Rig Veda 10.49.7: Mandala 10, Sukta 49, Mantra 7
Sukta 10.49
- Rishi
- As RV 10.49
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अहं सूर्यस्य परि याम्याशुभिः प्रैतशेभिर्वहमान ओजसा । यन्मा सावो मनुष आह निर्णिज ऋधक्कृषे दासं कृत्व्यं हथैः ॥
ahaṃ sū́ryasya pári yāmy āśúbhiḥ práitaśebhir váhamāna ójasā | yán mā sā́vo mánuṣa ā́ha nírṇije ṛ́dhak kṛ́ṣe dā́saṃ kṛ́tvyaṃ háthaiḥ ||
আমি সূর্যের চারদিকে পরিভ্রমণ করি—দ্রুত শক্তিতে তাড়িত, দীপ্ত অশ্বে টানা, ওজসে বহিত। যখন মানব-প্রেরক প্রকাশমান দীপ্তির জন্য আমাকে আহ্বান করে, তখন আমি শত্রু-তমসকে পৃথক করে চূর্ণ করি—যে দাসকে নিস্তেজ করা উচিত—নির্ণায়ক আঘাতে।
Word by Word
- अहम्
- INoun (Pronoun)पुं/स्त्री/नपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सूर्यस्य
- of the SunNounपुं; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- परि
- aroundIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकारण/दिशा-सम्बन्ध (परितः)Root परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यामि
- I go / I moveVerbलट् (वर्तमान); उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot या (धातु)
- आशुभिः
- with the swift (ones)Adjective (used substantively)पुं; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot आशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रैतशेभिः
- with the praitaśa (steeds)Noun/Adjective (used substantively)पुं; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot प्रैतश (प्रातिपदिक; ‘dappled/bright’—esp. of horses)
- वहमानः
- being borne / ridingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्); पुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root वह् (धातु) + शानच्
- ओजसा
- with might / by strengthNounनपुं; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- that whichPronoun (relative)नपुं; द्वितीया; एकवचन (सम्बन्धसूचक)Role कर्म (यद्-तद् सम्बन्ध)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- मा
- mePronounद्वितीया; एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role कर्मRoot अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सावः
- the incitement / impulseNounनपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot साव (प्रातिपदिक; ‘impulsion/instigation’, also ‘pressing/drive’)
- मनुषः
- of Manu / of manNounपुं; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root मनु (प्रातिपदिक) → मनुष (वृत्त्यन्त)
- आह
- saidVerbलिट् (परोक्श/परफेक्ट); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot अह्/आह् (धातु; ‘to say’)
- निर्णिजः
- of the covering/armourNounस्त्री; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root निर्णिज् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘garment/armour, covering, splendour’)
- ऋधक्
- apart, separatelyIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकारण (रीत्या)Root ऋधक् (अव्यय)
- कृषे
- I make / I doVerbलट् (वर्तमान); उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot कृ (धातु; ‘to do/make’)
- दासम्
- a Dāsa / enemyNounपुं; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot दास (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृत्व्यम्
- to be done / fit to be made (subdued)Verbal adjective (gerundive)तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुं; द्वितीया; एकवचन (कर्मविशेषण)Role कर्म (विशेषण)Root कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
- हथैः
- with blows / with weaponsNounपुं; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot हथ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘blow/weapon, stroke’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): अहं | सूर्यस्य | परि | यामि | आशुभिः | प्रैतशेभिः | वहमानः | ओजसा | यत् | मा | सावः | मनुषः | आह | निर्णिजः | ऋधक् | कृषे | दासम् | कृत्व्यम् | हथैः । मुख्य सन्धि/रूप-टिप्पणी: (1) याम्या- इति संहितापाठे ‘यामि’ + (अगला पद) के संयोग/प्रगृह्य-प्रभाव से दीर्घ/य-आगम-सा रूप
- पदपाठानुसार ‘यामि’। (2) यन्मा = यत् + मा (त् + म् → न्म्, परसवर्ण/अनुस्वार-सम्बन्धी संधि)। (3) प्रैतशेभिः: प्र-ऐ- का वृत्ति-समास/वृद्धि-प्रभाव
- तृतीया बहुवचन। (4) कृत्व्यम्: कृ + तव्यत् (भाव्य/कर्तव्य) कृदन्त
- अर्थ ‘करने योग्य/वशे करने योग्य’।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra says he moves around the Sun with swift powers, drawn by bright steeds, borne by might. When a human impeller calls him for the revealing splendour, he separates out and crushes the dark hostile force by blows.
Inner meaning
Indra’s force circles Sūrya—the solar Truth-Light—meaning the illumined mind operates in constant relation to the higher truth-consciousness. The ‘swift powers’ and ‘bright steeds’ are rapid life-energies and luminous thought-forces harnessed to that solar center. When the human ‘impeller’ (sāvaḥ: the one who urges, the conscious will) calls Indra for ‘nirṇij’—the unveiling radiance—Indra performs viveka: he separates (ṛdhak) the dark admixture and crushes the kṛtvya Dāsa—what must be made powerless—by decisive inner strokes. This is the psychology of purification: invoking illumination to distinguish and eliminate the hostile element.
Universal truth
Real purification is not suppression but illumination-led discrimination: when we align with the solar truth and call it down, the mixed and hostile elements are separated and rendered powerless.
Themes
Indra as mover with the Sun, purification into splendour, crushing the hostile dāsa, invocation by human will
The seer
- Rishi
- As RV 10.49 hymn unit (Indra-voice; traditional attributions vary)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.50 (Sūrya hymn; truth-light), RV 1.32 (Indra’s decisive smiting), RV 10.49.1-11
Family tradition
This verse bridges Indra and Sūrya motifs, common in Vedic symbolism where illumined mind acts in the orbit of solar truth.
Significance
Shows the correct dynamic: call for revelation (nirṇij), then discriminate (ṛdhak) and strike—purification through light, not through repression.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (in relation to Sūrya)
- Epithets
- Vṛtrahan, Sūryaparivṛt (moving around the Sun, implied), Ojasvin (mighty)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Uṣas, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Mediator of solar truth into the human mid-world; wielder of force that clears darkness when invoked.
Inner power
Illumined will that orbits truth and acts as discriminative purifier.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise with solar association; could be used in morning recitations where Sūrya is prominent, within broader śrauta cycles.
अ॒हं सूर्य॑स्य॒ परि॑ याम्या॒शुभि॒: प्रैत॒शेभि॒र्वह॑मान॒ ओज॑सा । यन्मा॑ सा॒वो मनु॑ष॒ आह॑ नि॒र्णिज॒ ऋध॑क्कृषे॒ दासं॒ कृत्व्यं॒ हथै॑: ॥
अ॒हम् । सूर्य॑स्य । परि॑ । या॒मि॒ । आ॒शुऽभिः । प्र । ए॒त॒शेभिः । वह॑मानः । ओज॑सा । यत् । मा॒ । सा॒वः । मनु॑षः । आह॑ । निः॒ऽनिजे॑ । ऋध॑क् । कृ॒षे॒ । दासम् । कृत्व्य॑म् । हथैः॑ ॥
aham | sūryasya | pari | yāmi | āśu-bhiḥ | pra | etaśebhiḥ | vahamānaḥ | ojasā | yat | mā | sāvaḥ | manuṣaḥ | āha | niḥ-nije | ṛdhak | kṛṣe | dāsam | kṛtvyam | hathaiḥ
44
4×11
Swift, circling motion in the first half; sharp, separating cadence in the second.
Energizes clarity and purification; evokes a sense of ‘solar orbit’ and then a clean cut.
- सूर्यस्य (sūryasya)
- Literal: of the Sun. Symbolic: Solar truth-consciousness; the higher light that reveals
- परि यामि (pari yāmi)
- Literal: I go around, encompass. Symbolic: Constantly move in the orbit of truth; sustained alignment with higher light
- आशुभिः (āśubhiḥ)
- Literal: with swift (forces). Symbolic: Rapid energies of action; quickened prāṇa under guidance
- एतशेभिः (etaśebhiḥ / praitaśebhiḥ)
- Literal: with bright/impetuous steeds. Symbolic: Luminous dynamic thought-forces; energized senses turned upward
- ओजसा (ojasā)
- Literal: by might. Symbolic: Spiritual strength; concentrated force of consciousness
- सावः (sāvaḥ)
- Literal: impeller/urging. Symbolic: The human will that calls and directs the divine power
- निःनिजे (nirṇije)
- Literal: for revealing splendour/bright garment. Symbolic: Unveiling radiance; stripping away coverings to reveal truth
- ऋधक् (ṛdhak)
- Literal: separately, apart. Symbolic: Discrimination (viveka); separating light from darkness in mixed nature
- कृषे (kṛṣe)
- Literal: I crush. Symbolic: Decisive removal of hostile formations
- दासम् कृत्व्यम् (dāsaṃ kṛtvyam)
- Literal: the Dāsa fit to be made (so). Symbolic: The hostile element destined to be rendered powerless; a removable obstruction
- हथैः (hathaiḥ)
- Literal: with blows. Symbolic: Clear, repeated acts of will guided by light
Soma pressing praise to Indra as the power moving with/around Sūrya; used to invoke victorious force and clarity (nirṇij) for the sacrificer
At dawn/morning Soma praise or when seeking revelation and removal of hostile forces.
Invocation for unveiling splendour and decisive protection.
Morning mantra for clarity: chant before meditation/work to align mind with truth and separate distractions/negativity.
√sū (sāvaḥ) ‘to impel, set in motion’ underlies the idea of an inner ‘summoner’ will. etaśa- is the solar horse-name (radiant/quick), connected to solar movement. ojas- from √vaj/√uj? (traditional: ojas ‘vigor’) denotes concentrated effective force. nirṇij- (nir-√nij ‘to wash/cleanse; shining garment’) becomes ‘radiant manifestation’—the cleared brilliance of consciousness.
illumination (nirṇij as revelation), discrimination/separation (ṛdhak), victory of light over dark habit-force
‘Moving around the Sun’ images alignment with cosmic order; purification restores ṛta in the human instrument.
Nirṇij = truth revealed by removing coverings.
From concealment to revelation; separation of light and darkness as ongoing creation within the practitioner.
Yoga-oriented Vedic symbolism: Sūrya as truth, Indra as active illumination and purification.
morning (implied by Sūrya and unveiling splendour)
Sun = truth-self; steeds = energized faculties; orbit = sustained alignment; blows = decisive purification.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra’s alliance with the solar power: he ‘moves around Sūrya’ with swift steeds. Mythically, this is the god’s solarized might; psychologically, it is the dynamism that orbits and serves the Truth-light, coming at the call of the human sāvaḥ to separate and crush the dark resistance.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The solar-steed imagery belongs to a pan-Indo-European poetic complex (solar chariot/horses). The semantic field of ‘shine’ in nirṇij resonates with PIE *leuk-/*bhel- light vocabulary (typological parallel rather than direct derivation). The verb √sū ‘impel’ fits the IE motif of ‘setting in motion’ divine powers through speech/rite.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The human ‘sāvaḥ’ explicitly calls Indra ‘for nirṇij’—for a state of revealed brilliance. The devatā responds by an inner act of discrimination (ṛdhak) and forceful removal (hathaiḥ), showing the Vedic reciprocity: aspiration summons; the god-force transforms.
Solar alignment + viveka: ‘May my mind orbit truth; may Indra separate and remove the dark admixture.’
ājñā (clarity)
Sūrya-bhedana (right-nostril inhale) gently for 6 rounds, then normal breathing; recite once per exhale to ‘separate out’ distractions.
Bright, alert, purified; luminous discrimination.
Begin the day by calling for ‘nirṇij’ (unveiling). Observe mixed motives, separate them (ṛdhak), then apply one decisive corrective action.
Maintain clear Vedic accents; allow a slight lift on ‘sūryasya’ and ‘nirṇije’ as semantic peaks (exact svara requires śākhā marking).
First pāda should feel ‘circling and swift’; second half should feel ‘separating and striking’—clean consonants on ‘ṛdhak’ and ‘kṛṣe’.
/ (etaśebhiḥ/praitaśebhiḥ): keep palatal ś; avoid ‘s’., (nirṇije): retroflex ṇ; articulate as nir-ṇi-je., (ṛdhak): syllabic ṛ; final k unreleased, crisp.
Bright, forward, slightly higher resonance to match solar imagery.
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