Rig Veda 1.32.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 32, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.32
- Rishi
- Madhucchandas Vaiśvāmitra
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अहन्नहिं पर्वते शिश्रियाणं त्वष्टास्मै वज्रं स्वर्यं ततक्ष । वाश्रा इव धेनवः स्यन्दमाना अञ्जः समुद्रमव जग्मुरापः ॥
ahann ahiṃ parvate śiśriyāṇaṃ tvaṣṭā asmai vajraṃ svaryaṃ tatakṣa | vāśrā iva dhenavaḥ syandamānā añjaḥ samudram ava jagmur āpaḥ ||
He struck the Serpent who had taken refuge upon the mountain; Tvaṣṭṛ fashioned for him the heaven-winning thunder-force. Then the waters, streaming like lowing cows, went swiftly down to the ocean.
Word by Word
- अहन्
- he slewVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd person singularRole (क्रिया) मुख्य क्रियाRoot हन् (√हन्)
- अहिम्
- the serpent (Vṛtra)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अहि-
- पर्वते
- on the mountainNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot पर्वत-
- शिश्रियाणम्
- lying/settled (having taken refuge)Participle (Adjectival)परस्मैपद-परिप्रयोग, परिपूर्ण/स्थितिवाचक कृदन्त (PPP-like), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आश्रित/संस्थित’Role कर्म (अहिम् विशेषणम्)Root श्रि (√श्रि) → शिश्रियाण-
- त्वष्टा
- Tvaṣṭṛ (the divine artisan)Noun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (ततक्ष इत्यस्य)Root त्वष्टृ-
- अस्मै
- for him (to him)Pronoun(इदम्-प्रातिपदिक), चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot इदम् (अस्मद्-प्रयोगः) → अस्मै
- वज्रम्
- the thunderboltNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्म (ततक्ष इत्यस्य)Root वज्र-
- स्वर्यम्
- heavenly, sun-brightAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; वज्रम् विशेषणम्Role कर्म (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root स्वर्य-
- ततक्ष
- he fashionedVerbलिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, 3rd person singularRole (क्रिया) सहायक/अनुक्रम क्रियाRoot तक्ष् (√तक्ष्)
- वाश्राः
- bellowing/lowingAdjective (fem.)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; धेनवः विशेषणम्Role कर्तृ (स्यन्दमानाः इत्यस्य)Root वाश्रा-
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRole (उपमान-सूचक)Root इव
- धेनवः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (स्यन्दमानाः इत्यस्य)Root धेनु-
- स्यन्दमानाः
- flowing, streamingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-समकक्ष), आत्मनेपद-प्रयोग, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; धेनवः/आपः विशेषणम्Role कर्तृ (जग्मुः इत्यस्य)Root स्यन्द् (√स्यन्द्) → स्यन्दमान-
- अञ्जः
- straightway, directlyIndeclinable (adverbial accusative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग, द्वितीया-एकवचनवत्; क्रियाविशेषणRole (क्रिया-विशेषण)Root अञ्जस्-
- समुद्रम्
- to the oceanNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्म/गति-लक्ष्य (जग्मुः)Root समुद्र-
- अव
- down, forthIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्ग (गत्यर्थे/अधः)Role (जग्मुः क्रियायाः उपसर्गः)Root अव
- जग्मुः
- they wentVerbलिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, 3rd person pluralRole (क्रिया) मुख्य क्रिया (द्वितीय पादे)Root गम् (√गम्)
- आपः
- the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (pluralia tantum), प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (जग्मुः)Root आप्- (आपः)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अहन् | अहिम् | पर्वते | शिश्रियाणम् | त्वष्टा | अस्मै | वज्रम् | स्वर्यम् | ततक्ष || वाश्राः | इव | धेनवः | स्यन्दमानाः | अञ्जः | समुद्रम् | अव | जग्मुः | आपः || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) अहन्+अहिम् → अहन्नहिम् (नकार-संयोगः). (2) पर्वते शिश्रियाणम्: सन्धि-परिवर्तनं न
- पदान्त-ए + श् (विराम). (3) त्वष्टा+अस्मै → त्वष्टास्मै (आ + अ → आ). (4) वाश्राः+इव → वाश्रा इव (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते स्वरादौ). (5) धेनवः+स्यन्दमानाः → धेनवः स्यन्दमानाः (विसर्गः यथावत्; छन्दोविराम). (6) समुद्रम्+अव → समुद्रमव (म् + अ → मव्, परसवर्ण/अनुस्वार-सम्बन्धी संधि-लेखन). (7) जग्मुः+आपः → जग्मुरापः (विसर्ग-लोपः/रुत्व)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra slew the serpent who had taken refuge on the mountain; Tvaṣṭṛ fashioned his heaven-winning thunderbolt. Then the waters flowed like lowing cows swiftly to the ocean.
Inner meaning
The obstruction (Ahi/Vṛtra) retreats into the hardest height—‘the mountain’ of fixed ego-structures and subconscient knots. Indra’s victory requires a perfected instrument: Tvaṣṭṛ, the divine fashioner, forms the vajra—symbol of shaped, effective force of illumination (not raw impulse, but crafted power). When the strike succeeds, the released ‘waters’ move like cows: go/dhenavaḥ are rays and knowledges that were pent up; they now stream with a living sound—ananda and inspiration—toward the ‘ocean’ (samudra), the vastness of being, the wide consciousness where all currents find their home. The image is of liberated knowledge-energy returning to its source in wideness and unity.
Universal truth
Breakthrough requires not only will to overcome resistance but the right instrument—disciplined, well-formed power. When obstruction breaks, knowledge and energy naturally flow back into a larger wholeness.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying continuation, Tvaṣṭṛ fashions vajra, waters as cows simile, swift liberation
The seer
- Rishi
- Madhucchandas Vaiśvāmitra
- Lineage
- Vaiśvāmitra
- Other hymns
- RV 1.32.1-15
Family tradition
Vaiśvāmitra hymns often present the liberation of the cows/waters as recovery of light and truth through Indra’s illumined force aided by divine craftsmanship (Tvaṣṭṛ/Bṛhaspati motifs).
Significance
The verse adds a crucial nuance: the liberating force must be ‘forged’—yoga requires formation (tvaṣṭṛ) of a precise instrument to break entrenched resistance and release the rays/streams into wideness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Tvaṣṭṛ as supporting power)
- Epithets
- vṛtrahan, vajrī, svarya-vajra-dhṛk (implied)
- Related deities
- Tvaṣṭṛ, Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Indra breaks obstruction; Tvaṣṭṛ fashions the means; together they enable the descent/ascent between heaven and earth and restore the flow of waters.
Inner power
Indra: victorious illumination; Tvaṣṭṛ: formative intelligence that perfects the will’s instrument; result: liberated knowledge-energy flowing into vast consciousness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma praise in soma sacrifice; mythic validation of Soma’s power to aid victory and release gains.
अह॒न्नहिं॒ पर्व॑ते शिश्रिया॒णं त्वष्टा॑स्मै॒ वज्रं॑ स्व॒र्यं॑ ततक्ष । वा॒श्रा इ॑व धे॒नव॒: स्यन्द॑माना॒ अञ्ज॑: समु॒द्रमव॑ जग्मु॒राप॑: ॥
अह॑न् । अहि॑म् । पर्व॑ते । शि॒श्रि॒या॒णम् । त्वष्टा॑ । अ॒स्मै॒ । वज्र॑म् । स्व॒र्य॑म् । त॒त॒क्ष॒ । वा॒श्राःऽइ॑व । धे॒नवः॑ । स्यन्द॑मानाः । अञ्जः॑ । स॒मु॒द्रम् । अव॑ । ज॒ग्मुः॒ । आपः॑ ॥
ahan | ahim | parvate | śiśriyāṇam | tvaṣṭā | asmai | vajram | svaryam | tatakṣa | vāśrāḥ-iva | dhenavaḥ | syandamānāḥ | añjaḥ | samudram | ava | jagmuḥ | āpaḥ
44
4×11 syllables (approx.); vivid simile in 3rd pāda gives flowing cadence after the strike.
First half: hard удар-like beats (slaying/forging); second half: liquid flow (waters streaming).
Creates a felt transition from intense effort to release and spaciousness; soothing expansion after a strong peak.
- पर्वत (parvata)
- Literal: mountain. Symbolic: hard formation; fixed structure of ignorance/ego
- शिश्रियाणम् (śiśriyāṇam)
- Literal: lying/leaning, taking refuge. Symbolic: resistance entrenched in the subconscient or rigid mental height
- त्वष्टृ (tvaṣṭṛ)
- Literal: fashioner, artisan deity. Symbolic: formative intelligence shaping the instrument of spiritual force
- वज्र (vajra)
- Literal: thunderbolt. Symbolic: crafted decisive power of illumination/discernment
- स्वर्य (svarya)
- Literal: heaven-winning. Symbolic: power that opens to higher consciousness (svar) and its light
- धेनवः/गावः (dhenavaḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of knowledge, luminous energies released
- आपः (āpaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: streams of consciousness-force and inspiration
- समुद्र (samudra)
- Literal: ocean. Symbolic: vastness/infinite consciousness; integral wholeness
Soma praise emphasizing Indra’s vajra empowered by Tvaṣṭṛ; invoked for swift release of abundance and victory over entrenched obstacles.
During Indra’s soma offerings, emphasizing victory and the resulting flow of prosperity/forces.
Praise of Indra; offering Soma; recalling Vṛtra-slaying to invoke similar release of ‘waters’ (benefits).
Chant when needing both breakthrough and integration: first invoke the ‘forged vajra’ (disciplined method), then rest in the released flow into wideness (samudra).
tvaṣṭṛ from √tvakṣ/√takṣ ‘fashion’ aligns with artisan imagery; vajra as fashioned instrument indicates victory requires a shaped force. svar ‘sun/heaven’ links to luminous consciousness; thus svarya ‘heaven-winning’ indicates the weapon is a force that opens higher light. The cow-simile (dhenavaḥ) supports the RV symbolic bridge: cows/waters both figure abundance and illumination.
formed force (vajra) as instrument of liberation, release into vastness (samudra) as integration, opening of svar (higher light)
The waters’ rightful movement to the ocean symbolizes restoration of ṛta—free, ordered circulation of consciousness.
Cows/waters as satya’s rays released from confinement.
From confinement in the mountain to flow into the ocean: evolution from rigid form to vast unity.
Psychological cosmology with formative principle (Tvaṣṭṛ) shaping the means of liberation.
rainy (symbolic)
Mountain = rigidity; forged vajra = formed method/power; waters/cows = released knowledge-energies; ocean = vast consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The crafted-weapon dragon-slayer myth: Tvaṣṭṛ fashions the vajra for Indra; Indra kills the entrenched serpent; the waters flow free. Inner sense: the soul needs a consciously formed force (disciplined power) to break deep-seated knots; then energies stream toward integration in the vast being (samudra).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The ‘artisan fashions weapon for storm-god’ motif is widespread in Indo-European myth (e.g., Hephaestus forging for gods; dwarven smiths in Germanic). √takṣ ‘fashion’ has Indo-European cognate patterns in craft/woodwork semantics (cf. Greek téktōn ‘builder’), reflecting inherited poetic-professional vocabulary.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi narrates Indra’s victory as a living paradigm: by voicing the deed and its divine supports (Tvaṣṭṛ’s crafting), the hymn aligns the sacrificer with the same releasing force—so the ‘waters’ (powers, inspirations) may stream without obstruction.
Contemplate two stages: (1) ‘forging’—refine your intention and method; (2) ‘release’—let energy and insight flow into wideness without grasping.
ajna
ujjayi (steady) during ‘forging’ contemplation; then open, natural breathing while sensing ‘samudra’ vastness
From concentrated force to expansive flow; clarity culminating in wideness.
If resistance persists, do not only push—reshape the instrument (habit, schedule, attention, ethical alignment). Then apply a decisive act of clarity. After release, avoid re-clenching; let the liberated currents settle into a wide, quiet awareness.
Tri-svara; give sharp articulation to ‘ahann ahim’ and ‘vajraṃ svaryam’; allow a more flowing intonation on the simile ‘vāśrā iva dhenavaḥ’.
Maintain a clear caesura after the first striking statement; let the last pāda broaden slightly to evoke the oceanic flow.
tvaṣṭā: retroflex ṣṭ cluster; do not simplify to ‘tvasta’., svaryam: clear palatal y; avoid ‘svariam’., syandamānāḥ: nasalization and long ā maintained; dh in dhenavaḥ aspirated.
powerful at the strike, then more resonant and expansive on the flowing imagery
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