Rig Veda 3.49.5: Mandala 3, Sukta 49, Mantra 5
Sukta 3.49
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥
śunáṃ huvema maghavā́nam índram asmín bháre nṛ́tamaṃ vā́jasātau | śṛṇvántam ugrám ūtáye samátsu ghnántaṃ vṛtrā́ṇi saṃjítam dhánānām ||
हम अपनी भलाई के लिए इंद्र को पुकारते हैं। यह लड़ाई में वो सबसे बड़ा है, जान के लिए। हम चाहते हैं वो सुनता रहे, हमारे काम आए। वो दुश्मन को मारता है और धन जीतता है।
Word by Word
- शु॒नम्
- well, auspiciouslyIndeclinableअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)Role विशेषण (क्रियाविशेषण)Root शुन (प्रातिपदिक; अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषण) अथवा अव्यय
- हुवेम
- may we invoke/callVerbलोट् (विधिलिङ्-सदृश प्रार्थना/आशीः), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √ह्वे (ह्वयति/ह्वयते) ‘आह्वाने’
- मघवानम्
- the bountiful oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (आह्वानस्य)Root मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘दानशील/समृद्ध’ (इन्द्रस्य विशेषण)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (हुवेम)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मिन्
- in thisPronounपुं/नपुं, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- भरे
- battle, contestNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot भर (प्रातिपदिक) ‘संघर्ष/युद्ध; प्रतियोगिता’
- नृतमम्
- the best of men/most heroicAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रम् विशेषयति)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot नृतम (प्रातिपदिक; नृ + तमप्) ‘नरों में अत्युत्तम’
- वाजसातौ
- in the winning of the prize (in contest)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot वाजसाति (प्रातिपदिक) ‘वाज-प्राप्ति/पुरस्कार-जय’
- शृण्वन्तम्
- listening, hearkeningParticipleवर्तमान सक्रिय कृदन्त (परस्मै), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot √श्रु ‘श्रवणे’ → शृण्वत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- उग्रम्
- fierce, mightyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊतये
- for help, for protectionNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot ऊति (प्रातिपदिक) ‘सहायता/रक्षा’
- समत्सु
- in battlesNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकारणRoot समत्सु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सम्+अत्सु/समत्सु’ = संग्रामेषु) ‘युद्ध’
- घ्नन्तम्
- striking, slayingParticipleवर्तमान सक्रिय कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot √हन् ‘हिंसागत्योः’ → घ्नत्/घ्नन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- वृत्राणि
- Vṛtras/obstaclesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (घ्नन्तम्)Root वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक) ‘आवरणकर्ता; वृत्र-दानव; बाधक’
- संजितम्
- fully victorious, having conqueredParticipleभूतकृदन्त (कर्मणि/कर्तरि-प्रयोगसामर्थ्य), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (इन्द्रम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot √जि ‘जय’ + सम् → संजित (भूतकृदन्त)
- धनानाम्
- of riches/treasuresNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root धन (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): शुनं | हुवेम | मघवानम् | इन्द्रम् | अस्मिन् | भरे | नृतमम् | वाजसातौ | शृण्वन्तम् | उग्रम् | ऊतये | समत्सु | घ्नन्तम् | वृत्राणि | संजितम् | धनानाम् । प्रमुख सन्धयः: (1) अस्मिन्+भरे → अस्मिन्भरे (न् + भ)
- (2) उग्रम्+ऊतये → उग्रमूतये (म् + ऊ)
- (3) समत्सु+घ्नन्तम् → समत्सु घ्नन्तम् (पदसन्धि-रहित/विराम)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A call to the bounteous Indra for well-being in the pressing struggle and winning of vāja; Indra listens, is fierce for help in battles, slays the Vṛtras, and conquers riches.
Inner meaning
The seeker invokes Indra, the divine Mind, at the critical moment of inner conflict (bhara/samatsu): when habitual darkness and resistance (vṛtra) obstruct the flow of light and power. Indra is ‘nṛtama’—the most capable hero-force in the human instrument—because true victory is a victory of consciousness. He is ‘śṛṇvant’ (the listener): the higher Power responds when the will and aspiration are sincere. His ‘ugra’ intensity is the concentrated force that breaks the cover and releases the inner riches (dhanāni): powers of thought, joy, energy, and luminous perceptions that were bound.
Universal truth
In every transformative endeavor there is a decisive struggle against inertia and obscurity. When aspiration is steady, a higher intelligence answers; fierce clarity cuts through resistance, and hidden resources become available for a fuller life.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying, invocation for help (ūti), victory and plenitude (vāja-sāti), responsive deity (śṛṇvant)
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthin (Kauśika lineage often associated with Viśvāmitra)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 3.49.4, Rig Veda 3.49.1, Rig Veda 3.50.1
Family tradition
A seer of conquest and establishment: the inner kingdom is won by illumination rather than by outer force; Indra is central as the victorious Mind.
Significance
The mantra exemplifies Viśvāmitra’s ‘battle-yoga’: prayer as a call that summons higher power into psychological conflict, turning struggle into liberation of light and riches.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- मघवान् (Maghavān), नृतम (Nṛtama), उग्र (Ugra), शृण्वन् (Śṛṇvan—he who hears), वृत्रहन् (Vṛtrahan—implied: slayer of Vṛtra)
- Related deities
- Maruts (often allied with Indra), Bṛhaspati (breaker of the cave, allied illumination)
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods who breaks the obstructions, releases the waters/lights, and secures the ‘riches’ of the worlds for the right order.
Inner power
Decisive discriminative force; courage of consciousness; the lightning of insight that shatters entrenched patterns.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation in Soma rites and in prayers for victory/protection (general)
शु॒नं हु॑वेम म॒घवा॑न॒मिन्द्र॑म॒स्मिन्भरे॒ नृत॑मं॒ वाज॑सातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑मु॒ग्रमू॒तये॑ स॒मत्सु॒ घ्नन्तं॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ सं॒जितं॒ धना॑नाम् ॥
शु॒नम् । हु॒वे॒म॒ । म॒घवा॑नम् । इन्द्र॑म् । अ॒स्मिन् । भरे॑ । नृऽत॑मम् । वाज॑ऽसातौ । शृ॒ण्वन्त॑म् । उ॒ग्रम् । ऊ॒तये॑ । स॒मत्ऽसु॑ । घ्नन्त॑म् । वृ॒त्राणि॑ । स॒म्ऽजित॑म् । धना॑नाम् ॥
śunam | huvema | maghavānam | indram | asmin | bhare | nṛ-tamam | vāja-sātau | śṛṇvantam | ugram | ūtaye | samat-su | ghnantam | vṛtrāṇi | sam-jitam | dhanānām
44
4×11 (approx.)
Martial and forward-driving; suited to invocation in struggle.
Stirs courage and clarity; evokes the feeling of being aided by a greater force during inner confrontation.
- शुनम् (śunam)
- Literal: well-being, prosperity. Symbolic: integral welfare—harmony of being and right progress
- मघवान् (maghavān)
- Literal: bounteous, giver of gifts. Symbolic: the power that bestows inner riches—light, strength, joy
- भरे (bhare)
- Literal: in the bearing/struggle. Symbolic: the pressure-point of sādhanā; the carrying of the sacrifice through conflict
- नृतमम् (nṛtamam)
- Literal: most manful/heroic. Symbolic: the most effective conscious-force in the human instrument
- वाजसातौ (vājasātau)
- Literal: in the winning of vāja. Symbolic: attainment of victorious plenitude (effective force)
- शृण्वन्तम् (śṛṇvantam)
- Literal: listening. Symbolic: responsive Grace to sincere call
- उग्रम् (ugram)
- Literal: fierce, intense. Symbolic: concentrated power that breaks the cover
- समत्सु (samatsu)
- Literal: in battles. Symbolic: repeated inner confrontations with habits and obscurity
- वृत्राणि (vṛtrāṇi)
- Literal: Vṛtras, obstructers. Symbolic: covering resistances of subconscient and ignorant mind
- धनानाम् (dhanānām)
- Literal: of riches. Symbolic: treasures of consciousness—capacities released after obstruction is slain
Soma-pressing and battle-hymn usage: invocation for victory, protection, and acquisition of vāja/wealth
At moments of contest—symbolically in rites seeking success, strength, and overcoming hostile forces.
Calling (hū- root) with offering-intent; mentally aligning one’s will to Indra’s victorious action.
Use before difficult conversations, addictions/habit-change work, or intense meditation periods: chant as a ‘call for inner help’ to cut through resistance.
huvema optative/precative from √hū 'to call'. maghavān 'bountiful' (magha- 'gift, bounty'). nṛ-tama superlative of nṛ 'man/hero' indicating peak heroic capacity. vāja-sāti 'winning of vāja' where vāja = vigor/plenitude (not merely material prize). vṛtra from √vṛ 'to cover, obstruct' → psychological 'coverer' of light. √han (ghn-) 'to strike/kill' used for removing inner obstruction.
Ṛta defended through victory over coverers, inner yajña as conscious struggle (bhara, samat), transformation of 'wealth' into fullness of being (dhana)
Vṛtra represents disorder/withholding; Indra restores ṛta by release and conquest.
Indra’s listening and striking symbolizes truth responding to aspiration and removing false coverings.
Release motif: riches and powers are ‘won’ when obstructions are slain.
Integral psychological exegesis (Aurobindo/Kashyap): Vṛtra as subconscious resistance; dhanāni as inner attainments.
Storm as inner upheaval; thunderbolt as insight; victory as liberation of bound energies and perceptions.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Vṛtra-slaying mythologem: Indra breaks the coverer/obstruction so that the blocked powers (light, waters, force) can circulate. Inwardly, it is the decisive removal of ignorance-patterns that prevent the free movement of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vṛtra- from √vṛ 'cover' reflects an archaic Indo-European opposition of 'covering/darkness' vs. 'opening/light'. √han 'strike' is a common Indo-European battle-verb. The formulaic collocation (ugra + śṛṇvant + ūti) preserves inherited poetic diction of the invoked warrior-helper.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers invocation (hū) aligned with śunam (well-being/harmony), asking not for mere conquest but for a victory that yields dhana as inner treasure. Indra’s reciprocity is responsiveness (śṛṇvant) and active removal (ghnantam) of what blocks the seeker’s progress.
Call the ‘listener’ within: a higher clarity that responds. Visualize a single bolt of insight striking the precise knot of resistance.
Maṇipūra (will/courage) supported by Ājñā (discernment)
Short practice: 6–12 rounds of strong but controlled exhale (kapālabhāti-light or bhastrikā-mild), then settle into stillness and chant once slowly.
From conflicted pressure to decisive clarity and victorious release.
Name one ‘Vṛtra’ (habit, fear, doubt). Chant, then write one concrete act that expresses Indra’s victory today; execute it immediately after practice.
Maintain Vedic pitch accents; keep clear udātta lift on ‘índram’ and strong cadence at pāda ends.
Emphasize the imperative wish-force: ‘huvema… śṛṇvantam… ghnantam’. Pause after each pāda for martial clarity.
: ‘śu-nam’ (palatal ś), : ‘ma-gha-vā-nam’ with long ā, : ‘nṛ-ta-mam’ (ṛ as syllabic r), : ‘vā-ja-sā-tau’, : ‘vṛ-trā-ṇi’ retroflex ṇ
Clear, strong, and steady; avoid harshness—fierce but controlled.
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