Rig Veda 8.52.2: Mandala 8, Sukta 52, Mantra 2
Sukta 8.52
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
पृषध्रे मेध्ये मातरिश्वनीन्द्र सुवाने अमन्दथाः । यथा सोमं दशशिप्रे दशोण्ये स्यूमरश्मावृजूनसि ॥
pṛ́ṣadhre médhye mātáriśvani índra suvānē ámandathāḥ | yáthā sómaṃ dáśaśipre dáśoṇye syū́maraśmāv ṛjū́nasi ||
In Pṛṣadhra, in Medhya, bei Mātariśvan, o Indra, wurdest du froh, als der Soma hervorströmte. Wie du, o Zehnlippiger, Zehnarmiger, mit dem Jochzügel den Lauf gerade richtest — so richte auch unseren Weg durch Soma gerade.
Word by Word
- पृषध्रे
- O dappled/variegated one (epithet)Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान) / कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विशेषणRoot पृषध्र (प्रातिपदिक) < पृषत् ‘चित्तेदार/चितकबरा’ + ध्र (धारक) (बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास) प्रयुक्त विशेषण
- मेध्ये
- O pure, fit for sacrificeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान) / कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विशेषणRoot मेध्य (प्रातिपदिक) ‘यज्ञयोग्य/शुद्ध’
- मातरिश्वनि
- O Mātariśvan (divine messenger/wind-fire figure)Noun (proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root मातरिश्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; देव-नाम)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper name)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक; देव-नाम)
- सुवाने
- when (he/you) is pressing/producing (the Soma) / at the pressingParticiple (present active) used adjectivallyपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (स्थाने/अवसरे) अथवा लोकेटिव-अब्सोल्यूट प्रयोगRole अधिकरण (यदा/यस्मिन् काले) / कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विशेषणRoot √सू (सुवति) ‘प्रेरणे/प्रसवे’ → सुवान (कृदन्त, शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय; ‘सुवन्/सुवान’ = ‘प्रसवन्/उत्पादयन्’)
- अमन्दथाः
- you rejoiced / became exhilaratedVerbलङ् (इम्परफेक्ट), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद-रूप (वैदिक)Role कर्तृ (त्वम्) — मुख्य क्रियाRoot √मन्द् (मन्दते/मन्दयति) ‘हर्षे/मदने’ (वैदिक प्रयोग: ‘प्रहृष्टोऽभूः/मदितोऽभूः’)
- यथा
- just as / in the way thatIndeclinableसम्बन्धसूचक अव्यय (उपमान/प्रकार)Role सम्बन्ध/उपमान (यथा… तथा…)Root यथा (अव्यय)
- सोमम्
- Soma (the pressed drink)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- दशशिप्रे
- O ten-jawed/ten-lipped one (epithet of Indra)Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान) / कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विशेषणRoot दश-शिप्र (समास; ‘दश’ + ‘शिप्र’ ‘जबड़ा/गाल’) — इन्द्रस्य विशेषण
- दशोण्ये
- O ten-aided/ten-equipped one (epithet)Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान) / कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विशेषणRoot दश-ओण्य (समास; ‘दश’ + ‘ओण्य/ओणि’ ‘सहाय/उपकरण/वाहन’ इत्यादि; इन्द्रस्य विशेषण) प्रयुक्त विशेषण
- स्यूमरश्मा
- O one with sūma-reins/cords (epithet)Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान) / कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विशेषणRoot स्यूम-रश्मन् (समास; ‘स्यूम’ + ‘रश्मन्’ ‘रेखा/लगाम/किरण’) — इन्द्रस्य विशेषण
- आवृजूणसि
- you cleanse/purify (it) / you wipe cleanVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole कर्तृ (त्वम्) — मुख्य क्रियाRoot आ + √वृज्/वृञ्ज् (वृजति/वृञ्जति) ‘शुद्धौ/मार्जने/अपहरणे’ (वैदिक: ‘आ-वृजूण’ = ‘आ-मार्जयसि/आ-शोधयसि’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): पृषध्रे | मेध्ये | मातरिश्वनि | इन्द्र | सुवाने | अमन्दथाः || यथा | सोमम् | दशशिप्रे | दशोण्ये | स्यूमरश्मा | आवृजूणसि || 1) ‘मातरिश्वनीन्द्र’ = ‘मातरिश्वनि इन्द्र’ (इ + इ → ई, संहिता-दीर्घ).
- ‘सुवाने’ लोकेटिव/अवसर-निर्देश
The meaning
Outer meaning
In Pṛṣadhra, in Medhya, in Mātariśvan, O Indra, you were gladdened when Soma was pressed. As you, O ten-lipped, ten-armed, with the rein of the yoke, make the movement straight—so by Soma make our course straight.
Inner meaning
The verse remembers multiple inner ‘stations’ (Pṛṣadhra, Medhya, Mātariśvan) where Indra is gladdened—symbolizing varied levels of the being (vital supports, purified intelligence, life-breath/fire-force) in which Soma can be pressed and offered. Indra as ‘daśaśipra, daśoṇi’ (many-mouthed, many-powered) images the wide, multi-instrumental divine Mind-force capable of governing the ten senses/energies. With the ‘rein of the yoke’ (syūmaraśmi), he straightens (ṛjūnasi) the movement—i.e., aligns the life-force and mind-current to the right path. The prayer asks that Soma (bliss-essence) be the means of rectification: joy clarifies direction and makes effort straight, not crooked.
Universal truth
Progress needs alignment: many energies must be gathered and guided by a higher intelligence. Bliss, when consecrated, becomes a steering power that straightens life’s course.
Themes
Soma-ritual, right alignment, mythic stations, mastery of energies
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.52.1
Family tradition
Maṇḍala-8 Indra hymns with strong Soma-pressing memory motifs
Significance
A practical yogic prayer: not only victory, but ‘straightness’ (ṛju) of the path—alignment of all energies under illumined guidance, aided by Soma-delight.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- daśaśipra, daśoṇi
- Related deities
- Soma, Mātariśvan (Vāyu/Agni carrier principle), Agni
Cosmic role
Charioteer of the forces; straightener of movement; empowered by Soma across worlds/levels.
Inner power
Governing intelligence that harnesses and directs the life-force; transforms scattered energies into a straight r̥ta-driven course.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing praise and petition for right course
पृष॑ध्रे॒ मेध्ये॑ मात॒रिश्व॒नीन्द्र॑ सुवा॒ने अम॑न्दथाः । यथा॒ सोमं॒ दश॑शिप्रे॒ दशो॑ण्ये॒ स्यूम॑रश्मा॒वृजू॑नसि ॥
पृष॑ध्रे । मेध्ये॑ । मा॒त॒रिश्व॑नि । इन्द्र॑ । सु॒वा॒ने । अम॑न्दथाः । यथा॑ । सोम॑म् । दश॑ऽशिप्रे । दश॑ऽओण्ये । स्यूम॑ऽरश्मौ । ऋजू॑नसि ॥
pṛṣadhre | medhye | mātariśvani | indra | suvāne | amandathāḥ | yathā | somam | daśa-śipre | daśa-oṇye | syūma-raśmau | ṛjūnasi
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4 pādas (approx. 11 syllables each)
Directive and steering; second half has ‘as… so…’ structure that feels like tightening reins then straightening.
Centers scattered attention; evokes disciplined forward motion with a supportive undertone of delight.
- Pṛṣadhra
- Literal: a name/place. Symbolic: a ‘support’ level of the vital; a base where energies are held (pṛṣad = speckled/supportive nuance)
- Medhya
- Literal: fit for sacrifice/pure. Symbolic: purified intelligence (medhā) made capable of offering
- Mātariśvan
- Literal: moving in the mother (wind/fire carrier). Symbolic: life-breath/fire-force that carries the divine flame through the being
- suvāne
- Literal: when pressed out/flowing. Symbolic: inner pressing: extracting essence through aspiration
- daśaśipra
- Literal: ten-lipped. Symbolic: power working through multiple channels of expression/sense
- daśoṇi
- Literal: ten-armed/ten-powered. Symbolic: mastery over ten energies (senses/prāṇas)
- syūmaraśmi
- Literal: rein/rope of the yoke. Symbolic: discipline and conscious control that guides force
- ṛjūnasi
- Literal: you make straight. Symbolic: alignment to r̥ta; straightening crooked desire and thought
- Soma
- Literal: Soma. Symbolic: ananda-essence that empowers and harmonizes the being
Soma praise with request for ‘straightening’ (ṛju) of the path; aligns with rites seeking right course and victorious movement.
During Soma savanas when requesting guidance and rectification; also suitable for journey/undertaking blessings.
Recitation while offering Soma; prayer for ṛju (straight) movement of rites and life.
Chant before travel, major decisions, or when habits feel ‘crooked’; pair with a vow of one clear corrective action.
medhya related to medhā ‘intelligence/sacrificial skill’ from √medh ‘to be wise/measure’ (debated). mātariśvan is a Vedic figure associated with bringing fire; name possibly ‘growing in the mother’ or ‘moving in midspace’ (etymology complex). ṛjū́nasi from √ṛj/ṛju ‘straight’: alignment with ṛta (right order). daśa- epithets express completeness/multiplicity of faculties rather than literal anatomy in inner reading.
ṛju (straight) as alignment with ṛta, control/steering (raśmi) as mastery of energies, completeness of faculties (daśa- epithets)
‘Ṛjūnasi’ explicitly aligns movement with r̥ta—right direction/order.
Straightness implies truth without distortion in motive and action.
Yoga of harmonization: harnessing prāṇa and senses under illumined mind, supported by ananda.
Wind/fire carrier = prāṇa carrying aspiration; yoke/rein = disciplined guidance; Soma = joy-essence that lubricates and empowers right movement.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra’s delight in Soma across archetypal stations (Pṛṣadhra, Medhya, Mātariśvan) and his power to ‘straighten’ the course with the rein: mythically, the god as charioteer-controller; psychologically, the rectification and right steering of the seeker’s energies into ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- ṛjú ‘straight’ aligns with PIE *h₃reǵ- / *reg- ‘to make straight, rule’ (cf. Latin regō ‘rule’, rectus ‘straight’), showing the deep link between ‘straightness’ and ‘right rule/order’ in IE languages.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- By recalling Indra’s earlier gladness in Soma, the r̥ṣi seeks to draw the same force now, specifically requesting alignment (ṛju) and mastery (raśmi) over the movement of life and mind in the sacrificer.
Offer inner Soma (joy/essence) and ask the illumined power to ‘straighten’ your prāṇa and choices; feel yourself as a chariot guided by higher intelligence.
maṇipūra (will/drive) guided by ājñā (direction) with anāhata (Soma-joy) as harmonizer
4-4-6 breathing: inhale (gather), hold (offer Soma inwardly), exhale longer (release crooked impulses). Mentally repeat ‘ṛjūnasi’ on exhale.
Aligned, purposeful flow; reduced inner friction.
After chanting, write one ‘straightening’ intention (ṛju-saṅkalpa) and act on it within 24 hours to embody the mantra.
Unknown from provided text; chant with firm emphasis on epithets ‘daśaśipre daśoṇye’ and a decisive cadence on ‘ṛjūnasi’.
First half: even, narrative remembrance; second half: stronger ‘steering’ tone. Slight pause before ‘yathā…’ and before concluding petition.
daśaśipre: articulate śi-pre (not si-pre)., syūmaraśmau: keep long ū in syū- and clear śm cluster (raś-mau)., ṛjūnasi: vocalic ṛ at start; long ū in -jū-.
Steady, commanding but not harsh; ‘charioteer’ clarity.
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