Rig Veda 4.31.14: Mandala 4, Sukta 31, Mantra 14
Sukta 4.31
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अस्माकं धृष्णुया रथो द्युमाँ इन्द्रानपच्युतः । गव्युरश्वयुरीयते ॥
asmā́kaṃ dhṛṣṇu-yā́ rátho dyumā́m̐ indrā́napacyutaḥ | gavyúr aśvayúr ī́yate ||
हमारा रथ बहुत ताकतवर है। यह हिलता नहीं, सीधा आगे बढ़ता है। इंद्र, तुम इसे पकड़ के रखो। यह रथ चमकता है और जल्दी चलता है। यह उजाला और ताकत ढूंढता है।
Word by Word
- अस्माकम्
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitival relation)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- धृष्णुया
- with (our) bold (one) / boldlyAdjectiveतृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (रथ-शब्दस्य विशेषणरूपेण)Role करणRoot धृष्णु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bold, daring’)
- रथः
- chariotNounप्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole कर्तृRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्युमान्
- radiant / splendidAdjectiveप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (रथः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root द्युमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘splendid, radiant’)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (Vocative)सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनपच्युतः
- unfailing / not fallen away / steadfastAdjectiveप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (इन्द्र इति सम्बोधनस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बोधन (विशेषण)Root अन-अप-च्युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √च्युत्/√च्यु ‘to fall/move away’ + अप-; past passive participle ‘fallen away’ with negation)
- गव्युः
- cow-seeking / winning cattleAdjectiveप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (रथः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root गव्यु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘seeking cows/cattle’)
- अश्वयुः
- horse-seeking / winning horsesAdjectiveप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (रथः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root अश्वयु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘seeking horses’)
- ईयते
- goes / advances / speedsVerbलट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √इ (इण्) ‘to go, move’
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: इन्द्रानपच्युतः → इन्द्र + अनपच्युतः (vowel coalescence ā from a+a)
- गव्युरश्वयुरीयते → गव्युः + अश्वयुः + ईयते (visarga before vowel becomes r: गव्युः अश्वयुः → गव्युरश्वयुः; then sandhi with following vowel: अश्वयुः + ईयते → अश्वयुरीयते)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet says: our daring, luminous chariot, unshaken by Indra, moves forward seeking cows and horses.
Inner meaning
The ‘chariot’ is the integrated psycho-physical instrument (mind-life-body) yoked to the divine impulsion. ‘Daring force’ (dhṛṣṇu) is courageous will; ‘luminous’ (dyumān) is clarity. ‘Unshaken’ by Indra means stabilized by the illumined Mind so it does not swerve under pressure. Seeking ‘go’ and ‘aśva’ is the pursuit of higher knowledge-rays and purified vital energies for action—light and force together for the journey of realization.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires a stable, luminous vehicle: courage plus clarity, knowledge plus energy; when the higher intelligence steadies our instrument, the path becomes a forward movement rather than oscillation.
Themes
Chariot symbolism, Seeking light (go), Seeking energy (aśva), Steadfast advance
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 4.31 (hymn context)
Significance
A seer’s image of the yogic journey: the ‘ratha’ as disciplined instrument, moving under Indra’s steadying illumination toward light (go) and force (aśva).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Anapacyuta-sthāpaka (the one who makes unshaken; implied), Dyumat (giver of luminosity; implied)
- Related deities
- Agni (driver/guide), Sūrya (luminous goal), Maruts (forces that accompany)
Cosmic role
Leader of victorious advance; empowers the journey of the Aryan seeker.
Inner power
Steadying illumination that prevents deviation; energizes forward movement with courage and discernment.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra journey/victory motifs in Soma praise; non-specific.
अ॒स्माकं॑ धृष्णु॒या रथो॑ द्यु॒माँ इ॒न्द्रान॑पच्युतः । ग॒व्युर॑श्व॒युरी॑यते ॥
अ॒स्माक॑म् । धृ॒ष्णु॒ऽया । रथः॑ । द्यु॒ऽमान् । इ॒न्द्र॒ । अन॑पऽच्युतः । ग॒व्युः । अ॒श्व॒युः । ई॒य॒ते॒ ॥
asmākam | dhṛṣṇu-yā | rathaḥ | dyu-mān | indra | anapa-cyutaḥ | gavyuḥ | aśvayuḥ | īyate
44
4×11 (approx.)
Kinetic and processional; evokes motion and advance.
Creates a felt forward propulsion; helpful for overcoming stagnation and doubt.
- धृष्णुया (dhṛṣṇuyā)
- Literal: by daring/impetuous force. Symbolic: courageous will, heroic tapas in action
- रथः (rathaḥ)
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: the embodied instrument organized for the journey of yoga
- द्युमा́n (dyumān)
- Literal: luminous. Symbolic: clarity, shining intelligence in the instrument
- अनपच्युतः (anapacyutaḥ)
- Literal: not fallen away, unshaken. Symbolic: steadfastness; non-deviation from inner truth
- गव्युः (gavyuḥ)
- Literal: seeking cows. Symbolic: seeking rays of knowledge/illumination (go)
- अश्वयुः (aśvayuḥ)
- Literal: seeking horses. Symbolic: seeking purified vital energies and swift executive force
- ईयते (īyate)
- Literal: goes, moves forward. Symbolic: progressive advance of sadhana
Indra hymn imagery often used in Soma praise: the ‘chariot’ motif aligns with Indra’s coming to the sacrifice and the seeker’s forward movement.
When invoking forward progress, strength, and success in contests (outer) or obstacles (inner).
Stotra praising Indra’s stabilizing power and seeking boons (go/aśva).
Chant before beginning demanding work, travel, or a new sadhana phase; use as ‘forward-movement’ mantra during inertia.
dhṛṣṇu: from √dhṛṣ ‘be bold/dare’; ratha: vehicle/structure of movement; dyumant: div/dyu ‘shine’ + -mant ‘possessing’; anapacyuta: a- + napa-? + cyuta (ppp of √cyu ‘to fall, slip’) → ‘not slipped’; gavyú-/aśvayú-: desiderative adjectives ‘seeking cows/horses’ (go/aśva as light/energy symbols).
Aspiration as movement (ratha as will-vehicle), Steadfastness (anapacyuta) in the path of r̥ta
The chariot moves in ṛta when stabilized (anapacyuta) by illumination (Indra).
Steadfastness to the true direction; non-deviation from inner guidance.
Evolutionary advance: consciousness moves by acquiring light (go) and force (aśva).
Integral yoga hermeneutic: symbols of journey and acquisition of powers.
A luminous, courageous psycho-physical system advancing toward greater knowledge and energized right action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The chariot-journey mythologem: the advancing vehicle of power, guided by Indra’s steadfast might, seeking ‘cows’ (lights) and ‘horses’ (energies). This is the heroic progress of consciousness toward illumination and force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The chariot/horse poetic complex is pan-Indo-European (heroic mobility, divine arrival). The root √i ‘go’ is a basic IE motion root; possessive adjectives in -mant (dyumant) parallel IE possession morphology.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Indra is invoked as the stabilizing power (anapacyuta) ensuring that the seeker’s forward movement does not slip into deviation. The human journey (ratha īyate) is empowered by Indra’s luminous force and oriented toward light and energy.
Feel the ‘inner chariot’ align: mind as reins, will as driver, Indra-light as guiding intelligence; seek knowledge-rays and purified life-force.
maṇipūra (will/drive) with ājñā (guidance)
Energizing inhale-exhale (6-0-6) while visualizing forward motion on ‘īyate’.
Dynamic concentration—calm force in motion.
Before action, invoke steadiness: ‘anapacyutaḥ’; then set intention to seek ‘go’ (clarity) first, ‘aśva’ (force) second—so energy serves knowledge.
Recite with clear udatta lifts on ‘इन्द्र’ and energetic words (धृष्णुया, द्युमा́n); keep cadence strong at ‘ईयते’.
Make the first pāda a firm launch; let the final verb ‘īyate’ carry the motion forward.
(dhṛṣṇuyā): retroflex ṣṇ cluster; keep vowel lengths, (anapacyutaḥ): ‘cyu’ as palatal ‘cy’ + ‘u’, (gavyur): glide ‘vy’ cleanly; final ‘r’ light
Bright, resonant, forward-thrusting; avoid dragging syllables.
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