Rig Veda 8.49.3: Mandala 8, Sukta 49, Mantra 3
Sukta 8.49
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
आ त्वा सुतास इन्दवो मदा य इन्द्र गिर्वणः । आपो न वज्रिन्नन्वोक्यं सरः पृणन्ति शूर राधसे ॥
ā́ tvā sutā́sa índavo madā́ yá índra girvaṇaḥ | ā́po ná vajrinn ánvokyaṃ sáraḥ pṛṇánti śūra rā́dhase ||
A ti llegan las gotas prensadas de Soma, los arrobos, oh Indra, señor de los himnos. Como aguas que en su curso llenan un lago, así te colman, oh Vajrin, oh héroe, para tu obra de generosidad.
Word by Word
- आ
- hither, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियायोगे)Root आ (उपसर्ग) / ā (preverb)
- त्वा
- you (thee)Pronounद्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot युष्मद् (त्वद्-)
- सुतासः
- the pressed (Soma-drops)Noun (participle used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सुता- (√सु / √सु- ‘to press, extract (Soma)’)
- इन्दवः
- Soma-dropsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (apposition to सुतासः)Root इन्दु-
- मदाय
- for exhilaration, for intoxicationNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole Sampradāna (purpose)Root मद-
- ये
- which, whoPronoun (relative)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (relative clause; = सुतासः इन्दवः)Root यद्
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRoot इन्द्र-
- गिर्वणः
- O singer-praised one (praised by hymns)Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRoot गिर्वणस्-
- आपः
- watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (simile-standard)Root आप्- (अप्-)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- वज्रिन्
- O wielder of the thunderboltNoun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRoot वज्रिन्-
- अन्वोक्यम्
- worthy to be invoked/celebratedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अन्वोक्य- (anu- + √वच् ‘to speak, utter’ → ‘to be invoked/celebrated’)
- सरः
- lake, poolNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (with पृणन्ति)Root सरस्-
- पृणन्ति
- they fillVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, तृतीया पुरुष, बहुवचनRoot √पॄ (पृणाति) ‘to fill, satisfy’
- शूर
- O heroNoun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRoot शूर-
- राधसे
- for bounty, for wealth/giftNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole Sampradāna (purpose/benefit)Root राधस्-
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): आ त्वा (no change)
- सुतास इन्दवः → सुतासः इन्दवः (visarga before vowel)
- मदा य → मदाय ये (ā + y → āy; relative pronoun begins new pada)
- वज्रिन्नन्वोक्यं → वज्रिन् अन्वोक्यम् (final -n + initial a-; anusvāra/cluster in saṃhitā)
- अन्वोक्यं सरः → अन्वोक्यम् सरः (final -m before s-)
- other junctions are mainly saṃhitā euphony without lexical change
The meaning
Outer meaning
Pressed Soma-drops and their intoxications come to Indra, lord of hymns. Like waters flowing to fill a lake, they fill Indra for acts of bounty.
Inner meaning
The purified currents of Soma (delight-essence) rise from the inner pressing (self-offering) and move toward Indra, the illumined Mind that receives and organizes them. As waters naturally seek the lake-bed, the waves of bliss and inspired force gather into the luminous consciousness, increasing its capacity to break obstructions (vajra) and to distribute spiritual riches (rādhas) into the nature.
Universal truth
When aspiration and inner delight are steadily offered, consciousness is ‘filled’ with a higher light-mind that naturally overflows as strength, clarity, and generous action. True abundance is the outpouring of illumined power, not mere acquisition.
Themes
Soma to Indra, Empowerment through ecstasy, Water symbolism, Indra vajrin
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 8.49.1-7 (contextual unit), RV 8.48 (Soma hymn cluster, Kāṇva), RV 8.50 (Indra-related vicinity)
Family tradition
Book 8 contains many Kāṇva hymns; the diction and Indra-Soma emphasis is characteristic of the Kaṇva seers’ ecstatic, forceful praise.
Significance
The seer-voice here is primarily an invoking consciousness: it knows that delight (Soma) must be gathered and offered so the illumined Mind (Indra) can become full and then act as giver in the being.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (enabled by Soma)
- Epithets
- girvaṇaḥ, vajrin, śūra
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods who releases the hidden light and waters; establishes victorious order by breaking the cover of darkness.
Inner power
Illumined, decisive mind-force that receives delight and converts it into clarity, courage, and effective giving.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing and Indra invocation (Soma-yajña context)
आ त्वा॑ सु॒तास॒ इन्द॑वो॒ मदा॒ य इ॑न्द्र गिर्वणः । आपो॒ न व॑ज्रि॒न्नन्वो॒क्यं१॒॑ सर॑: पृ॒णन्ति॑ शूर॒ राध॑से ॥
आ । त्वा॒ । सु॒तासः॑ । इन्द॑वः । मदाः॑ । ये । इ॒न्द्र॒ । गि॒र्व॒णः॒ । आपः॑ । न । व॒ज्रि॒न् । अनु॑ । ओ॒क्य॑म् । सरः॑ । पृ॒णन्ति॑ । शू॒र॒ । राध॑से ॥
ā | tvā | sutāsaḥ | indavaḥ | madāḥ | ye | indra | girvaṇaḥ | āpaḥ | na | vajrin | anu | okyam | saraḥ | pṛṇanti | śūra | rādhase
4 pādas; cadence suggests a longer Indra meter (Triṣṭubh 11 or Jagatī 12 per pāda).
Surging and accumulative—imitates ‘filling’ motion through repeated ā-invocation and flowing similes.
Builds a sense of gathering force and fullness; the listener feels an inward ‘reservoir’ being filled with luminous energy.
- सुतासः (sutāsaḥ)
- Literal: pressed (Soma-juices). Symbolic: purified offerings/essences extracted by discipline; concentrated aspiration
- इन्दवः (indavaḥ)
- Literal: Soma-drops. Symbolic: drops of bliss-consciousness; luminous delight
- मदाः (madāḥ)
- Literal: intoxications/ecstasies. Symbolic: spiritual rapture that energizes the will and mind
- गिर्वणः (girvaṇaḥ)
- Literal: lord of hymns/praise. Symbolic: power that answers mantric vibration; the illumined mind receptive to the Word
- आपः (āpaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: flowing currents of consciousness; purified life-forces
- सरः (saraḥ)
- Literal: lake. Symbolic: stable inner wideness/peace that can hold higher influx
- वज्रिन् (vajrin)
- Literal: wielder of the thunderbolt. Symbolic: mind-force that breaks the Coverer; decisive illumination
- राधसे (rādhase)
- Literal: for bounty/gift. Symbolic: for the soul’s increase; distribution of luminous gain
Soma offering to Indra during pressing; visualizes Soma as waters filling Indra to empower his gift and victory.
During Soma offerings when Indra is invited to drink and empower the rite.
Offering pressed Soma with recitation; inviting Indra to be ‘filled’ and to bestow rādhas.
Use as a meditation-chant before focused work: offer breath and attention as Soma-drops to the higher mind; then act from overflow, not strain.
sutā́saḥ: from √su 'press (Soma)' → pressed juices. máda: from √mad 'be exhilarated'—not mere intoxication but uplift of consciousness. girvaṇas: 'fond of songs' (gír 'song' + van 'to like/win' complex), epithet of Indra. ā́paḥ: waters; symbolic of flowing energies/clarities. pṛṇánti: from √pṝ 'fill, satisfy'. rā́dhas: gift/bounty (√rādh 'accomplish, grant'); inner: effective giving-power released by Indra when filled with Soma.
Ecstasy (mada) as fuel for divine force, Filling/satisfaction as completion of power, Bounty as accomplished giving (rādhas)
The ‘waters filling the lake’ images the lawful movement of energies toward their true seat in consciousness—R̥ta as natural right-flow.
Indra as girvaṇaḥ responds to true speech; Satya is maintained by accurate invocation and sincere offering.
Inflow → containment → overflow: a microcosmic model of manifestation where consciousness gathers power then distributes form and action.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent of delight into illumined mind leading to transformation of life.
Flowing waters = streaming prāṇic and mental currents; lake = widened inner being (peaceful receptacle); Soma = delight-essence that nourishes illumination.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The filling of Indra by Soma: pressed drops and ecstasies flow to Indra like waters filling a lake, empowering him for acts of bounty and victory. Mythically, Soma is the energizing substance that makes Indra capable; psychologically, delight fills the will-force to act rightly and powerfully.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mad (PIE *med- 'be intoxicated/joyful' seen widely, cf. 'mead') is a notable IE cognate field; √pṝ 'fill' relates to PIE *pleh₁- 'fill' (broadly comparable). The water-filling simile is an inherited IE poetic mechanism connecting fluidity with power.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers Soma and simultaneously interprets its inner effect: Soma’s madāḥ fill Indra, and Indra’s consequent rādhas (effective giving) returns as boon to the community. Praise (gir) is the medium of exchange—song invites presence; presence yields power.
Offer ‘drops’ of attention into the heart-mind; feel a lake-like wideness receiving delight; let clarity arise for decisive action.
Anāhata to Ājñā (delight rising into illumined mind)
Gentle kumbhaka after inhale: ‘press’ attention; exhale as offering into a widened inner space.
From active aspiration to luminous fullness (quiet power).
Begin with 9 recitations; after each, pause and sense ‘filling’. End by dedicating one concrete act of generosity/strength as rādhas.
Follow saṃhitā accents: udatta on marked syllables; svarita where indicated by sandhi; maintain flowing continuity through ā-invocations.
Give clear lift on ‘इन्द्र’, ‘वज्रिन्’, ‘शूर’; keep ‘आपो न… सरः’ as a smooth simile-phrase without breaking the flow.
Hold long vowels: ā, ī, ū., Retroflex ṇ in ‘ (girvaṇaḥ)’ and ‘ (vajrin)’—keep tongue curled back., Cluster ‘pṛṇanti’ : crisp ṛ, then nasal n.
Full-chested, steady, ‘filling’ tone; slight swell on the simile of waters.
9
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