Rig Veda 3.56.3: Mandala 3, Sukta 56, Mantra 3
Sukta 3.56
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- A triple-aspect sovereign Bull-power
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
त्रिपाजस्यो वृषभो विश्वरूप उत त्र्युधा पुरुध प्रजावान् । त्र्यनीकः पत्यते माहिनावान्त्स रेतोधा वृषभः शश्वतीनाम् ॥
tri-pā́jasyo vṛṣabhó viśvarū́pa utá tri-udhā́ purudhá prajā́vān | tri-anī́kaḥ patyate mā́hināvān sá reto-dhā́ vṛṣabháḥ śáśvatīnām ||
Der Stier dreifachen Glanzes, allgestaltig, auch dreifach weise auf vielerlei Weise, reich an Geburten; dreigesichtig herrscht er, mächtig an Größe. Jener Stier, der den Samen trägt, ist Herr der Ewigkeiten.
Word by Word
- त्रिपाजस्यः
- threefold-strong / having three strengthsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण-रूपेण कर्तृपदस्य)Root त्रिपाजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषभः
- the bull (mighty one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वरूपः
- all-formed, of every formAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root विश्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableअव्ययRoot उत (निपात)
- त्र्युधा
- in three waysIndeclinableअव्ययRoot त्रि + उधा (अव्ययीभाव)
- पुरुध
- in many ways, manifoldlyIndeclinableअव्ययRoot पुरुधा/पुरुध् (अव्यय, वैदिक)
- प्रजावान्
- possessing offspring, fruitfulAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root प्रजा + वत् (प्रजावत् प्रातिपदिक)
- त्र्यनीकः
- three-faced / three-frontedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root त्र्यनीक (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + अनीक)
- पत्यते
- he rushes/soarsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदRoot पत् (धातु; ‘to fly/fall’ → ‘to rush/soar’), आत्मनेपद
- माहिनावान्
- endowed with greatness/mightAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root माहिनावत् (प्रातिपदिक; महिमन्/माहिना ‘might’ + वत्)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- रेतोधाः
- seed-placing, bestower of seedNoun (agentive) / Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root रेतोधा (प्रातिपदिक; रेतस् + धा ‘placing/holding’)
- वृषभः
- the bull, the strong oneNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (पुनरुक्त-उपपत्ति)Root वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- शश्वतीनाम्
- of the everlasting (ones), of the continual (streams/hosts)Adjective (used substantively) / Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root शश्वती (प्रातिपदिक; शश्वत् ‘ever, continual’ → स्त्री)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): त्रिपाजस्यः | वृषभः | विश्वरूपः | उत | त्र्युधा | पुरुध | प्रजावान् | त्र्यनीकः | पत्यते | माहिनावान् | सः | रेतोधाः | वृषभः | शश्वतीनाम् । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) माहिनावान् + सः → माहिनावान्त्स (त् + स → त्स)
- (2) रेतोधाः: समास/प्रातिपदिक ‘रेतस् + धा’ (अन्तःसन्धि: रेतस् → रेतो-)
- (3) त्र्युधा, त्र्यनीकः: त्रि-पूर्वपदस्य यणादेश/संयोग (त्रि + उधा → त्र्युधा; त्रि + अनीक → त्र्यनीक)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Bull of triple splendour, all-formed, triple-wise in many ways, full of progeny; triple-faced he rules, mighty. That Bull, holder of the seed, is lord of the eternities.
Inner meaning
The ‘Bull’ is the sovereign creative Power—often the solar Truth-lord or an Indra-like force in unitive form—characterized by triple manifestation: triple energy (tripājasya), triple operation (tryudhā), triple front/face (tryanīkaḥ). Psychologically, this is the Divine Consciousness acting through three principal powers in us: will (Agni-force), illumination (Indra-force), and bliss/essence (Soma-force), or alternatively mind–life–body uplifted by truth. ‘All-formed’ indicates it can take every necessary form in the sadhana; ‘full of births’ means it brings forth continual new formations of consciousness. ‘Seed-holder’ (retodhā) is the keeper of the divine potential in time, making it fructify across ‘eternities’—the enduring states of being beyond transient moods.
Universal truth
Reality is not a flat unity but a unity with multiple powers. The creative source manifests in triads, generating worlds and renewals while remaining sovereign over time.
Themes
triple-aspect divinity, creative potency, sovereignty, eternity/continuity
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthin / Viśvāmitra lineage
- Other hymns
- RV 3.62.10, RV 3.26 (Agni themes in Maṇḍala 3), RV 3.32 (Indra themes in Maṇḍala 3)
Family tradition
Viśvāmitra’s style includes ‘riddle-epithets’ that compress metaphysics into vivid images (bull, triads, seed, eternities).
Significance
The seer presents divine sovereignty as multi-aspected: a single Lord-power that is simultaneously creative, governing, and perpetually renewing.
The deity
- Devata
- Triple-aspect Sovereign Bull (solar/ṛta lord; Indra-Sūrya-Savitṛ convergence in unitive form)
- Epithets
- tripājasya, viśvarūpa, tryanīka, māhināvān, retodhā
- Related deities
- Savitṛ, Sūrya, Indra, Prajāpati
Cosmic role
Generates and governs worlds through triadic powers; holds the seed of manifestation across time.
Inner power
The master-force that can create new states of consciousness and rule the being with a triple light.
In ritual
Where it is used
Verses of triple-aspect power fit soma hymns and contemplative recitations on threefold manifestation; used to invoke comprehensive lordship across planes
त्रि॒पा॒ज॒स्यो वृ॑ष॒भो वि॒श्वरू॑प उ॒त त्र्यु॒धा पु॑रु॒ध प्र॒जावा॑न् । त्र्य॒नी॒कः प॑त्यते॒ माहि॑नावा॒न्त्स रे॑तो॒धा वृ॑ष॒भः शश्व॑तीनाम् ॥
त्रि॒ऽपा॒ज॒स्यः । वृ॒ष॒भः । वि॒श्वऽरू॑पः । उ॒त । त्रि॒ऽउ॒धा । पु॒रु॒ध । प्र॒जाऽवा॑न् । त्रि॒ऽअ॒नी॒कः । प॒त्य॒ते॒ । माहि॑नऽवा॒न् । सः । रे॒तः॒ऽधा । वृ॒ष॒भः । शश्व॑तीनाम् ॥
tri-pājasyaḥ | vṛṣabhaḥ | viśva-rūpaḥ | uta | tri-udhā | purudha | prajāvān | tri-anīkaḥ | patyate | māhina-vān | saḥ | retaḥ-dhā | vṛṣabhaḥ | śaśvatīnām
44
4 × 11 syllables (triṣṭubh)
Majestic and expansive; suited to praising sovereignty and creative force.
Energizes aspiration and confidence; evokes a sense of vastness and rulership within.
- वृषभः (vṛṣabhaḥ)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: sovereign power, fecund force of creation and mastery
- त्रिपाजस्यः (tripājasyaḥ)
- Literal: of triple splendour/energy. Symbolic: threefold luminous force; triadic potency in consciousness
- विश्वरूपः (viśvarūpaḥ)
- Literal: all-formed. Symbolic: can assume all forms needed for transformation; universality of the divine power
- त्र्युधा (tryudhā)
- Literal: threefoldly. Symbolic: three modes of operation (knowledge-will-delight; or mind-life-body uplifted)
- त्र्यनीकः (tryanīkaḥ)
- Literal: three-fronted/three-faced. Symbolic: triple aspect presented to the seeker; three openings of vision
- रेतोधा (retodhā)
- Literal: seed-holder. Symbolic: guardian of divine potential; the power that makes realization fructify
- शश्वतीनाम् (śaśvatīnām)
- Literal: of the eternities. Symbolic: enduring planes/states; timeless supports behind temporal change
Verses of triple-aspect power fit soma hymns and contemplative recitations on threefold manifestation; used to invoke comprehensive lordship across planes
In hymnic praise during offerings to solar/sovereign powers; appropriate in rites emphasizing generative potency and kingship of ṛta (general).
Recitation as stuti (praise) to invoke the governing creative power; offering of clarified intention and life-force.
Use when beginning a long-term discipline: invoke the ‘seed-holder’ to stabilize effort across time and renew energy.
tri- ‘three’ as structural symbol of Vedic planes (often earth-mid-heaven or body-life-mind). pājas ‘splendour/strength’ (semantic: fiery radiance). anīka ‘face/front’ (also ‘army’); here ‘front/aspect.’ patyate from pati ‘lord’ (PIE *pótis ‘master’, cf. Greek pósis). māhina from mah ‘great’ → greatness. reto-dhā compound: retas ‘seed’ + √dhā ‘place/hold’ → holder/establisher of seed.
threefold manifestation, creative seed and continuity (śaśvat), lordship across planes
The bull-power is the effective sovereignty that makes ṛta operative in creation and governance.
Triple face suggests multiple presentations of truth to consciousness; satya is not one-dimensional.
Seed and progeny: divine potential (retaḥ) unfolding into many forms (prajā).
Triadic Vedic cosmology (three worlds) anticipating later triads (sat-cit-ānanda as interpretive bridge in Aurobindonian reading).
midday (solar sovereignty implied)
Bull=sovereign will and creative force; seed=divine potential in the depths; triple=three principal powers/planes active in the sadhana.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘the triple-aspect Bull who rules and bears the seed’: a single sovereign power manifests in three modes/aspects, generates many becomings, and holds the creative essence that sustains continuity. Inner sense: the Truth-force becomes threefold to govern body-life-mind (or earth-air-heaven), and by holding the seed it ensures enduring realization across time and repeated becomings.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- pati ‘lord’ reflects PIE *pótis (Greek pósis, Latin potis). The pervasive tri- structuring echoes a broad IE poetic tendency to organize cosmos in threes (also prominent in Indo-Iranian).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi enumerates the devatā’s triple modes to make the seeker’s consciousness capable of receiving a comprehensive action: not partial help but lordship across all fronts. The devatā’s gift is continuity (śaśvatī): a stable, enduring creative governance rather than a momentary illumination.
Contemplate the inner sovereign force with three powers (knowledge, will, delight) ruling the being.
maṇipūra (sovereign will/energy) and ājñā (triple vision)
Brisk but controlled nāḍī-śodhana to balance the ‘triple’ currents; then rest in stillness.
Empowered wideness; sense of inner kingship and creative renewal.
When effort becomes sterile, return to ‘retodhā’: feel the divine seed intact; let the next step arise as a new ‘birth’ rather than repetition.
Triṣṭubh; keep udātta prominence on vṛṣabhaḥ, viśvarūpa, tryanīkaḥ, retodhā to carry the praise.
Let each epithet land clearly; avoid rushing the triadic compounds (tripājasyaḥ, tryudhā, tryanīkaḥ).
(tripājasyo): articulate ‘tr’ cleanly; long ā, (viśvarūpa): śv cluster with clear ś, (tryanīkaḥ): palatal ‘y’ glide; long ī, (śaśvatīnām): keep both ś sounds distinct; long ī in tī
Full, resonant, slightly heroic; stable pitch to convey sovereignty.
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