Rig Veda 2.14.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 14, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.14
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
अध्वर्यवो यो दृभीकं जघान यो गा उदाजदप हि वलं वः । तस्मा एतमन्तरिक्षे न वातमिन्द्रं सोमैरोर्णुत जूर्न वस्त्रैः ॥
ádhvaryavo yó dṛbhī́kaṃ jaghā́na yó gā́ udā́jad ápa hí valáṃ vaḥ | tásmā etám antárikṣe ná vā́tam índraṃ sómair ūrṇuta jū́r ná vastráiḥ ||
पंडित लोग, इंद्र ने द्रिभिक को मारा। उसने गायें निकाली और वल की गुफा तोड़ दी। अब इंद्र को सोम से ढक दो, जैसे हवा आसमान को ढकती है। जैसे कपड़े इंसान को ढकते हैं, वैसे ही सोम इंद्र को ढके।
Word by Word
- अध्वर्यवः
- O adhvaryu-priestsNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (voc.), बहुवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अध्वर्यु (प्रातिपदिक) < अध्वर
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सापेक्ष-सम्बन्धः) / विशेष्य-निर्देशकRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- दृभीकम्
- the Dṛbhīka (demon/foe)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot दृभीक (प्रातिपदिक)
- जघान
- slewVerbलिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot हन् (धातु)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सापेक्ष-सम्बन्धः) / विशेष्य-निर्देशकRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गाः
- the cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- उदाजत्
- brought up/out; raised forthVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot उद्-आ-जन्/जन् (धातु)
- अप
- away, offIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण (दिशा/वियोग)Root अप (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableअव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/हेतु-निपातRoot हि (निपात)
- वलम्
- Vala (the cave/obstructor)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वल (प्रातिपदिक)
- वः
- of you; yourPronounषष्ठी (gen.), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्धी) / स्वामित्वRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- तस्मै
- to himPronounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- एतम्
- this (one)Pronoun/Determinerपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्तरिक्षे
- in the mid-airNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like; as (or: not—contextually ‘like’ with following)Indeclinableअव्ययRole उपमान-निपात (तुलना) / निषेधार्थे नRoot न (निपात)
- वातम्
- windNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (उपमान-रूपेण) / उपमेय-विशेषणRoot वात (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमैः
- with Soma (draughts)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- उर्णुत
- cover (ye), wrapVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot वृ/वॄ (धातु) ‘to cover, wrap’
- जूः
- swiftly, at onceIndeclinableअव्ययRole क्रियाविशेषण (शीघ्रता/प्रेरणा)Root जू (अव्यय/निपात; वेदिक)
- नः
- of us; ourPronounषष्ठी (gen.), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्धी) / स्वामित्वRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- वस्त्रैः
- with garments; with coveringsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): अध्वर्यवः | यः | दृभीकम् | जघान | यः | गाः | उदाजत् | अप | हि | वलम् | वः || तस्मै | एतम् | अन्तरिक्षे | न | वातम् | इन्द्रम् | सोमैः | उर्णुत | जूः | नः | वस्त्रैः || 1) उदाजत् = उद्-आ- (उपसर्गौ) + अजत्/आजनत् (लङ्-रूप; संहितायां ‘उदाजत्’). 2) सोमैः उर्णुत: विसर्ग-सन्धिः: सोमैः + उर्णुत → सोमैरोर्णुत (ः + उ → रो). 3) वस्त्रैः इति तृतीया-बहुवचन
- मन्त्रे ‘वस्त्रैः’ इत्यन्ते विसर्ग/विरामचिह्नः। 4) न वातम्: ‘न’ उपमानार्थे ‘इव’ सदृश-प्रयोगः (अन्तरिक्षे न वातम् = ‘mid-air like wind’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Adhvaryus are reminded of Indra who smote Dṛbhīka, who drove forth the cows (rays) and cast away Vala’s cave for them. They are told to clothe Indra with Soma as the mid-region is clothed with wind, as a swift one with garments.
Inner meaning
Dṛbhīka represents a particular oppressive force—an afflicting formation that weakens the seeker’s strength. Indra’s action of driving out the cows is the release of rays of knowledge (go) into the human mentality; the casting away of Vala is the breaking of the cave of concealment where light is imprisoned. ‘Clothe Indra with Soma’ means saturate the illumined mind with bliss so it becomes pervasive like wind in the mid-region (antarikṣa): not a momentary insight, but an all-pervading movement. Soma becomes the garment of speed (jūḥ): bliss that makes the consciousness swift, supple, and victorious.
Universal truth
True knowledge is released by breaking inner concealment; when joy pervades the mind, illumination becomes continuous and our progress becomes swift and unobstructed.
Themes
Vala-cave, releasing the cows (lights), Soma saturation, Indra as liberator
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Āṅgirasa)
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa
- Other hymns
- RV 1.62-63 (Angirasa cow-release themes), RV 2.14.1-2
Family tradition
Angirasa hymns repeatedly speak of the cows/rays released from Vala; Gṛtsamada applies this to Indra’s function as liberator of knowledge for the human assembly.
Significance
The seer links victory (slaying hostile forces) with revelation (release of rays) and with ananda (Soma) as the sustaining atmosphere of illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Go-jit (winner of the cows, implied), Vala-bhid (splitter of Vala, implied), Vīra, Vṛṣan (implied through power)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (breaker of Vala in some accounts), Soma, Maruts
Cosmic role
Liberator of the hidden lights and breaker of enclosing caves; establishes a free, moving atmosphere for life and mind.
Inner power
Illumination that reveals knowledge and dispels concealment; dynamic force that pervades the vital-mental with inspired movement.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma stotra during Soma offering, emphasizing cow-release myth
अध्व॑र्यवो॒ यो दृभी॑कं ज॒घान॒ यो गा उ॒दाज॒दप॒ हि व॒लं वः । तस्मा॑ ए॒तम॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ न वात॒मिन्द्रं॒ सोमै॒रोर्णु॑त॒ जूर्न वस्त्रै॑: ॥
अध्व॑र्यवः । यः । दृभी॑कम् । ज॒घान॑ । यः । गाः । उ॒त्ऽआज॑त् । अप॑ । हि । व॒लम् । वरिति॒ वः । तस्मै॑ । ए॒तम् । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे । न । वात॑म् । इन्द्र॑म् । सोमैः॒ । आ । ऊ॒र्णु॒त॒ । जूः । न । वस्त्रैः॑ ॥
adhvaryavaḥ | yaḥ | dṛbhīkam | jaghāna | yaḥ | gāḥ | ut-ājat | apa | hi | valam | varitivaḥ | tasmai | etam | antarikṣe | na | vātam | indram | somaiḥ | ā | ūrṇuta | jūḥ | na | vastraiḥ
11
4×11; notable similes in the final pādas (wind/garments)
Narrative-heroic opening followed by flowing, enveloping imagery—rhythm shifts from strike to spread.
First awakens courage and clarity; then induces a sense of pervasion and inner ‘clothing’—a protected, uplifted field.
- दृभीकम् (dṛbhīkam)
- Literal: Dṛbhīka (a demon/foe). Symbolic: afflicting formation—depression, weakening impulse, hostile vibration
- गाः (gāḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge recovered for the seeker
- वलम् (valam)
- Literal: Vala (cave/coverer). Symbolic: cave of concealment; holding back of light in the subconscient
- उदाजत् (udājat)
- Literal: drove forth, brought out. Symbolic: release of hidden knowledge into active consciousness
- अन्तरिक्षे (antarikṣe)
- Literal: mid-region/atmosphere. Symbolic: vital-mental plane where energies and thoughts circulate
- वातम् (vātam)
- Literal: wind. Symbolic: pervasive prāṇa-like movement; dynamic circulation of force
- सोमैः आ ऊर्णुत (somaiḥ ā ūrṇuta)
- Literal: cover/clothe with Soma. Symbolic: saturate illumined mind with bliss so it becomes all-enveloping
- जूः (jūḥ)
- Literal: swift one/speed. Symbolic: quickened consciousness; agile force of progress
- वस्त्रैः (vastraiḥ)
- Literal: with garments. Symbolic: stable enveloping state—bliss as protective, empowering sheath
Soma offering with recollection of ‘finding the cows’ (Vala myth); used to intensify Indra’s presence by ‘clothing’ him in Soma.
During praises that recall Indra’s liberations as grounds for offering Soma.
Offer Soma while reciting; imagery supports the sense of ‘enveloping’ Indra with libation.
After insight practice, use this to ‘stabilize’ illumination by bathing it in joy—turning flashes of knowledge into a pervasive mood.
vala: ‘enclosure/cave’ from √vṛ/√val semantic of covering/enclosing; in Vedic poetics the ‘Vala cave’ holds the cows (lights). ūrṇu: from √vṛ/√ūrṇu ‘cover, wrap’—same semantic field as Vṛtra/Vala but reversed: here the covering is beneficent, a saturation with Soma rather than obstruction.
recovery of light/knowledge (gāḥ as rays), beneficent vs. obstructive covering (ūrṇu vs. vṛtra/vala)
Release of rays restores right functioning of the middle world—energies circulate without distortion.
Knowledge (go) emerges when concealment is broken; truth then moves freely like wind.
Revelation as emergence: hidden light comes out of the cave into the world.
Psychological symbolism of Angirasa myth; knowledge-release as inner evolutionary step.
Wind/atmosphere = prāṇic-mental circulation; cave = subconscious storehouse; rays = illuminations; Soma = bliss as a sheath around mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘finding/releasing of the cows’ from Vala: Indra breaks the enclosure so the rays of knowledge emerge. The verse then turns the image: instead of darkness covering light, Soma ‘covers’ Indra—an empowering saturation.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The cow-as-light trope is part of an inherited Indo-European poetic diction where cattle and radiance/wealth overlap. The wind/mid-region metaphor reflects an ancient cosmological layering (earth–midspace–heaven) shared across early IE traditions.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recalls Indra’s aid ‘for you’ (vaḥ), linking divine action to communal inner benefit. The priests then ‘clothe’ Indra with Soma—human delight offered to strengthen the very power that releases their illuminations.
Release the rays: invite a clear insight, then pervade it with quiet joy until it fills the whole vital-mental field.
anāhata (joy-pervasion)
bhrāmarī or slow ujjāyī to create a ‘wind-like’ pervasion; imagine Soma spreading on the exhale.
Pervasive, buoyant clarity; protected inner atmosphere.
Chant; on ‘gā udājat’ visualise rays rising in the mind; on ‘somair orṇuta’ feel joy wrapping the whole body-mind like a luminous garment.
Observe accents carefully in long compounds; keep the simile phrases (antarikṣe na vātam / jūr na vastraiḥ) flowing with controlled svarita.
Make the first half more percussive (jaghāna, udājat); second half more legato (orṇuta...).
‘dṛbhīkaṃ’ vocalic ṛ and long ī; don’t reduce to ‘dribhikam’., ‘udājat’ keep long ā., ‘antarikṣe’ retroflex ṣ; clear kṣ cluster., ‘orṇuta’ pronounce ṇ (retroflex n) distinctly.
Start firm, end airy and enveloping; maintain clarity of consonants.
1
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.
