Rig Veda 1.56.6: Mandala 1, Sukta 56, Mantra 6
Sukta 1.56
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
त्वं दिवो धरुणं धिष ओजसा पृथिव्या इन्द्र सदनेषु माहिनः । त्वं सुतस्य मदे अरिणा अपो वि वृत्रस्य समया पाष्यारुजः ॥
tváṃ divó dharúṇaṃ dhiṣé ójasā pṛthivyā́ indra sádaneṣu mā́hinaḥ | tváṃ sutásya máde ariṇā ápo ví vṛtrásya samáyā pā́ṣyā arujaḥ ||
Du setzt mit deiner Macht die feste Stütze des Himmels ein, und du, o Indra von Weite, nimmst deinen Sitz in den Fundamenten der Erde. Du hast im Entzücken des gepressten Soma die Wasser freigesetzt; du zerbrachst die schließenden Fugen und Fesseln Vṛtras.
Word by Word
- त्वम्
- thou (you)Pronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- दिवः
- of heaven/skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root दिव् (द्यौः) (प्रातिपदिक)
- धरुणम्
- support, propNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot धरुण (प्रातिपदिक; धृ-धारणे से)
- धिषे
- thou settest/holdest (supportest)Verbलट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot धिष् (धातु; धिष्/धिषा—बल/प्रेरणा/धारण)
- ओजसा
- with strength, by mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिव्याः
- of the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (Vocative)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सदनेषु
- in the seats/dwellingsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
- माहिनः
- the mighty oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root माहिन् (प्रातिपदिक; मह् ‘to be great’ से)
- त्वम्
- thouPronounपुं/स्त्री/नपुं; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुतस्य
- of the pressed (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root सुत (प्रातिपदिक; सु- ‘to press’ से, सोमः)
- मदे
- in intoxication/raptureNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot मद (प्रातिपदिक)
- अरिणाः
- thou didst set in motion/driveVerbलिट् (परोक्सभूत/परफेक्ट); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot अरी (धातु; अरि/ऋ—गमन/प्रेरण; वैदिक प्रयोग: ‘to set in motion/impel’)
- अपः
- the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, asunderIndeclinableउपसर्ग (विभाग/विसरणार्थ)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot वि (उपसर्ग)
- वृत्रस्य
- of VṛtraNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- समया
- with/at the appointed time; by agreement (lit. ‘by the time/meeting’)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot समय (प्रातिपदिक)
- पाष्याः
- of the flank/sideNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root पाष्या (प्रातिपदिक; ‘side, flank, rib’)
- अरुजः
- thou didst breakVerbलुङ् (अorist); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot रुज् (धातु; रुज्—भङ्गे/हिंसायाम्)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविच्छेद): त्वं | दिवः | धरुणम् | धिषे | ओजसा | पृथिव्याः | इन्द्र | सदनेषु | माहिनः || त्वं | सुतस्य | मदे | अरिणाः | अपः | वि | वृत्रस्य | समया | पाष्याः | अरुजः । मुख्य सन्धि/रूप-टिप्पणी: (1) ‘धिष॒ ओज॑सा’ = धिषे + ओजसा (ए-ओ संयोगः; पदपाठे धिषे)। (2) ‘पृथिव्या इन्द्र’ = पृथिव्याः + इन्द्र (आः + इ → आ इ; पदपाठे पृथिव्याः इन्द्र)। (3) ‘सदनेषु माहिनः’ = सदनेषु + माहिनः (उच्चारण-सन्धि मात्र)। (4) ‘मदे अरिणा’ = मदे + अरिणाः (ए + अ; पदपाठे पृथक्)। (5) ‘अपो वि’ = अपः + वि (विसर्ग-सन्धि: अः + व → ओ व; संहितायाम् ‘अपो वि’)। (6) ‘समया पाष्या’ = समया + पाष्याः (आ + प; संधि नहीं, पदसीमा)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra by might establishes heaven’s firm support and sits in earth’s foundations; in Soma-ecstasy he frees the waters and shatters Vṛtra’s joints and fetters.
Inner meaning
The illumined Mind not only breaks obstruction but also founds a stable higher order: it ‘sets’ the support of the heaven (higher consciousness) and takes seat in the bases of the earth (physical nature), meaning the transformation is anchored. In Soma-rapture, it releases the streams of inspiration and life-force, breaking the structural ‘joints’ (samayā) and ‘fetters’ (pāśyā) of the subconscient knot that binds consciousness.
Universal truth
True liberation is not a momentary breakthrough; it establishes a new stability above and below—higher vision supported and embodied—by breaking the binding patterns of the unconscious.
Themes
cosmic order, Vṛtra’s bonds broken, waters of inspiration, Indra as stabilizer
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.56.5, RV 1.57.1, RV 1.57.2, RV 1.57.3
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s Indra hymns often join victory with establishment—ṛta is not only won but seated in the earth-nature.
Significance
This verse emphasizes yogic integration: the higher ‘heaven’ must be supported and the ‘earth’ must become a seat for the divine force.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- māhinaḥ (of vastness), ojasvin (mighty, implied), vṛtrahan (obstruction-slayer, implied)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Varuṇa, Mitra
Cosmic role
Stabilizer of the cosmic pillars (heaven/earth) and releaser of the world-waters by defeating the Coverer.
Inner power
Integrative illumination: power that both founds a higher poise and breaks the subconscious bonds preventing flow.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise in Soma-yajña sequences highlighting waters-release and cosmic support.
त्वं दि॒वो ध॒रुणं॑ धिष॒ ओज॑सा पृथि॒व्या इ॑न्द्र॒ सद॑नेषु॒ माहि॑नः । त्वं सु॒तस्य॒ मदे॑ अरिणा अ॒पो वि वृ॒त्रस्य॑ स॒मया॑ पा॒ष्या॑रुजः ॥
त्वम् । दि॒वः । ध॒रुण॑म् । धि॒षे॒ । ओज॑सा । पृ॒थि॒व्याः । इ॒न्द्र॒ । सद॑नेषु । माहि॑नः । त्वम् । सु॒तस्य॑ । मदे॑ । अ॒रि॒णाः॒ । अ॒पः । वि । वृ॒त्रस्य॑ । स॒मया॑ । पा॒ष्या॑ । अ॒रु॒जः॒ ॥
tvam | divaḥ | dharuṇam | dhiṣe | ojasā | pṛthivyāḥ | indra | sadaneṣu | māhinaḥ | tvam | sutasya | made | ariṇāḥ | apaḥ | vi | vṛtrasya | samayā | pāṣyā | arujaḥ
44
4×11
Grave, establishing rhythm; less ‘leap’, more ‘setting’ and ‘seating’—a strong cadence of foundation.
Creates steadiness and confidence; the closing pādas feel like bonds snapping under pressure.
- दिवः धरुणम् (divo dharuṇam)
- Literal: support of heaven. Symbolic: stable foundation of higher consciousness in the being
- पृथिव्याः सदनेषु (pṛthivyāḥ sadaneṣu)
- Literal: in the seats/foundations of earth. Symbolic: embodiment: higher force seated in the physical and its habits
- ओजसा (ojasā)
- Literal: by might/energy. Symbolic: spiritual strength, concentrated power of will and intelligence
- सुतस्य मदे (sutasya made)
- Literal: in the ecstasy of pressed Soma. Symbolic: bliss-intoxication that heightens perception and force
- आपः (āpaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: streams of consciousness—clarities, inspirations, energies
- समया (samayā)
- Literal: joints, junctions. Symbolic: structural linkages of ignorance; habitual ‘hinges’ of bondage
- पाश्या (pāśyā)
- Literal: fetters/nooses. Symbolic: binding compulsions, subconscious ties
Affirmation of Indra as cosmic stabilizer and liberator; recited to invoke both order (support of heaven/earth) and release (waters) in Soma ritual and inner discipline.
Around Soma pressing/offerings; recited to invoke stabilizing power and victory over obstacles.
Recitation with oblations; symbolic freeing of waters = prosperity, rain, and right flow of energies.
Use for grounding after a breakthrough experience—affirming that higher clarity can seat itself in daily life and body.
ójas ‘vigour’ from √vaj/√uj? (traditional: ojas as innate strength); dharúṇa from √dhṛ ‘hold’; pā́śa ‘noose’ (pāṣyā) from √paś ‘bind/fasten’ in semantic field of binding; √ruj ‘break’ (arujaḥ) → rupture of constraint; sádana ‘seat’ from √sad ‘sit’ → foundational stationing of power.
R̥ta as stability (dharuṇa), cosmic kingship (seat in foundations), liberation from bonds (pāśa), Soma as catalyst of divine action
Indra’s establishing of supports is the architecture of ṛta—order made firm in heaven and earth.
Truth-force becomes ‘support’; not merely insight but a stable law in consciousness.
Cosmos maintained by supports; waters released when the binding structure of chaos is broken.
Integral-yogic reading: descent/embodiment alongside ascent (heaven supported, earth seated).
Heaven-earth axis = higher and lower being; waters = flowing energies; fetters = subconscious bindings.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A combined mythologem: Indra as world-supporter (establishing heaven/earth) and as Vṛtra-breaker (releasing waters). Inner sense: the same power that founds stable order in consciousness also breaks the knots (samayā) and nooses (pāśyā) that imprison the life-flows.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The ‘cosmic pillar/support’ theme is widespread in IE traditions (world-supporting deity/axis). The binding-and-breaking imagery (noose/fetter + breaking verb) is also archetypal. Lexically, √sad ‘sit’ (sádana) and √vid/√dhṛ cognate fields reflect inherited core vocabulary for ‘seat’ and ‘hold/support’ across IE.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi recognizes Indra as both foundation and liberator: devotion seeks not only victory but a stable seat of greatness within the earthly base. The reciprocity is the Soma-offering/aspiration that awakens madá, and Indra’s response that both establishes order and opens the imprisoned currents.
Stabilize higher consciousness and embody it; release subconscious bindings.
Sahasrāra/Ājñā (heaven-support) and Mūlādhāra (earth-seat) integration
Box breathing (4-4-4-4) for ‘support’; then longer exhale on ‘vi’ (release) while chanting the second hemistich.
Firm wideness with controlled power; grounded illumination.
On ‘dharuṇaṃ dhiṣe’ feel a column of support above; on ‘sadaneṣu’ feel the force seated in pelvis/legs; on ‘pāśyārujaḥ’ visualize bonds untying at habitual reaction points.
Standard Vedic accents; emphasize udātta on key nouns/verbs; maintain even pitch steps across Triṣṭubh padas.
Keep the first hemistich steady and ‘supporting’; let the second hemistich sharpen on ‘vi’ and ‘arujaḥ’ (break).
Retroflex ṇ in dharuṇaṃ; aspirate dh in dhiṣe., Pronounce māhinaḥ with clear long ā., Keep sutasya as su-ta-sya (no merging into ‘sutsya’)., Articulate pāśyārujaḥ as pā-śyā-ru-jaḥ with clear yā.
Grounded, resonant, steady; slight intensification at the bond-breaking cadence.
11
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.
