Rig Veda 3.49.2: Mandala 3, Sukta 49, Mantra 2
Sukta 3.49
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
यं नु नकिः पृतनासु स्वराजं द्विता तरति नृतमं हरिष्ठाम् । इनतमः सत्वभिर्यो ह शूषैः पृथुज्रया अमिनादायुर्दस्योः ॥
yáṃ nu nákiḥ pṛ́tanāsu svārā́jaṃ dvitā́ tárati nṛ́tamaṃ haríṣṭhām | inátamaḥ sátvabhir yó ha śū́ṣaiḥ pṛthujráyā aminā́d ā́yur dásyoḥ ||
Den in den Schlachten keiner übertrifft: den selbstherrschenden, den besten der Männer, auf den fahlen Rossen sitzend; den am stärksten Drängenden mit seinen Kräften, der mit stürmischen Mächten und weitem Ansturm das Leben des Dasyu minderte.
Word by Word
- यम्
- whomPronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नु
- now/indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRoot नु (निपात)
- नकिः
- no oneIndeclinableअव्ययRole कर्तृ (निषेध-कर्ता) / विषयRoot नकिस् (निपात/सर्वनाम-प्रयोग)
- पृतनासु
- in battlesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot पृतना (स्त्री)
- स्वराजम्
- self-ruling, sovereignNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (यम्-विशेषण) / कर्मRoot स्वराज् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘स्व-राज्’)
- द्विता
- in two ways; twice; againIndeclinableअव्ययRoot द्विता (अव्यय) < द्वि
- तरति
- crosses, overcomesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot तॄ (तरणे)
- नृतमम्
- most manly, best of menAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (यम्-विशेषण) / कर्मRoot नृतम (प्रातिपदिक; नृ + तम)
- हरिष्ठाम्
- the best bay/steed; the most golden/greenish (one)Noun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (तरति—किं?)Root हरिष्ठा (स्त्री; ‘हरि-स्थ’/‘हरि-ष्ठा’ प्रकार)
- इनतमः
- most powerful/impetuousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (यो …) / विशेषणRoot इनतम (प्रातिपदिक; इन + तम)
- सत्वभिः
- with strengths, with powersNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot सत्व (नपुं) / सत्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ह
- indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRoot ह (निपात)
- शूषैः
- with mights, with fierce powersNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot शूष (नपुं)
- पृथुज्रया
- with broad/strong speed; with wide-rushing forceAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करण (अमिनात्—केन?)Root पृथुज्रय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘पृथु’+‘ज्रय’)
- अमिनात्
- he damaged, he diminishedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot मि (हिंसायाम्/क्षये) उपसर्ग: आ-
- आयुः
- life, lifespanNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot आयुस् (नपुं)
- दस्योः
- of the Dasyu (enemy)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) / अधिकरण-सम्बन्धRoot दस्यु (पुं)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolved): यम् | नु | नकिः | पृतनासु | स्वराजम् | द्विता | तरति | नृतमम् | हरिष्ठाम् | इनतमः | सत्वभिः | यः | ह | शूषैः | पृथुज्रया | अमिनात् | आयुः | दस्योः । प्रमुख संधि/रूप: नकिः = न + किः (निषेध ‘no one’)
- दस्योः = दस्यु-षष्ठी एकवचन (ओः)
- अमिनात् = आ- + मि धातोः लुङ् 3sg
- पृथुज्रया तृतीया एकवचन (करण)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Strongest in drive with his powers, who with impetuous strengths and broad onset diminished the life of the Dasyu.
Inner meaning
Indra as svarāj (self-ruling) is the inner sovereign not dependent on outer circumstance. Mounted on hari (tawny horses), he rides the vital energies under the yoke of illumination. With satva (effective powers) and śūṣa (impetuous force), he makes a broad onset (pṛthujrayā): a widening advance that breaks the life-force of the dasyu—dark adversarial movements in us (ignorance, falsehood, chaotic impulses). No other force ‘crosses’ him in inner wars: illumined mind is supreme when it truly governs.
Universal truth
True sovereignty is inner: when intelligence governs vital force, destructive impulses lose their vitality and the being widens into freedom.
Themes
unrivalled champion, self-sovereignty, defeat of Dasyu, kinetic imagery of progress
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthina (Kauśika lineage in later tradition)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.49.1, RV 3.49.3, RV 3.48.5
Family tradition
Seer of conquest and sovereignty; stresses svarājya (inner kingship) as the fruit of illumination.
Significance
This verse crystallizes the yogic ideal of inner sovereignty: Indra as the ruler of the energies, defeating the ‘dasyu’ within.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- svarāj, nṛtama, hariṣṭha (on tawny steeds), inatamaḥ
- Related deities
- Maruts (storm-powers), Soma, Agni
Cosmic role
Upholder of divine kingship in the worlds; breaker of hostile powers that limit expansion.
Inner power
Sovereign discernment commanding vital force; executive illumination that drains adverse impulses of their power.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra victory stotra; used where overcoming adversaries is sought
यं नु नकि॒: पृत॑नासु स्व॒राजं॑ द्वि॒ता तर॑ति॒ नृत॑मं हरि॒ष्ठाम् । इ॒नत॑म॒: सत्व॑भि॒र्यो ह॑ शू॒षैः पृ॑थु॒ज्रया॑ अमिना॒दायु॒र्दस्यो॑: ॥
यम् । नु । नकिः॑ । पृत॑नासु । स्व॒ऽराज॑म् । द्वि॒ता । तर॑ति । नृऽत॑मम् । ह॒रि॒ऽस्थाम् । इ॒नऽत॑मः । सत्व॑ऽभिः । यः । ह॒ । शू॒षैः । पृ॒थु॒ऽज्रयाः॑ । अ॒मि॒ना॒त् । आयुः॑ । दस्योः॑ ॥
yam | nu | nakiḥ | pṛtanāsu | sva-rājam | dvitā | tarati | nṛ-tamam | hari-sthām | ina-tamaḥ | satva-bhiḥ | yaḥ | ha | śūṣaiḥ | pṛthu-jrayāḥ | amināt | āyuḥ | dasyoḥ
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4×11; strong comparative/absolute statements (‘none surpasses’).
Triumphant, assertive; emphasizes supremacy and forward drive.
Instills self-mastery and fearless momentum; helpful when confronting entrenched habits.
- pṛtanāsu
- Literal: in battles. Symbolic: inner conflicts of transformation
- svarāj
- Literal: self-ruling. Symbolic: inner autonomy under the soul, not ego-reactivity
- nṛtama
- Literal: best of men. Symbolic: highest human leadership principle (illumined mind)
- hariṣṭhām
- Literal: seated on tawny steeds. Symbolic: illumination directing vital energies
- inatamaḥ
- Literal: most driving/impelling. Symbolic: strong executive force of clarified will
- satvabhiḥ
- Literal: with powers/strengths. Symbolic: effective faculties (courage, clarity, steadiness)
- śūṣaiḥ
- Literal: impetuous energies. Symbolic: ardor/tapas harnessed for progress
- pṛthujrayā
- Literal: with broad onset/charge. Symbolic: widening movement that overcomes narrowness
- dasyu
- Literal: hostile/dark adversary. Symbolic: forces of ignorance and perversion in the subconscient
- āyuḥ amināt
- Literal: diminished life. Symbolic: cuts the vitality of adverse formations
Victory-proclamation within Soma praise; supports invocation for overcoming hostile forces (inner and outer).
In rites/prayers for victory, protection, and sovereign strength; also in contexts of overcoming ‘dasyu’ enemies in traditional readings.
Recitation with oblations; symbolic offering of hostile forces into the sacrificial fire.
Chant when working with addiction, compulsions, or fear; frame ‘dasyu’ as the inner adversary and invoke svarājya.
svārā́j ‘self-ruling’ from sva + rāj (√rāj ‘shine, rule’) → sovereignty of luminous power. dásyu ‘enemy/raider’ in inner sense: hostile darkness/ignorance. ā́yus ‘life-force’ from √i ‘to go’ (life as movement/duration). amināt from √mī/√man? (Vedic ‘to lessen, damage’) → reduction of hostile vitality.
svārāj (self-rule) as inner sovereignty, dasyu as ignorance/hostility, forceful forward movement as spiritual progress
Indra’s sovereignty restores right governance of energies—r̥ta in action.
Self-rule aligns with truth rather than desire-driven reaction.
Widening (pṛthu) as a creation-movement: expansion of consciousness defeats darkness.
Vedic psychology; bridge to Upaniṣadic ideal of inner ruler (antaryāmin—conceptual kinship).
Horses = vital energies; chariot advance = directed life-force; broad onset = widening consciousness; dasyu = dark subconscious impulses.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the unrivalled self-ruler who diminishes the Dasyu’s life: the myth of the sovereign luminous power that not only defeats but drains the vitality of hostile darkness, ensuring lasting mastery.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- rāj (rule/shine) is central in Indo-Iranian and broadly IE sovereignty language; the fusion of ‘shine’ and ‘rule’ is characteristic. The negation formula nakiḥ (‘no one’) in heroic boasting parallels IE ‘none is like him’ tropes.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asserts Indra’s svārājya as the model for the seeker: by invoking the self-ruling power, the practitioner aims to establish inner sovereignty where hostile impulses (dasyu) lose their very ‘life’ (āyus) and cannot recur with force.
Establish inner sovereignty: let the witnessing intelligence command breath and impulse; withdraw ‘life’ from compulsive patterns.
maṇipūra (sovereign will)
Kapalabhati light (30 strokes) if suitable, then calm breathing; feel Indra ‘mounted on hari’ directing prāṇa.
Powerful, upright, expansive.
Identify where you are ‘surpassed’ by impulses. Chant, then practice 2 minutes of still, tall posture, sensing a royal calm in the solar plexus; resolve one boundary that cuts the ‘āyuḥ’ (fuel) of the dasyu.
Maintain accent clarity on svárājām, nṛ́tamam, háriṣṭhām; let svarita glide on phrase endings.
Keep the first pāda declarative and steady; increase drive through the second and third; land firmly on ‘aminād āyuḥ dasyoḥ’.
‘svarājām’ with clear sv cluster, ‘hariṣṭhām’ articulate ṣṭh (ṣṭhāṃ), ‘pṛthujrayā’ keep ṛ and aspirated jh-like ‘jrayā’ as per tradition; avoid ‘jariya’, ‘dasyḥ’ keep oḥ diphthong and visarga-like ending quality
Commanding, forward; avoid shouting—aim for concentrated power.
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