Rig Veda 1.52.3: Mandala 1, Sukta 52, Mantra 3
Sukta 1.52
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
स हि द्वरो द्वरिषु वव्र ऊधनि चन्द्रबुध्नो मदवृद्धो मनीषिभिः । इन्द्रं तमह्वे स्वपस्यया धिया मंहिष्ठरातिं स हि पप्रिरन्धसः ॥
sá hí dvaró dvaríṣu vavrá ū́dhani candrábudhno mádavṛddho manīṣíbhīḥ | índraṃ tám ahve svapasyáyā dhiyā́ maṃhíṣṭharātiṃ sá hí paprír ándhasaḥ ||
इंद्र दरवाज़े खोलता है। वो खज़ाना रखता है जैसे गाय दूध रखती है। रिशि लोग उसके बारे में सोच के उसकी ताकत बढ़ा देते हैं। मैं इंद्र को पुकारता हूँ, क्योंकि वो सबसे ज़्यादा देने वाला है। वो सोमा पी के खुश रहता है।
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → स
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableनिपातः (अव्ययम्)Root हि (निपात)
- द्वरः
- a gate-keeper/guardNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot द्वर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘द्वार/द्वर’ = द्वारपाल/रक्षक)
- द्वरिषु
- at the gates/doorwaysNounनपुंसकलिङ्गम् (RV-प्रयोग), सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot द्वरि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘द्वरि’ = द्वार/प्रवेश)
- वव्रे
- has chosen/has enclosedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद-परिणाम/आत्मनेपद-प्रयोग), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root √वृ (वृणोति ‘choose, take, cover’; RV: ‘enclose/choose for oneself’)
- ऊधनि
- in the udderNounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot ऊधन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- चन्द्रबुध्नः
- bright-based (having a shining foundation)Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्)Root चन्द्र-बुध्न (समास; चन्द्र ‘bright’ + बुध्न ‘base/bottom’)
- मदवृद्धः
- strengthened by exhilaration (soma-rapture)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्)Root मद-वृद्ध (समास; मद ‘intoxicating exhilaration’ + वृद्ध ‘grown/increased’)
- मनीषिभिः
- by the sages/wise menNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- तम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Karma (इन्द्रम्-विशेषणम्)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → तम्
- अह्वे
- I invokeVerbलट्, उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (परस्मैपदम्)Root √ह्वा (आह्वयति ‘call, invoke’)
- स्वपस्यया
- with good service (devout skill)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गम्, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot स्वपस्या (प्रातिपदिक; ‘good service/skillful worship’)
- धिया
- with inspired thoughtNounस्त्रीलिङ्गम्, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot धी (प्रातिपदिक; ‘thought, insight, hymn-intelligence’)
- मंहिष्ठरातिम्
- the most bountiful giverNoun (epithet)स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Karma (इन्द्रम्-विशेषणम्)Root मंहिष्ठ-राति (समास; मंहिष्ठ ‘most bountiful’ + राति ‘gift, giving’)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → स
- हि
- indeedIndeclinableनिपातः (अव्ययम्)Root हि (निपात)
- पप्रिः
- has filled/satisfiedVerbलिट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (परस्मैपदम्)Root √पॄ/पॢ (पिपर्ति ‘fill, satisfy’; RV perfect)
- अन्धसः
- of the soma-juiceNounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role Karma/सम्बन्ध (पूरणस्य)Root अन्धस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘soma-juice, draught’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): स हि | द्वरः | द्वरिषु | वव्रे | ऊधनि | चन्द्रबुध्नः | मदवृद्धः | मनीषिभिः || इन्द्रम् | तम् | अह्वे | स्वपस्यया | धिया | मंहिष्ठरातिम् || स हि | पप्रिः | अन्धसः । प्रमुख संधि: (1) इन्द्रं तमह्वे → इन्द्रम् तम् अह्वे (म् + त् संयोग)
- (2) मंहिष्ठरातिं स → मंहिष्ठरातिम् स (म् + स्)
- (3) पप्रिरन्धसः → पप्रिः अन्धसः (ः + अ- आरम्भ; विसर्ग-संधि)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is the opener of doors; in doorways he is the covering; he holds treasure in the udder; moon-based, increased by ecstasy through sages’ thoughts. I call that Indra with a will for right work and luminous intelligence—most bountiful, filled with Soma-delight.
Inner meaning
Indra is both the key and the tested threshold: he opens the inner doors (to higher consciousness) and also stands at the doorways as the ‘covering’ (vavra)—the necessary lid/guard of the secret until the seeker is ready. The ‘udder’ signifies the hidden source of nourishment: the plenitude of light (cows/rays) and energy held back until the right opening. ‘Moon-based’ (candrabudhna) points to reflective luminous mind founded on Soma—inner delight. The sages’ inspired thinking (manīṣā) increases Indra’s force: our clarified thought and right work (svapasyā) invite the illumined Mind to give its richest gifts.
Universal truth
Real openings come with preparedness: discipline and right intention make thresholds become gateways. Joy (inner delight) and clear intelligence together unlock hidden resources.
Themes
Opening of gates (inner thresholds), Abundance and nourishment, Indra’s generosity (rāti), Ecstasy increasing power (mada-vṛddha)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage, traditionally linked with the Vasiṣṭha gotra)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 7.1, Rig Veda 7.4, Rig Veda 7.60, Rig Veda 7.88
Family tradition
Seer of ordered power: hymns often stress right work (ṛta) and the guarded secret that opens by true aspiration.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s voice here teaches the psychology of initiation: doors open by luminous intelligence and disciplined will, not by impatience.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- dvāraḥ (opener), maṃhiṣṭharāti (most bountiful giver), candrabudhna (moon-founded), madavṛddha (grown by ecstasy)
- Related deities
- Soma, Bṛhaspati, Agni, Sarasvatī
Cosmic role
Lord of openings and releases; bestower of riches (rays, powers, wideness) when the threshold is rightly crossed.
Inner power
Initiatory intelligence that both guards and unveils; the force that turns aspiration into effective realization.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation with Soma; stotra calling the deity for ‘opening’ and gifts
स हि द्व॒रो द्व॒रिषु॑ व॒व्र ऊध॑नि च॒न्द्रबु॑ध्नो॒ मद॑वृद्धो मनी॒षिभि॑: । इन्द्रं॒ तम॑ह्वे स्वप॒स्यया॑ धि॒या मंहि॑ष्ठरातिं॒ स हि पप्रि॒रन्ध॑सः ॥
सः । हि । द्व॒रः । द्व॒रिषु॑ । व॒व्रः । ऊध॑नि । च॒न्द्रऽबु॑ध्नः । मद॑ऽवृद्धः । म॒नी॒षिऽभिः॑ । इन्द्र॑म् । तम् । अ॒ह्वे॒ । सु॒ऽअ॒प॒स्यया॑ । धि॒या । मंहि॑ष्ठऽरातिम् । सः । हि । पप्रिः॑ । अन्ध॑सः ॥
saḥ | hi | dvaraḥ | dvariṣu | vavraḥ | ūdhani | candra-budhnaḥ | mada-vṛddhaḥ | manīṣi-bhiḥ | indram | tam | ahve | su-apasyayā | dhiyā | maṃhiṣṭha-rātim | saḥ | hi | papriḥ | andhasaḥ
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Balanced and declarative; suited to invocation and definition of divine function.
Creates a feeling of approaching a threshold with confidence; supports clear intention and focused calling.
- द्वारः (dvāraḥ)
- Literal: door/opener. Symbolic: power that opens inner passages to higher states
- द्वरिषु (dvariṣu)
- Literal: in the doorways. Symbolic: threshold-states: transitions between ordinary mind and illumined mind
- वव्रः (vavraḥ)
- Literal: covering, lid, enclosure. Symbolic: protective concealment of the secret until ripeness; also the knot to be opened
- ऊधनि (ūdhani)
- Literal: in the udder. Symbolic: hidden source of nourishment—store of light, strength, and delight
- चन्द्रबुध्नः (candrabudhnaḥ)
- Literal: moon-based/founded. Symbolic: mind founded on Soma’s reflective light and calm delight
- मदवृद्धः (madavṛddhaḥ)
- Literal: increased by ecstasy. Symbolic: illumined power grows by spiritual fervour and ānanda
- मनीषिभिः (manīṣibhiḥ)
- Literal: by sages/thinkers. Symbolic: by inspired thought-vision; the seer-mind that invokes Indra
- स्वपस्यया धिया (svapasyayā dhiyā)
- Literal: by a thought of good workmanship. Symbolic: right-willed intelligence aligned to ṛta; effective inner practice
- अन्धसः (andhasaḥ)
- Literal: Soma-juice/delight. Symbolic: ānanda filling the being, making giving and opening possible
Invocation emphasizing Indra as opener of gates and bestower of abundance; aligns with Soma offering and priestly dhī
At moments of calling/āvāhana in Soma rites; also in recitation for success in undertakings
Offer Soma; recite as invitation for Indra to ‘open the doors’ of wealth and power
Chant before study/meditation to open clarity; use as a ‘threshold mantra’ before beginning important work.
dvara ‘door’ (IE *dhwer-; cf. English door). vavra ‘covering/enclosure’ resonates with √vṛ ‘cover’. ūdhán ‘udder’ as archetype of nourishing source. √pṛ ‘fill’ (papriḥ). su-apas ‘good work’ (apas ‘work, act’) indicates disciplined practice as condition for invocation.
Su-apas (right action as yogic discipline), Dhī (illumined intelligence), Ananda/Soma delight (andhas)
‘Svapasyā dhī’ indicates alignment with ṛta as the condition for opening.
Manīṣā (inspired thought) is the satya-bearing instrument that invokes Indra.
The secret treasure held in concealment becomes manifest through the right opening.
Aurobindo-style symbolic psychology: thresholds between planes of consciousness.
night-to-dawn threshold (implied by lunar foundation and ‘doorways’)
Doorways = transition states; udder = concealed nourishment/plenitude; moon = reflective luminous mind sustained by Soma-delight.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘opening of the doors’ motif: Indra as the power that unseals thresholds and releases the hidden nourishment (milk/udder = sustaining abundance). Inner sense: he opens blocked passages between levels of consciousness, allowing the flow of strength and delight.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dvara- continues PIE *dhwer- ‘door’ (Latin forēs, English door). The door/gate metaphor is deeply IE and ritual-threshold oriented. √pṛ ‘fill’ is IE (cf. Greek plḗthō ‘fill’ is different root, but the semantic field is archaic; Indo-Iranian has robust √pṛ cognacy internally).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi calls Indra not by mere request but by su-apas and dhī—right practice and illumined thought—implying that the deity’s presence is conditioned by inner preparedness. Indra, ‘filled with Soma,’ reciprocates by abundant giving (maṃhiṣṭha-rāti), i.e., pouring power into the prepared vessel.
Contemplate the ‘inner door’: what is being guarded in you (talent, peace, insight)? Invoke Indra to open it through right work and clear thought.
ājñā (clarity) with support from anāhata (quiet joy)
Nadi-śodhana 6–6–6 for 7 rounds, then mental japa on ‘indraṃ tam ahve’
Threshold awareness: poised, alert, receptive; then fullness (pāprir) of delight.
Before practice, state one precise intention (svapasyā). Chant once aloud, then 11 times mentally, imagining a door of light opening inward—not outward—revealing a steady lunar glow of calm intelligence.
Vedic tri-svara (udātta/anudātta/svarita) per Śākala; maintain udātta prominence on key nouns/verbs.
Give clear pauses at pāda ends; lightly stress dvāraḥ/dvariṣu and ahve; let the final ‘andhasaḥ’ settle downward.
dvāraḥ: cluster dv- cleanly, long ā, dvariṣu: short a/i, avoid inserting extra vowel, ūdhani: vavra—double v sound, no b, candrabudhnaḥ: clear ndra, retroflex ḍh in budhna, maṃhiṣṭharātim: nasalized maṃ, retroflex ṣṭh, papriḥ: crisp pr, short iḥ
Clear, inviting, slightly hushed at ‘vavra/ūdhani’ to convey the secret.
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