Rig Veda 2.16.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 16, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.16
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada Bhārgava
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
न क्षोणीभ्यां परिभ्वे त इन्द्रियं न समुद्रैः पर्वतैरिन्द्र ते रथः । न ते वज्रमन्वश्नोति कश्चन यदाशुभिः पतसि योजना पुरु ॥
ná kṣoṇī́bhyāṃ paribhvé ta indríyaṃ ná samudráiḥ párvatair indra te ráthaḥ | ná te vájram ánv aśnoti káś caná yad āśúbhiḥ pátasi yójanā purú ||
Weder die beiden Welten vermögen deine Macht zu umfassen, o Indra, noch halten Meere und Berge deinen Wagen zurück. Niemand erreicht deinen Vajra, wenn du mit deinen Schnellen über viele Yojanas dahinfliegst.
Word by Word
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेध (negation)Root न
- क्षोणीभ्याम्
- by/with the two earths (earth and heaven / the two worlds)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-द्विवचनRole KaraṇaRoot क्षोणी
- परि
- around, all aroundIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot परि
- भ्वे
- become / be (able to) encompassVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot भू
- ते
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी-एकवचन (enclitic)Role SampradānaRoot त्वद्
- इन्द्रियम्
- power, might, lordly strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इन्द्रिय
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न
- समुद्रैः
- by/with the oceansNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot समुद्र
- पर्वतैः
- by/with the mountainsNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot पर्वत
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-एकवचनRoot इन्द्र
- ते
- yourPronounषष्ठी-एकवचन (enclitic)Role SampradānaRoot त्वद्
- रथः
- chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole KartāRoot रथ
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न
- ते
- yourPronounषष्ठी-एकवचन (enclitic)Role SampradānaRoot त्वद्
- वज्रम्
- thunderboltNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वज्र
- अनु
- after, alongIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अनु
- अश्नोति
- attains, reachesVerbलट्; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot अश् (अश्नुते/अश्नोति)
- कश्चन
- anyone at allPronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole KartāRoot कश्चन (कः + चन)
- यदा
- whenIndeclinableकालवाचक-अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot यदा
- आशुभिः
- with the swift (steeds)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot आशु
- पतसि
- you fly, speedVerbलट्; मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot पत्
- योजना
- yoking-distances, leaguesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot योजन
- पुरु
- many, muchAdjective/Indeclinable (quantifier)अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (बहुत्वार्थ)Root पुरु
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): क्षोणीभ्यां परिभ्वे → क्षोणीभ्याम् + परि + भ्वे (परि- + √भू, लोट्). समुद्रैः पर्वतैरिन्द्र → समुद्रैः + पर्वतैः + इन्द्र. पर्वतैरिन्द्र ते रथः → पर्वतैः + इन्द्र + ते + रथः. वज्रमन्वश्नोति → वज्रम् + अनु + अश्नोति. कश्चन is kás + can (indefinite). यदाशुभिः → यदा + आशुभिः. योजना पुरु: yojanā (acc. pl.) + puru (quantifier). Accent marks are retained as in the given text
- pada-division follows RV padapāṭha-style splitting of preverbs and enclitics
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra’s might cannot be contained by earth and heaven; neither oceans nor mountains can confine his chariot. No one can catch his thunderbolt as he speeds with his swift steeds across many leagues.
Inner meaning
The illumined Mind-Power (Indra) in the seeker is not limited by the dualities of embodied existence (“two worlds”). Neither the vast subconscious depths (oceans) nor the fixed formations of habit and inertia (mountains) can imprison the movement of the divine Force once it is yoked. The vajra is the decisive, supramental-like discriminative stroke that breaks coverings; when the inner steeds (vital and mental energies) are purified and made swift, the descent of illumination outruns all resistance.
Universal truth
When consciousness aligns with a higher luminous intelligence, its movement exceeds the apparent limits set by circumstance, depth of emotion, or rigid conditioning; clarity and decisive will travel farther than obstruction can follow.
Themes
Indra’s immeasurable might, swift movement, vajra invincibility
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada Bhārgava
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (line of Bhṛgu)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.1–2.43 (Gṛtsamada collection, prominently Agni and Indra)
Family tradition
Bhṛgu-Āṅgirasa stream noted for hymns of forceful aspiration, inner sacrifice (Agni), and Indra’s victorious illumination.
Significance
Gṛtsamada’s vision emphasizes the irresistible dynamism of divine Mind when invoked by mantric will—Indra as the breaker of limits, enabling swift progress across inner worlds.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Indriya (mighty, possessing indriya), Vajrin (wielder of the vajra), Rathin (lord of the chariot), Āśu (swift-moving, by implication)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Uṣas, Maruts
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods who releases light, waters, and the Dawn by defeating the forces of obstruction; establishes expansive order for life and mind.
Inner power
Illuminative intelligence and victorious will that breaks mental darkness and vital knotting; the force that makes progress rapid and uncontainable.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-yajña (Indra-stuti within pressing rites)
न क्षो॒णीभ्यां॑ परि॒भ्वे॑ त इन्द्रि॒यं न स॑मु॒द्रैः पर्व॑तैरिन्द्र ते॒ रथ॑: । न ते॒ वज्र॒मन्व॑श्नोति॒ कश्च॒न यदा॒शुभि॒: पत॑सि॒ योज॑ना पु॒रु ॥
न । क्षो॒णीभ्या॑म् । प॒रि॒ऽभ्वे॑ । ते॒ । इ॒न्द्रि॒यम् । न । स॒मु॒द्रैः । पर्व॑तैः । इ॒न्द्र॒ । ते॒ । रथः॑ । न । ते॒ । वज्र॑म् । अनु॑ । अ॒श्नो॒ति॒ । कः । च॒न । यत् । आ॒शुऽभिः॑ । पत॑सि । योज॑ना । पु॒रु ॥
na | kṣoṇībhyām | pari-bhve | te | indriyam | na | samudraiḥ | parvataiḥ | indra | te | rathaḥ | na | te | vajram | anu | aśnoti | kaḥ | cana | yat | āśu-bhiḥ | patasi | yojanā | puru
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables each (with Vedic resolutions/variations possible)
Driving, martial-expansive cadence suited to Indra’s velocity and power.
Builds inner momentum and confidence; the long triṣṭubh line carries a sense of unstoppable advance, helpful for breaking inertia in meditation.
- क्षोणीभ्याम् (kṣoṇībhyām)
- Literal: the two worlds (earth and heaven). Symbolic: the dual field of embodied consciousness: material nature and mental/heavenly range; also inner/outer duality
- समुद्रैः (samudraiḥ)
- Literal: oceans. Symbolic: subconscient/inconscient depths; vast emotional and instinctive reservoirs
- पर्वतैः (parvataiḥ)
- Literal: mountains. Symbolic: fixed formations—habits, rigid mental structures, inertial resistance
- रथः (rathaḥ)
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: the organized vehicle of divine action in the being; integrated psycho-physical instrument
- वज्रम् (vajram)
- Literal: thunderbolt. Symbolic: the irresistible stroke of illumination and truth-discrimination that shatters the Coverer
- आशुभिः (āśubhiḥ)
- Literal: with the swift ones. Symbolic: purified, rapid energies (mind-vital forces) yoked to higher intention
- योजना पुरु (yojanā puru)
- Literal: many leagues. Symbolic: wide ranges of consciousness traversed in inner ascent and expansion
Exaltation of Indra’s irresistible speed and uncontainable might; supports invocation for swift intervention in the sacrificer’s inner battle.
During Soma pressings (savana), especially when invoking Indra’s aid and victory.
Recitation to magnify Indra’s strength and invite his swift intervention; accompanies offering/pressing sequences.
Use as a mantra of overcoming limitation—recite before challenging work, during transitions, or when confronting habitual resistance.
: ‘Indra’s power’ later ‘sense-faculty’; from Indra + -iya. -√aś ‘to reach’ relates to PIE *h₂eḱ- ‘reach’ (cf. Latin assequor is different; but Sanskrit aś ‘reach’ is Indo-Iranian). √pat ‘fly’ (PIE *pet- ‘fly’). The hyperbolic negatives (ná…ná…ná) are a typical RV rhetorical structure.
unbounded consciousness-force, irresistibility of truth-force (vajra), transcendence of cosmic duality (two worlds cannot contain)
Indra’s unconfined chariot symbolizes Ṛta as dynamic expansion—order that conquers obstruction rather than static constraint.
The vajra as truth-discrimination: Satya that cannot be overtaken by falsehood or doubt.
Release and expansion: the cosmos advances by breaking coverings and opening wide spaces (uru-loka).
Proto-Vedāntic / integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent/expansion of consciousness through illuminative mind.
The seeker’s field (earth-heaven) is exceeded by awakened illumination; subconscious depths and rigid formations cannot imprison the divine movement; decisive insight (vajra) moves faster than obstruction.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The uncontainable storm-sovereign: Indra’s chariot and vajra exceed cosmic boundaries. Inner sense: the awakened illumined force moves faster than any obstruction—mental or vital—and breaks limits of the divided worlds.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √pat ‘fly’ continues PIE *pet- (cf. Greek πέτομαι). The verse’s catalog of cosmic containers (earths, oceans, mountains) is an IE-style ‘impossibility’ topos: enumerating maximal bounds to assert divine transcendence.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi magnifies Indra’s capacity to arrive and act: praise becomes a means to call swift aid. The devotee’s need (timely victory) is met by Indra’s defining attribute—unhindered speed and reach.
Invoke the inner Indra to exceed perceived limits and cut through doubt; contemplate the vajra as a single decisive insight.
Ājñā (illumined mind)
Moderate rhythmic breathing (e.g., 4-4 or 6-6) while mentally repeating the key clause about the vajra’s uncatchable speed.
Dynamic wideness with clarity—‘swift vastness’.
Begin with a brief centering, then chant once slowly to establish meaning; repeat briskly 9–27 times to awaken force; end in silent attention to the ‘stroke’ of insight.
Follow the pada text with standard Rigvedic accents: udatta on marked syllables, svarita on dependent rises, anudatta on unmarked lows (requires śākhā-specific notation for full precision).
Keep the negations ‘na’ light but clear; give lift to names and power-words (indra, indriyam, rathaḥ, vajram, āśubhiḥ). Maintain triṣṭubh caesura naturally after ~4–5 syllables in each pāda.
kṣ in kṣoṇībhyām: tight conjunct (k+ṣ), not ‘kh’, ṛ in indriyam: brief vocalic r, v in vajram: soft labiodental, not English w, ś in āśubhiḥ: palatal ‘sh’, Final visarga in bhānunā not here; but observe visarga in āśubhiḥ (ḥ) as a light aspiration before pause
Clear, resonant, forward-projected (chest-to-head bridge), conveying speed and certainty.
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