Rig Veda 3.32.8: Mandala 3, Sukta 32, Mantra 8
Sukta 3.32
- Rishi
- Gāthin Viśvāmitra
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
इन्द्रस्य कर्म सुकृता पुरूणि व्रतानि देवा न मिनन्ति विश्वे । दाधार यः पृथिवीं द्यामुतेमां जजान सूर्यमुषसं सुदंसाः ॥
índrasya kárma su-kṛtā́ purū́ṇi vratā́ni devā́ ná minanti víśve | dādhā́ra yáḥ pṛthivī́ṃ dyā́m utémā́ṃ jajā́na sū́ryam uṣásaṃ su-dáṃsāḥ ||
Indra ne bahut kaam kiye hain, sab acche hain. Saare bhagwan uske niyam ko nahi todte. Usne zameen ko pakda hai, aasman ko bhi. Usne sooraj ko janma, aur savera ko bhi. Uska kaam bilkul saaf aur chamakdaar hai.
Word by Word
- इन्द्रस्य
- of IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- कर्म
- deed, actNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (of implied verb ‘are/are known’)Root कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
- सुकृताः
- well-doing, of good deedsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole विशेषण (of ‘देवाः’)Root सु-कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ, क्त)
- पुरूणि
- manyAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole विशेषण (of ‘कर्म’)Root पुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
- व्रतानि
- ordinances, sacred lawsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्म (of ‘मिनन्ति’)Root व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवाः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न
- मिनन्ति
- they diminish/violateVerbलट् (वर्तमान); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √मि (हिंसायाम्/क्षये; ‘to diminish, violate’)
- विश्वे
- allAdjective (substantive)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole विशेषण (of ‘देवाः’)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- दाधार
- he has upheld, supportedVerbलिट् (परोक्श/परफेक्ट); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √धृ (धारणे)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (relative pronoun; refers to Indra)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिवीम्
- the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्याम्
- the heaven/skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/अपि-अर्थRoot उत
- इमाम्
- thisPronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (apposition to पृथिवीम्/‘this [earth]’)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जजान
- he has begotten/producedVerbलिट् (परोक्श/परफेक्ट); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √जन् (जनने)
- सूर्यम्
- the sunNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- उषसम्
- the dawnNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुदंसाः
- of good might/skill, wondrousAdjective (substantive epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole विशेषण/सम्बोधन-स्वरूप (epithet of देवाः/विश्वे)Root सु-दंस (प्रातिपदिक; ‘goodly power/skill’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): इन्द्रस्य | कर्म | सुकृताः | पुरूणि | व्रतानि | देवाः | न | मिनन्ति | विश्वे || दाधार | यः | पृथिवीम् | द्याम् | उत | इमाम् | जजान | सूर्यम् | उषसम् | सुदंसाः || Notes: (1) द्यामुतेमाम् → द्याम् उत इमाम् (m + u → mu; vowel coalescence in saṃhitā). (2) सूर्य॑मु॒षसं॑ → सूर्यम् उषसम् (m + u → mu). (3) Accent marks are preserved from saṃhitā text
- pada forms shown without explicit accent annotation beyond the given orthography
The meaning
Outer meaning
Many are Indra’s well-fashioned works; all the gods do not diminish his ordinances. He upholds Earth and Heaven and brings to birth the Sun and the Dawn with perfect skill.
Inner meaning
Indra’s ‘works’ are the repeated acts of illumination that shape the inner world. His vratāni are the steadfast laws of the divine Mind—principles of right action and right perception that other powers do not annul. He ‘upholds heaven and earth’: stabilizes the higher mental ranges and the physical foundation so they can receive light. He ‘births’ Sun and Dawn: establishes the solar truth-consciousness (Sūrya) and the recurring awakenings (Uṣas) in the being, through a luminous craftsmanship (sudaṃsāḥ).
Universal truth
A higher intelligence not only understands—it builds: it establishes stable principles, supports life’s foundations, and repeatedly brings new clarity and new beginnings.
Themes
Cosmogony, Indra’s ordinances, Light-manifestation
The seer
- Rishi
- Gāthin Viśvāmitra
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Kauśika lineage, traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.32, RV 3.33, RV 3.53, RV 3.62
Family tradition
Seer-poetry that links heroic myth to inner cosmogenesis: establishing planes, birthing light, and maintaining divine law.
Significance
Viśvāmitra’s Indra is not only a warrior but a world-builder in consciousness—upholding the inner heaven and earth and generating recurring dawns of insight.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Śatakratu, Maghavan, Sudaṃsas (of perfect skill), Dhārayitṛ (upholder)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Uṣas, Agni, Soma, Viśve Devāḥ
Cosmic role
Maintains cosmic order through effective action; brings forth light and awakening.
Inner power
Architect of the inner worlds: stabilizes, orders, and illumines; makes the Sun and Dawn ‘born’ in the psyche.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise of Indra’s cosmic deeds in Soma liturgy; affirmation of his ordinances in communal rite.
इन्द्र॑स्य॒ कर्म॒ सुकृ॑ता पु॒रूणि॑ व्र॒तानि॑ दे॒वा न मि॑नन्ति॒ विश्वे॑ । दा॒धार॒ यः पृ॑थि॒वीं द्यामु॒तेमां ज॒जान॒ सूर्य॑मु॒षसं॑ सु॒दंसा॑: ॥
इन्द्र॑स्य । कर्म॑ । सुऽकृ॑ता । पु॒रूणि॑ । व्र॒तानि॑ । दे॒वाः । न । मि॒न॒न्ति॒ । विश्वे॑ । दा॒धार॑ । यः । पृ॒थि॒वीम् । द्याम् । उ॒त । इ॒माम् । ज॒जान॑ । सूर्य॑म् । उ॒षस॑म् । सु॒ऽदंसाः॑ ॥
indrasya | karma | su-kṛtā | purūṇi | vratāni | devāḥ | na | minanti | viśve | dādhāra | yaḥ | pṛthivīm | dyām | uta | imām | jajāna | sūryam | uṣasam | su-daṃsāḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Declarative and architectonic; strong statements with steady pacing.
Instills confidence in a lawful, supported inner cosmos; clarifies purpose and structure.
- कर्म (karma)
- Literal: works, deeds. Symbolic: acts of illumination and formation in consciousness
- सुकृता (sukṛtā)
- Literal: well-made. Symbolic: harmonious, rightly formed inner constructions (right seeing, right willing)
- व्रतानि (vratāni)
- Literal: vows/ordinances. Symbolic: laws of divine action; steadfast principles of truth-force
- देवाः (devāḥ)
- Literal: gods. Symbolic: powers of consciousness; faculties that cooperate but cannot negate the supreme illumination
- दाधार (dādhāra)
- Literal: he upheld. Symbolic: stabilized the planes of being for descent of light
- पृथिवी (pṛthivī)
- Literal: earth. Symbolic: physical consciousness, embodiment, stability
- द्याम् (dyām)
- Literal: heaven/sky. Symbolic: mind-plane, higher thought and luminous vastness
- सूर्यम् (sūryam)
- Literal: sun. Symbolic: truth-light, illumined knowledge
- उषसम् (uṣasam)
- Literal: dawn. Symbolic: awakening, first light of realization
- सुदंसा: (sudaṃsāḥ)
- Literal: of good skill/beautiful power. Symbolic: luminous artistry of the divine Mind shaping experience
Stotra of Indra’s cosmic powers in Soma context; reinforces faith (śraddhā) in Indra’s effective works
When recounting Indra’s great works to strengthen faith and invite illumination.
Recitation during offerings; mentally affirming inner laws (vrata) and invoking dawn-like clarity.
Use when seeking stability and order—during life transitions, rebuilding habits, or establishing a disciplined practice.
vratá- (from √vṛ ‘choose/will’ in older analysis; in RV ‘ordinance, firm law’) signifies stable divine operation—inner r̥ta in action. dādhāra (√dhṛ) and jajāna (√jan) place Indra in a cosmogonic register: support and birth. sūrya/uṣas are not merely astronomical but symbols of illumination and awakening.
vrata as divine law, r̥ta as stable order, illumination (sūrya/uṣas)
Vratāni are expressions of Ṛta—stable right-action patterns that sustain the worlds.
Sūrya/Uṣas as manifestations of Satya in perception and daily renewal.
Cosmogony as ongoing: upholding planes and birthing light repeatedly within evolving consciousness.
Vedic psychological cosmology: planes (dyāvā-pṛthivī) as states; light (sūrya/uṣas) as realizations.
dawn
Earth/heaven = embodied and mental planes; Sun = truth-knowledge; Dawn = awakening and beginnings.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A cosmogonic Indra: upholder of the worlds and awakener of Sun and Dawn. The inner myth is the establishment of stable planes (earth/heaven) in the being and the birth of illumination (sun) and awakening (dawn).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhṛ ‘hold’ has broad IE parallels (support/hold semantics across branches). √jan ‘beget’ is likewise pan-IE (cf. Latin gignō, Greek γίγνομαι). The collocation ‘Heaven and Earth’ reflects inherited Indo-European cosmic formulae.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi magnifies Indra not only as warrior but as cosmic craftsman (su-daṃsas). This establishes Indra as a reliable inner power whose ‘vratas’ can be trusted to build and uphold the seeker’s worlds and bring illumination.
Invoke Indra as inner architect: ‘uphold’ body and mind, then invite a dawn of insight.
manipura
Steady equal breathing (sama-vṛtti) to ‘uphold’ inner planes; then a few brighter, slightly deeper breaths to invite ‘Sun’ clarity.
Structured clarity; luminous steadiness.
Begin by sensing the physical base (pṛthivī) and mental sky (dyauḥ) as supported; then concentrate on a sun-disc at the brow as truth-light; end with gratitude for recurring dawns (uṣas) in daily life.
Tri-svara; emphasize udātta on indrasya, vratāni, dādhāra, sūryam, uṣasam.
Keep pāda 2 crisp (na minanti viśve) to convey ‘undiminished laws’; allow a gentle lift on ‘jajāna sūryam uṣasam’.
sukṛtā: pronounce kṛ with vocalic ṛ, minanti: dental n, not retroflex, pṛthivīm: clear pṛ, avoid ‘pri’, sudaṃsāḥ: nasalization on ṃ; final ḥ audible but soft
Clear, steady, declarative; ‘builder’ tone rather than martial.
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