Rig Veda 5.30.4: Mandala 5, Sukta 30, Mantra 4
Sukta 5.30
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
स्थिरं मनश्चकृषे जात इन्द्र वेषीदेको युधये भूयसश्चित् । अश्मानं चिच्छवसा दिद्युतो वि विदो गवामूर्वमुस्रियाणाम् ॥
sthiráṁ mánaś cakṛṣe jātá índra véṣīd éko yudháye bhū́yasaś cit | áśmānaṁ cit śávasā didyutó ví vidó gávām ū́rvam usríyāṇām ||
इंद्र, तूने जनम से ही अपना मन पक्का कर लिया है। तू अकेले ही बहुत दुश्मनों से लड़ने को तैयार है। तेरी ताकत इतनी तेज़ है कि तूने पत्थर भी तोड़ दिया। तूने गायों के लिए जगह ढूँढ ली, वो चमक रही थी।
Word by Word
- स्थिरम्
- firm, steadyAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (विशेषणम्) — ‘मनः’ इत्यस्यRole KarmaRoot स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक) < PIE *stey- (स्थिर/स्थाणु-भाव)
- मनः
- mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) < √मन् (to think)
- चकार्षे
- you have made/drawn (to firmness)Verbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया) — कर्तरि प्रयोगः; कर्म ‘मनः’Root √कृष् (कर्षति ‘to draw/drag; to make, to fashion’), परस्मैपद
- जातः
- bornParticiple (Adjective) / Noun-likeभूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (इन्द्रः) — विशेषणरूपेणRoot √जन् → जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole (सम्बोधन)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वेषि
- you strive / you are eager (to act)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया) — कर्ता ‘त्वम् (इन्द्रः)’Root √विष्/√वेṣ् (वेष्टने/प्रवेशने इत्यादि; RV-प्रयोगे ‘to be active/strive’), परस्मैपद
- एकः
- alone, singleAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (इन्द्रः) — विशेषणरूपेणRoot एक (प्रातिपदिक)
- युधये
- for battle, to fightNoun (action-noun) / Infinitival dativeस्त्रीलिङ्ग (युध्/युधि-), चतुर्थी, एकवचन (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजन)Role Sampradāna (प्रयोजन-दत्तिः) / प्रयोजनार्थRoot √युध् → युधि/युध् (युद्ध), ‘युधि’ इत्यस्य चतुर्थी
- भूयसः
- of the greater (number/force)Adjective (comparative) used substantivelyनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (अधिकस्य/बहुतरस्य)Role (सम्बन्ध) — ‘of the greater (host)’Root भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘more, greater’)
- चित्
- even, indeedIndeclinableअव्यय; बलार्थ/अपि-अर्थेRole (निरपेक्ष)Root चित् (अव्यय)
- अश्मानम्
- stone, rockNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्यय; ‘even’Role (निरपेक्ष)Root चित् (अव्यय)
- शवसा
- with might, by strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot शवस् (प्रातिपदिक) < √शू/√श्वि (बल/वेग)
- दिद्युतः
- flashing, lightning-likeParticiple (Adjective)वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-सम्भव), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (इन्द्रः) — विशेषणरूपेणRoot √द्युत् → दिद्युत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; ‘shining, flashing’)
- वि
- apart, forthPreverb / Indeclinableउपसर्गः; ‘apart, forth, asunder’Role (क्रियाविशेषक)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- विदः
- you found/discoveredVerbRV-प्रयोगः: लुङ्/इञ्जङ्क्टिव-सदृश (अभूतपूर्व/अनादेश), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थतः ‘thou didst find/discover’Role (क्रिया) — कर्ता ‘त्वम् (इन्द्रः)’; कर्म ‘ऊर्वम्’Root √विद् (to find/know) — ‘विदः’ (2nd sg. injunctive/aorist-like RV form) or perfective past
- गवाम्
- of the cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole (सम्बन्ध) — ‘of cows’Root गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊर्वम्
- udderNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ऊर्व (प्रातिपदिक; ‘udder’)
- उस्रियाणाम्
- of the ruddy cows (dawn-cows)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole (सम्बन्ध) — ‘of the ruddy (cows)’Root उस्रिया (प्रातिपदिक; ‘dawn-cow; ruddy cow’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): स्थिरम् | मनः | चकार्षे | जातः | इन्द्र | वेषि | एकः | युधये | भूयसः | चित् || अश्मानम् | चित् | शवसा | दिद्युतः | वि | विदः | गवाम् | ऊर्वम् | उस्रियाणाम् । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) मनश्चकृषे = मनः + चकार्षे (विसर्गस्य ‘श्’ आदेशः ‘च’ परे)
- (2) वेषीदेको = वेषि + एकः (इ-ए संयोगे दीर्घीभावः: ई; तथा एकः → एको पदान्त-ओ)
- (3) युधये भूयसश्चित् = युधये + भूयसः + चित् (विसर्गः ‘श्’ आदेशः ‘च’ परे)
- (4) अश्मानं चिच्छवसा = अश्मानम् + चित् + शवसा (म् + च → ंच; चित् + श → चिच्छ (त् + श → च्छ))
- (5) दिद्युतो वि = दिद्युतः + वि (विसर्गलोपः/उच्चारण-समायोजनम्)
- (6) गवामूर्वम् = गवाम् + ऊर्वम् (म् + ऊ → म् ऊ; संहितायां दीर्घारम्भः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
“You have made your mind steadfast from birth, O Indra; alone you are eager to battle even the many. With your flashing force you split even the stone and found the wide enclosure of the radiant cows.”
Inner meaning
Indra embodies the steadfast illumined mind (sthiram manaḥ) inherent to the divine consciousness—unshaken by multiplicity. In the seeker, this is the needed stability of will and discernment. The ‘many’ are the swarm of habitual impulses and doubts; Indra fights them alone because the one true light can master the many confusions. The ‘stone’ is the hard knot of the subconscient (covering inertia); splitting it releases the ‘cows’—rays of knowledge—previously penned in a cramped enclosure. Indra discovers the ‘wide’ (ūrvam) field of illumination, the spacious consciousness where knowledge can move freely.
Universal truth
When steadfast clarity is established, it can break the hardest inner resistance and liberate buried knowledge. True strength is not noise or multiplicity, but stable luminous mind that opens the wide space of freedom.
Themes
finding the cows, breaking the stone, Indra’s steadfast will, knowledge-release
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 5.30.1, Rig Veda 5.30.2, Rig Veda 5.30.3
Family tradition
The Ātreya vision frequently celebrates Indra’s archetypal act: breaking the rock and releasing the cows (light), a central symbol of inner enlightenment.
Significance
Atri points to the essential yogic requirement—steadfast mind—and the decisive breakthrough of the subconscient that releases hidden knowledge into wideness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- eko (the one who stands alone), didyut (flashing), śaviṣṭha (implied strength)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati (breaker of the cave by the Word), Agni (force that leads the sacrifice), Uṣas (dawn-illumination)
Cosmic role
Slayer of the coverers; opener of the rock; liberator of light and wideness; champion of the gods’ order.
Inner power
Steady illumined intelligence with thunder-force discrimination; breaks inertia and establishes spacious clarity.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra victory and cow-release motif used in Soma praise; general Indra-stotra for strength and opening of ‘light’.
स्थि॒रं मन॑श्चकृषे जा॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ वेषीदेको॑ यु॒धये॒ भूय॑सश्चित् । अश्मा॑नं चि॒च्छव॑सा दिद्युतो॒ वि वि॒दो गवा॑मू॒र्वमु॒स्रिया॑णाम् ॥
स्थि॒रम् । मनः॑ । च॒कृ॒षे॒ । जा॒तः । इ॒न्द्र॒ । वेषि॑ । इत् । एकः॑ । यु॒धये॑ । भूय॑सः । चित् । अश्मा॑नम् । चि॒त् । शव॑सा । दि॒द्यु॒तः॒ । वि । वि॒दः । गवा॑म् । ऊ॒र्वम् । उ॒स्रिया॑णाम् ॥
sthiram | manaḥ | cakṛṣe | jātaḥ | indra | veṣi | it | ekaḥ | yudhaye | bhūyasaḥ | cit | aśmānam | cit | śavasā | didyutaḥ | vi | vidaḥ | gavām | ūrvam | usriyāṇām
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Firm, decisive, and percussive; the ‘splitting’ action is mirrored by strong consonantal clusters and cadence breaks.
Instills steadiness and courage; evokes a felt ‘breakthrough’ in the listener—tightness loosens, mind widens.
- sthiram manaḥ
- Literal: steadfast mind. Symbolic: stable illumination and unwavering discernment needed for transformation
- jātaḥ
- Literal: from birth. Symbolic: innate divine stability—archetype of consciousness beyond fluctuation
- eko
- Literal: alone, one. Symbolic: the One light-force in us that can govern the many movements
- yudhaye
- Literal: to fight. Symbolic: inner battle against ignorance, inertia, and chaotic impulses
- aśmānam
- Literal: stone. Symbolic: hard subconscient resistance; fixed knots of habit and darkness
- śavasā didyutaḥ
- Literal: with flashing force/energy. Symbolic: lightning-like intuition-force that cuts through obscurity
- gāḥ (gavām)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge (go) released into consciousness
- ūrvam
- Literal: wide enclosure, spacious pen. Symbolic: vast inner space (wideness) where knowledge can circulate freely
- usriyāṇām
- Literal: bright/ruddy (cows). Symbolic: radiant illuminations—warm living knowledge, not dry concept
Indra’s heroic deed-stanza; supports the sacrificial aim: breaking inner obstruction to release ‘cows’ (illumination) for the community.
During Indra laudations highlighting Vṛtra/rock-breaking themes; suitable for rites seeking strength and success.
Recitation to invoke Indra’s power to remove obstacles and release prosperity/illumination.
Chant when facing mental rigidity, doubt, or procrastination; use as a ‘break-the-rock’ mantra to open creativity and insight.
go as ‘ray/light’ is justified by constant RV collocation with dawn/light and ‘finding’ (√vid) and ‘wide space’ (ūrvá), indicating release of illumination from confinement; aśman ‘stone’ becomes the hard knot of obstruction; √dyut ‘flash’ marks lightning-like truth-force; manas as steadfast indicates unshakable will aligned to r̥ta.
release of light/knowledge (go, usrīyā), victory of unified will over multiplicity (ekaḥ vs bhūyasaḥ), steadfast mind (sthiram manaḥ)
Indra’s steadfast mind upholds ṛta against the many distortions; breaking the rock restores right flow (of light/waters).
Released ‘cows’ are truths of consciousness—living satya emerging from concealment.
Revelation from concealment: light hidden in the rock is freed; wideness is discovered as the true field of being.
Vedic psychology of illumination (Aurobindo): rock/cave as subconscient; cows as rays of knowledge; wideness as higher consciousness.
Rock → inertia; lightning → sudden intuition-force; cows → rays of knowledge; wide pen → expanded consciousness (bṛhat) where truth can move.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Classic mythologem: Indra ‘splits the stone’ and ‘finds/releases the cows’. Inner sense: the truth-force cleaves the hardened obstruction of the subconscient and releases wide spaces of illumination (ūrvam) and radiant knowledges (usrīyā go).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yudh ‘fight’ aligns with PIE *yeudh- ‘fight’ (cf. Old English gūð ‘battle’ via Germanic, though phonologically distinct; clearer: Proto-Germanic *gunþiz is different; but Indo-Iranian yudh- is standard). √dyut ‘shine’ relates to PIE *deiw-/*di̯eu- light/sky complex (semantic field of brightness). √vid is PIE *weid-.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi celebrates Indra as the model of steadfast will and victorious unity. By praising the cow-finding deed, the seer implicitly asks for the same inner operation in the sacrificer: cleaving obstruction and releasing illumination into the communal field.
Establish ‘sthiram manaḥ’ (steady mind) and invoke lightning-like discernment to break inertia and release insight.
maṇipūra (will/force)
Bhastrikā 20–30 strokes (if suitable), then quiet breathing; chant once, then sit in stillness sensing ‘wideness’ (ūrvam).
Steady, powerful clarity leading to spacious awareness.
1) Sit upright and feel the spine as a ‘pillar’ of steadiness. 2) On ‘sthiram manaḥ’, affirm stability. 3) Visualize a dark rock of habit in the belly/solar plexus. 4) On ‘aśmānaṃ…’, imagine a flash splitting it. 5) Rest in the released ‘cows’—streams of light filling a wide inner space.
Strong udatta emphasis on key force-words (sthiram, indra, eko, aśmānam, gāḥ) as per marked text; allow svarita falls to mark the ‘split’ and release.
Hold ‘sthiram manaḥ’ with steadiness; sharpen articulation on aśmānaṃ cic chavasā; widen the tone on ūrvam.
sthiram: aspirated ‘th’ (not ‘siram’), manaś: final ‘ś’ palatal, cakṛṣe: retroflex ṛ vowel; keep ‘ṣ’ retroflex, veṣīd: long ī; ḍ retroflex at end, yudhaye: dh aspirated; final e clear, bhūyasaś: ś palatal; keep syllables distinct, aśmānam: long ā, didyuto: pronounce di-dyu-to (dyu cluster), ūrvam: long ū; ‘rv’ cluster clean, usriyāṇām: sri cluster; long ā; nasal ending clear
Firm, bright, and cutting—then opening into a wider, more resonant finish.
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