Rig Veda 1.104.5: Mandala 1, Sukta 104, Mantra 5
Sukta 1.104
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Karuna (compassion)
प्रति यत्स्या नीथादर्शि दस्योरोको नाच्छा सदनं जानती गात् । अध स्मा नो मघवञ्चर्कृतादिन्मा नो मघेव निष्षपी परा दाः ॥
práti yát syā́ nī́thādarśi dasyór óko nā́cchā sádanam jānatī́ gāt | ádha smā no maghavan carkṛtā́d ín mā́ no maghéva niṣṣapī́ parā́ dāḥ ||
Wenn sichtbar wird, dass die führende Leitung zurückgewandt ist und man sich der Wohnstatt des Dasyu nicht nähert, dann, o freigebiger Indra, rette uns vor dem Geschrei der Krummen; stoße uns nicht fort wie einer, der gibt und dann wieder entzieht; entziehe uns nicht unseren rechtmäßigen Anteil.
Word by Word
- प्रति
- towards, againstIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot प्रति (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- यत्
- which/that (thing)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- स्याः
- you might be / may you beVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot अस् (धातु)
- नीथात्
- from guidance/leadingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचनRole ApādānaRoot नीथ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘नेतृत्व/मार्गदर्शन’)
- अर्शि
- you go/you reachVerbलट् (present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot ऋ (धातु; ‘गमन’)
- दस्योः
- of the Dasyu (hostile one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole SambandhaRoot दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
- ओकः
- dwelling, houseNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न (निपात)
- अच्छा
- towards, straight toIndeclinableगत्यर्थ-अव्ययRoot अच्छा (अव्यय)
- सदनम्
- seat, abodeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
- जानती
- knowing (she/it), awareParticipleवर्तमान सक्रिय कृदन्त (शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot ज्ञा (धातु) → जानत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- गात्
- went, cameVerbलुङ् (aorist), तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचनRoot गा (धातु; ‘गमन/प्राप्ति’)
- अध
- then, thereafterIndeclinableअनन्तरार्थकRoot अध (निपात)
- स्म
- indeed, justIndeclinableस्मरण/अनुवृत्ति-निपातRoot स्म (निपात)
- नः
- to us / for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- मघवन्
- O bountiful one (Indra)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्र-विशेषण)
- चर्कृतात्
- from repeated doing / from (our) misdeed repeatedly doneParticiple/Adjectival formपुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (अभ्यस्त/इंटेन्सिव्-आधारित रूप)Role ApādānaRoot कृ (धातु) → चर्कृत्/चर्कृत (परिपूर्ण/आवृत्त-रूप; ‘बारंबार कृत’)
- इत्
- just, indeedIndeclinableअवधारणRoot इत् (निपात)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableप्रत्याख्यान (prohibitive)Root मा (निषेध-निपात)
- नः
- usPronounद्वितीया, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role KarmaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- मघेव
- as if (we were) rich/bountifulIndeclinable (comparative particle)उपमार्थे (इव) सह समास/सन्धिRoot मघा + इव (उपमा)
- निःषपी
- destruction, crushing, harmNoun/Abstractस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot निः- + षप्/षप् (धातु; ‘हानि/क्षय/दमन’—वेदिक प्रयोग)
- परा
- away, forthIndeclinableवियोग/अपसारणार्थकRoot परा (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- दाः
- may you give / may you putVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot दा (धातु; ‘दान’)
Sandhi Notes
- संधि-विच्छेद (मुख्य): यत्स्याः → यत् + स्याः
- नीथादर्शि → नीथात् + अर्शि (त् + अ → द्)
- दस्योरोकोः → दस्योः + ओकः
- नाच्छा → न + अच्छा (अ + अ → आ; च्छ = छ्-आगम/संयोग)
- जानती गात् (पदविराम)
- अध स्मा (पदविराम)
- मघवञ्चर्कृतात् → मघवन् + चर्कृतात्
- अदिन्मा → अत्/इत् + मा (पाठानुसार इत्)
- मघेव → मघा + इव
- निष्षपी → निः + षपी (विसर्ग-संधि: ः + ष → ष्ष)
The meaning
Outer meaning
When the guiding lead seems to turn back and one does not approach the Dasyu’s dwelling, then Indra is asked to protect the worshippers from the uproar/assault of the crooked and not to deprive them of their rightful portion.
Inner meaning
When the inner guidance (nīthā) appears to withdraw and the seeker refuses to enter the ‘dwelling of the Dasyu’ (the habitual zone of ignorance and perversion), a crisis arises: the crooked forces (carkṛta—distorted movements of thought/vital) raise confusion and noise. The Rishi calls Indra (illumined Mind) to reassert the true direction, protect the sādhaka from deviation, and not withdraw the descending help after giving an initial taste of it—so the right share of light and power is not lost.
Universal truth
In inner growth, progress often meets a recoil: guidance seems absent, and distorted impulses become loud. Perseverance requires a higher clarity that both protects and continues to give its rightful portion—steady help rather than intermittent grace.
Themes
prayer against reversal, protection from hostile disturbance, steadfast divine support
The seer
- Rishi
- Kutsa Āṅgirasa
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 1.103, RV 1.104, RV 1.105
Family tradition
Āṅgirasas—seer-line associated with the recovery of Light (go/rays), the victory over Vṛtra-like coverings, and the establishment of the inner sacrifice through Agni and Indra.
Significance
Kutsa’s Indra-hymns often dramatize the psychological battle: the seer presses for steadfast illumination when the path wavers, insisting on Indra’s fidelity to the right share (ṛtasya bhāga) of the seeker.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Maghavan (bountiful)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Lord of the luminous Mind and the force that breaks obstructions; champion of the gods who establishes the free flow of light, power, and right enjoyment.
Inner power
Decisive illumination (viveka-like discrimination) that protects the sadhaka from crooked impulses and restores right direction.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma praise within Soma-yajña sequences (general application in Indra śastra/praise portions)
प्रति॒ यत्स्या नीथाद॑र्शि॒ दस्यो॒रोको॒ नाच्छा॒ सद॑नं जान॒ती गा॑त् । अध॑ स्मा नो मघवञ्चर्कृ॒तादिन्मा नो॑ म॒घेव॑ निष्ष॒पी परा॑ दाः ॥
प्रति॑ । यत् । स्या । नीथा॑ । अद॑र्शि । दस्योः॑ । ओकः॑ । न । अच्छ॑ । सद॑नम् । जा॒न॒ती । गा॒त् । अध॑ । स्म॒ । नः॒ । म॒घ॒ऽवन् । च॒र्कृ॒तात् । इत् । मा । नः॒ । म॒घाऽइ॑व । नि॒ष्ष॒पी । परा॑ । दाः॒ ॥
prati | yat | syā | nīthā | adarśi | dasyoḥ | okaḥ | na | accha | sadanam | jānatī | gāt | adha | sma | naḥ | magha-van | carkṛtāt | it | mā | naḥ | maghāiva | niṣṣapī | parā | dāḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Forward-driving, martial cadence with room for emphatic turns (suited to ‘do not withdraw’ injunctions).
Builds inner resolve; the beat supports a ‘standing up’ of will against confusion and recoil.
- नीथा (nīthā)
- Literal: leading, guidance, right conduct. Symbolic: inner guidance of the soul/mind toward the Truth; the ‘leader-path’ in the sacrifice
- दस्योः ओकः (dasyor okaḥ)
- Literal: the Dasyu’s house/dwelling. Symbolic: seat of ignorance—habitual falsehood, hostile formations in the subconscient/vital
- सदनम् (sadanam)
- Literal: seat, home, dwelling. Symbolic: established state of consciousness; a stable poise to be reached/entered
- चर्कृतात् (carkṛtāt)
- Literal: from the crooked/warped (clamor). Symbolic: perverted movements—twisted reasoning, reactive vital impulses that disturb the offering
- मघवन् (maghavan)
- Literal: bountiful one. Symbolic: Indra as giver of illuminations, powers, right enjoyments
- निष्षपी (niṣṣapī)
- Literal: withdrawing after giving; holding back one’s due. Symbolic: the sense of grace retracting; interruption of the flow of force/knowledge
Supplication for protection and continued patronage; used where obstacles and reversals are ritually acknowledged and Indra is asked not to withdraw boons.
During Soma pressing/praise to Indra; also as protective invocation when obstacles arise.
Recitation to invoke Indra’s protection and continuity of gifts (strength/light).
Use as a mantra of steadiness when guidance feels absent—repeat before meditation to reaffirm ‘right share’ and protection from distortion.
nīthā from √nī ‘to lead’ (PIE *neh₁- ‘to lead’; cf. Eng. n/a but cf. Lat. ducō different root; still strong Indo-Iranian *nī-). ókas ‘dwelling’ from √uc/vas? (Vedic okas as ‘home’). parā-√dā ‘to give away, abandon’ from PIE *deh₃- ‘to give’ (cf. Lat. dō).
right guidance (nīthā), discernment (jānatī), non-abandonment by the divine helper
The ‘right share’ implies alignment with ṛta—what is due to the journey of truth, not stolen by crooked forces.
Refusal to approach the Dasyu’s dwelling symbolizes fidelity to truth over convenience or habit.
Re-establishing right direction is a microcosmic ‘re-creation’—restoring order from confusion.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent of consciousness through illumined mind overcoming hostile formations.
A ‘place’ becomes a psychological habitat: either the stable seat of truth or the Dasyu’s house of ignorance; noise is the turbulence of the vital and lower mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The threatened reversal on the path (guidance seen ‘turned back’) and the plea that Indra not abandon: a mythologem of the hero’s journey impeded by the Dasyu’s seat, requiring renewed divine patronage.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- parā dāḥ uses √dā (PIE *deh₃- ‘give’) in the extended sense ‘give away/abandon’, a common IE semantic drift. The preverb system (prati-, parā-) again shows inherited Indo-Iranian verbal architecture.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi speaks as a dependent collaborator: having invoked and served, he asks Indra to remain faithful to the exchange—do not withdraw the sustaining force when obstacles arise; keep the seeker within the sphere of the divine gift.
Stabilize inner guidance; refuse entry into habitual ignorance; call for illumined discrimination to protect the practice.
ājñā (discernment/illumination)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana for 6–12 cycles, then chant once per exhale.
From disturbed/manasic noise to clarified, protected mental poise.
When you sense ‘guidance turning back’, do not chase outer signs; sit, invoke Indra inwardly, and watch for the crooked impulse that wants to seize the steering—offer it into the inner fire and reaffirm the right share of truth.
Vedic svara as per Śākala tradition (udātta/anudātta/svarita); preserve udātta peaks on key vocatives like ‘maghavan’.
Keep clear udātta lift on इन्द्र/मघवन्; avoid flattening the prohibitives ‘मा’.
Retroflex ṛ in चर्कृतात् (car-kṛ-tāt), Keep ‘dasyor’ with clear sandhi: दस्योः, Lengthen ā in परा दाः (parā dāḥ)
Firm, protective, slightly imperative tone (as a plea with resolve).
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
