Rig Veda 8.37.5: Mandala 8, Sukta 37, Mantra 5
Sukta 8.37
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
क्षेमस्य च प्रयुजश्च त्वमीशिषे शचीपत इन्द्र विश्वाभिरूतिभिः । माध्यंदिनस्य सवनस्य वृत्रहन्ननेद्य पिबा सोमस्य वज्रिवः ॥
kṣémasya ca prá-yujaś ca tvám ī́śiṣe śacī-pate índra víśvābhir ū́tibhiḥ | mādhyáṃdinasya sávanasya vṛtra-hann anédya píbā sómasya vajrivaḥ ||
Tú gobiernas kṣema, la paz y el bienestar, y el justo uncir de las fuerzas, oh Indra Śacīpati, con todos tus auxilios. En el prensado del mediodía, oh Vṛtrahan, irreprochable, bebe del Soma, oh Vajrin, portador del rayo.
Word by Word
- क्षेमस्य
- of welfare/safetyNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRoot च (निपात)
- प्रयुजः
- of the harnessing/setting-in-motion (of the yoking)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (वेदिक रूप: -जः = -जस्)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root प्रयुज् (प्रातिपदिक; < प्र-युज् ‘to yoke/attach’)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRoot च (निपात)
- त्वम्
- thou/youPronounउत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ईशिषे
- you rule/you are lordVerbलट् (वर्तमान); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot ईश् (धातु) / ईशे (आत्मनेपद-प्रयोग)
- शचीपत॒
- O lord of might/skill (Śacīpati)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot शचीपति (प्रातिपदिक; शची + पति)
- इन्द्र॒
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वाभिः
- with allAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole करणRoot विश्व (सर्व/समस्त; प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊतिभिः
- with helps/aidsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole करणRoot ऊति (प्रातिपदिक)
- माध्यंदिनस्य
- of the middayAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot माध्यंदिन (प्रातिपदिक; < मध्य + दिन)
- सवनस्य
- of the Soma-pressingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot सवन (प्रातिपदिक; ‘pressing/rite’)
- वृत्रहन्
- O slayer of VṛtraNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वृत्रहन् (प्रातिपदिक; वृत्र + हन्)
- अनेद्य
- O blameless oneAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अनेद्य (प्रातिपदिक; a- + नेद्य ‘blameworthy/nearer?’ → ‘not blameworthy’)
- पिबा
- drink!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot पा (धातु ‘to drink’)
- सोमस्य
- of SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive with verb: ‘of Soma’)Root सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- वज्रिवः
- O wielder of the thunderboltNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचन (वेदिक रूप: -वः = -वस्)Role सम्बोधनRoot वज्रिवस्/वज्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘having the vajra’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): क्षेमस्य | च | प्रयुजः | च | त्वम् | ईशिषे | शचीपत | इन्द्र | विश्वाभिः | ऊतिभिः | माध्यंदिनस्य | सवनस्य | वृत्रहन् | अनेद्य | पिबा | सोमस्य | वज्रिवः । 1) ‘प्रयुजश्च’ = ‘प्रयुजः + च’ (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + च → श्च)
- 2) ‘विश्वाभिरूतिभिः’ = ‘विश्वाभिः + ऊतिभिः’ (विसर्ग-लोप/सन्धि before vowel; RV संहिता-पाठ में संयुक्त)
- 3) ‘वृत्रहन्ननेद्य’ = ‘वृत्रहन् + अनेद्य’ (न् + अ → न्न)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra rules over both peace (kṣema) and the right yoking (prayuj) of forces with all his succours; at the midday pressing he is invited to drink Soma as Vṛtra-slayer, blameless thunderbolt-bearer.
Inner meaning
Indra as illumined Mind governs two essentials of sadhana: kṣema—inner safety, settledness, and protection; and prayujaḥ—right harnessing/yoking of energies (vital, mental, bodily) into a coordinated action. Illumination is not only for battle; it also establishes peace and right integration. Soma at midday indicates that true integration is joy-supported: Ananda is the ‘lubricant’ of harmony that makes disciplined yoking natural rather than forced.
Universal truth
A complete inner mastery includes both peace and right action. When intelligence is nourished by delight, it can integrate energies and maintain calm even amid struggle.
Themes
Peace (kṣema) and disciplined force (yuj), Soma-ritual
The seer
- Lineage
- Kāṇva (probable)
- Other hymns
- RV 8.37.1, RV 8.37.2, RV 8.37.3, RV 8.37.4
Family tradition
Kāṇva vision often balances victory with plenitude: not only breaking obstruction but establishing a stable, prosperous order (kṣema).
Significance
Moves from combat imagery to governance: the goal is not perpetual battle but peace and right harnessed life-force under illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- śacīpati, vṛtrahan, anedya, vajrivaḥ, master of kṣema and prayujaḥ (functional epithet)
- Related deities
- Mitra (harmony/peace), Varuṇa (order), Aśvins (right yoking and swift help), Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Giver of victory and also of settled welfare; establishes order after breaking obstruction.
Inner power
Illuminated mastery that harmonizes energies and creates protected calm while keeping decisive strength available.
In ritual
Where it is used
Midday Soma pressing; Indra invoked for welfare (kṣema) and successful yoking of forces for the sacrifice.
क्षेम॑स्य च प्र॒युज॑श्च॒ त्वमी॑शिषे शचीपत॒ इन्द्र॒ विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभि॑: । माध्यं॑दिनस्य॒ सव॑नस्य वृत्रहन्ननेद्य॒ पिबा॒ सोम॑स्य वज्रिवः ॥
क्षेम॑स्य । च॒ । प्र॒ऽयुजः॑ । च॒ । त्वम् । ई॒शि॒षे॒ । श॒ची॒ऽप॒ते॒ । इन्द्र॑ । विश्वा॑भिः । ऊ॒तिऽभिः॑ । माध्य॑न्दिनस्य । सव॑नस्य । वृ॒त्र॒ऽह॒न् । अ॒ने॒द्य॒ । पिब॑ । सोम॑स्य । व॒ज्रि॒ऽवः॒ ॥
kṣemasya | ca | pra-yujaḥ | ca | tvam | īśiṣe | śacī-pate | indra | viśvābhiḥ | ūti--bhiḥ | mādhyandinasya | savanasya | vṛtra-han | anedya | piba | somasya | vajri-vaḥ
48
4×12; opening line has balanced duality (kṣema / prayujaḥ) mirrored by the steady refrain.
Balanced and integrative; less ‘charge’ and more ‘governance’ in the first line’s feel.
Encourages composure and coordination; the refrain adds energizing delight and victorious assurance.
- kṣema
- Literal: rest, security, peace, welfare. Symbolic: inner settled peace and protected stability of consciousness
- prayujaḥ
- Literal: right yoking/putting to work (teams, harnessing). Symbolic: integration and right direction of energies (mind-life-body)
- īśiṣe
- Literal: you rule, you are master. Symbolic: governing power of illumination over the nature
- ūtibhiḥ
- Literal: helps. Symbolic: supports that maintain peace and enable right coordination
- soma
- Literal: Soma. Symbolic: delight that sustains peace and makes right action harmonious
Midday Soma pressing; prayer for mastery that yields peace and right harnessing of energies
Mādhyandina-savana; also suitable when seeking stability and successful execution of the rite.
Invitation to drink Soma; affirmation of Indra’s mastery over welfare and effective action.
Chant for work-life integration: to bring calm and effective coordination before complex tasks, travel, or leadership decisions.
(kṣema): from √kṣi ‘dwell, rest, abide’ → security/peace; psychologically stable poise of being. (pra-yuj): from √yuj ‘yoke, join’ (PIE *yeug-), ‘right harnessing’ of powers; inner discipline integrating energies. (īś): ‘to own, rule’ (perhaps IE *h₁eis- ‘be vigorous/own’ debated), mastery.
integration of forces (yuj) as yoga-like principle, kṣema as stable fulfillment
Prayujaḥ is ṛta in action—energies yoked in right proportion and direction.
Kṣema is peace founded on truth, not avoidance; anedya indicates purity of governance.
After the breaking of Vṛtra, the worlds are organized into stable welfare and coordinated function.
Integral yoga reading: illumination must culminate in harmonized life (kṣema) and right dynamic action (prayujaḥ).
Midday
Well-yoked horses = harmonized vital energies; peace = clear sky after storm; Soma = sweetness that keeps the harness from becoming strain.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as sovereign of both kṣema (peace) and prayuj (rightly yoked action): victory is not only combat but the establishment of a stable, ordered state where energies are harmonized and effectively directed.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The root √yuj (PIE *yeug-) is a central IE cultural metaphor (yoke → order → discipline). Its presence here ties Vedic inner mastery to a broader IE conceptual heritage of ‘joining/harnessing’ as the basis of effective action.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks not mere triumph but a governed inner life: peace and rightly yoked energies. Indra is invoked as the master who can establish that integrated condition, activated through Soma and praise at the ritual midpoint.
Bring the being into ‘kṣema’ (settled peace) and ‘prayuj’ (right harness): align intention, breath, and action under luminous awareness.
Anāhata (peace) integrated with Maṇipūra (effective action) under Ājñā (governing clarity).
Sama-vṛtti (equal inhale/exhale) to establish kṣema; then add a gentle, purposeful inhale retention to ‘yoke’ attention before action.
Calm mastery; integrated dynamism.
Chant 5–12 times; after chanting, list (mentally) the key energies to yoke today (speech, focus, desire, body). Offer them to the inner Indra; feel Soma as quiet satisfaction that makes coordination effortless.
Maintain a calmer, more even delivery on kṣemasya ca prayujaś ca; refrain identical in cadence to previous verses to preserve the hymn’s sonic unity.
Balance the dual terms: kṣéma-sya (clear kṣ) and prá-yu-jaś; emphasize īśiṣe as the pivot (mastery). In refrain, keep strong stress on vṛtrahann and pibā.
kṣema: conjunct kṣ (velar+palatal) cleanly, not ‘khema’, prayujaś: ‘yu’ short; final ‘ś’ clear, īśiṣe: long ī; retroflex ṣ in -ṣe, mādhyandina: keep nasalization light and precise
Composed, steady, slightly expansive; avoid aggressive attack—let mastery be felt.
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