Rig Veda 5.31.11: Mandala 5, Sukta 31, Mantra 11
Sukta 5.31
- Rishi
- Atri Bhauma
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
सूरश्चिद्रथं परितक्म्यायां पूर्वं करदुपरं जूजुवांसम् । भरच्चक्रमेतशः सं रिणाति पुरो दधत्सनिष्यति क्रतुं नः ॥
sū́raś cid ráthaṃ pári takmyāyāṃ pū́rvaṃ karad úparaṃ jūjuvā́ṃsam | bhárac cakrám étaśaḥ sáṃ riṇāti puró dádhat saniṣyati krátum naḥ ||
सूरज भी पहले रथ बनाता है, फिर आगे बढ़ता है। एतश पहिया लाता है और उसे चलाता है। वो आगे वाली ताकत रख के हमारे काम को सफल करेगा।
Word by Word
- सूरः
- the Sun (Sūrya)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सूर (प्रातिपदिक) < √सुर्/सूर् (दीप्तौ) (निरुक्त-परम्परा) अथवा नामधातु
- चित्
- even, indeedIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root चित् (निपात)
- रथम्
- chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- परि
- around, aboutIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- तक्म्यायाम्
- in/at the wasting fever (takmā) (i.e., in the feverish condition)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot तक्म्या (प्रातिपदिक) < तक्मन् (ज्वर/रोग) (वेद.)
- पूर्वम्
- the former/first (as before)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role कर्मRoot पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- करत्
- made, didVerbलुङ् (आorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot √कृ (करणे)
- उपरम्
- the later/upper (afterwards)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role कर्मRoot उपर (प्रातिपदिक)
- जूजुवांसम्
- one who has been eagerly pursuing/pressing on; the zealous oneParticipleवर्तमान-परिपूर्ण/अभ्यासज (रेडुप्लिकेटेड) कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot √जु (सेवने/प्रवृत्तौ) → जूजुवांस् (परिपूर्ण/अभ्यास-परिणत कृदन्त)
- भरत्
- bears, carriesVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot √भृ (भरणे)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRoot च (निपात)
- चक्रम्
- wheelNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- एतशः
- Etaśa (the Sun’s steed)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot एतश (प्रातिपदिक; सूर्याश्व-नाम)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- रिणाति
- sets in motion / drives / makes goVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot √री/√रि (गत्यर्थ/विच्छेद/प्रेरणे; वेद. प्रयोग) अथवा √ऋ (गत्यर्थ) (पाठभेदानुसार)
- पुरः
- in front, forwardIndeclinableअव्यय (दिशा/स्थानवाचक)Role अधिकरणRoot पुरस् (अव्ययीभाव/अव्यय; ‘in front’)
- दधत्
- placing, settingParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपद, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot √धा (धारणे/स्थापने)
- सनिष्यति
- will win, will obtainVerbलृट् (भविष्यत्), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot √सन् (लाभे/प्राप्तौ) (दे. ‘to win’)
- क्रतुम्
- resolve, power of will; ritual intelligenceNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’)Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
Sandhi Notes
- सूर॑श्चिद्रथं → सूरः + चित् + रथम्
- परि॑तक्म्यायां → परि + तक्म्यायाम्
- कर॒दुप॑रं → करत् + उपरम्
- जूजु॒वांस॑म् (पदस्वरूप एव)
- भर॑च्च॒क्रम् → भरत् + च + चक्रम्
- एत॑श॒: सं → एतशः + सम्
- सं रि॑णाति (उपसर्ग + धातु)
- पु॒रो दध॑त् → पुरः + दधत्
- दध॑त्सनिष्यति → दधत् + सनिष्यति
- क्रतुं॑ नः (नः = अस्मद् एन्क्लिटिक)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Even the Sun makes the chariot’s course—first and then the higher path—ever moving onward. Etaśa brings the wheel and sets it in motion; placing the fronts, he will win for us our kratu (effective will).
Inner meaning
The Sun here is the exemplar of ordered progression: the illumining consciousness establishes first the immediate course, then the higher ascent—stepwise but continuous advance. The ‘chariot’ is the journey of the being; the ‘wheel’ is the cyclic power of time and movement in sādhanā. Etaśa (often a solar horse/name) symbolizes the swift luminous energy that brings the turning of the wheel—initiates right rhythm and momentum. ‘Placing the fronts’ (puraḥ dadhat) is setting the leading powers in us—foremost faculties (discernment, will, aspiration) in the front line. Thus the mantra prays for kratu: not mere intention, but effective, victorious will aligned with the solar order.
Universal truth
Sustainable transformation follows a luminous order: establish the immediate right movement, then ascend to higher ranges. When the rhythm of progress is set and the leading faculties are placed in front, the will becomes effective and wins its aim.
Themes
Solar exemplar, Ordered motion, Winning kratu, Leadership of light
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri tradition (probable); specific rishi not preserved in the prompt
- Lineage
- Atri (probable)
- Other hymns
- RV 5.31 (context hymn), RV 1.50 (Sūrya, thematic parallel)
Family tradition
Atri hymns often use solar exempla to describe the ordered advance of consciousness and the gaining of kratu (effective will).
Significance
The seer teaches a method of progress: establish right rhythm (cakra), align with truth-light (sūra), and place the leading powers forward—then will becomes victorious.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (primary), with solar exemplum (Sūrya/Etaśa imagery)
- Epithets
- Maghavan (implied), Vajrin (implied)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Etaśa (solar steed), Uṣas, Agni
Cosmic role
Indra as the power that accomplishes; Sūrya as the ordering light that models the right course; Etaśa as the swift solar force setting movement.
Inner power
Indra grants effective kratu; solar truth organizes the stages; swift energy establishes momentum.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise with solar analogy; could appear in Soma contexts emphasizing successful accomplishment (kratu)
सूर॑श्चि॒द्रथं॒ परि॑तक्म्यायां॒ पूर्वं॑ कर॒दुप॑रं जूजु॒वांस॑म् । भर॑च्च॒क्रमेत॑श॒: सं रि॑णाति पु॒रो दध॑त्सनिष्यति॒ क्रतुं॑ नः ॥
सूरः॑ । चि॒त् । रथ॑म् । परि॑ऽतक्म्यायाम् । पूर्व॑म् । क॒र॒त् । उप॑रम् । जू॒जु॒ऽवांस॑म् । भर॑त् । च॒क्रम् । एत॑शः । सम् । रि॒णा॒ति॒ । पु॒रः । दध॑त् । स॒नि॒ष्य॒ति॒ । क्रतु॑म् । नः॒ ॥
sūraḥ | cit | ratham | pari-takmyāyām | pūrvam | karat | uparam | jūju-vāṃsam | bharat | cakram | etaśaḥ | sam | riṇāti | puraḥ | dadhat | saniṣyati | kratum | naḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Measured, progressive rhythm mirroring ‘first—then higher—ever onward’; strong concluding cadence on ‘kratuṃ naḥ’.
Instills orderly determination; gives a sense of forward roll, like a wheel set true.
- sūra (sūrya)
- Literal: sun. Symbolic: illumining consciousness; truth-light that orders the path
- ratha
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: vehicle of the inner journey; organized movement of life
- pūrvam / uparam
- Literal: first / higher. Symbolic: sequential stages: foundational practice then higher ascent
- cakra
- Literal: wheel. Symbolic: rhythm of progress; time-power; turning of consciousness
- etaśa
- Literal: Etaśa (solar steed). Symbolic: swift luminous energy that initiates and sustains right movement
- puraḥ dadhat
- Literal: placing the fronts. Symbolic: putting leading powers (will, discernment, aspiration) at the forefront
- kratu
- Literal: purposeful will, resolve. Symbolic: effective will-power aligned with truth; capacity to accomplish
Praise that links Indraic victory to solar order; used to establish kratu (effective will) in the sacrificer
When seeking right course and effective accomplishment in the rite; also in invocations linked to solar order.
Recitation to align human effort with solar order and to obtain kratu (effective will) for success.
Use for goal-alignment and disciplined practice: before starting a sādhanā session, study, or long project—set the ‘wheel’ and place priorities ‘in front’.
sūrya/sūra from √svar/√sūr ‘shine’ (PIE solar lexemes debated; but dyu/solar field strongly IE); cakra ‘wheel’ from √kṛ/√kark? (standard: cakra from √cak ‘to move’ is sometimes suggested; traditional: noun of turning); kratu from √kṛ (do) with sense ‘power of doing, resolve’. Symbolism: Sun’s circuit = ordered illumination; wheel = r̥ta-like regularity; kratu = the realized executive intelligence the hymn seeks.
kratu (effective will), r̥ta as ordered movement, guidance by light
Sūrya’s ordered course is ṛta made visible; aligning with it yields effective kratu.
Solar light as satya-prakāśa (truth-revelation) guiding stages of progress.
Ordering movement: the cosmos advances by right rhythm and leading powers placed forward.
Integral Yoga reading: truth-light sets rhythm; will becomes effective through alignment, not strain alone.
day (solar course implied)
Sun = truth-consciousness; wheel = rhythmic continuity of practice; higher course = ascent to higher mind/illumination.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Solar chariot/wheel imagery used as a model of victorious, ordered progression culminating in the gain of kratu. Innerly: illumination establishes right cyclic movement and a leading formation, yielding effective will in the seeker.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The wheel/cycle and sun-course imagery is pan-Indo-European poetic material (solar chariot motif). The term kratu as ‘power of doing’ reflects archaic Indo-Iranian focus on efficacious resolve rather than abstract belief.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks not merely for external gain but for kratu ‘for us’—a transfer of divine order into human agency. The devata’s cosmic exemplars (sun’s ordered course) are invoked to shape the seeker’s capacity for right action.
Contemplate the ‘solar order’ in your practice: first establish a stable base (posture, breath, sincerity), then open to higher perception; feel the wheel of practice turning smoothly.
Maṇipūra (kratu/will) aligned with Ājñā (solar discernment)
Surya-bhedana (right-nostril emphasis) gently, or simply mindful inhalations imagining a sun-disc at the brow; exhale setting the ‘wheel’ in the navel center.
Ordered, luminous will; calm drive without agitation.
Write one ‘front’ faculty to place first today (e.g., truthfulness, attention, steadiness). Chant once, then sit and visualize a golden wheel turning steadily; act immediately on the chosen priority.
Let udatta rise naturally on ‘sūraḥ’ and key motion-words; keep the final ‘kratuṃ naḥ’ well-supported and settled.
Mark the stage-shift: slightly pause between ‘pūrvam’ and ‘uparam’ to embody ‘first—then higher’.
‘paritakmyāyām’ articulate as pa-ri-tak-myā-yām (do not drop myā)., ‘etaśaḥ’ short e, retroflex ṣ., ‘saniṣyati’ as sa-ni-ṣya-ti, keep ṣy conjunct clean.
Solar—clear, warm, steady; avoid force, emphasize ordered continuity.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
