Rig Veda 3.30.18: Mandala 3, Sukta 30, Mantra 18
Sukta 3.30
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
स्वस्तये वाजिभिश्च प्रणेतः सं यन्महीरिष आसत्सि पूर्वीः । रायो वन्तारो बृहतः स्यामास्मे अस्तु भग इन्द्र प्रजावान् ॥
svastáye vājíbhiś ca pranetáḥ sáṃ yan mahī́r íṣa āsátsi pūrvī́ḥ | rāyó vantā́ro bṛhatáḥ syāmā́smé astu bhága indra prajā́vān ||
Zu unserem Heil, o Führer, komm mit den sieghaften Kräften; denn du bist herangetreten und hast uns die großen Antriebe von alters her zugesellt. Mögen wir Besitzer des weiten Reichtums sein; in uns sei Bhaga — dein Anteil an Wonne, o Indra, mit Nachkommenschaft, in fortwährendem Wachstum.
Word by Word
- स्वस्तये
- for well-being, for welfareNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी; एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot स्वस्ति-
- वा
- or / indeedIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक निपातRoot वा
- वाजिभिः
- with the prize-winning (steeds), with racersNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot वाजिन्-
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक निपातRoot च
- प्रणेतः
- O leader, O guideNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot प्र-नी (धातु √नी) → प्रणेतृ-
- सम्
- together, whollyIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपात (सम्यगर्थे)Root सम्
- यत्
- when/that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (सम्बन्धसूचक)Root यद्-
- महीः
- great (feminine plural)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot मही-
- इषः
- refreshments, invigorating offeringsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot इष्-
- आसत्सि
- you sat down/approachedVerbलुङ् (आorist); परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचनRoot आ-√सद्
- पूर्वीः
- the former/earlier (ones)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot पूर्व-
- रायः
- of wealth, of richesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot राय्-/रायि-
- वन्तारः
- winners, gainersNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot वन्तृ- (from √वन् ‘to win’)
- बृहतः
- of the great (abundance)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन (विशेषण-सम्बन्ध)Role सम्बन्धRoot बृहत्-
- स्याम
- may we beVerbविधिलिङ्; परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष; बहुवचनRoot √अस्
- अस्मे
- among us, in usPronounसप्तमी (वैदिक-प्रयोगे दत्तिवत्/अधिकरणवत्); बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अस्मद्-
- अस्तु
- let there beVerbलोट्; परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRoot √अस्
- भगः
- Bhaga (the distributor of fortune) / good fortuneNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot भग-
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र-
- प्रजावान्
- possessing offspring, rich in progenyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot प्रजा- + वत् (मतुप्) → प्रजावन्त्
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: वाजिभिश्च → वाजिभिः + च
- प्रणेतः is a vocative sg. of प्रणेतृ- (agent noun from √नी with prefix प्र-). सं यन् → सम् + यत् (nigāhīta/anusvāra before y). महीरिषः → महीः + इषः (vowel sandhi ī + i → ī; written as ई/ईर in saṃhitā). आसत्सि is taken as ā-aorist 2sg of आ-√सद् ‘to sit/approach’. स्यामास्मे → स्याम् + अस्मे. भग इन्द्र → भगः + इन्द्र (visarga sandhi before vowel)
The meaning
Outer meaning
For well-being, the leader (Indra) is asked to come with victorious powers; since he has joined the great impulses from of old. May we possess vast riches; may Bhaga (a share of delight) be in us, with progeny and increase.
Inner meaning
After the clearing of hostile forces, the hymn turns to constructive building. Indra as praṇetā (leader) brings vājibhiḥ—energies of victory and effective action—so the being can advance in safety (svastaye). The ‘great impulsions from of old’ are perennial higher movements (mahīr iṣaḥ) descending from the supramental/true plane into the human system. The prayer for rāyaḥ bṛhataḥ is not mere wealth but a vastness of being and capacity. Bhaga is the inner portion of delight and right enjoyment that accompanies true gain; prajā here can be read as fruitful increase—new births of consciousness, creative formations, and continuity of the spiritual life.
Universal truth
True well-being is not only removal of obstacles but the arrival of victorious energies, vastness of being, and a rightful share of delight that sustains growth and continuity.
Themes
benediction, spiritual wealth (rayi), victorious force (vāja), progeny as inner increase
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Kauśika
- Other hymns
- RV 3.30.19 (Bhaga as luminous portion), RV 3.62.10 (Gāyatrī mantra; Viśvāmitra’s illumination), RV 3.53 (collective prosperity and victory)
Family tradition
A seer-tradition that couples victory over obstruction with the establishment of expansive prosperity of being (bṛhat).
Significance
Viśvāmitra’s yoga moves from battle to building: once the path is cleared, the higher impulsions and delight can settle and multiply as creative ‘progeny’ of the spirit.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Bhaga as boon/portion within Indra’s granting)
- Epithets
- Praṇetā (leader), Maghavan (bounteous), Vājapati (lord of victory, conceptually)
- Related deities
- Bhaga (delight/portion), Sarasvatī (inspiration/flow), Soma (bliss), Agni (will)
Cosmic role
Bringer of victorious force and expansive plenitude; distributor of boons in harmony with ṛta.
Inner power
Guiding illumination that not only destroys obstruction but joins the being to perennial higher impulsions and establishes delight and increase.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra prosperity/victory invocation; could accompany offerings seeking svasti and rāyas (well-being and abundance).
स्व॒स्तये॑ वा॒जिभि॑श्च प्रणेत॒: सं यन्म॒हीरिष॑ आ॒सत्सि॑ पू॒र्वीः । रा॒यो व॒न्तारो॑ बृह॒तः स्या॑मा॒स्मे अ॑स्तु॒ भग॑ इन्द्र प्र॒जावा॑न् ॥
स्व॒स्तये॑ । वा॒जिऽभिः॑ । च॒ । प्र॒ने॒त॒रिति॑ प्रऽनेतः । सम् । यत् । म॒हीः । इषः॑ । आ॒ऽसत्सि॑ । पू॒र्वीः । रा॒यः । व॒न्तारः॑ । बृ॒ह॒तः । स्या॒म॒ । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । अ॒स्तु॒ । भगः॑ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । प्र॒जाऽवा॑न् ॥
svastaye | vāji-bhiḥ | ca | pranetaritipra-netaḥ | sam | yat | mahīḥ | iṣaḥ | āsatsi | pūrvīḥ | rāyaḥ | vantāraḥ | bṛhataḥ | syāma | asme iti | astu | bhagaḥ | indra | prajāvān
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4×11 syllables (approx.)
Broad and affirmative; less cutting, more expansive—fits the theme of bṛhat (vastness).
Opens the chest and breath; evokes confidence, gratitude, and a sense of wideness after struggle.
- स्वस्तये (svastaye)
- Literal: for well-being, welfare. Symbolic: integral harmony of the being—safe, aligned progress
- वाजिभिः (vājibhiḥ)
- Literal: with the vājins (victorious powers). Symbolic: dynamic energies that carry the will to successful accomplishment
- प्रणेतः (praṇetaḥ)
- Literal: leader, guide. Symbolic: Indra as guiding illumination that leads the journey
- महीः इषः (mahīḥ iṣaḥ)
- Literal: great impulsions/impels. Symbolic: strong descents of inspiration, aspiration, and right drive from higher consciousness
- पूर्वीः (pūrvīḥ)
- Literal: from of old, former. Symbolic: eternal powers already established in the Truth-plane, available to be rejoined
- रायः बृहतः (rāyaḥ bṛhataḥ)
- Literal: vast riches. Symbolic: large being-consciousness: wideness, strength, luminous resources
- भगः (bhagaḥ)
- Literal: share/portion; Bhaga deity. Symbolic: rightful delight, auspicious enjoyment, the Divine’s distributive grace
- प्रजावान् (prajāvān)
- Literal: with progeny. Symbolic: fruitful increase—new creations of consciousness and continuity of the sadhana
Concluding benediction (āśis) in Indra hymn: svasti, rayi, prajā; broadly applicable in Soma rites
After protective rites or at concluding phases of Indra hymns to seal victory with prosperity.
Recitation with offering and blessing intention; may be used as svasti-mantra in a sequence.
A mantra for rebuilding after difficulty—setting intention for stable well-being, victorious energy, and joyful increase (family/creativity/work).
svastí (su+asti) is ‘good-being’, a key Vedic aim as stable right-existence. pra+√nī ‘lead forth’ → pranetáḥ: Indra as guide of the inner march. bhága ‘portion/share’ from √bhaj ‘apportion’ indicates a rightful distribution of delight and fullness. prajā (pra+√jan ‘be born’) is read as continuing inner increase—new formations of consciousness.
svasti (right-being), bṛhat (vast truth-consciousness), bhaga (rightful delight/portion), continuity of manifestation (prajā)
Indra ‘joins’ the great impulsions—harmonizing human effort with ṛta-driven powers.
The ‘former’ impulsions imply stable truth-powers; aligning with them strengthens satya in life.
Increase (prajā) as creative multiplication of right formations once higher impulsions are seated.
Integral Vedism: prosperity as expansion of consciousness, not merely material gain.
Vāja = energized capacity; bṛhat = inner wideness like open sky; Bhaga = sunlight of enjoyment distributed in right measure.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The closing boon: Indra as leader brings vāja (victorious force), joins great iṣ (impulsions), and grants rayi (richness), bhaga (rightful delight), and prajā (increase). Inwardly it is the sealing of the work: after battle and release, the being is established in svasti and endowed with expansive fullness (bṛhat).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √nī ‘lead’ (pranetáḥ) relates to PIE *neh₁- ‘lead’ (cf. Latin nēre is different; but Greek néomai ‘return’ is separate; Indo-Iranian has clear ‘lead’ semantics). √jan ‘beget’ (prajā) continues PIE *genh₁- (Greek gígnomai, Latin gignere). √bhaj (bhága) relates to PIE *bʰag- ‘share, allot’ (cf. Slavic bogŭ ‘god’ via ‘dispenser of fortune’, and Sanskrit bhaga as distributor).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks Indra to ‘sit near’ with the ancient great impulsions—suggesting a sustained companionship rather than a momentary miracle. The reciprocity culminates in blessings: the human community becomes ‘possessors’ of bṛhat-rayi through continued alignment with Indra’s leading force, receiving bhaga (right share of delight) and prajā (ongoing inner generation).
After clearing practice, invite ‘victorious energies’ to settle as calm strength; cultivate Bhaga—right delight without grasping.
Anāhata (well-being and harmony) with Sahasrāra/Ājñā influence (higher impulsions descending).
Slow, widening breath: feel expansion on inhale across the ribs; exhale soften into gratitude.
Wideness, safety, constructive readiness.
Chant 3–9 times after a cleansing practice; then visualize a broad luminous space in the heart and head where higher impulsions can ‘join’ and remain.
Tri-svara; keep a smooth rise-fall; emphasize length on svastaye and bṛhataḥ without rushing.
Let the verse ‘open’—avoid hard stops; keep pāda pauses gentle to support the expansive mood.
svastaye: cluster ‘sv’ clean; short a in -ta-, vājibhiś ca: ś before ca—keep palatal ś distinct, praṇetaḥ: retroflex ṇ; long e, iṣa āsatsi: keep long ā in āsatsi; avoid collapsing vowels, prajāvān: long ā; nasalization light
Warm, steady, blessing-like; slightly softer than the battle verses.
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