Rig Veda 6.29.2: Mandala 6, Sukta 29, Mantra 2
Sukta 6.29
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
आ यस्मिन्हस्ते नर्या मिमिक्षुरा रथे हिरण्यये रथेष्ठाः । आ रश्मयो गभस्त्योः स्थूरयोराध्वन्नश्वासो वृषणो युजानाः ॥
ā́ yásmin háste naryā́ mimikṣúr ā́ ráthe hiraṇyáye rathe-sthā́ḥ | ā́ raśmáyo gábhastyoḥ sthūrā́yor ā́dhvann áśvāso vṛ́ṣaṇo yujānā́ḥ ||
যাৰ হাতে নৰ্য (পৌৰুষ) শক্তিসমূহ একত্ৰিত, যাৰ সুৱৰ্ণ ৰথত তেওঁ ৰথিষ্ঠ (ৰথত স্থিত) হৈ থাকে। তেওঁৰ দুটা দৃঢ় হস্ত-গভস্তিত ৰশ্মি (ৰশি) স্থাপন কৰা; পথত বলবান, বৃষভ-সদৃশ অশ্বসমূহ যুজান (যোক্ত) হৈ আগবাঢ়ে—এইদৰে বাধা অতিক্ৰম কৰোৱা শক্তি আহে।
Word by Word
- आ
- hither, toIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपात (गत्यर्थे/आगमनार्थे)Root आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- यस्मिन्
- in whichPronounपुं/नपुं, सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- हस्ते
- in (his) handNounपुं, सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
- नर्या
- manly, heroicAdjectiveस्त्री, प्रथमा एकवचन (रथेष्ठाः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot नर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘नर’ से)
- मिमिक्षुः
- has mixed/has poured (in), has made to mingleVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot मिक्ष्/मिक्ष (धातु; ‘मिश्रणे/सिञ्चने’), परस्मैपद
- आ
- hither, toIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- रथे
- on/in the chariotNounपुं, सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- हिरण्यये
- goldenAdjectiveपुं, सप्तमी एकवचन (रथे इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot हिरण्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
- रथेष्ठाः
- charioteers; those standing on the chariotNoun/Adjectiveपुं, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot रथेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; रथ + स्था ‘standing/being on’)
- आ
- hither, toIndeclinableनिपातRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- रश्मयः
- reins, rays (here: reins)Nounपुं, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
- गभस्त्योः
- in the two hands (palms)Nounस्त्री, सप्तमी द्विवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot गभस्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्थूरयोः
- strong, stoutAdjectiveपुं/नपुं, सप्तमी द्विवचन (गभस्त्योः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot स्थूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- आध्वन्
- the path, courseNounपुं, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्वासः
- horsesNounपुं, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषणः
- vigorous, stallion-likeAdjectiveपुं, प्रथमा बहुवचन (अश्वासः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot वृषण (प्रातिपदिक)
- युजानाः
- yoking themselves; being yokedParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), पुं, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot युज् (धातु) → युजान (वर्तमान-कृदन्त, आत्मनेपद)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): आ | यस्मिन् | हस्ते | नर्या | मिमिक्षुः | आ | रथे | हिरण्यये | रथेष्ठाः || आ | रश्मयः | गभस्त्योः | स्थूरयोः | आध्वन् | अश्वासः | वृषणः | युजानाः । प्रमुख सन्धयः: (1) यस्मिन्+हस्ते → यस्मि॒न्हस्ते (न् + ह = न्ह)
- (2) मिमिक्षुः+आ → मिमिक्षुरा (विसर्ग-सन्धि: उः + आ = उरा)
- (3) रथे+हिरण्यये → रथे हिरण्यये (पद-सीमा; संहिता में निकट-संयोग)
- (4) रश्मयः+गभस्त्योः → रश्मयो गभस्त्योः (विसर्ग-सन्धि: अः + ग = ओ)
- (5) स्थूरयोः+आध्वन् → स्थूरयो॒राध्वन् (विसर्ग-सन्धि: अः + आ = रा)
The meaning
Outer meaning
In whose hand the manly energies are gathered; who stands on the golden chariot. The reins are set in his two strong hands; along the path his virile stallions are yoked.
Inner meaning
Indra’s ‘hands’ are the executive powers of the illumined mind—capable of holding and directing the naryāḥ śaktiḥ (manly energies: courageous faculties). The ‘golden chariot’ is the luminous movement of consciousness; the ‘reins’ are the controls of thought and life-force placed in strong grasp (gabhastyoḥ sthūrayor). The ‘horses’ are the vital energies (aśvāsaḥ) yoked to the divine intention—force disciplined into right motion along the path (adhvan).
Universal truth
Power becomes beneficent when it is illumined and governed: energies must be gathered, yoked, and guided by a higher intelligence so the journey proceeds without being dragged by impulse.
Themes
Indra’s chariot, Harnessed life-forces, Discipline and control, Divine descent
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja (Āṅgirasa)
- Other hymns
- RV 6.29, RV 6.45
Family tradition
Bharadvāja’s Indra imagery frequently emphasizes disciplined force—victory through right control rather than raw impulse.
Significance
The verse teaches yogic governance: the divine Mind not only illumines but also harnesses and steers the life-force toward the goal.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- ratheṣṭhāḥ (standing on the chariot), vṛṣaṇo (virile, potent)
- Related deities
- Maruts (storm-forces), Agni (will), Sūrya (illumination)
Cosmic role
Charioteer of the luminous journey; commander who yokes forces and directs the march of the gods’ victory.
Inner power
Mastery—capacity to gather energies, hold the reins, and drive the vital powers along the right path.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation for strength and right movement; chariot/horse imagery suits rites seeking victory and progress.
आ यस्मि॒न्हस्ते॒ नर्या॑ मिमि॒क्षुरा रथे॑ हिर॒ण्यये॑ रथे॒ष्ठाः । आ र॒श्मयो॒ गभ॑स्त्योः स्थू॒रयो॒राध्व॒न्नश्वा॑सो॒ वृष॑णो युजा॒नाः ॥
आ । यस्मि॑न् । हस्ते॑ । नर्याः॑ । मि॒मि॒क्षुः । आ । रथे॑ । हि॒र॒ण्यये॑ । र॒थे॒ऽस्थाः । आ । र॒श्मयः॑ । गभ॑स्त्योः । स्थू॒रयोः॑ । आ । अध्व॑न् । अश्वा॑सः । वृष॑णः । यु॒जा॒नाः ॥
ā | yasmin | haste | naryāḥ | mimikṣuḥ | ā | rathe | hiraṇyaye | rathe--sthāḥ | ā | raśmayaḥ | gabhastyoḥ | sthūrayoḥ | ā | adhvan | aśvāsaḥ | vṛṣaṇaḥ | yujānāḥ
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4×11
Kinetic and image-rich; repeated ‘ā’ openings create a sense of approach and assembling force.
Elicits a felt gathering of energies and a forward surge—useful for concentration and mobilization.
- नर्याः (naryāḥ)
- Literal: manly, heroic (powers). Symbolic: courageous faculties; capacities for decisive action
- हिरण्य रथ (hiraṇya ratha)
- Literal: golden chariot. Symbolic: luminous vehicle of consciousness; divine movement
- रश्मयः (raśmayaḥ)
- Literal: reins, rays/cords. Symbolic: control-lines of thought; also rays of guidance
- गभस्ति (gabhasti)
- Literal: hand/forearm, grasp. Symbolic: executive grasp of will and discernment
- अश्वासः (aśvāsaḥ)
- Literal: horses. Symbolic: vital energies, forces of action
- अध्वन् (adhvan)
- Literal: path. Symbolic: inner journey; progressive unfolding of the yoga
Indra’s arrival/vehicle description used in stotra sequences to invite descent; inwardly, visualization of governed energies (reins, yoked horses) under Indra’s mastery.
In Indra sequences during soma offerings; also as a preparatory recitation before undertaking a journey/task.
Praise with visualization of Indra’s chariot; inwardly, yoking one’s energies to a higher aim.
Before work requiring sustained drive: ‘take the reins’—bring scattered energies under a single luminous direction.
√yuj 'yoke' is central to Vedic yoga semantics (discipline/integration). raśmi 'rein/ray' can also resonate with 'ray', reinforcing luminous control. hiraṇya 'gold' marks solar/luminous quality. adhvan 'path' is both outer journey and inner progression.
governance of energies (reins), yoking (yoga) as discipline, directed progress on the path (adhvan)
The ‘path’ is the ṛta-way; reins represent the law of right measure guiding force.
Golden chariot signifies truth-light guiding action.
Organization of powers into a directed movement—cosmos as harnessed energies under divine governance.
Yoga of works under illumination (Aurobindo: consecrated action led by higher mind).
Harnessing vital force and mental control under luminous will.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The epiphany of the storm-hero: Indra arrives on a golden chariot with yoked stallions. Mythically it is the god’s advent to battle and aid; psychologically it is the descent of a mastered force where impulses (horses) are harnessed by conscious control (reins).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Chariot-and-horses imagery is a classic IE poetic complex (divine warrior with team). √yuj has clear Indo-Iranian continuity (Vedic yuj-, Avestan yuž-) and underlies later 'yoga' semantics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi describes Indra’s controlled dynamism to invoke him effectively: the god is approached as the one who can harness and direct the seeker’s forces, enabling progress along the path.
Gather and yoke energies: feel Indra’s two hands as your higher executive control; place the ‘reins’ of thought gently but firmly; let the vital ‘horses’ run in one direction.
Maṇipūra (drive) governed by Ājñā (control/clarity).
Inhale 4 counts ‘gather’; hold 2 ‘grasp reins’; exhale 6 ‘drive along the path’.
Integrated dynamism—calm command with strong energy.
When scattered, recite 3–7 times, then choose one priority action; do it with steady breath and minimal mental switching.
Triṣṭubh with strong udātta lifts at ‘ā’ openings; keep continuity across pādas to preserve the ‘approach’ momentum.
Slight emphasis on ‘ā…’ beginnings; articulate ‘raśmayo’ clearly; keep ‘aśvāso vṛṣaṇo’ energetic but controlled.
‘mimikṣur’: keep kṣ cluster (kṣu) clear, ‘gabhastyoḥ’: aspirate bh; long -yoḥ, ‘yujānāḥ’: long ā; nasal ḥ at end lightly
Resonant, driving, controlled; avoid strain.
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