we speak from the timeless depth (authentic mantra/insight), the higher powers respond and collaborate.
Themes
praise and approach (upa-prashasti), Indra as king, tradition of ancient utterance
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.39.5, RV 5.40.2, RV 5.41.6
Family tradition
The Atri family preserves ‘pūrvī giraḥ’—ancient formulas—suggesting continuity of inner realization transmitted through inspired speech.
Significance
Atri emphasizes the reciprocity between seer-speech and divine response: right praise is an effective instrument, not mere devotion.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- maṃhiṣṭha (most bountiful), rājā carṣaṇīnām (king of the peoples)
- Related deities
- Varuṇa (cosmic order), Mitra (harmony), Agni (leader of offering)
Cosmic role
Sustains victorious order among the human collectivity; grants prosperity and strength; leads the gods’ conquest of darkness.
Inner power
Central organizing intelligence that can unify scattered impulses and make the human nature a coherent instrument.
In ritual
Where it is used
Stotra of approach and praise to Indra in Soma rites; introductory praise before more specific petitions.
मंहि॑ष्ठं वो म॒घोनां॒ राजा॑नं चर्षणी॒नाम् । इन्द्र॒मुप॒ प्रश॑स्तये पू॒र्वीभि॑र्जुजुषे॒ गिर॑: ॥
मंहि॑ष्ठम् । वः॒ । म॒घोना॑म् । राजा॑नम् । च॒र्ष॒णी॒नाम् । इन्द्र॑म् । उप॑ । प्रऽश॑स्तये । पू॒र्वीभिः॑ । जु॒जु॒षे॒ । गिरः॑ ॥
maṃhiṣṭham | vaḥ | maghonām | rājānam | carṣaṇīnām | indram | upa | pra-śastaye | pūrvībhiḥ | jujuṣe | giraḥ
44
4 × ~11
Stately and laudatory; a ‘processional’ approach (upa) feel.
Instills respect and inner alignment; supports a devotional yet strong orientation toward higher governance.
- maṃhiṣṭham
- Literal: most bountiful. Symbolic: Greatest giver of inner riches—light, strength, wideness
- maghonām
- Literal: of the generous/givers. Symbolic: Powers of abundance; forces that increase being
- rājānam
- Literal: king. Symbolic: Governing consciousness that orders the inner kingdom
- carṣaṇīnām
- Literal: of the peoples/men. Symbolic: The many parts of human nature; faculties needing guidance
- pūrvībhiḥ giraḥ
- Literal: with ancient utterances. Symbolic: Perennial mantric speech; inherited truth-vibrations that open the way
Formal approach (upa) to Indra for praśasti; fits the praise-cycle in Soma offerings where ancient formulas are reactivated.
At the opening of Indra sequences; when establishing rapport and receptivity.
Approach (upa) through praise; offer speech as oblation.
Use as a preparatory chant before meditation or study: establish inner ‘kingship’ of clarity over the day’s impulses.
maṃhiṣṭha- from maṃh ‘to be liberal, abundant’ marks Indra as the supreme distributor of increase. rājān- ‘king’ from √rāj ‘to shine, rule’—rule as luminous ordering. carṣaṇi- denotes ‘men as doers/active communities’; Indra rules the energies in human collectivity. √juṣ ‘enjoy/accept’ expresses the Vedic reciprocity: the god ‘tastes’ the mantra as nourishment.
mantra as nourishment (giraḥ accepted by the deity), divine kingship as ordering of inner faculties (rājā of carṣaṇi)
Indra’s kingship is the right rule of illumined force establishing ṛta in the human field.
Ancient utterances carry satya-śakti—truth-power that remains effective across time.
Sustaining and governing the formed world by conscious leadership; increase through alignment.
Integral reading: psychic governance—illumined mind as ruler of the inner multiplicity.
Kingdom/peoples = inner faculties; approach and praise = conscious alignment; ancient speech = deep memory of truth in the being.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as king and supreme giver: the mythic sovereignty of the thunderer becomes an inner sovereignty—he rules the ‘peoples’ (faculties, energies) and dispenses increase. The acceptance of ancient hymns shows continuity of the sacred speech that sustains divine action.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- rājān- connects with the Indo-European theme of rulership and brightness (cf. Latin rēx from *h₃rḗǵs, though Sanskrit rāj- is a distinct but comparable royal root). √juṣ ‘enjoy’ reflects inherited sacral ‘taste/accept’ metaphors for offering reception.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi ‘approaches’ (upa) with praśasti; Indra reciprocally ‘enjoys/accepts’ (jujuṣe) the giraḥ. This is a mutual feeding: speech strengthens the god’s manifestation; the god’s bounty strengthens the human collective.
Establish inner sovereignty of clarity; offer speech/thought as praise to the higher intelligence.
ājñā (governing insight)
Slow nasal breathing; chant on exhale to cultivate steadiness.
Quiet authority; ordered mind.
Begin practice by invoking Indra as the ‘king’ within; let scattered impulses become ‘subjects’ aligned to a single luminous intention; rest briefly in silence after chanting.
Ṛgvedic accenting; keep indram prominent; maintain even triṣṭubh pulse.
Slightly lift on maṃhiṣṭham and rājānam; soften into jujuṣe giraḥ to convey acceptance/delight.
maṃhiṣṭham: anusvāra ‘ṃ’ before ‘h’—nasalize lightly, carṣaṇīnām: retroflex ‘ṣ’, long ī, jujuṣe: repeated ‘ju’—keep crisp, not slurred
Steady, dignified, devotional yet firm.
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