Rig Veda 10.116.4: Mandala 10, Sukta 116, Mantra 4
Sukta 10.116
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
आ द्विबर्हा अमिनो यात्विन्द्रो वृषा हरिभ्यां परिषिक्तमन्धः । गव्या सुतस्य प्रभृतस्य मध्वः सत्रा खेदामरुशहा वृषस्व ॥
ā́ dvi-bárhā amíno yā́tv índro vṛ́ṣā háribhyāṃ páriṣiktam ándhaḥ | gavyā́ sutásya prábhṛtasya mádhvaḥ satrā́ khédām aruśa-hā́ vṛṣasva ||
इन्द्र को बुला रहे हैं, वो दो गुना बड़े हैं, जैसे बैल स्ट्रॉन्ग होता है। उसके दो पीले घोड़े हैं। सोम का पानी सब तरफ बहा दिया है, वो मीठा है गाय के दूध जैसा। हे इन्द्र, तू ताकत पकड़। बुरी ताकत को मार, और थकावट दूर कर।
Word by Word
- आ
- towards; hitherIndeclinableupasarga/particleRoot आ (upasarga) / ā (avyaya)
- द्विबर्हाः
- the two-bolstered/with double support (epithet)Noun (epithet)masculine, nominative singularRole KartāRoot द्वि-बर्हस् (prātipadika)
- अमिनः
- has harmed; has injuredVerbperfect (Vedic), 3rd person singular, parasmaipadaRole KriyāRoot मि (dhātu) with privative a-; stem अमिन-
- यातु
- demon; sorcery; hostile beingNounneuter, accusative singularRole KarmaRoot यातु (prātipadika)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounmasculine, nominative singularRole KartāRoot इन्द्र (prātipadika)
- वृषा
- the bull; the mighty oneNoun/Adjectivemasculine, nominative singularRole Kartā (apposition to इन्द्रः)Root वृषन्/वृष (prātipadika)
- हरिभ्याम्
- with the two bay steedsNounmasculine, instrumental dualRole KaraṇaRoot हरि (prātipadika)
- परिषिक्तम्
- poured around; well-sprinkledParticiple (past passive)neuter, accusative singular (agreeing with अन्धः)Role Karma (qualifier)Root परि-√सिच् (dhātu) → सिक्त (PPP)
- अन्धः
- Soma-juice; pressed drinkNounneuter, accusative singularRole KarmaRoot अन्धस् (prātipadika)
- गव्या
- with milk; milk-mixedAdjectiveneuter, instrumental singular (used adverbially)Role KaraṇaRoot गव्य (prātipadika)
- सुतस्य
- of the pressed (Soma)Noun (from participle)masculine/neuter, genitive singularRole Sambandha (genitive)Root √सु (dhātu) → सुत (PPP used as noun)
- प्रभृतस्य
- of the brought forth; offeredParticiple (past passive) used adjectivallymasculine/neuter, genitive singular (agreeing with सुतस्य)Role Sambandha (genitive)Root प्र-√भृ (dhātu) → प्रभृत (PPP)
- मध्वः
- of the sweetness; of the honeyed (drink)Nounneuter, genitive singular (Vedic form मध्वः)Role Sambandha (genitive)Root मधु (prātipadika)
- सत्रा
- continually; altogetherIndeclinableadverbRoot सत्रा (avyaya)
- खेदाम्
- distresses; vexationsNounmasculine, accusative pluralRole KarmaRoot खेद (prātipadika)
- अरुशहा
- overpowering the ruddy/fiery (foes)Adjective (epithet)masculine, nominative singular (addressing Indra)Role Sambोधन (vocative sense though nominative form)Root अरु-शह (prātipadika; ‘overcoming the ruddy/fiery one(s)’)
- वृषस्व
- be strong; bestir thyself; rain down (strength)Verbimperative, 2nd person singular, middle (ātmanepada)Role Kriyā (injunction)Root √वृष् (dhātu)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved as: आ | द्विबर्हाः | अमिनः | यातु | इन्द्रः | वृषा | हरिभ्याम् | परिषिक्तम् | अन्धः । गव्या | सुतस्य | प्रभृतस्य | मध्वः । सत्रा | खेदाम् | अरुशहा | वृषस्व ॥ Notable: परिषिक्तमन्धः → परिषिक्तम् + अन्धः (m-final before vowel)
- मध्वः is Vedic gen.sg. of मधु
- अरुशहा is an epithet in nominative used in address (Vedic usage)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, the strong bull, is invited to come with his two tawny horses to the Soma-juice poured out; by the cow-born sweetness of the pressed offering he is urged to grow in power, slay the ruddy foes, and remove weariness.
Inner meaning
The illumined Mind-Power (Indra) is called to descend into the field of practice with its twin dynamic forces (the two haris: swift energies of perception and action). The “poured Soma” is the diffused delight/ānanda offered through aspiration; its “cow-born sweetness” is the clarified light-born joy arising from the rays of knowledge (go). Indra’s increase is the growth of inner sovereignty and victorious clarity that destroys the ‘ruddy’ agitations (arusha as turbulent, passionate, disorderly movements) and ends kheda—fatigue, depression, discouragement—by a sudden integral overcoming (satrā).
Universal truth
When the higher intelligence is invited with concentrated aspiration and offered the refined delight born of insight, it rapidly strengthens and dissolves both violent impulses and the subtle exhaustion that follows struggle; true power comes as a unified uplift rather than piecemeal effort.
Themes
Indra arrival, Soma sweetness, victory over fatigue, dynamic energies (haris)
The seer
Significance
The anonymity suits the hymn’s practical yogic tone: it reads as a working formula of invocation where the seer’s individuality recedes and the operative psychology (calling Indra to the Soma-delight to conquer fatigue and disorder) becomes primary.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- वृषा (Vṛṣā), द्विबर्हाः (Dvibarhāḥ), अरुशहा (Aruśahā)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Maruts, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstructions; establisher of luminous order; wielder of victorious force that opens the ‘closed’ and releases the streams.
Inner power
Decisive illumination that converts aspiration and delight into conquering energy; the capacity to end exhaustion by a higher influx.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering/invitation to Indra at pressing (general Indra-Soma usage)
आ द्वि॒बर्हा॑ अमि॒नो या॒त्विन्द्रो॒ वृषा॒ हरि॑भ्यां॒ परि॑षिक्त॒मन्ध॑: । गव्या सु॒तस्य॒ प्रभृ॑तस्य॒ मध्व॑: स॒त्रा खेदा॑मरुश॒हा वृ॑षस्व ॥
आ । द्वि॒ऽबर्हाः॑ । अ॒मि॒नः । या॒तु॒ । इन्द्रः॑ । वृषा॑ । हरि॑ऽभ्याम् । परि॑ऽसिक्तम् । अन्धः॑ । गवि॑ । आ । सु॒तस्य॑ । प्रऽभृ॑तस्य । मध्वः॑ । स॒त्रा । खेदा॑म् । अ॒रु॒श॒ऽहा । वृ॒ष॒स्व॒ ॥
ā | dvi-barhāḥ | aminaḥ | yātu | indraḥ | vṛṣā | hari-bhyām | pari-siktam | andhaḥ | gavi | ā | sutasya | pra-bhṛtasya | madhvaḥ | satrā | khedām | aruśa-hā | vṛṣasva
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4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Driving, martial-forward cadence suited to invocation and victory.
Builds a sense of uplift and conquering momentum; supports overcoming lethargy and scattered will.
- इन्द्रः (indraḥ)
- Literal: Indra, lord of heaven, warrior-god. Symbolic: Illumined Mind; master of inner light and victorious discernment
- वृषा (vṛṣā)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: Fertile force of spiritual power; overflowing strength
- द्विबर्हाः (dvibarhāḥ)
- Literal: of double greatness/loftiness. Symbolic: Twofold puissance: light (knowledge) + force (effective will) acting together
- हरिभ्याम् (haribhyām)
- Literal: with the two tawny steeds. Symbolic: Twin dynamic energies—swift thought-force and life-force yoked to illumination
- परिसिक्तम् अन्धः (pariṣiktam andhaḥ)
- Literal: Soma-juice poured around. Symbolic: Diffused offering of delight permeating the consciousness-field
- गवि / गव्या (gavi/gavyā)
- Literal: in/ from the cow. Symbolic: From the rays of light/knowledge; luminosity as source of sweetness
- सुतस्य (sutasya)
- Literal: pressed (Soma). Symbolic: Concentrated essence of delight extracted by discipline
- मध्वः (madhvaḥ)
- Literal: sweetness, honey. Symbolic: Ananda-flavour of truth-consciousness
- अरुशहा (aruśahā)
- Literal: slayer of the ruddy one(s). Symbolic: Destroyer of turbulent passions/hostile impulses that mimic light
- खेदा (kheda)
- Literal: weariness, distress. Symbolic: Psychic/vital fatigue that follows effort without inner delight
- सत्रा (satrā)
- Literal: at once, continuously. Symbolic: Integral action of the higher power—sudden, total relief
Invocation for Indra’s arrival with haris to drink the poured Soma; energizing verse for overcoming kheda (fatigue) in the rite and the inner battle.
During Soma libations and Indra-invocations; also adaptable to daily inner ‘offering’ practice.
Calling Indra with haris; offering poured Soma; strengthening for victory over hostile forces and fatigue.
Use as a mantra of energization before meditation/work: offer breath and attention as ‘Soma’, invoke clear decisive intelligence to dissolve discouragement.
dvi-barhā: barh/bṛh semantic field ‘height/greatness/expansion’ (cf. bṛhat). hari (tawny) symbolizes dynamic energies yoked to Indra. andhas is Soma as ‘juice’; madh (madhvaḥ) is sweetness/delight. gavyā ‘of the cow’ points to ‘go’ as rays/illumination; thus ‘cow-born sweetness’ = delight arising from clarified light. aruśa ‘ruddy’ can denote fierce, glaring, hostile powers; the epithet aruśa-hā casts Indra as destroyer of such disturbing energies. kheda is fatigue; psychologically the inertia that follows effort.
bṛhat/expansion (barhā), illumination symbolized by cow (go), overcoming inertia/fatigue (kheda)
Indra’s victory restores r̥ta by removing disorderly movements (aruṣa/hostiles) and fatigue that breaks continuity.
Satrā-kheda-nāśa implies truth-force acting integrally, not intermittently.
Release and increase: delight extracted (Soma) becomes power that expands consciousness.
Proto-yogic Vedāntic reading (Aurobindo/Kashyap): deities as powers of consciousness; sacrifice as inner transformation.
Soma=delight distilled by practice; go=rays of knowledge; harī=swift energies; aruṣa=passionate turbulence; madhu=truth-joy; ‘pouring’=pervasion of consciousness by offered delight.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra’s epiphany: he arrives with his two haris to drink Soma and renew strength, destroying hostile ‘ruddy’ forces and overcoming fatigue. Inner sense: the dynamic powers of consciousness are yoked to the will-to-victory, nourished by delight born of illumination.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yā ‘go/come’ and √sik ‘pour’ (pari-siktam) are ancient verbal inheritances. The epithet + arrival formula (ā… yātu… indraḥ) is a stable Indo-Iranian hymn pattern.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi prepares the offering (pari-siktam andhaḥ, sutasya prabhṛtasya madhvaḥ) and calls Indra to partake so that Indra’s renewed force acts as a remover of kheda and slayer of hostile powers—supporting the sacrificer’s sustained ascent.
Invoke Indra as the decisive inner intelligence; offer the ‘Soma’ of refined joy and aspiration; concentrate on dissolving fatigue and passionate turbulence.
Maṇipūra (will/force) with support from Ājñā (clarity/command).
Moderate ujjāyī or steady nāḍī-śodhana for 6–8 rounds before chanting; feel ‘pouring’ as exhale spreading calm strength.
Energized clarity (sattva with dynamic force).
Chant, then sit 5–10 minutes: (1) gather delight in the heart as Soma, (2) lift it to the brow as Indra’s seat, (3) let a single decisive resolve cut through kheda; end with quiet receptivity.
Use Rigvedic three-tone recitation (udātta/anudātta/svarita) per śākhā; exact svara requires pada-svara text of RV 10.116.4.
Follow padapāṭha segmentation; keep udātta syllables bright and slightly raised; svarita as a controlled fall; avoid flattening compound accents (e.g., dvibarhā, pariṣiktam).
dvibarhāḥ: articulate ‘dv’ cluster cleanly; ḥ audible but light, pariṣiktam: retroflex ‘ṣ’ distinct from ‘s’, andhaḥ: final visarga lightly aspirated, aruśahā: ‘ś’ palatal; avoid ‘s’, vṛṣasva: ‘ṛ’ as vocalic r, not ‘ri’
Firm, resonant, forward-projected (Indra-invocation).
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