Rig Veda 4.41.5: Mandala 4, Sukta 41, Mantra 5
Sukta 4.41
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
इन्द्रा युवं वरुणा भूतमस्या धियः प्रेतारा वृषभेव धेनोः । सा नो दुहीयद्यवसेव गत्वी सहस्रधारा पयसा मही गौः ॥
índrā yuváṃ varuṇā bhūtám asyā́ dhiyaḥ prétārā vṛṣabhéva dhenóḥ | sā́ no duhīyad yávasā́iva gatvī́ sahásra-dhārā páyasā mahī́ gáuḥ ||
इंद्र और वरुण, इस सोच का मार्ग दिखाओ। जैसे दो बैल गाय को ले जाते हैं, वैसे ही इस सोच को आगे बढ़ाओ। यह सोच हमें दूध दे, जैसे गाय चराने जाती है। यह बड़ी गाय है, हज़ारों धारा से दूध देती है।
Word by Word
- इन्द्रा
- O Indra (with Varuṇa)Noun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- युवम्
- you twoPronounउत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वरुणा
- O VaruṇaNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- भूतम्
- have become / beingVerb-derived adjective/participleनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (युवम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot भू (धातु) → भूत (कृदन्त, क्त)
- अस्याः
- of this (cow / inspiration)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- धियः
- thoughts / inspirationsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot धि (प्रातिपदिक) / धी (स्त्री)
- प्रेतारा
- leaders / forward-guidersAgent noun (dual)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (युवम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot प्र-इ (धातु) → प्रेतृ (कृदन्त, तृच्) → प्रेतार (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषभा
- (as) two bullsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (युवम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRole सम्बन्ध (comparison marker)Root इव
- धेनोः
- of the cowNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सा
- shePronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- for us / ourPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदान (for us) / सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- दुहीयत्
- may she milkVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot दुह् (धातु)
- यवसे
- for fodder / nourishmentNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot यवस (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- as if / likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRole सम्बन्ध (comparison marker)Root इव
- गत्वी
- having gone / going forthVerbal adjective/participle (Vedic)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (सा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot गम् (धातु) → गत्वी (कृदन्त, त्विन्/त्वी-प्रत्यय; वैदिक)
- सहस्रधारा
- thousand-streamedAdjective (compound)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (गौः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot सहस्र-धार (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- पयसा
- with milk / with nourishing fluidNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मही
- greatAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (गौः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot मही (प्रातिपदिक)
- गौः
- the cow (symbolic: inspiration/abundance)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): इन्द्रा | युवम् | वरुणा | भूतम् | अस्याः | धियः | प्रेतारा | वृषभा | इव | धेनोः || सा | नः | दुहीयत् | यवसे | इव | गत्वी | सहस्रधारा | पयसा | मही | गौः || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) इन्द्रा॑ यु॒वं → इन्द्रा + युवम् (स्वर-संयोग, विसर्गादि नास्ति)
- (2) भू॒तम॒स्या → भूतम् + अस्याः (म् + अ → म्-अ, लेखने ‘मस्या’)
- (3) प्रे॒तारा॑ वृष॒भेव॑ → प्रेतारा + वृषभा + इव (आ + वृष..., तथा वृषभा इव → वृषभेव)
- (4) नो॑ दुहीय॒द्यव॑सेव → नः + दुहीयत् + यवसे + इव (त् + य → द्य; यवसे इव → यवसेव)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra and Varuṇa are asked to become leaders of the inspired thought, like two bulls leading a milch-cow; may the great Cow yield milk in a thousand streams.
Inner meaning
The ‘dhiḥ’ (inspired intelligence) is to be led by Indra-Varuṇa: illumination and truth-order guide the mind as two strong powers (vṛṣabhā) guide the yielding source. The Cow (go/dhenū) is the Light/Knowledge in the subconscient; when rightly led, it pours ‘milk’ (payaḥ) as luminous plenitude—an abundant flow of insights, right perceptions, and nourishing joy-force.
Universal truth
When inspiration is governed by both clarity and truth, knowledge becomes fruitful and abundant. Right leadership of consciousness turns latent potential into a thousand-streamed nourishment for life.
Themes
cow as light/knowledge, inspiration leading to abundance, divine guidance
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.1, RV 4.2, RV 4.18, RV 4.41
Family tradition
The Gautamas often hymn the recovery of the ‘cows’ (rays) and the right leading of dhiḥ; Vāmadeva’s style emphasizes inner plenitude rather than mere outer gain.
Significance
Vāmadeva links leadership of thought with the release of luminous abundance—an early Vedic psychology of inspiration becoming living nourishment.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa (dual)
- Epithets
- vṛṣabhā iva (like bulls), pretārā (leaders)
- Related deities
- Sarasvatī (inspiration/flow), Bṛhaspati (word and revelation), Soma (delight that feeds inspiration)
Cosmic role
They jointly steer the movement of consciousness: Indra opens and energizes; Varuṇa aligns and stabilizes in r̥ta.
Inner power
Indra: dynamic illumination that makes thought victorious; Varuṇa: vast truth that makes thought exact, pure, and law-abiding.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Varuṇa stotra within Soma rites; also recited for increase (puṣṭi) and right inspiration.
इन्द्रा॑ यु॒वं व॑रुणा भू॒तम॒स्या धि॒यः प्रे॒तारा॑ वृष॒भेव॑ धे॒नोः । सा नो॑ दुहीय॒द्यव॑सेव ग॒त्वी स॒हस्र॑धारा॒ पय॑सा म॒ही गौः ॥
इन्द्रा॑ । यु॒वम् । व॒रु॒णा॒ । भू॒तम् । अ॒स्याः । धि॒यः । प्रे॒तारा॑ । वृ॒ष॒भाऽइ॑व । धे॒नोः । सा । नः॒ । दु॒ही॒य॒त् । यव॑साऽइव । ग॒त्वी । स॒हस्र॑ऽधारा । पय॑सा । म॒ही । गौः ॥
indrā | yuvam | varuṇā | bhūtam | asyāḥ | dhiyaḥ | pretārā | vṛṣabhāiva | dhenoḥ | sā | naḥ | duhīyat | yavasāiva | gatvī | sahasra-dhārā | payasā | mahī | gauḥ
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4 x ~11 syllables
Expansive and forward-moving; balances strength (bulls) with flowing generosity (milk-streams).
Creates a sense of guided uplift; the cadence supports ‘leading’ the mind into a wider luminous flow.
- धियः (dhiyaḥ)
- Literal: thoughts, inspirations. Symbolic: seer-mind movements, intuitive intelligence
- प्रेतारा (pretārā)
- Literal: leaders, guides. Symbolic: inner governors who direct the mind toward truth
- वृषभा (vṛṣabhā)
- Literal: bulls. Symbolic: strong, generative powers—forceful leadership of consciousness
- धेनोः (dhenoḥ)
- Literal: of the milch-cow. Symbolic: the luminous source (go) capable of yielding knowledge
- गौः (gauḥ)
- Literal: cow. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge; the illumined substance in us
- पयसा (payasā)
- Literal: with milk. Symbolic: nourishing essence—luminous delight/knowledge-substance
- सहस्रधारा (sahasradhārā)
- Literal: thousand-streamed. Symbolic: manifold outflow of revelations and powers
Soma hymn segment linking inspiration (dhī) to abundance (gau/pay as); used to secure plenitude of thought and its fruitful yield in the rite.
During offerings seeking strength, guidance of thought, and plenitude (symbolically ‘milk’).
Recitation accompanying oblations; visualization of abundance and right direction.
For students/creatives: invoke to lead inspiration and draw abundant insight; for meditators: to ‘milk’ the inner light into daily life.
dhī- ‘vision-thought’ central Vedic term for inspired intelligence. dhénu-/gau- ‘cow’ frequently symbolizes the luminous yield of consciousness (rays/knowledges) rather than livestock. payas- ‘milk’ is essence/nourishment; inwardly the sap of delight-knowledge. sahásra- ‘thousand’ indicates plenitude (not arithmetic). prétṛ- ‘leader’ from pra-√i ‘go forward’ → ‘one who leads onward’.
dhī (inspired intellect), plenitude (sahasra-dhārā), guidance of divine powers in thought
Varuṇa ensures the ‘milk’ is truth-substance, not fantasy; Indra ensures it is powerful and effective.
Inspired thought becomes satya when led, not left to wandering mental invention.
The recovery/yielding of cows as a creation-motif: hidden light becomes manifest nourishment.
Integral Vedic yoga: illumination + truth leading to abundance of consciousness.
spring/early rains (suggested by pasture and abundance; not explicit)
Bulls = governing powers; Cow = light/knowledge; Milk = essence of realization; Pasture = field of experience where knowledge feeds life; Thousand streams = manifold faculties awakened.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Cow of plenty’ mythologem: the cow as a source of thousand-streamed milk signifies recovered and flowing illuminations/knowledges. Indra-Varuṇa as ‘bulls’ lead and master this source so it yields to the seeker.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- gau- ‘cow’ continues PIE *gʷōus (Skt. gauḥ, Gk. bous, Lat. bōs). The inherited IE poetic economy often uses cattle imagery for wealth; the Vedic innovation intensifies it into a symbol of luminous knowledge and plenitude.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi requests divine governance of dhī itself: the gods are asked to become the ‘leaders’ of inspiration so that the inspired consciousness yields its nourishing essence in abundance to the practitioner.
Bring dhiḥ under twin guidance: (1) luminous clarity, (2) truth-discipline. Then receive the ‘milk’—a steady flow of insights without strain.
ājñā (guided insight) with anāhata (nourishing flow)
Nadi-śodhana 6 rounds, then silent repetition on exhale to encourage a ‘streaming’ mind.
From scattered ideation to guided intuition and abundant, calm understanding.
Begin by offering the current thought-stream to Indra-Varuṇa; then wait for the ‘cow’ to come forward—do not force insight; let it yield naturally in many small streams.
Maintain udātta prominence on deity-names and on ‘dhiyaḥ’; allow a gentle lift on ‘sahasradhārā’.
Keep pāda 2 steady—‘vṛṣabheva dhenoḥ’ should sound like firm guidance; pāda 4 should ‘flow’ vocally with ‘payasā’.
: bhū-tam (long ū), : pre-tā-rā (long ā), : dhe-noḥ (clear ‘dh’), : sa-has-ra-dhā-rā (dhā long), : pa-ya-sā (soft y)
Warm, steady, slightly expansive; let the final pāda feel like an outpouring.
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