Rig Veda 2.32.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 32, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.32
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अहेळता मनसा श्रुष्टिमा वह दुहानां धेनुं पिप्युषीमसश्चतम् । पद्याभिराशुं वचसा च वाजिनं त्वां हिनोमि पुरुहूत विश्वहा ॥
áheḷatā mánasā śruṣṭím ā́ vaha dúhānāṃ dhénuṃ pipyúṣīm asaścatám | pádyābhir āśúṃ vácasā ca vājínaṃ tvā́ṃ hinomi puru-hūta viśváhā ||
Mit einem Sinn ohne Groll bringe her die bereite Gefügigkeit – wie eine melkende Kuh, schwellend von ihrem Strom, die nicht versagt. Mit schnellen Schritten und antreibender Rede dränge ich dich, o Vielangerufener, zu aller Zeit: werde in uns die sieghafte Kraft.
Word by Word
- अहेळता
- without anger/without hostilityAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम् (अहेळता = ‘अ-हेळया’ इति; Vedic instr. sg. in -ता)Role KaraṇaRoot हेळ (प्रातिपदिक: हेळ/हेळा ‘क्रोध/द्वेष’) + नञ्-अ (अ-)
- मनसा
- with the mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्रुष्टिम्
- obedience/attentive hearingNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot श्रुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘श्रवण/आज्ञापालन/श्रद्धा’)
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्गःRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- वह
- carry/bring!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे) मध्यमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Root वह्
- दुहानाम्
- milking (her)Verbवर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययः; स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (दुहाना + अम्)Role KarmaRoot दुह्
- धेनुम्
- the cowNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- पिप्युषीम्
- swelling/full (with milk), abundantVerbकृत्-प्रत्ययः (वेदिक परिपूर्ण/वृद्धि-अर्थे ‘पिप्युषी’); स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot प्याय्/पि (वेद. ‘पिप्य्’ = ‘पुष्टिं गच्छति/पूर्यते’)
- असश्चतम्
- unaccompanied, not clinging (to others)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (अ-सश्चत-म्)Role KarmaRoot सच् (सचते ‘सह गच्छति/अनुगच्छति’) + नञ्-अ (अ-)
- पद्याभिः
- with steps/with verses (padas)Nounनपुंसक/पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot पद्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘पद/पाद’ से ‘पद्य’ = ‘पदचिह्न/पद-मार्ग/पद-स्तुति’—वेद. प्रयोग) अथवा ‘पद्’ (पाद/चरण) से बहुवचन-तृतीया
- आशुम्
- swiftAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot आशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- वचसा
- with speech/wordNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थकःRoot च (निपात)
- वाजिनम्
- the prize-winner/steed; vigorous oneNounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वाम्
- youPronounद्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableनिश्चय/कारणार्थकःRoot हि (निपात)
- हिनोमि
- I impel/urgeVerbलट् वर्तमानकालः उत्तमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Root हि (हिनोति ‘प्रेरयति/चालयति’)
- पुरुहूत
- O much-invoked oneNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्गे सम्बोधन एकवचनम्Role SambodhanaRoot पुरु-हूत (प्रातिपदिक; ‘बहु-आहूत/बहु-स्तुत’)
- विश्वहा
- always, at all timesIndeclinableकालवाचक-अव्ययम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot विश्व + हा (अव्ययीभाव; ‘सर्वदा’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): अहेळता मनसा श्रुष्टिम् आ वह । दुहानाम् धेनुम् पिप्युषीम् असश्चतम् । पद्याभिः आशुम् वचसा च वाजिनम् त्वाम् हि हिनोमि पुरुहूत विश्वहा । प्रमुख सन्धयः: (1) श्रुष्टिम् + आ → श्रुष्टिमा (म् + आ = मा)
- (2) पिप्युषीम् + असश्चतम् → पिप्युषीमसश्चतम् (म् + अ = म)
- (3) पद्याभिः + आशुम् → पद्याभिराशुम् (विसर्ग/र्-आदेश: -भिः + अ- → -भिर-)
- (4) वाजिनम् + त्वाम् → वाजिनं त्वाम् (म् + त् → ं त्; अनुस्वार)
- (5) त्वाम् + हि → त्वां हि (म् + ह् → ं ह्; अनुस्वार)
The meaning
Outer meaning
With a mind free of ill-will, bring here obedience, like a milking cow swelling with milk that does not fail. With swift steps and driving speech I urge you, O much-invoked, always, to become the victorious force.
Inner meaning
Indra (puruhūta) is invoked as the heroic illumined Mind-Force. The condition is aheḻatā manasā—without hostility or resentment—so the higher power can enter. ‘Śruṣṭi’ (ready listening/obedience) is called as a yielding of the nature to the true command. The image of the cow is not cattle but the luminous abundance of the rays (go): a steady outpouring of nourishing knowledge and delight that does not fail. ‘Swift steps’ are quickened movements of consciousness; ‘driving speech’ is mantra that compels the energies into right action. The seeker urges Indra to become vājina—victorious power—within the system, constantly (viśvahā).
Universal truth
Higher power acts fully when the mind is free of ill-will and the nature becomes receptive. Abundance of knowledge flows when we listen inwardly and speak with truth-force; then victorious energy becomes stable in life.
Themes
Indra invocation, Abundance and flow, Receptivity and swift action
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.12 (Indra’s victories over obstruction), RV 2.16 (vāja and the conquering power)
Family tradition
Bhārgava heroic yoga: insistence on purity of attitude (aheḻatā) and the use of mantra (vacas) to call down victorious force (Indra).
Significance
The seer ties victory to inner ethics: resentment blocks descent; receptive obedience and truthful speech open the unfailing flow of light.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- puruhūta (much-invoked), vājina (victorious/forceful)
- Related deities
- Agni (will and aspiration), Soma (bliss that strengthens Indra), Bṛhaspati (mantric power that opens the hidden)
Cosmic role
Lord of luminous mind-force; breaker of the Coverer; giver of vāja (effective power) and opening of the rays (cows).
Inner power
Illumined will and decisive intelligence that conquers inner darkness (vṛtra) and establishes victorious energy in action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma/Indra offerings (general)
अहे॑ळता॒ मन॑सा श्रु॒ष्टिमा व॑ह॒ दुहा॑नां धे॒नुं पि॒प्युषी॑मस॒श्चत॑म् । पद्या॑भिरा॒शुं वच॑सा च वा॒जिनं॒ त्वां हि॑नोमि पुरुहूत वि॒श्वहा॑ ॥
अहे॑ळता । मन॑सा । श्रु॒ष्टिम् । आ । व॒ह॒ । दुहा॑नाम् । धे॒नुम् । पि॒प्युषी॑म् । अ॒स॒श्चत॑म् । पद्या॑भिः । आ॒शुम् । वच॑सा । च॒ । वा॒जिन॑म् । त्वाम् । हि॒नो॒मि॒ । पु॒रु॒ऽहू॒त॒ । वि॒श्वहा॑ ॥
aheḷatā | manasā | śruṣṭim | ā | vaha | duhānām | dhenum | pipyuṣīm | asaścatam | padyābhiḥ | āśum | vacasā | ca | vājinam | tvām | hinomi | puru-hūta | viśvahā
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4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Energetic yet controlled; imagery of swift steps and driving speech matches the meter’s forward thrust.
Invokes strength and readiness; energizes the listener while keeping an inner purity tone at the start.
- अहेळता मनसा (aheḻatā manasā)
- Literal: with a mind not angry/ill-willed. Symbolic: purified mental attitude; non-reactive clarity that permits descent of force
- श्रुष्टिम् (śruṣṭim)
- Literal: obedience, readiness to listen. Symbolic: inner receptivity; consent of the nature to the higher guidance
- धेनुम् (dhenum)
- Literal: milch-cow. Symbolic: the Cow of light—abundant outflow of knowledge/rays (go) nourishing the being
- दुहानाम् (duhānām)
- Literal: milking, yielding milk. Symbolic: continuous giving of luminous substance to the seeker
- पिप्युषीम् (pipyuṣīm)
- Literal: swelling, full. Symbolic: increasing fullness of inspiration and delight
- असश्चतम् (asaścatam)
- Literal: unfailing, not slipping away. Symbolic: steady continuity of inner gain (no relapse)
- पद्याभिः आशुम् (padyābhiḥ āśum)
- Literal: swift with steps. Symbolic: quickened progress of consciousness; agile application
- वचसा (vacasā)
- Literal: with speech. Symbolic: mantric word-force that drives realization
- वाजिनम् (vājinaṃ)
- Literal: victorious, full of vāja. Symbolic: power of achievement; effective force of illumined action
- पुरुहूत (puruhūta)
- Literal: much-invoked. Symbolic: the ever-available divine power repeatedly called in human striving (Indra)
Invocatory urging (hinomi) of Indra for vāja; suitable in Soma offerings to Indra where swift response and abundant flow are sought.
Indra-invocations in soma pressing and heroic hymns; also suitable as a prayer for victory and unfailing abundance.
Calling Indra to the offering; urging his force to act and bring plenitude.
Use before demanding tasks or when needing courage: begin with aheḻatā (drop resentment), then invoke Indra as clear decisive power; end by sitting briefly in receptive śruṣṭi (inner listening).
śruṣṭi from √śru ‘hear’ → ‘obedient attentiveness’ (hearing that becomes readiness). dhenu- ‘cow’ (PIE *dʰenh₂-?; Vedic symbolic: ray/knowledge-nourishment). hinomi from √hi ‘to impel, set in motion’. vājín ‘winner/bearer of vāja’ from vāja (√vaj strength/speed).
purification of intention (aheḷatā), śruṣṭi as obedient receptivity, go (cow) as knowledge/light abundance, vāja as victorious fullness
Śruṣṭi signifies aligning the nature to the right command; victory (vājina) is ṛta fulfilled in action.
Speech as force works when rooted in truth and purified intention.
The cow of light as a cosmic abundance that can be milked by right receptivity—knowledge as nourishment.
Vedic yoga psychology: Indra as illumined mind-force; cows as rays/knowledge; victory as inner conquest.
Cow/milk = nourishing flow of knowledge and delight; steps = progressive movements of consciousness; victorious force = energized clarity in action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘cow of plenty’ as the unfailing outpouring—inner abundance of knowledge/force—brought by the deity when the mind is purified (aheḷatā). Indra is urged to manifest as vājín, the victorious energy.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The fame/hearing complex around √śru (śruṣṭi) aligns with PIE *ḱlew- (fame/hearing), a key IE poetic axis. The pattern ‘urge (hinomi) + epithet + perpetual adverb (viśvahā)’ is typical of IE hymn diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi conditions the call: a non-hostile mind invites a swift, abundant response. The relationship is practical and inward: the deity is not begged for external cattle but invoked to release an unfailing flow of nourishment (dhenu) and victorious force (vāja) within the being.
Purify attitude, cultivate inner listening, invoke decisive luminous power for victory over inertia and confusion.
Maṇipūra (power/drive) supported by Ājñā (clear command)
Brisk-energetic: 12 rounds of bhastrikā-light or kapalabhati (if suitable), then quiet breathing with mental repetition of puruhūta.
Dynamic clarity—calm at the base, forceful in execution.
1) Sit and release ill-will (aheḻatā). 2) Listen inwardly for the right next step (śruṣṭi). 3) Speak one clear intention aloud (vacas). 4) Act immediately with ‘swift steps’ while keeping inner calm; return to the mantra if agitation or resentment rises.
Triṣṭubh; start gently on aheḻatā manasā, then increase energy through padyābhiḥ āśuṃ…; keep puruhūta prominent with a clear udātta lift.
Two-phase delivery: (1) calm, pure tone for the first half (receptivity/cow image), (2) stronger, driving tone for tvāṃ hinomi… vājinaṃ.
aheḻatā: ḻ (retroflex lateral) often realized as a clear ‘ḷ’; avoid turning into simple ‘l’ if trained, śruṣṭim: keep ṣṭ conjunct crisp, pipyuṣīm: ‘pyu’ cluster; long ī at end, padyābhiḥ: dhy/py not present—keep ‘dyā’ long ā, puruhūta: hu aspirated; long ū
Begin soft and steady; build to a resonant, heroic call; end firmly on viśvahā.
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