Rig Veda 3.39.5: Mandala 3, Sukta 39, Mantra 5
Sukta 3.39
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
सखा ह यत्र सखिभिर्नवग्वैरभिज्ञ्वा सत्वभिर्गा अनुग्मन् । सत्यं तदिन्द्रो दशभिर्दशग्वैः सूर्यं विवेद तमसि क्षियन्तम् ॥
sákhā ha yátra sákhibhir náva-gvair abhí-jñvā́ sátvabhir gā́ anugmán | satyáṁ tád índro daśábhir dáśa-gvaiḥ sū́ryaṁ viveda támási kṣiyántam ||
जब इंद्र अपने दोस्तों के साथ गया, वो लोग रोशनी के पीछे चले गए। नवग्वा नाम के नौ लोग थे वो। यह सच है कि इंद्र ने दस लोगों के साथ मिलके सूरज को ढूँढा। सूरज अंधेरे में छुपा था, इंद्र ने उसे पकड़ लिया।
Word by Word
- सखा
- the companion, friendNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot सखि- (प्रातिपदिक) अथवा सख्य-
- ह
- indeed, surelyIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root ह (निपात)
- यत्र
- whereIndeclinableअव्यय (स्थानवाचक)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot यत्र (सर्वनाम-प्रत्ययात्मक अव्यय)
- सखिभिः
- with (his) companionsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot सखि-
- नवग्वैः
- with the NavagvasNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot नवग्व- (प्रातिपदिक; नवग्वाः नाम ऋषयः)
- अभिज्ञ्वा
- knowing well, fully awareAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (विशेषणम् ‘सखा’)Role KartāRoot अभि-√ज्ञा (ज्ञा अवबोधने) → अभिज्ञु/अभिज्ञ्वन्- (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्वभिः
- with powers/forces; with valiant strengthsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (वेदे चल), तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot सत्व- (प्रातिपदिक)
- गाः
- the cows (rays/wealth)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot गो- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनुग्मन्
- they went after; they followedVerbलुङ् (आगम-लुङ्), प्रथमा, बहुवचनRoot अनु-√गम् (गम् गतौ)
- सत्यम्
- the truth; the true (fact)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सत्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (सत्यम् इति विशेष्य-संबन्धः)Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot इन्द्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- दशभिः
- with tenAdjective(त्रि-लिङ्ग), तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot दशन्/दश- (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- दशग्वैः
- with the DaśagvasNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot दशग्व- (प्रातिपदिक; दशग्वाः नाम ऋषयः)
- सूर्यम्
- the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सूर्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- विवेद
- found; discovered; came to knowVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमा, एकवचनRoot वि-√विद् (विद् ज्ञाने) अथवा √विद् (वेद-धातु)
- तमसि
- in darknessNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot तमस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- क्षियन्तम्
- dwelling; abiding (there)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (विशेषणम् ‘सूर्यम्’)Role KarmaRoot √क्षि (क्षि निवास-क्षये/क्षयार्थे; ‘क्षीयते’), वर्तमान-कृदन्त प्रातिपदिक क्षियन्त्-
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-निरास): सखा ह यत्र सखिभिः नवग्वैः अभिज्ञ्वा सत्वभिः गाः अनुग्मन् । सत्यम् तत् इन्द्रः दशभिः दशग्वैः सूर्यं विवेद तमसि क्षियन्तम् ॥ प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) सखिभिः+नवग्वैः → सखिभिर्नवग्वैः (विसर्ग/रुत्व-लोपः, र्-आदेशः)
- (2) नवग्वैः+अभिज्ञ्वा → नवग्वैरभिज्ञ्वा (विसर्गस्य र्, अ-आगमे संधिः)
- (3) सत्वभिः+गाः → सत्वभिर्गाः (विसर्गस्य र्)
- (4) तत्+इन्द्रः → तदिन्द्रो (त् + इ → दि; परतः घोषे दकारादेशः, तथा ‘इन्द्रः’ पदे ओ-रूपं संहितायाम्)
- (5) दशग्वैः+सूर्यम् → दशग्वैः सूर्यं (विसर्गः स्थिरः, परतः स-)
The meaning
Outer meaning
As a comrade with comrades—the Navagvas—knowing the way with powers, they followed the cows; truly, Indra with the ten Dashagvas found the Sun dwelling in darkness.
Inner meaning
The seeker becomes ‘sakhā’—a conscious ally—of the inner companions (Navagvas/Dashagvas: archetypal groups of seekers/forces of realization). With satva (powers of being, steadfast soul-force), they track and follow the rays of knowledge (gāḥ). The decisive truth (satyam) is that Indra, the illumined mind, discovers the Sun (sūrya: truth-light) concealed in tamas—within the subconscient and ignorant layers. The verse maps the collaborative yoga: companionship of inner powers + steadfast being-force + Indra’s illumination yields the revelation of the hidden Sun.
Universal truth
Truth is not absent in darkness; it is concealed. Through companionship, steadfastness, and illumination, the hidden Sun is found.
Themes
Navagva Dashagva myth, finding the Sun, recovery of rays, truth-event (satya)
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthina
- Other hymns
- RV 3.31, RV 3.34, RV 3.39
Family tradition
Viśvāmitra frequently invokes the Angirasa-like bands (Navagva/Dashagva) as prototypes of collective inner effort aided by Indra.
Significance
The seer emphasizes that realization is a coordinated work of many inner powers—friendship, endurance, and illumination—rather than solitary mental effort.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- gopati (lord of the cows, implied), tamohan (darkness-slayer, implied), sūrya-vid (finder of the Sun, implied)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati, Sūrya, Uṣas, Agni
Cosmic role
Finder and revealer of the Sun; leader of the Angirasa quest; power that turns the hidden into manifest truth.
Inner power
The luminous intelligence that discovers the concealed Self-light within ignorance and organizes the seeker’s forces into victory.
In ritual
Where it is used
Mythic exemplum within Indra-stotra: recalling Indra’s help to Navagva/Dashagva seers to recover the Sun/Light; used to catalyze similar ‘finding’ in the sacrificer.
सखा॑ ह॒ यत्र॒ सखि॑भि॒र्नव॑ग्वैरभि॒ज्ञ्वा सत्व॑भि॒र्गा अ॑नु॒ग्मन् । स॒त्यं तदिन्द्रो॑ द॒शभि॒र्दश॑ग्वै॒: सूर्यं॑ विवेद॒ तम॑सि क्षि॒यन्त॑म् ॥
सखा॑ । ह॒ । यत्र॑ । सखि॑ऽभिः । नव॑ऽग्वैः । अ॒भि॒ऽज्ञु । आ । सत्व॑ऽभिः । गाः । अ॒नु॒ऽग्मन् । स॒त्यम् । तत् । इन्द्रः॑ । द॒शऽभिः॑ । दश॑ऽग्वैः । सूर्य॑म् । वि॒वे॒द॒ । तम॑सि । क्षि॒यन्त॑म् ॥
sakhā | ha | yatra | sakhi-bhiḥ | nava-gvaiḥ | abhi-jñu | ā | satva-bhiḥ | gāḥ | anu-gman | satyam | tat | indraḥ | daśa-bhiḥ | daśa-gvaiḥ | sūryam | viveda | tamasi | kṣiyantam
44
4 × ~11
Narrative-heroic with a climactic ‘satyam tat’ pivot; strong revelation cadence at the end.
Moves from companionship and tracking to a sudden disclosure of the hidden Sun—felt as an inner ‘aha’.
- sakhā / sakhibhiḥ
- Literal: friend/comrade with friends. Symbolic: inner alliance of faculties; fraternity of seeker-powers
- navagvaiḥ / daśagvaiḥ
- Literal: Navagvas/Dashagvas (nine-/ten-cow groups). Symbolic: archetypal bands of realizers; organized inner forces of tapas and chant that open the cave
- abhijñu
- Literal: knowing, skilled, ‘knowing the way’. Symbolic: guided discernment; intuitive navigation in inner worlds
- satvabhiḥ
- Literal: with strengths/true being-powers. Symbolic: soul-force (sattva) supporting endurance and truth-seeking
- gāḥ
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of knowledge/illumination
- satyam
- Literal: truth. Symbolic: the decisive law: light is recoverable from darkness
- sūryam
- Literal: the Sun. Symbolic: revealed truth-consciousness, the luminous Self in mind
- tamasi kṣiyantam
- Literal: dwelling in darkness. Symbolic: truth hidden in the subconscient/ignorance
Mythic exemplum within Indra-stotra: recalling Indra’s help to Navagva/Dashagva seers to recover the Sun/Light; used to catalyze similar ‘finding’ in the sacrificer.
Indra-Soma contexts recounting the Angirasa quest; suitable for communal recitation (sakhā/sakhibhiḥ motif).
Praise that re-enacts the finding of the Sun/light; strengthening group intention.
Group meditation chant for collective clarity: align as ‘companions’ and seek the hidden truth in a shared difficulty or darkness.
satya from sat ‘being’ (√as ‘to be’) indicates truth as ontological reality, not mere correctness. satva relates to ‘being-ness/strength’ (sat + -tva), hence force of real substance. viveda (√vid) again ties discovery to knowing/seeing. sūrya from √svar/√sur ‘shine’ (traditional derivations vary): the shining principle of truth-consciousness.
Satya as being-truth, collective realization (band of seers), discovery of truth-light within obscurity
The ‘true path’ (abhijñu) with satva aligns the seeker with R̥ta, enabling discovery.
Explicit: ‘satyam tat’—the revelation is a truth of being, not opinion.
Unveiling: the Sun is already there, concealed; creation proceeds by disclosure of hidden light.
Integral Vedānta/Vedic psychology: the Self-light discovered within ignorance.
pre-dawn to sunrise (implied by Sun found in darkness)
Darkness = tamasic layers/subconscient; Sun = truth-self; following cows = tracking subtle intuitions and illuminations.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra’s discovery of the Sun hidden in darkness, alongside the Navagvas/Dashagvas and the following of the Cows (rays). It is the archetype of illumination recovered from the subconscient cave.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- sūrya relates to Indo-European solar lexicon (cf. Avestan hvar ‘sun’, ultimately PIE *sóh₂wl̥). The narrative of the hidden sun resonates with Indo-European poetic motifs of concealed light recovered by a hero-god.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi uses ancestral myth as operative memory: Indra as ‘friend’ (sakhā) of seekers. The relationship is companionship in the work—Indra does not merely grant boons but participates in the human quest for truth-light.
‘Find the Sun in the darkness’: turn attention to a difficult emotion/thought and search for the concealed truth-light within it.
Anāhata (friendship/companionship) rising to Ājñā (illumined seeing)
Box breathing 4-4-4-4 for 7 cycles, then natural breath while contemplating ‘satyam tat’.
From effortful seeking to revelatory insight.
Chant, then recall one ‘dark’ area; ask inwardly: ‘Where is the Sun hidden here?’ Wait for a subtle right idea, warmth, or release—follow it like a cow-track.
Observe accents; emphasize ‘satyáṃ tát’ with clear udātta lift and a clean pause before the revelation phrase.
Slightly quicken through the questing first half, then broaden and brighten on ‘sūryaṃ viveda’.
(navagvaiḥ): ‘gv’ cluster—keep ‘g’ audible, (daśagvaiḥ): same ‘gv’ clarity, (kṣiyantam): ‘kṣ’ crisp, not ‘sh’
Warm, confident, narrative; brighten tone on ‘sūryam’.
3
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