Rig Veda 10.101.7: Mandala 10, Sukta 101, Mantra 7
Sukta 10.101
- Devata
- Collective powers of right movement and increase
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
प्रीणीताश्वान्हितं जयाथ स्वस्तिवाहं रथमित्कृणुध्वम् । द्रोणाहावमवतमश्मचक्रमंसत्रकोशं सिञ्चता नृपाणम् ॥
prīṇītāśvān hitaṃ jayātha svastivāhaṃ ratham it kṛṇudhvam | droṇāhāvam avataṃ aśmacakram aṃsatrakośaṃ siñcatā nṛpāṇam ||
अपने अंदर की ताकत को खुश रखो और जो चीज़ तुम्हारे सामने है उसे जीत लो। ऐसा रथ बनाओ जो भलाई लाए। उसमें पानी भरो जैसे कुएँ में, पत्थर के चक्के वाले कुएँ में। ऐसा पेय बनाओ जो हमारे लिए ताकत का काम करे।
Word by Word
- प्रीणीत
- (you all) gladden / make pleasedVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदम्Role (वाक्यक्रिया) विधेयRoot प्री (धातु) / प्रीणयति
- अश्वान्
- horsesNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- हितम्
- placed, set, preparedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (विशेषणम्)Root हि (धातु) → हित (कृदन्त/भूतकर्मणि)
- जयाथ
- (you all) win / conquerVerbलोट् (वैदिक-आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदम्Role (वाक्यक्रिया) विधेयRoot जि (धातु) / जयति
- स्वस्ति-वाहम्
- bringing well-being / auspiciously-bearingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (रथम् इति विशेषणम्)Root स्वस्ति (अव्यय/नाम) + वह (धातु) → वाह (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
- रथम्
- chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपातः (अवधारण/एव-अर्थे)Root इत् (निपात)
- कृणुध्वम्
- (you all) make / fashionVerbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदम्Role (वाक्यक्रिया) विधेयRoot कृ (धातु) / करोति
- द्रोण-आहावम्
- the dṛoṇa-vat (tub) for the contest / the contest-tub (vessel used in rite)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक) + आहाव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अवतम्
- (you all) help, further, protectVerbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदम्Role (वाक्यक्रिया) विधेयRoot अव (धातु) / अवति
- अश्म-चक्रम्
- stone-wheeled (implement/chariot), having stone wheelsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अंसत्र-कोशम्
- the bag/pouch without a strap (or: unfastened pouch)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अंसत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
- सिञ्चत
- (you all) pour, sprinkleVerbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदम्Role (वाक्यक्रिया) विधेयRoot सिच् (धातु) / सिञ्चति
- नृ-पानम्
- men’s drink (Soma/refreshing draught)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot नृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्यः): प्रीणीत अश्वान् हितम् जयाथ स्वस्ति-वाहम् रथम् इत् कृणुध्वम् । द्रोण-आहावम् अवतम् अश्म-चक्रम् अंसत्र-कोशम् सिञ्चत नृ-पानम् ॥ 1) प्रीणीताश्वान् = प्रीणीत + अश्वान् (स्वर-सन्धिः/स्वर-दीर्घः; इ + अ → या इत्यादि वैदिक-लेखनपरम्परा; संहितायां ‘…ताश्वा…’)
- 2) स्वस्तिवाहं = स्वस्ति-वाहम् (समासः; संहितायां अनुस्वारः)
- 3) रथमित् = रथम् + इत् (म् + इ → मि; संहितायां ‘मित्’)
- 4) द्रोणाहावम् = द्रोण-आहावम् (समास/सन्धिः; अ + आ → आ)
- 5) अवतमश्मचक्रम् = अवतम् + अश्म-चक्रम् (म् + अ → म; संहितायां ‘…तमश्म…’)
- 6) अंसत्रकोशम् = अंसत्र-कोशम् (समासः)
- 7) नृपाणम् = नृ-पानम् (समासः; संहितायां ‘नृपाणम्’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A call to invigorate the horses, win the intended gain, build a welfare-bearing chariot, and pour/fill the trough and vessel with the sustaining drink.
Inner meaning
Energize the prāṇic and dynamic forces (aśvāḥ) so they can conquer the placed goal (hita). Fashion the inner vehicle (ratha) that carries svasti—right-being and harmony. Then pour the pressed delight/strength into the prepared receptacles of the being (trough, well, firm vessel) so the ‘man-drink’ (nṛpāṇa)—the sustaining essence of the lordly soul-nature—becomes full and stable.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress needs (1) uplifted life-force, (2) a well-built inner instrument for right movement, and (3) a steady replenishment of nourishing consciousness; victory is the natural result of prepared energy and rightly held inner substance.
Themes
Yoga of works, Instrument-building, Energizing the life-forces, Victory through right order
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.101.1-11 (same sūkta context: crafting, yoking, preparing the inner offering)
Significance
The anonymity fits a ‘collective artisan-yoga’ voice: the seer speaks as the inner worker shaping instruments of realization—energy, vessel, and chariot—rather than as a single named lineage.
The deity
- Devata
- Indraic-Marutic right force (implicit) with Agni as the inner driver (implicit)
- Epithets
- svastivāha (well-being-bearing), jayā (victorious), vahni (carrier, implied by chariot imagery)
- Related deities
- Indra, Maruts, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Power that organizes right movement, victory over obstruction, and the effective conveyance of the offering toward the gods.
Inner power
Illuminated dynamism: the force that gladdens the life-energies, builds the inner vehicle, and secures the flow of sustaining essence.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-related preparation imagery; also general yajña ‘equipment-making’ (implements, vessels, chariot/yoking)
प्री॒णी॒ताश्वा॑न्हि॒तं ज॑याथ स्वस्ति॒वाहं॒ रथ॒मित्कृ॑णुध्वम् । द्रोणा॑हावमव॒तमश्म॑चक्र॒मंस॑त्रकोशं सिञ्चता नृ॒पाण॑म् ॥
प्री॒णी॒त । अश्वा॑न् । हि॒तम् । ज॒या॒थ॒ । स्व॒स्ति॒ऽवाह॑म् । रथ॑म् । इत् । कृ॒णु॒ध्व॒म् । द्रोण॑ऽआहावम् । अ॒व॒तम् । अश्म॑ऽचक्रम् । अंस॑त्रऽकोशम् । सि॒ञ्च॒त॒ । नृ॒ऽपान॑म् ॥
prīṇīta | aśvān | hitam | jayātha | svasti-vāham | ratham | it | kṛṇudhvam | droṇa-āhāvam | avatam | aśma-cakram | aṃsatra-kośam | siñcata | nṛ-pānam
Likely Triṣṭubh (common in RV 10; 4 pādas of ~11 syllables)
44
4×11 (approx.)
Driving, workmanlike cadence suited to commands and coordinated action.
Builds resolve and coordinated inner effort; supports a feeling of ‘constructing’ the sādhanā step by step.
- aśvān
- Literal: horses. Symbolic: life-powers; prāṇic-vital energies that carry action
- hitaṃ
- Literal: what is placed/set. Symbolic: the appointed aim; the offered objective of the yoga/sacrifice
- jayātha
- Literal: win, conquer. Symbolic: overcome resistance; establish mastery in the movement
- svastivāham ratham
- Literal: chariot bearing well-being. Symbolic: the inner formation/instrument that carries right-being (svasti) through life
- droṇa
- Literal: wooden trough/vat. Symbolic: receptive capacity of the vital being to hold the flow
- avata
- Literal: well/pit. Symbolic: depth of consciousness where the waters/essences are gathered
- aśmacakra
- Literal: stone-wheeled. Symbolic: firm, enduring foundations; stable turning of the inner process
- aṃsatrakośa
- Literal: firm-held vessel/container. Symbolic: well-bound sheath; concentrated holding of force/bliss
- siñcata
- Literal: pour. Symbolic: let the higher influx descend and fill the prepared parts
- nṛpāṇam
- Literal: man-drink / heroic draught. Symbolic: sustaining essence for the kingly soul-force; soma-like nourishment for inner sovereignty
Work-ritual coordination: preparing conveyance and vessels; pouring as consecration (Soma/waters) that empowers the collective action.
During preparation/pressing and offering sequences; as an energizing injunction to the adhvaryu-like inner worker
Invigorate, construct, and pour/fill vessels for offering
Use as a mantra of ‘inner preparation’: before meditation, energize breath/prāṇa, set intention (hita), and ‘fill the cup’ with quiet joy/concentration.
prīṇīta from √prī 'to please, gladden, satisfy'—psychologically the right joy that increases force. aśva (√aś 'to move, drive') → energies of motion. svasti (su-asti 'good-being') + √vah 'carry'. ratha from √ṛ/√rath (vehicle; organized movement). droṇa 'wooden trough' (ritual) is taken inward as a shaped receptacle. aśman 'stone' + cakra 'wheel' (√kṛ 'turn/make' in cakra formation) suggests durable rotary functioning. nṛ-pāna: nṛ 'man/hero' + pāna 'drink' (√pā 'drink')—the draught of strengthening.
R̥ta as right construction of the instrument (ratha), Svasti as the state of integrated well-being
Right movement (svasti) is achieved by ordered energizing and correct formation of the instrument.
The ‘set before you’ (hita) implies a true aim placed by the higher will.
Formation of vehicles and vessels mirrors cosmic formation: consciousness takes shape to carry the divine influx.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: yajña as inner transformation and descent of higher force.
Nature’s implements become psychology’s instruments: energies (horses), organized movement (chariot), receptivity (trough), depth (well), stability (stone), containment (vessel), and descent/influx (pouring).
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The 'fashioning of the chariot' mythologem: the seers build the vehicle of the journey and then consecrate it by pouring. In inner terms, it is constructing a stable psycho-spiritual instrument and energizing it with the sustaining essence (nṛpānam).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The verse is built on inherited action roots: √prī (increase by joy), √vah (carry), √kṛ (make), √pā (drink), √ji (win; jayātha from √ji). PIE-style formulaic pairing appears: 'make the chariot' + 'win the goal' (instrument + attainment).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The devatā-powers act through the prepared energies (aśvān) and the rightly built vehicle (ratha). The Rishi’s role is to gladden and discipline these forces; the divine response is svasti—safe, victorious carriage of the being.
‘Build the chariot’: align intention, breath-energy, and steady receptivity for the descent of joy/strength.
Manipura (will/energy) and Anahata (svasti—harmonious well-being)
3-part breath: energize (inhalation), hold/shape (brief kumbhaka), pour/settle (slow exhalation)
Dynamic concentration moving toward stable fullness (pūrṇatā)
Before japa: (1) awaken prāṇa, (2) clearly place the aim (hita), (3) feel an inner vehicle forming in the spine/heart, (4) invite a gentle ‘pouring’ of quiet delight into the whole system.
Notated svara unavailable; chant in a neutral Rigvedic-style recitation with attention to udātta on lexically prominent syllables (e.g., prīṇītā́-, svastivā́ham).
Keep each pada clearly separated; emphasize imperative verbs (prīṇīta, kṛṇudhvam, siñcata) with slight lift.
prīṇītāśvān: keep long ī (prī-) and retroflex ṇ; aśvān with clear śv cluster, svastivāham: articulate sv- cluster; long ā in vāham, aśmacakram: śma as one cluster; cakram with clear k, siñcata: palatal ñ before c; do not nasalize the whole vowel
Firm, directive, ‘crafting’ tone; steady breath support.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
