Rig Veda 4.17.5: Mandala 4, Sukta 17, Mantra 5
Sukta 4.17
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
य एक इच्च्यावयति प्र भूमा राजा कृष्टीनां पुरुहूत इन्द्रः । सत्यमेनमनु विश्वे मदन्ति रातिं देवस्य गृणतो मघोनः ॥
yá éka ic cyāváyati prá bhū́mā rā́jā kṛṣṭīnā́ṃ puruhūtá índraḥ | satyám enam ánu víśve madanti rātíṃ devásya gṛṇató maghónaḥ ||
इंद्र अकेला है जो पूरी दुनिया चलाता है। वो सब लोगों का राजा है और लोग उसे बहुत पुकारते हैं। सब लोग उसकी बात मानते हैं और खुश रहते हैं। जो लोग उसकी तारीफ करते हैं, उनको वो अच्छी चीज़ें देता है।
Word by Word
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- एकः
- alone, singleAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot एक (प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root इत् (निपात)
- च्यावयति
- causes to move/shake, dislodgesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot च्यव् (धातु) → च्यावय- (णिच् causative)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- भूमाः
- the great one, the mightyNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (वैदिकः प्रथमा-एकवचनस्य -आः)Role KartāRoot भूमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- राजा
- kingNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृष्टीनाम्
- of the peoples/communitiesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot कृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरुहूतः
- much-invokedAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot पुरुहूत (प्रातिपदिक; पुरु + हूत ‘much-invoked’)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्यम्
- truly, in truthAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत्: ‘truly’)Role KaraṇaRoot सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- एनम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अनु
- after, along, in accordance withIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root अनु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
- विश्वे
- all (of them), all men/godsAdjective (substantive)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- मदन्ति
- rejoice, exultVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Root मद् (धातु)
- रातिम्
- gift, bountyNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot राति (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवस्य
- of the godNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- गृणतः
- of the praising singerParticipleपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot गृ (धातु) → गृणत् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त, शतृ)
- मघोनः
- of the bountiful one (Indra)Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot मघवन्/मघोन (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bountiful, wealthy’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolved): यः | एकः | इत् | च्यावयति | प्र | भूमाः | राजा | कृष्टीनाम् | पुरुहूतः | इन्द्रः || सत्यम् | एनम् | अनु | विश्वे | मदन्ति | रातिम् | देवस्य | गृणतः | मघोनः || विशेषाः: (1) एक॑ इच्च्या॒वय॑ति → एकः + इत् + च्यावयति (इद्/इत्-निपातः; sandhi: -ः + इ- → इ- with visarga loss in saṃhitā)
- (2) प्र भूमा॒ → प्र + भूमाः (वैदिक प्रथमा-एकवचन -आः)
- (3) स॒त्यमे॑न॒मनु॒ → सत्यम् + एनम् + अनु (म् + ए- → मे-)
- (4) गृण॒तो म॒घोन॑: → गृणतः + मघोनः (ः + म- → o m- in saṃhitā; visarga sandhi)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra alone sets the vast earth/world in motion, as king of the peoples and much-invoked. All follow him in truth and rejoice; he grants divine gifts to the praising singer, the one rich in aspiration.
Inner meaning
Indra is the sovereign illumined Mind that can move the whole field of embodied nature (bhūmā) from inertia into progressive action. When the mind aligns with satyam (the true seeing), all the inner powers (viśve) consent and rejoice; the seeker who “sings” (gṛṇataḥ = clear, heartfelt affirmation) receives rāti (the descent of divine giving: light, force, joy) as an inner increase of capacity and aspiration (maghon).
Universal truth
A single governing clarity—truth-aligned intelligence—can set an entire life-system into right motion. When consciousness follows truth, harmony arises and the needed resources arrive to the sincere practitioner.
Themes
Indra as king, truth-following, divine gift to the singer
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.17, Rig Veda 4.18, Rig Veda 4.26, Rig Veda 4.27
Family tradition
Gautama seer-line emphasizing inspired hymn as a means to invoke inner powers (Indra/Agni) for illumination and victory over obstruction.
Significance
Vāmadeva’s vision often moves from outer heroic Indra-myth to the inner conquest: the One Light governing multiplicity, releasing truth and right movement in the being.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- puruhūta (much-invoked), rājā kṛṣṭīnām (king of the peoples), maghavān (bountiful)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas, Maruts
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstruction and establisher of right order; leader of the gods in the battle for light; awakener of the world’s dynamism.
Inner power
Illumined mind-force that organizes the inner ‘peoples’ (faculties), compels progress, and channels truth into effective action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotras within Soma-yajña sequences (praise to strengthen Indra for victory).
य एक॑ इच्च्या॒वय॑ति॒ प्र भूमा॒ राजा॑ कृष्टी॒नां पु॑रुहू॒त इन्द्र॑: । स॒त्यमे॑न॒मनु॒ विश्वे॑ मदन्ति रा॒तिं दे॒वस्य॑ गृण॒तो म॒घोन॑: ॥
यः । एकः॑ । इत् । च्या॒वय॑ति । प्र । भूमा॑ । राजा॑ । कृ॒ष्टी॒नाम् । पु॒रु॒ऽहू॒तः । इन्द्रः॑ । स॒त्यम् । ए॒न॒म् । अनु॑ । विश्वे॑ । म॒द॒न्ति॒ । रा॒तिम् । दे॒वस्य॑ । गृण॒तः । म॒घोनः॑ ॥
yaḥ | ekaḥ | it | cyāvayati | pra | bhūmā | rājā | kṛṣṭīnām | puru-hūtaḥ | indraḥ | satyam | enam | anu | viśve | madanti | rātim | devasya | gṛṇataḥ | maghonaḥ
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Firm, marching cadence suited to proclamation and victory-hymn.
Builds resolve and upward drive; supports a steady ascent from invocation to affirmation of truth and gift.
- एकः (ekaḥ)
- Literal: the one, alone. Symbolic: the unified luminous consciousness that can govern the many parts
- च्यावयति (cyāvayati)
- Literal: sets in motion, dislodges. Symbolic: shifts consciousness out of inertia; initiates inner progress
- भूमा (bhūmā)
- Literal: the vast earth/world. Symbolic: the wide field of being—physical-vital-mental nature
- राजा कृष्टीनाम् (rājā kṛṣṭīnām)
- Literal: king of the peoples. Symbolic: sovereign of the soul-powers and life-forces in us
- पुरुहूत (puruhūta)
- Literal: much-invoked. Symbolic: the power repeatedly called in aspiration; ever-available aid
- सत्यम् (satyam)
- Literal: truth. Symbolic: truth-consciousness; right seeing that aligns will and knowledge
- रातिम् (rātim)
- Literal: gift, largesse. Symbolic: descent of grace: illumination, strength, wideness, joy
- मघोनः (maghonaḥ)
- Literal: bountiful/wealthy; also ‘rich in gifts’. Symbolic: the aspirant rich in striving and capacity for increase
Praise-stanza supporting the patron-singer economy of Soma ritual: the hymn asserts Indra as giver of rā́ti to the praising voice.
During Soma pressing/recitation cycles where Indra is invoked for strength, rain, and victory.
Recitation/chant with offerings into fire; mental ‘offering’ of praise and aspiration.
Use as a morning resolve-mantra: align mind to satya, invoke decisive clarity before action or difficult work.
√cyu/√cyav ‘to move, fall, shake’ → causative cyāvayati ‘sets into motion’; √mad ‘to be exhilarated, intoxicated’ indicates uplift of consciousness; rā́ti from √rā ‘to give’ → gift as a divine outflow; maghá denotes ‘power of bounty/plenitude’ (not merely wealth), hence maghonaḥ = one capable of receiving/holding fullness.
Satya (truth as guiding principle), divine kingship/governance, rā́ti (grace/gift as outflow of the divine)
Indra’s motion-making is right movement when guided by satyam; ṛta becomes dynamic order in life.
Satyam as the criterion by which all powers ‘follow’—consent of the being to truth.
World set in motion from latency to manifestation through awakened conscious-force.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian): unity governing multiplicity; truth-consciousness as driver of evolution.
The ‘earth’ is embodied nature; its ‘motion’ is the awakening of progressive energies under illumined governance.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the singular sovereign force who ‘moves the Vast’ (bhūma) and leads all in Satya. The mythic kingship becomes an inner governance: the awakened Indra-power organizes the many ‘peoples’ (faculties) in the being around truth and joy.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- rājā continues PIE *h₃rḗǵs ‘king’ (cf. Latin rēx); √mad has Indo-Iranian continuities in the semantic field of inspired exhilaration (Soma/haoma culture). The verse preserves archaic political-sacral vocabulary refunctionalized as inner sovereignty.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The relationship is reciprocal: invocation (puru-hūta, gṛṇataḥ) draws Indra’s governance and gift (rā́ti). The seer positions truthful alignment (satyam anu) as the condition for collective rejoicing and reception of Indra’s plenitude.
Invoke the ‘one-pointed Indra’—unified luminous intelligence—to set the day’s nature into right motion.
ājñā (brow)
Nādi-śodhana 6–12 rounds, then steady inhalation/exhalation with silent repetition on exhale.
Focused, truth-aligned, forward-moving (sattvic-vīra).
Before decisions: recite once slowly, then ask inwardly, ‘What is satyam here?’ Let the clearest, widest answer lead action; offer that intention as your ‘gṛṇ’ (praise/affirmation).
Triṣṭubh recitation with Vedic accents preserved: udatta peaks on key verbs/nouns; svarita falls on following syllables; anudatta as baseline.
Keep a clear lift on udatta syllables (e.g., इन्द्रः, सत्यम्), avoid flattening compound accents (पुरुहूत).
cyāvayati: ‘cyā’ with long ā; ‘va’ light; ‘ya’ crisp, kṛṣṭīnām: retroflex ‘ṣṭ’ cluster; long ī in kṛṣṭī-, puruhūta: long ū in -hū-; do not over-aspirate h, gṛṇataḥ: ṛ is vocalic; ‘gṛ’ not ‘gri’
Bright, steady, declarative; slight crescendo toward satyam.
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