Rig Veda 5.33.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 33, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.33
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
स त्वं न इन्द्र धियसानो अर्कैर्हरीणां वृषन्योक्त्रमश्रेः । या इत्था मघवन्ननु जोषं वक्षो अभि प्रार्यः सक्षि जनान् ॥
sá tvaṃ na indra dhiyasāná arkáiḥ hárīṇāṃ vṛṣan yóktram aśreḥ | yā́ itthā́ maghavann ánu jóṣaṃ vákṣo abhí prá aryáḥ sákṣi jánān ||
You indeed, O Indra, intent with our illumining chants, fasten the yoke of your two bay powers, O Bull of force. Then, O bounteous one, in this very way and in glad assent, bear us forward upon your breast—lead the aspiring peoples to victory.
Word by Word
- सः
- he (that one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / for usPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role (सम्बोधन)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- धियसानः
- impelled/strengthened by insight (thought)Adjective (participle)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot धि/धी (प्रातिपदिक) + सान (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय; ‘सन्/सान’)
- अर्कैः
- with hymns/songsNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
- हरीणाम्
- of the two bay steedsNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role SambandhaRoot हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषण्य
- vigorous, bull-likeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot वृषण्/वृष (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bull-like, vigorous’)
- उक्त्रम्
- praise-song / laudationNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot उक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्रेः
- you have set/placed (you have directed)Verbलुङ् (आorist/preterite), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root श्रि (धातु) with preverb आ-; aorist/preterite form
- याः
- which (those)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्था
- thus, in this wayIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role (क्रियाविशेषण)Root इत्था (अव्यय)
- मघवन्
- O bountiful oneNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role (सम्बोधन)Root मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक; epithet of Indra)
- अनु
- along, according toIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role (क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्ग)Root अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- जोषम्
- favor / gracious acceptanceNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot जोष (प्रातिपदिक; ‘pleasure, favor, willing acceptance’)
- वक्षः
- breast, chestNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role (क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्ग)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role (क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्ग)Root प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- आर्यः
- the noble one / AryaNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- सक्षि
- may you be able / may you accompanyVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root सह्/सच् (धातु; ‘to accompany, to be able’) → सक्षि (विधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ् type form)
- जनान्
- people, menNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot जन (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: सः त्वं नः इन्द्र धियसानः अर्कैः हरीणाम् वृषण्य उक्त्रम् अश्रेः । याः इत्था मघवन् अनु जोषम् वक्षः अभि प्र आर्यः सक्षि जनान् ॥ मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) स त्वं → सः त्वम् (विसर्ग-लोप/सन्धि) । (2) धियसा॒नो अ॒र्कैः → धियसानः अर्कैः (ओ + अ = ओऽ/सन्धि-समाधान; पदे ‘धियसानः’) । (3) वृष॒न्योक्त्र॑म् → वृषण्य उक्त्रम् (य् + उ = यु; संहितायां एकपद-प्रतीति) । (4) म॑घव॒न्ननु॒ → मघवन् अनु (न् + अ = न्न; संहितायां न्न) । (5) जोषं॒ वक्षो॑ → जोषम् वक्षः (म् + व = म्व; तथा वक्षस्-रूपस्य पदे वक्षः) । (6) अ॒भि प्रार्यः → अभि प्र आर्यः (प्र-उपसर्ग पृथक्) ।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, stirred by our hymns, yokes his two bay steeds and carries the worshippers forward to victory.
Inner meaning
The illumined mind (Indra) responds to awakened thought-forces (dhī, arka). When the two dynamic powers (harī—twin forces of will and illumination) are yoked, the seeker is borne safely “on the breast” of the divine consciousness—held close, guided, and carried beyond resistance toward accomplishment.
Universal truth
When aspiration is made luminous and sincere, a higher intelligence naturally takes the reins of life-energy and turns scattered impulses into victorious progress.
Themes
yoking-of-powers, guided-progress, divine-consent, collective-ascent
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.33, RV 5.40, RV 5.44
Family tradition
Atri lineage; hymns often emphasize luminous intelligence, right guidance, and Indra’s victorious leadership over obscurity.
Significance
Atri’s vision frequently turns Indra from a mere war-god into a power of inner victory: the mind of light that yokes energies and carries the seeker forward.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Maghavan (bounteous), Vṛṣan (bull of force), Vajrahasta (thunderbolt-handed)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Opens the sealed light, releases the waters/illumination, establishes expansive order by defeating the Coverer.
Inner power
Illumined mind-force that governs life-energies and leads the aspirant nature to decisive breakthroughs.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra within Soma-yajña sequences; also used in Indra-focused śastra/śastra-like praises.
स त्वं न॑ इन्द्र धियसा॒नो अ॒र्कैर्हरी॑णां वृष॒न्योक्त्र॑मश्रेः । या इ॒त्था म॑घव॒न्ननु॒ जोषं॒ वक्षो॑ अ॒भि प्रार्यः स॑क्षि॒ जना॑न् ॥
सः । त्वम् । नः॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । धि॒य॒सा॒नः । अ॒र्कैः । हरी॑णाम् । वृ॒ष॒न् । योक्त्र॑म् । अ॒श्रेः॒ । याः । इ॒त्था । म॒घ॒ऽव॒न् । अनु॑ । जोष॑म् । वक्षः॑ । अ॒भि । प्र । अ॒र्यः । स॒क्षि॒ । जना॑न् ॥
saḥ | tvam | naḥ | indra | dhiyasānaḥ | arkaiḥ | harīṇām | vṛṣan | yoktram | aśreḥ | yāḥ | itthā | magha-van | anu | joṣam | vakṣaḥ | abhi | pra | aryaḥ | sakṣi | janān
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables
Forward-driving, heroic cadence with strong lifts suited to command and movement.
Builds resolve and a sense of being ‘carried’ by a higher force; energizes aspiration while keeping it ordered.
- धियसानः (dhiyasānaḥ)
- Literal: intent/impelled by thoughts. Symbolic: the deity moved by awakened, clarified intelligence in the seeker
- अर्कैः (arkaiḥ)
- Literal: with hymns/chant-formulas. Symbolic: mantric illumination—thought made radiant and formative
- हरीणाम् (harīṇām)
- Literal: of the two bay steeds. Symbolic: paired divine energies: luminous force + swift effective will (mind-power in action)
- वृषन् (vṛṣan)
- Literal: bull, strong one. Symbolic: overflowing force of conscious power, masterful virility of the illumined mind
- योक्त्रम् (yoktram)
- Literal: yoke. Symbolic: discipline that unites powers; concentration that harnesses energies
- अनु जोषम् (anu joṣam)
- Literal: in assent/with gladness. Symbolic: inner consent (samādhāna) where nature agrees with the higher leading
- वक्षः (vakṣaḥ)
- Literal: breast, chest. Symbolic: the supporting heart-space of divine protection and intimate guidance
- प्रार्यः (prāryaḥ)
- Literal: the forward/aspiring Arya. Symbolic: the evolving being pressing toward the higher life
- सक्षि जनान् (sakṣi janān)
- Literal: make the peoples able / lead men. Symbolic: organize the many inner parts (impulses, faculties) into a victorious harmony
Invocation for Indra’s chariot/energies to be yoked—inner preparation for overcoming obstruction
During Indra invocations in Soma pressing/offerings; moments calling for victory and right impulsion.
Recitation to invite Indra, ‘yoke’ his powers, and secure protection/victory for the sacrificer.
Before demanding work, travel, or inner practice: a short invocation to harness energies and ask for right leading.
dhī: inspired thought (√dhī ‘to think/see’). arka: hymn/ray (√arc ‘to shine, praise’). hari: tawny/bay; symbolically the twin dynamic energies yoked for action. yoktra: from √yuj ‘to yoke’ (PIE *yeug-). joṣa: from √juṣ ‘to enjoy, favor’ → consenting delight of the god. arya: from √ar ‘to fit, to move rightly’ → noble as aligned with ṛta.
Dhī (illumined intelligence), Joyous consent (joṣa) as divine cooperation, Arya as the right-striving consciousness
Indra’s yoking signifies bringing life-forces under ṛta rather than impulse.
Victory is framed as alignment with the true movement, not mere conquest.
The divine charioteer organizes powers to expand the field of consciousness.
Proto-Vedāntic / Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent by illumination and consent of nature.
Horses/yoke/chariot map to prāṇic energies and mental direction; ‘breast’ to the heart-support of the higher consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the yoking of Indra’s twin powers (Haris) by the force of inspired speech (arkas), enabling the forward carriage of the Arya host. It encodes the inner act: concentration (dhī) harnesses energies into a directed movement toward victory.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- yoktra < √yuj corresponds to PIE *yeug- ‘yoke’ (Latin iugum). śak/sah in sákṣi aligns with PIE *seǵʰ-/*sek- ‘be able’ (broad ability/strength semantic field).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers arkas as luminous instruments that ‘yoke’ divine energies; Indra responds by bearing the aspirant collective forward—divine force becomes intimate support (vákṣas) when the human will aligns in joṣa (glad consent).
Invoke the ‘inner Indra’ to take the reins of thought and life-force; feel being carried in divine protection while acting.
anahata (heart support)
gentle ujjayi or lengthened exhale while repeating the first pāda; feel ‘yoking’ on inhalation, ‘carried forward’ on exhalation.
Collected, courageous, upward-striving (tapas with clarity).
Begin with a minute of quiet; chant once slowly, then 3–9 times moderately; after chanting, sit and sense the twin powers aligning—illumination in mind, force in will—then act from that alignment.
Default Rigvedic accenting: preserve udātta on marked syllables; svarita on following; anudātta elsewhere (exact śākha-specific markings not supplied).
Keep a clear lift on key words: índra, harīṇām, vṛ́ṣan, yóktram, maghavan; avoid flattening the cadence across pādas.
: dhi-ya-sā-naḥ (clear ‘dh’ aspirate), : ha-rī-ṇām (retroflex ṇ), : vṛ-ṣan (vṛ = short vocalic ṛ), : yok-tram (no extra vowel between k-tr), : ma-gha-van (soft ‘gh’), : prā-ryaḥ (ry conjunct)
Bright, steady, commanding yet benevolent; avoid harshness.
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