Rig Veda 3.51.3: Mandala 3, Sukta 51, Mantra 3
Sukta 3.51
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
आकरे वसोर्जरिता पनस्यतेऽनेहसः स्तुभ इन्द्रो दुवस्यति । विवस्वतः सदन आ हि पिप्रिये सत्रासाहमभिमातिहनं स्तुहि ॥
ākare vasoḥ jaritā panasyate’nehasaḥ stubha índro duvasyati | vivásvataḥ sádana ā hí pipriyé satrā́sāham abhimāti-hánaṃ stuhi ||
धन के कुएं के पास गाने वाला खुशी ढूंढता है। जो इन्द्र की तारीफ करता है, वो जल्दी नहीं करता, धीरे-धीरे सेवा करता है। विवस्वत के घर में वो भरा हुआ है। हमेशा जीतने वाले को पूजो, जो बुरी सोचों को मारता है।
Word by Word
- आकरे
- in the mine/sourceNounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (वेदे चल), सप्तमी एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot आकर (प्रातिपदिक; √कॄ/कर् ‘to do/make’ > ‘making/producing’, ‘mine, source’ as noun-stem)
- वसोः
- of wealth / of the good (Vasu)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- जरिता
- the praiser (bard)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot जरितृ (प्रातिपदिक; √जॄ/जर् ‘to praise, sing’)
- पनस्यते
- seeks/adores (praises)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √पनस्/पनस्य (धातु: ‘to admire, praise, desire/seek’)
- अनेहसः
- of the unwearied/undaunted oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अनेहस् (प्रातिपदिक; a- + नेहस् ‘slowness/weakness’)
- स्तुभः
- the praiser, singerNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (वेदे ‘स्तुभ्’ = स्तोता)Role कर्तृ (इन्द्रस्य सह/सम्बन्धे स्तोता)Root स्तुभ्/स्तुभ् (प्रातिपदिक; √स्तुभ् ‘to praise’)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- दुवस्यति
- honors/servesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √दुवस् (धातु: ‘to honor, serve, worship’)
- विवस्वतः
- of Vivasvat (the Sun)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root विवस्वत् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘shining one’, सूर्य)
- सदने
- in the seat/dwellingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot सदन (प्रातिपदिक; √सद् ‘to sit’ > ‘seat, dwelling’)
- आ
- hither, toIndeclinableनिपात (आगमन/समन्तात्-भाव)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableअव्यय (हेतौ/निश्चये)Role सम्बन्ध-निपातRoot हि (निपात)
- पिप्रिये
- has pleased / has become dearVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √प्री (धातु: ‘to please, gladden’; reduplicated perfect)
- सत्रासाहम्
- the ever-conqueringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (इन्द्रम् विशेषयति)Role कर्म (स्तुहि इत्यस्य)Root सत्रासाह (प्रातिपदिक; सत्रा ‘always’ + साह ‘conquering’)
- अभिमातिहनम्
- slayer of hostile assaultsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (इन्द्रम् विशेषयति)Role कर्म (स्तुहि इत्यस्य)Root अभिमातिहन् (प्रातिपदिक; अभि-माति ‘hostile attack’ + हन् ‘slayer’)
- स्तुहि
- praise (you)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √स्तु (धातु: ‘to praise’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): आ॒क॒रे | वसोः | जरिता | पनस्यते | अनेहसः | स्तुभः | इन्द्रः | दुवस्यति || विवस्वतः | सदने | आ | हि | पिप्रिये | सत्रासाहम् | अभिमातिहनम् | स्तुहि || 1) पनस्यतेऽनेहसः = पनस्यते + अनेहसः (अ + अ → ’/अवग्रह).
- ‘आ हि’ इति निपातयुग्मम्, ‘आकरे’ इत्यत्र आ- उपसर्गपूर्वकं नामरूपम् (स्थानवाचक सप्तमी)
The meaning
Outer meaning
At the spring of wealth the singer seeks delight; unhurried, he serves Indra. In the seat of Vivasvat Indra has grown full; praise the ever-victorious slayer of hostile thoughts.
Inner meaning
The ‘spring/source’ (ākara) of wealth (vasu) is the inner well of spiritual substance—light, joy, strength—accessible through steady praise. The singer is ‘without haste’ (anehasaḥ): true invocation requires calm intensity, not restless urgency. Indra ‘serves’ (duvasyati) through reverent offering of attention. Indra is fulfilled in the ‘seat of Vivasvat’—the domain of the shining Sun (vivasvat), symbol of awakened consciousness; there illumination becomes complete and stable. The enemies are ‘abhimāti’—hostile thought-forces, distortions, and attacks of doubt; Indra slays them by clear discerning light.
Universal truth
The deepest riches arise from a calm, steady turning to inner light; when consciousness rests in the sunlit seat, hostile thoughts lose their power.
Themes
Indra-victory, psychological warfare (thought-hostilities), praise-as-empowerment, inner wealth (vasu/rayi)
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Kuśika
- Other hymns
- RV 3.51, RV 3.62, RV 3.53
Family tradition
Seer-psychology that values calm force (anehasaḥ) and sun-seat realization (vivasvat sadana).
Significance
This is a practical yogic instruction: approach the source of inner wealth through unhurried devotion; establish in the sun-seat and let Indra clear hostile thought.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Satrāsāh (ever-victorious), Abhimātihan (slayer of hostile thoughts), Stubha/served by praise (contextual)
- Related deities
- Vivasvat/Sūrya, Agni, Soma, Maruts
Cosmic role
Victorious power that protects the sacrifice, destroys hostile forces, and establishes luminous fulfillment in the sun-domain.
Inner power
Clear, protective illumination that quiets haste, stabilizes in the sunlit seat, and cuts adversarial thought-forms.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise in Soma contexts; also suitable as a stotra for protection against hostile influences
आ॒क॒रे वसो॑र्जरि॒ता प॑नस्यतेऽने॒हस॒: स्तुभ॒ इन्द्रो॑ दुवस्यति । वि॒वस्व॑त॒: सद॑न॒ आ हि पि॑प्रि॒ये स॑त्रा॒साह॑मभिमाति॒हनं॑ स्तुहि ॥
आ॒ऽक॒रे । वसोः॑ । ज॒रि॒ता । प॒न॒स्य॒ते॒ । अ॒ने॒हसः॑ । स्तुभः॑ । इन्द्रः॑ । दु॒व॒स्य॒ति॒ । वि॒वस्व॑तः । सद॑ने । आ । हि । पि॒प्रि॒ये । स॒त्रा॒ऽसह॑म् । अ॒भि॒मा॒ति॒ऽहन॑म् । स्तु॒हि॒ ॥
ākare | vasoḥ | jaritā | panasyate | anehasaḥ | stubhaḥ | indraḥ | duvasyat i | vivasvataḥ | sadane | ā | hi | pipriye | satrāsaham | abhimāti-hanam | stuhi
44
4 × ~11
Measured and composed; less martial, more poised—matching ‘anehasaḥ’.
Induces steadiness and centeredness; supports settling into a ‘sun-seat’ meditation.
- आकरे (ākare)
- Literal: at the mine/spring/source. Symbolic: inner wellspring of spiritual substance
- वसोः (vasoḥ)
- Literal: of wealth. Symbolic: riches of being—light, joy, strength, right action
- पनस्यते (panasyate)
- Literal: seeks delight/admiration. Symbolic: turns toward the savor (rasa) of the inner riches
- अनेहसः (anehasaḥ)
- Literal: not hasty. Symbolic: steady, unagitated tapas
- दुवस्यति (duvasyati)
- Literal: serves, honors. Symbolic: reverent inner offering and alignment
- विवस्वतः सदने (vivasvataḥ sadane)
- Literal: in the seat of Vivasvat (the shining sun). Symbolic: in the sunlit plane of awakened consciousness
- सत्रासाहम् (satrāsāham)
- Literal: ever-conquering. Symbolic: continuous victorious force in sādhanā
- अभिमातिहनम् (abhimātihanam)
- Literal: slayer of hostile thoughts/assailants. Symbolic: destroyer of doubt, false suggestion, inner adversarial formations
Indra-stotra in Soma rites (general Soma-yajña context; invitatory praise and empowerment of Indra for protection and victory)
When seeking calm strength, protection from adversarial forces, or establishment in luminous clarity.
Recitation with deliberate calm; mental offering at the ‘source of wealth’ (ākara) as inner altar.
Use during anxiety or mental attack (rumination, doubt): chant slowly to return to the inner source and let hostile thoughts dissolve.
Key terms: (1) dūvas/dūvasyati: from √duv/duvas ‘to honor, render service’; indicates reciprocal relation—human offering of attention and speech that ‘feeds’ the god-power. (2) satrāsāham: satrā ‘continually’ + √sah ‘to conquer/endure’; points to a constant victorious force, not episodic battle. (3) abhimāti-hanam: abhi- ‘toward/against’ + māti (from √man ‘to think’ → ‘intention/mental formation’) in hostile mode; hanam from √han ‘to smite’; thus primarily the destruction of adverse mental formations. (4) vivasvat: from vi-√vas ‘to shine forth, be radiant’; solar-illumined seat (sadana from √sad ‘to sit/establish’) suggests a stabilized luminous plane in the practitioner.
R̥ta as ordered movement without haste (anehasaḥ), inner illumination (solar seat of Vivasvat), victory over hostile mental formations (abhimāti)
Unhurried, right rhythm aligns the being to r̥ta; then victory becomes continuous (satrāsāh).
Vivasvat’s seat symbolizes truth-consciousness where illumination is complete.
Fulfillment/growth of the god-power in the sun-domain; protection of evolving consciousness from hostile formations.
Vedic yoga of ascent to solar consciousness and descent of victorious illumination into mind-life.
dawn-to-daylight transition (implied by vivasvat)
Source = inner well of being; sun = awakened consciousness; foes = intrusive thought-forms and subconscious attacks.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythic action is Indra as the perennial victor and ‘slayer’—but interiorized: not merely slaying external foes, he destroys abhimāti, the hostile mental assaults/formations that obstruct the ascent to plenitude (vasu). The ‘seat of Vivasvat’ reframes the battle as establishment in solar consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sah ‘to overcome/endure’ (satrāsāham) aligns with PIE *seh₂gʰ- ‘to hold out, prevail’ (cf. Latin ‘sustinēre’ is not direct, but the endurance semantic field is comparable across IE). √han ‘to strike/kill’ (hanam) reflects a widespread IE ‘strike’ lexeme (cf. Old Irish ‘gonid’ ‘wounds’ is not cognate; closer are Indo-Iranian parallels: Avestan jan- ‘to strike/kill’). √sad ‘to sit/settle’ (sadana) continues PIE *sed- ‘sit’ (Latin sedēre, Greek hézomai).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- It is reciprocal nourishment: the jaritṛ/stubh offers steady, unhasty praise (anehasaḥ) and service (dūvasyati), which ‘fills’ the god-power (pipriye). In return, Indra grants vasu (inner wealth) and performs the decisive work of removing abhimāti—hostile thought-forces—so the practitioner can abide in the luminous sadana of Vivasvat.
Rest in the ‘seat of Vivasvat’: visualize a steady sun above the brow; let it fill the head-space with quiet light.
ājñā with sahasrāra support (solar seat above)
Slow exhale-lengthening (1:2 ratio) to cultivate anehasaḥ; chant on exhale, silent pause after each full mantra.
Calm, sunlit, protected; thoughts lose hostility and urgency.
1) Sit; feel a ‘source’ in the heart as warm fullness (vasu). 2) Bring attention to a sun above forehead (vivasvat sadana). 3) On ‘abhimātihanam’, observe any hostile thought and let it be cut by the sun’s clarity—no struggle, only steady seeing.
Follow Vedic accents; keep the delivery composed—avoid dramatic rises; allow natural svarita turns on compounds.
Slightly lengthen pauses at caesura points; emphasize ‘anehasaḥ’ with calm steadiness; let ‘stuhi’ be a gentle but firm imperative.
ākare: long ā; clear k., duvasyati: pronounce ‘du-va-sya-ti’ with palatal ‘sy’., vivasvataḥ: repeat ‘va’ cleanly; final visarga light before pause., abhimātihanam: long ā in -māti-; dental n at end.
Warm, steady, inward; more contemplative than martial.
8
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.
