Rig Veda 1.52.8: Mandala 1, Sukta 52, Mantra 8

Sukta 1.52

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Rasa

Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

जघन्वाँ उ हरिभिः सम्भृतक्रतविन्द्र वृत्रं मनुषे गातुयन्नपः । अयच्छथा बाह्वोर्वज्रमायसमधारयो दिव्या सूर्यं दृशे ॥

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.52.8

Transliteration

jaghanvā́ṃ u háribhiḥ sambhṛta-krátav índra vṛtráṃ mánuṣe gātu-yánn ápaḥ | áyacchathā bāhvór vájram āyásam ádhārayo divyā́ sū́ryaṃ dṛśé ||

Translation

इंद्र ने अपने घोड़ों के साथ वृत्र को मारा। उसने इंसानों के लिए रास्ता बनाया और पानी को आज़ाद किया। उसने अपने हाथ में लोहे का वज्र पकड़ा। उसने आसमान में सूर्य को उठाया ताकि सब देख सकें।

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Word by Word

जघन्वान्

having slain (slayer)Adjective (participial) · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्) · Root हन् (√हन्) → जघन्- (परिपूर्ण/अभ्यास-भूत) + -वत्

उ

indeed, thenIndeclinable · निपातRoot उ

हरिभिः

with the tawny (horses)Noun · पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करण · Root हरि-

सम्भृतक्रतुः

whose resolve/plan is well-preparedAdjective (compound) · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्) · Root सम्-√भृ (सम्भृत) + क्रतु-

इन्द्रः

IndraNoun (proper) · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ · Root इन्द्र-

वृत्रम्

VṛtraNoun · पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म · Root वृत्र-

मनुषे

for Manu / for mankindNoun · पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान · Root मनु-

गातुयन्

seeking a path (for)Verb (participle) · वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्) · Root गातु- (मार्ग/गमन) + √इ (इच्छार्थे) → गातुय्

अपः

the watersNoun · स्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिके बहुधा), द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म · Root अप्- (आपः)

अयच्छथाः

you held back / restrainedVerb · लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole कर्तृ (इन्द्रः) · Root यम् (√यम्) with अ- (augment) → अ-यच्छ-

बाह्वोः

of (your) two armsNoun · पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचनRole अधिकारण/सम्बन्ध (in/at the two arms) · Root बाहु-

वज्रम्

the thunderboltNoun · पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म · Root वज्र-

आयसम्

of metal, ironAdjective · पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वज्रम्-विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण) · Root आयस-

अधारयः

you held / you boreVerb · लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole कर्तृ (इन्द्रः) · Root धृ (√धृ) with अधि- → अधि-धारय-

दिव्या

heavenly, divineAdjective · पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (सूर्यम्-विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण) · Root दिव्य-

सूर्यम्

the sunNoun · पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म · Root सूर्य-

दृशे

for sight, to be seenNoun (verbal noun) · स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान (for seeing) · Root दृश् (√दृश्) → दृश् (दर्शन)

Sandhi Notes

• पदच्छेदः: जघन्वान् उ हरिभिः सम्भृतक्रतुः इन्द्रः वृत्रम् मनुषे गातुयन् अपः । अयच्छथाः बाह्वोः वज्रम् आयसम् अधारयः दिव्या सूर्यं दृशे ॥ 1) सम्भृतक्रतविन्द्रः → सम्भृतक्रतुः + इन्द्रः (उः + इ → उ इ; संहितायां विसर्गलोप/सन्धि-रूप)
• 2) गातुयन्नपः → गातुयन् + अपः (न् + अ → न्न)
• 3) वज्रमायसम् → वज्रम् + आयसम् (म् + आ → मा)
• 4) वाक्ये ‘दिव्या सूर्यं’ इति ‘दिव्य’ विशेषणं कर्मपदे सूर्यं प्रति (वैदिके रूप-प्रयोगः)

The meaning

Outer meaning

Indra, with tawny steeds and gathered resolve, slew Vṛtra to open a path for man and released the waters. He grasped the iron thunderbolt and set the divine Sun in heaven for seeing.

Inner meaning

Indra (illumined mind) harnesses the vital energies (harayaḥ, tawny steeds) under a collected intention (sambhṛta-kratu). He strikes down Vṛtra (the Coverer—subconscient resistance) to create a conscious passage (gātu) for the human being and releases the imprisoned currents (āpaḥ: streams of life-force and inspiration). The ‘iron’ vajra is the hardened, unwavering will of discrimination. The divine Sun is the supramental light of vision स्थापित in the inner heaven (higher mind) so that seeing becomes possible.

Universal truth

When will and energies are gathered into one purpose, resistance can be broken; life-currents are freed, and a higher light is established as the basis of true perception and progress.

Themes

Vṛtra-slaying, path-opening, release of waters, establishing the Sun

The seer

Rishi

Viśvāmitra Gāthina

Lineage

Gāthina (Kauśika line often linked)

Other hymns

RV 1.52, RV 3.62 (Gāyatrī attributed to Viśvāmitra in later tradition)

Family tradition

Mantra-seer of transformative power; hymns as instruments of victory in the inner and outer battle.

Significance

Here the seer frames the central yoga of the Veda: gather energies, break the Coverer, release the waters, establish the Sun of vision.

The deity

Devata

Indra

Epithets

Sambhṛtakratu (of gathered will), Vṛtrahan, Hariyukta (yoked with tawny steeds, implied)

Related deities

Sūrya, Maruts (often allied in these hymns), Soma (implicit in Indra’s empowerment across the cycle)

Cosmic role

Storm-lord who breaks the obstruction, releases waters, and establishes the sunlit order for the worlds.

Inner power

Illumined intelligence wielding decisive will; mastery over vital forces; maker of inner pathways and seer-vision.

In ritual

Where it is used

Soma-yajña Indra-stotra; Vṛtra-slaying cycle recited around pressing/offerings

Accents and Padapatha

Chandas Analysis

Key Symbols

Ritual Application

Etymology

Philosophical Concepts

Vedic Cosmology

Natural Symbolism

Academic Analysis

Yogic Application

Chanting Notes