Rig Veda 5.31.7: Mandala 5, Sukta 31, Mantra 7
Sukta 5.31
- Rishi
- Atri Bhauma
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
तदिन्नु ते करणं दस्म विप्राहिं यद्घ्नन्नोजो अत्रामिमीथाः । शुष्णस्य चित्परि माया अगृभ्णाः प्रपित्वं यन्नप दस्यूँरसेधः ॥
tád ín nu te káraṇaṃ dasma viprā́him yád ghnán ójo átrā́mimīthāḥ | śúṣṇasya cit pári māyā́ agṛbhṇāḥ prapitváṃ yánn ápa dásyūn asédhaḥ ||
यह तुम्हारा असली काम है, तुमने बड़े दुश्मन को मारा और ताकत इकट्ठा की। शुष्णा की जादू भी तुमने पकड़ ली। तुम आगे बढ़े और दुश्मनों को रास्ता नहीं दिया।
Word by Word
- तत्
- that (deed/act)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इद्
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root इद् (निपात)
- नु
- now, indeedIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root नु (निपात)
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचनRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- करणम्
- deed, actNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot करण (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ-करणे से)
- दस्म
- O wondrous oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRoot दस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
- विप्र
- O inspired sageNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRoot विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अहिम्
- the serpent (Ahi)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अहि (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- which (that)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (सम्बन्धक)Role KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- घ्नन्
- slayingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole KartāRoot √हन् (हनँ हिंसायाम्)
- ओजः
- strength, mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अत्र
- hereIndeclinableदेशवाचक अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अत्र (अव्यय)
- अमिमीथाः
- you measured out / meted outVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्श), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √मा (मा॒ माने/मितौ; वेद. ‘मिमीते’ प्रकारः)
- शुष्णस्य
- of ŚuṣṇaNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRoot शुष्ण (प्रातिपदिक; दैत्यनाम)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root चित् (निपात)
- परि
- around, aboutIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- मायाः
- magic powers, stratagemsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot माया (प्रातिपदिक)
- अगृभ्णाः
- you seized, graspedVerbलुङ् (अorist), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √ग्रह् (ग्रहँ उपादाने) + अ (अङ्-आगम)
- प्रपित्वम्
- approach/attainment; close contactNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot प्रपित्व (प्रातिपदिक; ‘प्र-पि’ भाव)
- यत्
- when/that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (सम्बन्धक)Role KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नपः
- work, deed; (also) waters/clouds (contextual)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot नपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- दस्यून्
- Dasyus, hostile tribesNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
- असेधः
- you repelled, held backVerbलुङ् (अorist), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √सिध्/√सेध् (सेधँ प्रतिषेधे/निवारणे)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): तद् + इद् + नु + ते + करणम् + दस्म + विप्र + अहिम् + यत् + घ्नन् + ओजः + अत्र + अमिमीथाः । शुष्णस्य + चित् + परि + मायाः + अगृभ्णाः । प्रपित्वम् + यत् + नपः + दस्यून् + असेधः । Notable: तदिन्नु = तत्+इद्+नु
- विप्राहिं = विप्र+अहिम्
- यद्घ्नन् = यत्+घ्नन्
- अत्रामिमीथाः = अत्र+अमिमीथाः
- चित्परि = चित्+परि
- यन्नप = यत्+नपः
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra’s marvel: he strikes the Serpent (Ahi), gathers strength; he seizes the spells of Śuṣṇa; advancing, he drives away the Dasyus and blocks their path.
Inner meaning
The illumined Mind’s decisive act is to smite the coiling obstruction (ahi/vṛtra principle) that constricts the life-force and consciousness. By confronting resistance, Indra ‘gathers ojas’—the concentrated vigor needed for transformation. Śuṣṇa’s māyā are deceptive formations of the lower nature (glamours, false reasonings, compulsions) which Indra surrounds and captures, preventing them from escaping into the mental field. The Dasyus are divisive, chaotic impulses that raid the inner order; Indra expels them and seals the passages by which they re-enter the path of progress.
Universal truth
True power grows by meeting resistance with clarity. Liberation requires not only breaking the main obstruction but also mastering the subtle deceptions that recreate bondage, and guarding the path against recurring invasive habits.
Themes
Ahi-slaying, Śuṣṇa’s māyā overcome, Repulsion of Dasyus, Protection of the path
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri tradition (probable); specific rishi not preserved in the prompt
- Lineage
- Atri (probable)
- Other hymns
- RV 5.31 (context hymn), RV 5.32 (Indra)
Family tradition
Atri hymns often emphasize Indra’s breaking of obstruction and the psychological conquest over hostile forces.
Significance
The rishi frames victory as an inner discipline: strength (ojas) is not merely given, it is ‘gathered’ through right action against resistance and falsehood.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Dasma, Vṛtrahan/Ahihan (serpent-slayer, explicit), Maghavan (implied in hymn cluster)
- Related deities
- Maruts, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Breaker of the obstructing serpent; protector of the Aryan path; conqueror of hostile powers and their illusions.
Inner power
Discriminating luminous force that pierces knots, captures deception, and safeguards the forward movement of sādhanā.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-focused recitation in Soma rites; also suitable as protective invocation
तदिन्नु ते॒ कर॑णं दस्म वि॒प्राहिं॒ यद्घ्नन्नोजो॒ अत्रामि॑मीथाः । शुष्ण॑स्य चि॒त्परि॑ मा॒या अ॑गृभ्णाः प्रपि॒त्वं यन्नप॒ दस्यूँ॑रसेधः ॥
तत् । इत् । नु । ते॒ । कर॑णम् । द॒स्म॒ । वि॒प्र॒ । अहि॑म् । यत् । घ्नन् । ओजः॑ । अत्र॑ । अमि॑मीथाः । शुष्ण॑स्य । चि॒त् । परि॑ । मा॒याः । अ॒गृ॒भ्णाः॒ । प्र॒ऽपि॒त्वम् । यन् । अप॑ । दस्यू॑न् । अ॒से॒धः॒ ॥
tat | it | nu | te | karaṇam | dasma | vipra | ahim | yat | ghnan | ojaḥ | atra | abhimīthāḥ | śuṣṇasya | cit | pari | māyāḥ | agṛbhṇāḥ | pra-pitvam | yan | apa | dasyūn | asedhaḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Martial and incisive; strong caesura feel supports ‘strike–seize–drive away’ sequence.
Energizes resolve; sharpens vigilance against subtle inner falsehoods.
- dasma
- Literal: wondrous, marvelous. Symbolic: the supramental-like efficacy of illumined intelligence in transformation
- vipra
- Literal: inspired seer. Symbolic: the awakened discernment that recognizes inner enemies
- ahi
- Literal: serpent. Symbolic: coiling obstruction; subconscious knot that holds back the waters/light
- ojo / ojas
- Literal: force, vigor. Symbolic: concentrated spiritual energy gained through victory
- māyāḥ (Śuṣṇa)
- Literal: spells, illusions. Symbolic: deceptive formations of lower nature—glamour, false light, compulsive patterns
- dasyūn
- Literal: Dasyus (hostile tribes). Symbolic: inner robbers—chaotic impulses and obscuring tendencies that plunder clarity
- prapitvam
- Literal: advance, forward march / access. Symbolic: the decisive movement of consciousness into new territory; entry into the right path
Indra heroic stotra; used to invoke protection and the breaking of hostile spells during Soma rites
When seeking victory over obstacles or hostile influences in the rite; before/after pressing or during Indra śastra contexts.
Praise of Indra’s slaying and protective acts to align the sacrificer with the victorious power.
Use before challenging conversations, addiction-breaking, or mental clutter-clearing; a ‘psychic protection’ mantra for the path.
māyā from √mā ‘measure/form’ → ‘constructed appearance’ (hence ‘illusion/strategy’); grah (agṛbhṇāḥ) from PIE *gʰrebʰ- ‘grasp’ (cf. Eng. grab, via Germanic); ojas (strength) from √vaj/√uj semantic field of vigor (ojas is a primary RV vitality term). Symbolism: ‘seizing māyā’ = mastering deceptive formations; ‘Śuṣṇa’ as drying force = loss of rasa/joy and inspiration; ‘prapitva’ as forward advance = yogic progression that bars the return of darkness.
overcoming māyā (constructed delusion), force (ojas) as spiritual energy, R̥ta-path protected from Dasyu forces
Driving away Dasyus and barring the path restores ṛta as a protected channel of progress.
Seizing māyā affirms satya: truth must capture and neutralize false formations.
Conflict-to-order: cosmic progress through victory over coverers and deceivers.
Integral-psychological Vedic hermeneutic: hostile forces as inner movements, not merely external tribes.
Serpent = knot of obstruction; māyā = shimmering mirage of the vital-mental; path = channel of ascent in consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Two linked combat motifs: (1) serpent-slaying (ahi) and (2) outwitting/overcoming Śuṣṇa’s māyā. Innerly: the illumined will not only breaks brute obstruction but also masters subtle deception, securing forward progress and excluding the return of divisive darkness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √han ‘strike’ aligns with PIE *gʷhen-; √grah ‘grasp’ aligns with PIE grasp-forms (cf. ‘grab’). The verse’s diction preserves the IE heroic grammar: present participle of slaying + acquisition of ‘force’ + routing of foes.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi highlights Indra as ‘dasma vipra’—wondrous and inspired—mirroring the seer’s own inspired standpoint. The hymn positions the rishi’s consciousness as aligned with Indra’s victorious discernment, seeking the same mastery over both gross and subtle obstruction.
Observe the ‘serpent-knot’ sensation (fear, compulsion, inertia) and invoke a clear, downward strike of discernment; then watch for subtle rationalizations (māyā) and encircle them with awareness.
Maṇipūra (ojas, force) guided by Ājñā (discernment)
Kapalabhati-light (if suitable) or forceful exhale practice for 1–3 minutes, then silent witnessing to ‘bar the path’ against return of impulses.
Vigilant clarity with controlled force.
Name one recurring deception; during recitation, feel it being ‘seized’ and held in the light; end with a firm intention that the path forward is sealed to that pattern.
Udatta emphasis on action-verbs (ghnann, asedhaḥ) and key nouns (ahiṃ, ojaḥ) per Vedic accent tradition; maintain svarita transitions smoothly.
Make ‘ahiṃ’ crisp and slightly lifted; give weight to ‘ojaḥ’; articulate ‘māyāḥ’ without flattening the long ā.
‘ghnann’ with clear conjunct (ghn) without inserting a vowel., ‘śuṣṇasya’ keep ṣṇ cluster tight., ‘dasyūm̐r’ nasalization (anusvāra before r) lightly, not overdone.
Firm, cutting, protective; avoid harshness—let clarity lead force.
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.
