Rig Veda 2.18.5: Mandala 2, Sukta 18, Mantra 5
Sukta 2.18
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
आ विंशत्या त्रिंशता याह्यर्वाङा चत्वारिंशता हरिभिर्युजानः । आ पञ्चाशता सुरथेभिरिन्द्रा षष्ट्या सप्तत्या सोमपेयम् ॥
ā́ viṃśatyā́ triṃśátā yāhy arvā́ṅ ā́ catvāriṃśátā háribhir yujānó | ā́ pañcāśátā suráthēbhir indrā́ ṣaṣṭyā́ saptátyā́ soma-péyam ||
बीस घोड़ों के साथ आजा, तीस के साथ आजा। चालीस के साथ आजा, अपने घोड़ों को जोड़ के। इंद्र, पचास अच्छी रथों में आजा। साठ के साथ आजा, सत्तर के साथ सोम पीने के लिए।
Word by Word
- आ
- hither; towardsIndeclinableupasarga/avyaya (directional: ‘towards, hither’)Root आ (upasarga) / ā (avyaya)
- विंशत्या
- with twentyNoun (numeral)f., तृतीया-एकवचन (instrumental sg.; Vedic: -yā)Role KaraṇaRoot विंशति (prātipadika)
- त्रिंशता
- with thirtyNoun (numeral)f., तृतीया-एकवचन (instrumental sg.)Role KaraṇaRoot त्रिंशत्/त्रिंशत् (prātipadika)
- याहि
- come; go (hither)!Verbलोट् (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot या (धातु)
- अर्वाङ्
- hitherwardAdjective/Indeclinable (directional)पुं., प्रथमा-एकवचन (agreeing with implied ‘त्वम्/इन्द्रः’), used adverbially ‘hitherward’Root अर्वाञ्च्/अर्वाङ् (prātipadika)
- आ
- hither; towardsIndeclinableupasarga/avyayaRoot आ (upasarga) / ā (avyaya)
- चत्वारिंशता
- with fortyNoun (numeral)f., तृतीया-एकवचन (instrumental sg.)Role KaraṇaRoot चत्वारिंशत् (prātipadika)
- हरिभिः
- with the tawny (horses)Nounपुं., तृतीया-बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot हरि (prātipadika)
- युजानः
- yoking; harnessingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), आत्मनेपद, पुं., प्रथमा-एकवचनRole Kartā (of the participial action) / qualifier of the subjectRoot युज् (धातु)
- आ
- hither; towardsIndeclinableupasarga/avyayaRoot आ (upasarga) / ā (avyaya)
- पञ्चाशता
- with fiftyNoun (numeral)f., तृतीया-एकवचन (instrumental sg.)Role KaraṇaRoot पञ्चाशत् (prātipadika)
- सुरथेभिः
- with good chariotsNoun/Adjective (bahuvrīhi/tatpuruṣa used substantively)पुं., तृतीया-बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot सु-रथ (prātipadika; su + ratha)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुं., सम्बोधन-एकवचनRole Sampradāna (addressee) / vocativeRoot इन्द्र (prātipadika)
- षष्ट्या
- with sixtyNoun (numeral)f., तृतीया-एकवचन (instrumental sg.; Vedic: -yā)Role KaraṇaRoot षष्टि (prātipadika)
- सप्तत्या
- with seventyNoun (numeral)f., तृतीया-एकवचन (instrumental sg.; Vedic: -yā)Role KaraṇaRoot सप्तति (prātipadika)
- सोमपेयम्
- the Soma-drink; Soma-draughtNoun (neuter)नपुं., द्वितीया-एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सोम-पेय (prātipadika; soma + peya ‘drinkable’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): आ | विंशत्या | त्रिंशता | याहि | अर्वाङ् | आ | चत्वारिंशता | हरिभिः | युजानः | आ | पञ्चाशता | सुरथेभिः | इन्द्र | षष्ट्या | सप्तत्या | सोमपेयम् । मुख्य संधि/रूप-विशेष: (1) विंशत्या, षष्ट्या, सप्तत्या: Vedic instrumental sg. in -yā from -i-stems (विंशति, षष्टि, सप्तति)
- (2) अर्वाङ्: direction-word (अर्वाञ्च्) used adverbially ‘hitherward’
- (3) युजानः: present middle participle of √युज् ‘to yoke’, qualifying the (implied) subject Indra/‘thou’
- (4) इन्द्र: vocative sg. (address)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Come toward us with twenty, with thirty; come with forty, yoking your tawny steeds. Come, Indra, with fifty in good chariots; with sixty, with seventy to the Soma-drinking.
Inner meaning
The hymn continues the arithmetic widening: the descent of Indra is asked to be not merely personal but vast—touching many strands of the being. Numbers here are symbols of magnitude and completeness: the seeker wants the illumined mind to arrive with a full host of energized movements (harī) and well-ordered ‘chariots’—organized instruments of action. Psychologically, it is the call for a large-scale conversion of the nature: not a single insight, but a broad mobilization of energies under the light, capable of sustained work and victory nourished by Soma-bliss.
Universal truth
True transformation is comprehensive. We must invite higher clarity not as a momentary inspiration but as a wide, organized force that can govern many movements of life.
Themes
invitation, numerical amplification, soma, descent of power
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhṛgu (Bhārgava)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.18
Family tradition
A tradition that treats the gods as powers to be increased in the human system through right invocation and right receptivity.
Significance
The seer’s insistence on widening underscores an integral aim: not escape but a large descent that can remake nature.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- yoked with harī, lord of good chariots (implied by suratha)
- Related deities
- Maruts, Soma, Agni
Cosmic role
Expands the field of light and victory; brings a host of forces to establish the divine order.
Inner power
Widening illumination that organizes action-capacities into effective instruments.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra āvāhana in Soma ritual sequence (continuation)
आ विं॑श॒त्या त्रिं॒शता॑ याह्य॒र्वाङा च॑त्वारिं॒शता॒ हरि॑भिर्युजा॒नः । आ प॑ञ्चा॒शता॑ सु॒रथे॑भिरि॒न्द्रा ष॒ष्ट्या स॑प्त॒त्या सो॑म॒पेय॑म् ॥
आ । विं॒श॒त्या । त्रिं॒शता॑ । या॒हि॒ । अ॒र्वाङ् । आ । च॒त्वा॒रिं॒शता॑ । हरि॑ऽभिः । यु॒जा॒नः । आ । प॒ञ्चा॒शता॑ । सु॒ऽरथे॑भिः । इ॒न्द्र॒ । आ । ष॒ष्ट्या । स॒प्त॒त्या । सो॒म॒ऽपेय॑म् ॥
ā | viṃśatyā | triṃśatā | yāhi | arvāṅ | ā | catvāriṃśatā | hari-bhiḥ | yujānaḥ | ā | pañcāśatā | su-rathebhiḥ | indra | ā | ṣaṣṭyā | saptatyā | soma-peyam
44
4 × ~11
Rolling accumulation through large-number enumeration; steady march-like insistence.
Evokes magnitude and breadth—like calling in reinforcements of consciousness.
- विंशत्या/त्रिंशता/चत्वारिंशता/पञ्चाशता/षष्ट्या/सप्तत्या
- Literal: 20/30/40/50/60/70. Symbolic: ever-widening amplitude; increasing completeness of supportive energies
- अर्वाङ् (arvāṅ)
- Literal: toward us. Symbolic: descent into the embodied field; turning of the divine power toward the human nature
- हरिभिः युजानः (haribhir yujānaḥ)
- Literal: yoking with tawny steeds. Symbolic: harnessing dynamic energies for the illumined governance
- सुरथेभिः (surathebhih)
- Literal: with good chariots. Symbolic: well-formed instruments—organized faculties and capacities for right action
- सोमपेयम् (somapeyam)
- Literal: Soma-drinking. Symbolic: assimilation of divine delight that sustains the widened force
Extended ā yāhi invitation sequence in Soma rite; intensification of Indra’s arrival
As the invitation intensifies before/around Soma offerings to Indra.
Chanted to amplify Indra’s presence and strength in the rite.
Use to support ‘widening’ meditation: feel awareness expand from body → room → horizon while holding a single luminous intention.
The escalating numbers extend the earlier ladder: a poetic intensifier for plenitude of Indra’s energies. suratha ‘good chariot’ (su- + ratha) indicates well-ordered movement; psychologically, the vehicles are stable formations for force to act without distortion.
plenitude and completeness of force, ordered vehicles (suratha) for divine energy, progressive intensification
Multiplicity becomes harmonious when yoked to the one illumined leader.
Expansion—growth from limited to vast by summoning greater powers.
Integral/Vedic psychological symbolism (wideness as spiritual criterion).
Increasing numbers = widening prāṇa and capacities; good chariots = refined functional instruments for right action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘host of Indra’s powers’ mythologem: Indra arrives with ever-larger companies of forces and vehicles to the Soma. Innerly, the seeker calls not a small intervention but a massive, ordered descent of energy to drink the delight and transform the field.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Ratha/chariot diction is central IE heritage. The su- evaluative prefix is Indo-Iranian productivity. The numeric catalog is a traditional Indo-European rhetorical strategy for grandeur and totality.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi expands the invitation, implying increased receptivity: as aspiration widens, Indra can arrive with a fuller deployment of powers. The Soma-drinking is the point of union—divine force accepts the offered essence and, in return, magnifies the sacrificer’s capacity.
Widen consciousness while keeping a single luminous center; invite organized power for life-action.
anāhata (widening) with ājñā (organization)
Dirgha breath (3-part yogic breathing) to expand capacity; on exhale, mentally repeat ‘arvāṅ’ (toward me/into me).
Bṛhat-cit: wide awareness with energized clarity.
After a few minutes of widening, choose one practical action for the day and ‘yoke’ it to the inner light—turn wideness into suratha (good instrument).
Keep the repeated ‘ā … ā …’ invocatory openings clearly lifted; maintain even tone through number lists to avoid sing-song.
Slight pause after each number phrase; keep ‘arvāṅ’ crisp and forward.
(viṃśatyā): nasal ‘ṃ’ + ś; long ā, (triṃśatā): retroflex? keep ‘tr’ clean; long ā, (catvāriṃśatā): maintain ‘tvā’ long, (pañcāśatā): ñc cluster; long ā, (ṣaṣṭyā): retroflex ṣ twice; ṣṭy cluster, (saptatyā): clear ‘pt’ cluster
Expansive, steady, processional.
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.
