Rig Veda 2.15.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 15, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.15
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सद्मेव प्राचो वि मिमाय मानैर्वज्रेण खान्यतृणन्नदीनाम् । वृथासृजत्पथिभिर्दीर्घयाथैः सोमस्य ता मद इन्द्रश्चकार ॥
sadmeva prāco vi mimāya mānair vajreṇa khāny atṛṇan nadīnām | vṛthā sṛjat pathibhir dīrghayāthaiḥ somasya tā made indraś cakāra ||
इंद्र ने ऐसा काम किया जैसे कोई घर बना रहा हो। उसने आगे की जगह नाप ली। अपनी वज्र से उसने नदियों के रास्ते तोड़ दिए। वो पानी लंबे रास्तों पे बहने लगा। यह सब इंद्र ने सोमा पी के किया था।
Word by Word
- सद्मा
- (like) a dwelling/abodeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (उपमान-रूपेण) / क्रियाविशेषणवत्Root सद्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √सद्/सीद् (to sit, settle) → ‘seat, abode’
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमावाचक अव्ययRoot इव
- प्राचः
- the foreparts/fronts (forward spaces)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot प्राच् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘eastern/forward’
- वि
- apart, asunderPreverbउपसर्गRoot वि
- मिमाय
- measured outVerbलिट् (परोक्सभूत/परफेक्ट); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √मा (माने/मिमीते) ‘to measure’
- मानैः
- with measures/standardsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot मान (प्रातिपदिक) ‘measure, standard’
- वज्रेण
- with the thunderboltNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) ‘thunderbolt’
- खानि
- openings/channelsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot ख (प्रातिपदिक) ‘hole, opening; channel’
- अतृणत्
- he bored through / he cleftVerbलङ् (इम्परफेक्ट); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √तृण्/तॄ (to pierce, bore through; to overcome) [Vedic]
- नदीनाम्
- of the riversNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) / कर्म-सम्बन्धRoot नदी (प्रातिपदिक) ‘river’
- वृथा
- freely, without obstruction; at willIndeclinableक्रियाविशेषण अव्ययRoot वृथा
- असृजत्
- he released/let flowVerbलङ् (इम्परफेक्ट); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √सृज् (to let go, release, send forth)
- पथिभिः
- by/through paths (courses)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot पथि (प्रातिपदिक) ‘path, course’
- दीर्घयाथैः
- with long courses/long tracksNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचनRole करणRoot दीर्घयाथ (प्रातिपदिक) ‘long course/long journey’ (दीर्घ + याथ) [Vedic compound]
- सोमस्य
- of SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root सोम (प्रातिपदिक) ‘Soma’
- तत्
- that (deed/that state)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- मदे
- in (the) exhilarationNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot मद (प्रातिपदिक) ‘intoxication, exhilaration’
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- चकार
- did, accomplishedVerbलिट् (परफेक्ट); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √कृ (to do, make)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): सद्मे॑व → सद्मा + इव (एव-आदेशः)
- प्राचो॒ → प्राचः (visarga-lopa before voiced)
- मानै॒र्वज्रे॑ण → मानैः + वज्रेण (ः + व → र्)
- खान्य॑तृणन्न॒दीना॑म् → खानि + अतृणत् + नदीनाम् (नि + अ → न्य्; त् + न → न्न्)
- वृथा॑सृजत् → वृथा + असृजत् (आगम-लोपः/संधिः)
- प॒थिभि॑र्दीर्घया॒थैः → पथिभिः + दीर्घयाथैः (ः + द → र्)
- सोम॑स्य॒ ता मद॒ इन्द्र॑श्चकार → सोमस्य + तत् + मदे + इन्द्रः + चकार (तत् sandhi to ता before voiced/metrical; इन्द्रः + चकार → इन्द्रश्चकार, visarga → श् before च)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, as though planning a dwelling, measures out the forward spaces; with the vajra he breaks open the river-channels and sends the waters on long paths—done in Soma’s exhilaration.
Inner meaning
The illumined Mind (Indra) establishes an ordered inner field for the sacrifice—measuring and arranging the “spaces” of consciousness. With the vajra (decisive force of illumination) he breaks the obstructed channels so the currents of life-energy and inspiration (rivers) can flow on their destined course. Soma-ecstasy is the delight-power that makes the decisive breakthrough effortless and victorious.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires both right inner order (measuring the spaces) and the power to pierce resistances (opening channels). When delight (Soma) supports the mind’s light, blocked energies become free-flowing forces serving the soul’s long journey.
Themes
waters-release, channel-opening, cosmic order through measure, Soma-empowered action
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (tradition associates Gṛtsamada with the Bhṛgu line)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.15.1, Rig Veda 2.15.2, Rig Veda 2.16, Rig Veda 2.17
Family tradition
Second Maṇḍala seer; hymns often celebrate Indra’s victories as inner conquests enabling the yajña.
Significance
Gṛtsamada’s Indra-visions repeatedly portray the release of light, waters, and right movement—an archetype of the soul’s liberation from obstruction into ordered, forward-going life.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Vṛtrahan (slayer of the Coverer), Maghavan (bountiful), Śakra (the Powerful), Purandara (breaker of strongholds)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Establishes the luminous order in the mid-world; releases the waters and the rays; supports the gods’ victory over the powers of concealment.
Inner power
The illumined, forceful Mind that organizes consciousness and breaks psychological blockages so energies can flow in harmony with ṛta.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stuti within Soma-yajña recitation (general usage in Soma-liturgies)
सद्मे॑व॒ प्राचो॒ वि मि॑माय॒ मानै॒र्वज्रे॑ण॒ खान्य॑तृणन्न॒दीना॑म् । वृथा॑सृजत्प॒थिभि॑र्दीर्घया॒थैः सोम॑स्य॒ ता मद॒ इन्द्र॑श्चकार ॥
सद्म॑ऽइव । प्राचः॑ । वि । मि॒मा॒य॒ । मानैः॑ । वज्रे॑ण । खानि॑ । अ॒तृ॒ण॒त् । न॒दीना॑म् । वृथा॑ । अ॒सृ॒ज॒त् । प॒थिऽभिः॑ । दी॒र्घ॒ऽया॒थैः । सोम॑स्य । ता । मदे॑ । इन्द्रः॑ । च॒का॒र॒ ॥
sadma-iva | prācaḥ | vi | mimāya | mānaiḥ | vajreṇa | khāni | atṛṇat | nadīnām | vṛthā | asṛjat | pathi-bhiḥ | dīrgha-yāthaiḥ | somasya | tā | made | indraḥ | cakāra
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Strong, forward-driving cadence suited to heroic action and decisive breakthroughs.
Builds a sense of measured power—first ordering (measuring) then a sudden release (piercing), leaving the listener with spaciousness and flow.
- सद्म (sadman)
- Literal: dwelling, seat, home. Symbolic: stable inner foundation; the settled seat of consciousness for the yajña
- प्राचः (prācaḥ)
- Literal: forward regions, front spaces. Symbolic: future-facing ranges of awareness; progressive openings in consciousness
- मानैः (mānaiḥ)
- Literal: by measures. Symbolic: right discernment, proportion, and ordering intelligence
- वज्र (vajra)
- Literal: thunderbolt, diamond weapon. Symbolic: illumined will-force that shatters obstruction (vṛtra-like coverings)
- खानि (khāni)
- Literal: channels, pits, openings. Symbolic: nadīs/inner pathways for prāṇa and inspiration
- नदीः (nadīḥ)
- Literal: rivers. Symbolic: streams of life-force, intuition, and inspired movement
- दीर्घयाथ (dīrghayātha)
- Literal: long journey/path. Symbolic: the long arc of sādhanā and evolution of the being
- सोम मद (soma mada)
- Literal: Soma intoxication/rapture. Symbolic: divine Ananda that empowers and seals the victory
Indra’s release of waters is invoked during Soma rites; inner use: opening channels for free flow of energies and inspirations
During Soma pressing/praise cycles where Indra is invoked for victory, release, and increase.
Recitation to strengthen Indra’s force and invite the release of ‘waters’ (prosperity/energies) into the rite.
Use as a mantra for ‘clearing channels’: before meditation, breathwork, or when feeling blocked—invoke ordered clarity and decisive release.
√mā ‘measure’ (PIE *meh₁- ‘measure’) indicates ordering intelligence; sadman ‘seat/dwelling’ from √sad ‘sit’ → stable foundedness; vajra (weapon) symbolizes decisive will-force; √tṛ in atṛṇat has crossing/piercing sense (cf. tara- ‘crossing’); nadī ‘river’ becomes symbolic of flowing energies (waters of consciousness), consistent with Vedic apas imagery.
measuring/ordering (māna) as ṛta-intelligence, release of flows as liberation of knowledge-force, long paths as sustained inner progression
‘Measuring by measures’ signifies establishing ṛta in the inner spaces; released rivers follow their true courses.
Illumination that correctly ‘maps’ the forward spaces—truth as right seeing and right proportion.
Cosmic ordering through measurement and channeling—like creation as the opening of pathways for the waters of existence.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: consciousness evolves by opening higher channels and establishing inner order.
The inner ‘terrain’ of awareness is surveyed and structured; the vajra breaks constrictions; prāṇic and intuitive currents flow steadily toward the soul’s aim.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘release of the waters’ mythologem: Indra opens the blocked channels so the rivers can flow freely. Psychologically, the thunder-force breaks inner constrictions, allowing streams of inspiration and life-force to take their long course toward fulfillment.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mā ‘measure’ is directly PIE *meh₁-. The dragon/waters complex is a shared Indo-European narrative pattern (blockage → heroic strike → release). Lexemes for ‘path’ (pathi) and ‘measure’ reinforce archaic formulaic diction of ordered space and journey.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s speech ‘maps’ Indra’s action as a repeatable inner operation: measure (order the being), strike (remove blockage), and release (let forces flow). The sacrificer seeks Indra’s intervention to turn constrained energies into free, purposeful movement.
Establish inner order and then visualize a luminous strike opening blocked channels; rest in the resulting flow.
Ājñā (illumined mind) with support to Viśuddha (channels/flow)
Nadi-śodhana or slow alternate breathing; on exhale imagine ‘vajra’ clearing a channel.
From concentrated clarity to widened, flowing awareness.
Begin with ‘measuring’—name and place your energies calmly; then invoke a single decisive intention (vajra) to release what is obstructed; end by allowing life-force to move without interference.
Vedic tri-svara (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as per śākhā tradition; key udāttas often fall on action-verbs (,, ).
Keep udātta clearly raised; avoid flattening clusters like ‘vṛthāsṛjat’. Maintain pāda breaks after ‘nadīnām’ and ‘dīrghayāthaiḥ’.
sadmeva (not *sadmevā*)—keep short final ‘a’, vajreṇa: ‘jre’ conjunct clear, not ‘jare’, khāny atṛṇat: separate lightly (khāny-a-) to avoid swallowing ‘y’, dīrghayāthaiḥ: articulate dīrgha-yā-thaiḥ in three beats
Firm, bright, forward-placing (as if ‘measuring’ and then striking).
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