Rig Veda 2.25.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 25, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.25
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Brahmaṇaspati
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
सिन्धुर्न क्षोदः शिमीवाँ ऋघायतो वृषेव वध्रीँरभि वष्ट्योजसा । अग्नेरिव प्रसितिर्नाह वर्तवे यंयं युजं कृणुते ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥
síndhur ná kṣódaḥ śimī́vān ṛghāyató vṛ́ṣeva vádhrīm̐r abhí váṣṭy ójasā | agnér iva prá-sitir nā́ha vártave yaṃ-yáṃ yújaṃ kṛṇuté bráhmaṇas-pátiḥ ||
बड़े सैलाब वाली नदी की तरह, वो टेढ़े दुश्मन पे ज़ोर से मार पड़ता है। बैल की तरह जो बंधन तोड़ देता है, ऐसे ही वो ओज से मार करता है। अग्नि की आगे की तरह, उसे कोई रोक नहीं सकता, जिसके लिए ब्रह्मणस्पति हर साथी शक्ति बनाता है।
Word by Word
- सिन्धुः
- the river/stream (Sindhu), the floodNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like/asIndeclinableनिपातःRoot न
- क्षोदः
- a surge, agitation, rushingNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (उपमान-कर्तृ/उपमेय-विशेषणभावे)Root क्षोद (प्रातिपदिक)
- शिमीवान्
- impetuous, forceful, vigorousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्) / संबन्धःRoot शिमीवत् (प्रातिपदिक; -वत् प्रत्यय)
- ऋघायतः
- of the hostile/evil-doerAdjective (participle-like) / Noun (gen.)पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root ऋघाय (धातु/प्रातिपदिक-आधार; ‘ऋघाय’ = हिंस/द्रोह/दुष्टभाव)
- वृषा
- a bullNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (उपमान)Root वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानवाचक-अव्ययम्Root इव
- वध्रीन्
- castrated animals/steers (lit. ‘gelded ones’)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वध्री (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- towards, against, uponIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)उपसर्ग/अव्ययम्Root अभि
- वष्टि
- drives/controls, presses uponVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot वश् (धातु) / वष्टि (लट्)
- ओजसा
- with strength, by mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्नेः
- of AgniNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमानवाचक-अव्ययम्Root इव
- प्रसितिः
- impulse, forward drive; (also) extension/spreadNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot प्रसिति (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिपातःRoot न
- अह
- indeed, at allIndeclinableनिपातः (वेदे बलार्थ/खल्वर्थ)Root अह (निपात)
- वर्तवे
- for turning back; to be checked/turnedNoun (infinitival dative)पुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम् (वेदे: दातिव-इन्फिनिटिवः ‘to turn/for turning’)Role Sampradāna/प्रयोजन (purpose)Root वर्तु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘वर्तु’ = turning/track) / √वृत् (भावार्थ)
- यम्-यम्
- whomsoever, each (one) whomPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; पुनरुक्ति (यम् यम् = ‘whomsoever/each one whom’)Role Karma (युजम्-विशेषणभावे)Root य (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- युजम्
- an ally/associate; yoked oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot युज् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘yoked/fit ally’)
- कृणुते
- makes, fashions (for himself)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot कृ (धातु) / कृणुते (लट्)
- ब्रह्मणः
- of prayer/sacred formulationNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive) — तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपदम्Root ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पतिः
- lord, masterNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot पति (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): सिन्धुः | न | क्षोदः | शिमीवान् | ऋघायतः | वृषा | इव | वध्रीन् | अभि | वष्टि | ओजसा || अग्नेः | इव | प्रसितिः | न | अह | वर्तवे | यम्-यम् | युजम् | कृणुते | ब्रह्मणः-पतिः || 1) सिन्धु॒र्न = सिन्धुः + न (विसर्ग-लोपः/रुत्व-प्रयोगः पदसंहितायाम्)
- 2) क्षोद॒: = क्षोदः (विसर्गः पदान्ते)
- 3) शिमी॑वाँ = शिमीवान् (पुं. प्रथमा एक.)
- 4) वृषे॑व = वृषा + इव (आ + इ → ए)
- 5) वध्रीँ॑र॒भि = वध्रीन् + अभि (न् + अ → र् (वेदिक-रुत्व/परसवर्ण-प्रवृत्तिः) लेखने ‘र’)
- 6) अग्नेरि॑व = अग्नेः + इव (ः + इ → रि)
- 7) प्रसि॑ति॒र्नाह = प्रसितिः + न + अह (ः + न → र्न; न + अह संहिता)
- 8) ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पति॑: = ब्रह्मणः + पतिः (विसर्गस्य ‘स्’ आदेशः समासे; तत्पुरुष-समासः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Like a flooding river, impetuous against the crooked adversary, he strikes with power as a bull strikes down the bound restraints. Like Agni’s forward drive, there is no turning him back—he for whom Brahmaṇaspati makes every yoke-fellow power.
Inner meaning
When the Word-lord acts, the force of consciousness becomes like an irresistible current. It moves against the ‘crooked’ resistance (ṛghāyu—perverse adversary), breaking bindings (vadhrī—fetters) that confine the life-force and mind. This is the same forward impetus as Agni’s ascent: once the true will is kindled and guided by illumined speech, the movement cannot be reversed into old patterns.
Universal truth
True transformation is not a polite negotiation with resistance; it is a lawful, luminous force that breaks inner fetters and restores forward evolution.
Themes
Battle-against-obstruction, Breaking-bonds, Irresistible-force, Agni-like-impulsion
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.11 (Indra’s victories, thematic), RV 2.23 (Brahmaṇaspati)
Family tradition
Bhṛgu-line hymns frequently portray the battle for light: rivers, bulls, and fetters become images of inner force overcoming obstruction.
Significance
The seer’s language turns the Vedic ‘battle’ into a psychology of liberation: resistance is inner crookedness; victory is release of the bound energies.
The deity
- Devata
- Brahmaṇaspati
- Epithets
- Flood-like force (sindhu-na kṣodaḥ), Bull-like breaker of bonds (vṛṣa-iva), Irreversible mover (na… vartave)
- Related deities
- Agni, Indra
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods’ cause through the power of brahman—he breaks obstacles and ensures the onward course of the sacrifice and the world-order.
Inner power
Mantric force that dissolves subconscient knots and compels forward progress in sadhana.
In ritual
Where it is used
Used to invoke obstacle-breaking force in rites; supportive in moments requiring ‘victory’ over impediments to the sacrifice.
सिन्धु॒र्न क्षोद॒: शिमी॑वाँ ऋघाय॒तो वृषे॑व॒ वध्रीँ॑र॒भि व॒ष्ट्योज॑सा । अ॒ग्नेरि॑व॒ प्रसि॑ति॒र्नाह॒ वर्त॑वे॒ यंयं॒ युजं॑ कृणु॒ते ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पति॑: ॥
सिन्धुः॑ । न । क्षोदः॑ । शिमी॑ऽवान् । ऋ॒घा॒य॒तः । वृषा॑ऽइव । वध्री॑न् । अ॒भि । व॒ष्टि॒ । ओज॑सा । अ॒ग्नेःऽइ॑व । प्रऽसि॑तिः । न । अ॑ह । वर्त॑वे । यम्ऽय॑म् । युज॑म् । कृ॒णु॒ते । ब्रह्म॑णः । पतिः॑ ॥
sindhuḥ | na | kṣodaḥ | śimī-vān | ṛghāyataḥ | vṛṣāiva | vadhrīn | abhi | vaṣṭi | ojasā | agneḥ-iva | pra-sitiḥ | na | aha | vartave | yam-yam | yujam | kṛṇute | brahmaṇaḥ | patiḥ
48
4 × 12; strong simile-driven cadence in first two pādas, decisive negation in third (no turning back).
Surging and удар-like; internal momentum suits imagery of flood and bull-strike.
Energizes; helps cut through lethargy and fear, producing a sense of unstoppable advance.
- सिन्धुः (sindhuḥ)
- Literal: river, oceanic stream. Symbolic: vast conscious force, the surging current of spiritual energy
- क्षोदः (kṣodaḥ)
- Literal: surge, flood. Symbolic: intensified movement of force breaking stagnation
- ऋघायतः (ṛghāyataḥ)
- Literal: crooked/hostile adversary. Symbolic: perverse resistance of the lower nature (covering, distortion)
- वध्रीन् (vadhrīn)
- Literal: bound restraints, fetters. Symbolic: inner bindings—habits, fears, compulsions
- ओजसा (ojasā)
- Literal: with strength. Symbolic: spiritual vigor/energy of the awakened being
- अग्नेः इव प्रसितिः (agner iva prasitih)
- Literal: like Agni’s forward drive. Symbolic: irreversible ascent of the will toward light
Invoked for irresistible forward movement in the inner battle, breaking bonds (vadhrī) and overcoming crooked hostility (ṛghāyu).
When obstacles (outer or inner) threaten the rite—before offerings seeking strength and removal of hindrance.
Recitation as a protective/empowering formula; mentally ‘breaking fetters’ while offering.
For removing inner resistance (procrastination, addiction loops, fear): chant briskly, then act immediately on one right step.
(sindhu) ‘river’ (possibly from √syand ‘flow’ → syand- > sindh- by dialectal development; cf. syandate ‘flows’); (ojas) from √uj/ojas ‘vigour’; (vadhrī) ‘bond/restraint’ related to √vadh ‘to strike’? (etymology debated); (prasiti) from pra + √sī ‘to bind/fasten’ or √si ‘to impel’—in Vedic usage ‘impulsion/advance’.
Overcoming obstruction/bondage, Irreversible advance of the will
The ‘no turning back’ movement is ṛta’s insistence: evolution toward truth cannot be permanently denied.
Release of bound forces so that the divine current can flow through life and mind.
Early yogic psychology: obstruction as binding; liberation as restored flow of force.
Flood = released spiritual energy; bull = concentrated strength; fire’s drive = ascent of will; fetters = subconscious knots.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The god’s force as an unstoppable flood and bull-power that breaks restraints—an inner Vṛtra-pattern without naming Vṛtra: obstruction is ‘crooked’ (ṛghāyu), and the divine Word-power smashes bonds so the advance cannot be turned back.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The flood/bull metaphors are pan-Indo-European images for strength and virility in heroic diction. The root √syand ‘flow’ (related to notions of streaming) parallels widespread IE poetic mapping of power to water-flow.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks a transformed dynamism: not merely protection, but an irreversible forward drive (prasiti) in consciousness. Brahmaṇaspati is invoked as the arranger of allied forces (yuj), ensuring the seeker’s energies strike down inner bonds.
Feel a river of force rising from within; identify one ‘fetter’ and offer it into the flame; affirm forward movement that cannot be reversed.
muladhara (knot-breaking at the base)
brisk_energetic
Dynamic purification and breakthrough.
Chant with a firm rhythm. On each refrain, imagine all faculties being yoked behind a single forward command. After chanting, sit and watch the mind: when the old pattern appears, recall ‘na… vartave’—do not turn back.
Rigvedic accents; emphasize the similes (sindhur na…, vṛṣeva…) and keep the third pāda crisp on the negation.
Give weight to ojasā and prasitir; make ‘na… vartave’ a clean, decisive cadence before the refrain.
Maintain consonant clusters: kṣ in kṣodaḥ; vṛṣ- in vṛṣeva., Anusvāra/ nasal: śimīvām̐—keep the nasalization light but present., Retroflex ṛ in sarsṛte (refrain) and clear r/ṛ distinctions.
Forceful, cutting, focused—avoid shouting; keep tonal steadiness.
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.
