Rig Veda 4.31.6: Mandala 4, Sukta 31, Mantra 6
Sukta 4.31
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
सं यत्त इन्द्र मन्यवः सं चक्राणि दधन्विरे । अध त्वे अध सूर्ये ॥
sáṃ yát ta indra manyávaḥ sáṃ cakrā́ṇi dadhanviré | ádha tvé ádha sū́rye ||
जब इंद्र तुम्हारी ताकत और जोश एक जगह इकट्ठा हो और सब काम शुरू हो, तब तुम में और सूरज में एक बदलाव आता है। यह वो पल है जब फ़ैसला होता है और सब सही हो जाता है।
Word by Word
- सम्
- together, whollyIndeclinableनिपात/उपसर्ग (अव्यय)Root सम् (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- यत्
- that, whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (सन्दर्भतः ‘यत्’ = ‘that/which’)Role KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचन (enclitic) = ‘of you/your’Role SampradānaRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- मन्यवः
- wraths, impetuous forces (of anger)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- togetherIndeclinableनिपात/उपसर्ग (अव्यय)Root सम् (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- चक्राणि
- wheels; (fig.) rolling powers/implementsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- दधन्विरे
- they have set in motion / have drivenVerbलिट् (परिप्रास/परफेक्ट), 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRoot धन्व्/धनु (धातु; RV-विधा: धन्व् ‘to set in motion/drive/impel’)
- अध
- then, thereafterIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root अध (निपात)
- त्वे
- in youPronounसप्तमी, एकवचन (Vedic loc.)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अध
- thenIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root अध (निपात)
- सूर्ये
- in the Sun; in the solar (realm)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): सम् | यत् | ते | इन्द्र | मन्यवः | सम् | चक्राणि | दधन्विरे | अध | त्वे | अध | सूर्ये । 1) ‘सं यत्त’ = सम् + यत् (अनुस्वार-सन्धि/निग्रह: m + y → ṃ y). 2) ‘यत्त’ लेखनम् = यत् + ते (त् + त् → त्त्; Vedic orthography shows gemination). 3) ‘चक्राणि’ is an independent neuter plural
- analysis is on pada-forms after sandhi-splitting
The meaning
Outer meaning
When your fervours, O Indra, gather together and set the workings in motion, then (it is) in you and then in the Sun.
Inner meaning
Indra’s many ‘fervours’ (manyavaḥ)—intensities of force and ardour—must become unified (saṃ ... saṃ) and organized into effective operations (cakrāṇi dadhanvire). When the divine dynamism coheres, the decisive shift (‘then’) is established first in Indra (illumined mind-force) and then in Sūrya (truth-light): the mind’s victory opens into a higher, more sovereign illumination.
Universal truth
Transformation happens when scattered energies are gathered and coordinated; unified ardour becomes effective power, and then consciousness naturally turns toward the greater light of truth.
Themes
Unification of energies, Force becoming luminous, Indra-Sūrya linkage, Inner discipline
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for RV 4.31)
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 4.13, Rig Veda 4.26, Rig Veda 4.27
Family tradition
The hymn’s movement from Indra to Sūrya is characteristic of Vāmadeva’s inner ascent: from illumined mind to solar truth; from forceful conquest to stable light.
Significance
This verse highlights a key yogic law: integration of energies precedes illumination; unity of force becomes the basis for higher truth to manifest.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Sūrya linkage)
- Epithets
- manyu-vān (possessor of ardour, implied), cakra-kṛt (setter of workings in motion, implied)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Maruts, Agni
Cosmic role
Organizer of dynamic forces who clears the way for solar truth to prevail.
Inner power
Concentration and coordination of energies; converting ardour into effective, illumined action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation emphasizing concentrated force and solar outcome; Soma context (general)
सं यत्त॑ इन्द्र म॒न्यव॒: सं च॒क्राणि॑ दधन्वि॒रे । अध॒ त्वे अध॒ सूर्ये॑ ॥
सम् । यत् । ते॒ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । म॒न्यवः॑ । सम् । च॒क्राणि॑ । द॒ध॒न्वि॒रे । अध॑ । त्वे इति॑ । अध॑ । सूर्ये॑ ॥
sam | yat | te | indra | manyavaḥ | sam | cakrāṇi | dadhanvire | adha | tve iti | adha | sūrye
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4×11
Converging rhythm (‘saṃ saṃ’) followed by a releasing resolution (‘adha’).
Helps gather scattered energies; gives a felt ‘click’ of alignment, then an opening into clarity.
- मन्यवः (manyavaḥ)
- Literal: fervours, impulses, ardours. Symbolic: intensities of force in the nature; energies that must be purified and unified
- सं (saṃ)
- Literal: together, completely. Symbolic: integration; concentration of powers
- चक्राणि (cakrāṇi)
- Literal: workings, operations; also ‘wheels’. Symbolic: organized movements of force; functional powers set into right motion
- दधन्विरे (dadhanvire)
- Literal: they set in motion/they put forth. Symbolic: activation of effective inner processes
- अध (adha)
- Literal: then, thereafter. Symbolic: the turning point; the moment of established transition
- त्वे (tve)
- Literal: in you. Symbolic: in the illumined mind-force (Indra) as immediate seat of action
- सूर्ये (sūrye)
- Literal: in the Sun. Symbolic: in the truth-consciousness where the victory becomes stable and luminous
Marks the moment of unified force in the rite: when Indra’s energies cohere, the action aligns with the solar principle—often the intended fruit of Soma: force made luminous.
When calling for decisive action and establishment of victory/illumination; transitional moments in praise sequences.
Recitation to concentrate Indra’s powers and link them to solar realization.
A mantra for moments of inner chaos: gather energies, set right processes moving, and rest in the higher clarity that follows.
manyu- is an old Indo-Iranian term for ardour/wrath (cf. Avestan mainiiu- 'spirit' is different but phonologically near; semantic convergence in 'inner force' is complex). √dhā 'set' is PIE *dʰeh₁-. cakrāṇi as 'things done' from √kṛ (PIE *kwer- 'make/do' debated; Sanskrit √kṛ is primary).
Integration/unification (sam… sam…), Transformation of impulse into right action (cakrāṇi), Solarization of power (adha… sūrye)
Right order is established when workings move in coordinated rhythm rather than conflict.
The culmination ‘in the Sun’ indicates stabilization in truth-consciousness beyond mental conflict.
From concentrated force to luminous manifestation; storm-to-sun archetype as inner process.
Integral Vedantic psychology: purification/integration (manyu) → effective action (cakra) → illumination (Sūrya).
after dawn / full daylight (symbolic progression into Sūrya)
Manyu = energetic charge in the vital; saṃ = concentration; cakra = organized practice; Sūrya = stable truth-light.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the convergence of Indra’s manyus into a single effective action that becomes solar—power aligned with the Sun (truth-light). It is the inner alchemy: raw force gathered and transmuted into luminous efficacy.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhā (dadhanvire) is a direct reflex of PIE *dʰeh₁- 'to put, set' (Greek tithēmi, Latin facere is different). The repeated sam- underscores an inherited poetic technique of parallel prefixation to mark integration.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi observes the inner mechanics of the god: when Indra’s energies unify, the seeker gains access to a higher station (sūrya). The relationship is initiatory—Indra’s force leads upward into solar consciousness.
Gather the many impulses (manyu) into one upward force; set one clear inner ‘process’ in motion (steady attention), then open to solar clarity above mind.
manipura (manyu/energy) unified and lifted to ajna (illumination)
Kapalabhati light (30–60 strokes) only if appropriate, then calm breathing with mantra to stabilize; otherwise simple deep exhales emphasizing ‘saṃ’.
Concentrated power leading into bright clarity.
On ‘saṃ’, feel energies collect at the navel; on ‘cakrāṇi’, feel them organize into a steady rhythm; on ‘adha sūrye’, imagine a sun opening at the brow and let the mind rest in that light.
Tri-svara; give clear lift to accented syllables (, :,, as marked) and emphasize the repeated ‘saṃ’ with even tone and slight stress.
Keep ‘saṃ’ short and nasal; do not over-lengthen. Let ‘adha’ mark the turning point with a gentle downward settling.
= saṃ (anusvāra as nasalization), = ma-nya-vaḥ (ny cluster), = da-dhan-vi-re (clear dh; light v), = adha tve (tve as one cluster)
Concentrated and strong at the start; clearer and more luminous by the end.
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