Rig Veda 4.50.10: Mandala 4, Sukta 50, Mantra 10
Sukta 4.50
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra-Bṛhaspati
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
इन्द्रश्च सोमं पिबतं बृहस्पतेऽस्मिन्यज्ञे मन्दसाना वृषण्वसू । आ वां विशन्त्विन्दवः स्वाभुवोऽस्मे रयिं सर्ववीरं नि यच्छतम् ॥
índraś ca sómaṃ pibatam bṛ́haspate 'smín yajñé mandasānā́ vṛṣaṇvasū | ā́ vāṃ viśántv índavaḥ svā́bhuvo 'smé rayíṃ sárva-vīraṃ ní yacchatam ||
इंद्र और बृहस्पति, इस यज्ञ में सोम पियो। खुश हो के पियो, तुम दोनों बलवान हो। सोम की बूंदें तुम में घुस जाएं। फिर हमें ऐसा धन दो जिसमें बहुत ताकत हो।
Word by Word
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRoot च (निपात)
- सोमम्
- Soma (juice)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- पिबतम्
- drink (you two)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRoot पा (धातु) "to drink"
- बृहस्पते
- O BṛhaspatiNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मिन्
- in thisPronounपुं/नपुं, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- यज्ञे
- sacrifice, riteNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
- मन्दसानौ
- being exhilarated / gladdenedParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (वर्तमान/भाववाचक कृदन्त; ‘exhilarating/being exhilarated’)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root मन्दस् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मद्/मन्द् ‘to be exhilarated’)
- वृषण्वसू
- you two, bull-like benefactorsAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root वृषण्वसु (प्रातिपदिक; वृषण ‘mighty/bull-like’ + वसु ‘good/wealth’)
- आ
- hither, inIndeclinableआगमन/आभिमुख्यार्थकRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वाम्
- to/for you two; of you twoPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, द्विवचन (enclitic form)Role सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (contextual)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विशन्तु
- let (them) enterVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot विश् (धातु) "to enter"
- इन्दवः
- drops of SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वाभुवः
- self-impelled / of their own natureAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root स्वाभू (प्रातिपदिक; ‘self-existent/own-being’)
- अस्मे
- to usPronounचतुर्थी, बहुवचन (Vedic form)Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- रयिम्
- wealthNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रयि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सर्ववीरम्
- abounding in all heroes (i.e., with many sons/men)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (विशेषणम्)Root सर्ववीर (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व ‘all’ + वीर ‘hero’)
- नि
- down, firmlyIndeclinableन्यवस्थापन/निधारणार्थकRoot नि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यच्छतम्
- grant/establish (you two)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRoot यम् (धातु) "to hold, restrain, bestow"
Sandhi Notes
- संधि-विच्छेदः: इन्द्र॑श्च → इन्द्रः + च
- बृहस्पते॒ऽस्मिन् → बृहस्पते + अस्मिन् (ए/अ = ’अवग्रह)
- विश॒न्त्विन्द॑वः → विशन्तु + इन्दवः (उ/इ संधि)
- स्वा॒भुवो॒ऽस्मे → स्वाभुवः + अस्मे (ः + अ → ओऽ)
- अन्यत्र पदच्छेदः यथापाठम्।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra and Bṛhaspati are invited to drink Soma in this sacrifice, rejoicing as strong bringers of wealth. The Soma drops enter them in their true nature; then they are asked to place in us riches full of heroes.
Inner meaning
Indra (illumined mind) and Bṛhaspati (master of the Word/vastness) are invoked to receive the Soma (divine bliss) in the inner yajña. When bliss enters these powers in their ‘own-becoming’ (svābhuvaḥ), mind and word become rightly intensified and joyful, and they establish in us a plenitude (rayi) rich in heroic energies—courage, endurance, luminous action.
Universal truth
When clarity (illumined mind) and wisdom-speech (true intuition) are nourished by inner bliss, life becomes abundant with courageous capacities and harmonious powers.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Indra-Brihaspati alliance, bestowal of rayi, heroic plenitude
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.50.1-11, RV 4.26, RV 4.27
Family tradition
The Vāmadeva cycle often joins Indra and Bṛhaspati: illumination plus the word of truth, both nourished by Soma-delight.
Significance
The seer emphasizes a complete yoga: bliss (Soma) must enter and transform mind (Indra) and inspired speech (Bṛhaspati) to yield heroic plenitude in life.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra-Bṛhaspati (dual)
- Epithets
- Vṛṣaṇvasū (strong bringers of wealth), Soma-pā (Soma-drinkers)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Uṣas, Maruts
Cosmic role
Indra breaks the cover and releases the rays; Bṛhaspati establishes the right word and order—together they secure victorious abundance.
Inner power
Union of illumined intelligence with mantric intuition, both intensified by bliss.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-yajña invocatory verse to Indra and Bṛhaspati
इन्द्र॑श्च॒ सोमं॑ पिबतं बृहस्पते॒ऽस्मिन्य॒ज्ञे म॑न्दसा॒ना वृ॑षण्वसू । आ वां॑ विश॒न्त्विन्द॑वः स्वा॒भुवो॒ऽस्मे र॒यिं सर्व॑वीरं॒ नि य॑च्छतम् ॥
इन्द्रः॑ । च॒ । सोम॑म् । पि॒ब॒त॒म् । बृ॒ह॒स्प॒ते॒ । अ॒स्मिन् । य॒ज्ञे । म॒न्द॒सा॒ना । वृ॒ष॒ण्व॒सू॒ इति॑ वृषण्ऽवसू । आ । वा॒म् । वि॒श॒न्तु॒ । इन्द॑वः । सु॒ऽआ॒भुवः॑ । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । र॒यिम् । सर्व॑ऽवीरम् । नि । य॒च्छ॒त॒म् ॥
indraḥ | ca | somam | pibatam | bṛhaspate | asmin | yajñe | mandasānā | vṛṣaṇvasūitivṛṣaṇ-vasū | ā | vām | viśantu | indavaḥ | su-ābhuvaḥ | asme iti | rayim | sarva-vīram | ni | yacchatam
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Energetic invitation with a lifting middle and a settling cadence in the final imperative.
Energizes aspiration and joy; then grounds it into a calm receiving of plenitude.
- इन्द्रः (indraḥ)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: divine mind-force; illuminator that conquers obscurity
- बृहस्पते (bṛhaspate)
- Literal: Bṛhaspati. Symbolic: lord of the inspired Word; opener of right paths
- सोमम् (somam)
- Literal: Soma. Symbolic: divine delight/bliss that immortalizes consciousness
- यज्ञे (yajñe)
- Literal: sacrifice. Symbolic: inner offering: disciplined aspiration and self-giving
- मन्दसानाः (mandasānāḥ)
- Literal: rejoicing, exhilarated. Symbolic: uplift of consciousness when bliss touches mind and word
- वृषण्वसू (vṛṣaṇvasū)
- Literal: bull-wealthy / strong bringers of wealth. Symbolic: powers that pour forceful luminous abundance
- इन्दवः (indavaḥ)
- Literal: Soma drops. Symbolic: streams of delight/illumination entering the faculties
- स्वाभुवः (svābhuvaḥ)
- Literal: self-becoming, in their own nature. Symbolic: authentic movement of bliss, not distorted by ego/vital desire
- रयिम् (rayim)
- Literal: wealth, plenitude. Symbolic: integral abundance of energies and attainments
- सर्ववीरम् (sarvavīram)
- Literal: full of all heroes. Symbolic: endowed with many courageous powers: will, clarity, endurance, right impulse
Direct Soma-invitation verse for Soma-yajña: urging Indra and Bṛhaspati to drink and bestow rayi (wealth/power).
During Soma pressing/offerings; also in rites seeking strength, clarity, and prosperity
Invitation (āvāhana) and offering of Soma; request to ‘set down’ (ni yacchatam) wealth in the sacrificer
Use before study/creative work: invite illumined mind and inspired speech to be ‘fed’ by inner delight, then work from that state.
√pā (pibatam) 'drink'; soma from √su 'press' => pressed delight; mandasānā from √mand 'to rejoice, be glad'; indú 'drop, bright spark' (luminous); rayi 'wealth' tied to shining/possession semantics (inner plenitude); vīra 'hero' (IE *wiHro-); √yam/√yach (yacchatam) 'to hold, restrain, bestow firmly' with ni- => establish within.
ānanda (delight) as power-source (Soma), śakti (force) joined with brahman (word), establishment of inner plenitude (ni-yam)
When Soma moves in its own truth, the gods act according to ṛta and establish right results.
‘True becoming’ (svābhuvaḥ) implies satya: delight must be authentic, not desire-mixed.
Descent of delight into faculties as a creative act producing heroic abundance.
Integral-psychological Veda: Soma as ananda supporting illumination and revelation.
Soma drops are waves of delight/clarity entering mind and speech; ‘wealth’ is the stabilized gain of transformed energies.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The cooperative action of Indra (force of illumination) and Bṛhaspati (force of the Word) drinking Soma to empower their bestowal—delight fuels the joint victory and the granting of all-heroic wealth.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √pā 'drink' reflects PIE *peh₃- 'drink'; vīra (in sarva-vīram) corresponds to Latin vir; √su in Soma (pressed) is Indo-Iranian with parallels in Avestan haoma; √yach/√yam relates to PIE *yem- 'hold, restrain'.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers the yajña as a field where delight (Soma) can enter the gods; the gods in return are asked to 'set down' within the human being a stable plenitude of luminous wealth and heroic capacities.
Offer the day’s energies into the inner fire; then ‘drink Soma’ by receiving quiet joy in the mind and speech-centers.
viśuddha (truth-speech) + ājñā (illumined mind)
Inhale gently imagining cool Soma rising to brow and throat; brief pause; exhale setting intention: ‘ni yacchatam’—let higher powers establish plenitude in me.
Joyful clarity; inspired, steady productivity without strain.
Before speaking or deciding, touch a subtle delight; let words arise from wideness; act only after the mind feels lit and quiet.
Vedic accent flow with clear udātta on key invocatives and imperatives; maintain triṣṭubh caesura naturally after sense-breaks.
Emphasize (somam pibatam), (mandasānāḥ), (indavaḥ), (svābhuvaḥ), (ni yacchatam).
bṛhaspate: keep ṛ short and clear; avoid ‘brihaspate’., svābhuvaḥ: articulate ‘bh’ aspirate; long ā in svā-., sarvavīram: keep long ī; ‘vī’ bright., ni yacchatam: double ‘cch’—a crisp affricate with aspiration.
Bright, uplifting, with a firm settling on the final request.
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