Rig Veda 5.34.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 34, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.34
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
आ यः सोमेन जठरमपिप्रतामन्दत मघवा मध्वो अन्धसः । यदीं मृगाय हन्तवे महावधः सहस्रभृष्टिमुशना वधं यमत् ॥
ā́ yaḥ sómena jaṭháram apípratām ámandata maghávā́ mádhvo ándhasaḥ | yadī́ṃ mṛgā́ya hántave mahā́vadhaḥ sahásrabhṛṣṭim uśánā́ vadháṃ yámat ||
जिसने सोम पी के अपना पेट भरा, वो खुश हो गया। वो बहुत देने वाला है, उसने मध जैसा रस पिया। जब उसने उस जंगली जानवर को मारना चाहा जो रास्ता रोकता था, तब ऋषि उशना ने उसके लिए हज़ार धार वाला हथियार बनाया। खुशी भी एक हथियार बन जाती है अंदर की बुरी चीज़ों को मारने के लिए।
Word by Word
- आ
- towards; forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग (preverb)Root आ (उपसर्ग)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमेन
- with SomaNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- जठरम्
- bellyNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot जठर (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपिप्रताम्
- they filled (completely)Verbलिट्/परिप्रयोग-परफेक्ट (वेदिक), 3 पुरुषः, बहुवचनम् (परस्मैपदम्) — ‘they filled/they have filled’ (वेदिक रूप)Role KriyāRoot प्र-√पॄ/पृ (पूरणे) + सन्/तीव्र-आवृत्ति (वेदिक) ; रूपम्: अपि-प्र-ताम्
- अन्दत
- rejoiced; was exhilaratedVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट), 3 पुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot √अन्द् (आनन्दे/मदे) (वेदिक)
- मघवा
- the bountiful one (Indra)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)
- मध्वः
- of sweetness; of honeyNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role SambandhaRoot मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्धसः
- of the Soma-juiceNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role SambandhaRoot अन्धस् (प्रातिपदिक; सोमरसः)
- यद्
- when; sinceIndeclinableसम्बन्धार्थे अव्ययम् (‘when/that’)Root यद् (सम्बन्ध-अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
- ईम्
- indeed; justIndeclinableनिपातः (enclitic particle)Root ईम् (निपात)
- मृगाय
- for the wild beast; for the gameNounपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot मृग (प्रातिपदिक)
- हन्तवे
- to slayVerbतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्तः (दातुं/कर्तुं-अर्थे), दैविक-इन्फिनिटिव्Role PrayojanaRoot √हन् (हिंसायाम्) → हन्तृ/हन्तु (inf.)
- महावधः
- of great slaughter; mighty-smitingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्)Root महा-वध (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय)
- सहस्रभृष्टिम्
- the thousand-pointed (weapon)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot सहस्र-भृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘thousand-pointed/shafted’)
- उशनाः
- Uśanā (the seer)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot उशनस्/उशना (प्रातिपदिक; ऋषिः/कवि-नाम)
- वधम्
- weapon; slayingNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वध (प्रातिपदिक)
- यमत्
- held; wielded; directedVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट), 3 पुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KriyāRoot √यम् (यमे/नियमे/ग्रहणे) (वेदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): आ | यः | सोमेन | जठरम् | अपि-प्र-ताम् | अन्दत | मघवा | मध्वः | अन्धसः || यद् | ईम् | मृगाय | हन्तवे | महा-वधः | सहस्र-भृष्टिम् | उशनाः | वधम् | यमत् । Notable: यदीं = यद् + ईम्
- महावधः = महा + वधः (compound)
- सहस्रभृष्टिम् = सहस्र + भृष्टिम् (compound)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, filled and gladdened by honeyed Soma, sought a mighty weapon with a thousand edges to strike a wild beast; the seer Uśanā fixed that slaying-force for him.
Inner meaning
Soma (divine delight) is not indulgence but a power that fills the being and creates glad strength. When Indra (illumined mind) turns to conquer the ‘wild beast’ (mṛga)—the untamed resistant force in the subconscient/vital—he requires a sharpened will: a ‘thousand-edged’ instrument (sahasrabhṛṣṭi) meaning a many-faceted discerning force that can cut through subtle coverings. Uśanā Kavi represents the inspired seer-wisdom that determines (yamat) the right method and fixes the effective force for victory: true conquest needs illumined counsel, not brute effort.
Universal truth
Delight rightly received becomes power; but victory over deep resistance requires precise, many-sided discernment guided by wisdom.
Themes
Indra’s empowerment by Soma, Slaying of obstruction, Kavi intelligence (Uśanas) forging the means
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri Ātreya
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.34, RV 5.33, RV 5.2
Family tradition
In Mandala 5, the Atris frequently portray Indra’s victory as an inner psychological conquest supported by Soma and seer-wisdom.
Significance
Atri’s contribution here is the linkage: Ananda (Soma) → strengthened will → precise discerning weapon → conquest of resistant nature.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Maghavā, Vṛtrahan, Somapā (Soma-drinker), Dasma
- Related deities
- Soma, Uśanā Kavi, Agni, Maruts
Cosmic role
Drinks Soma, grows mighty, and breaks the powers of obstruction to release light and wideness.
Inner power
Illumined mind armed with discriminating force; glad strength that becomes effective spiritual combat.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering to Indra; mythic exemplum recited to invoke victorious power.
आ यः सोमे॑न ज॒ठर॒मपि॑प्र॒ताम॑न्दत म॒घवा॒ मध्वो॒ अन्ध॑सः । यदीं॑ मृ॒गाय॒ हन्त॑वे म॒हाव॑धः स॒हस्र॑भृष्टिमु॒शना॑ व॒धं यम॑त् ॥
आ । यः । सोमे॑न । ज॒ठर॑म् । अपि॑प्रत । अम॑न्दत । म॒घऽवा॑ । मध्वः॑ । अन्ध॑सः । यत् । ई॒म् । मृ॒गाय॑ । हन्त॑वे । म॒हाऽव॑धः । स॒हस्र॑ऽभृष्टिम् । उ॒शना॑ । व॒धम् । यम॑त् ॥
ā | yaḥ | somena | jaṭharam | apiprata | amandata | magha-vā | madhvaḥ | andhasaḥ | yat | īm | mṛgāya | hantave | mahāvadhaḥ | sahasra-bhṛṣṭim | uśanā | vadham | yamat
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4 × ~11
Taut and forceful; strong mid-line stresses suit the ‘weapon’ and ‘slaying’ theme.
Elicits courage and precision; helps cut through mental fog and lethargy.
- soma
- Literal: Soma juice. Symbolic: divine delight/bliss that strengthens consciousness
- madhvo andhasaḥ
- Literal: honeyed draught. Symbolic: sweet essence of experience transmuted into Ananda
- mṛga
- Literal: wild animal/beast. Symbolic: untamed subconscious/vital resistance; instinctive forces opposing transformation
- mahāvadha
- Literal: great slaying/weapon. Symbolic: decisive spiritual force for removing obstruction
- sahasrabhṛṣṭi
- Literal: thousand-edged. Symbolic: multi-pointed discernment; precise will that can meet many forms of resistance
- uśanā (kavi)
- Literal: Uśanas, the seer-poet. Symbolic: illumined wisdom that selects and fixes the right force/method for victory
- vadhaṃ yamat
- Literal: he fixed/controlled the slaying-force. Symbolic: right governance of power—force placed under knowledge
Soma-yajña: Indra’s exhilaration by Soma preceding feats; recitation in Indra-stotras/śastras within Soma rites
During Soma libations to Indra, especially when seeking strength/protection.
Offer Soma; recite Indra’s empowered slaying to support removal of obstacles.
Chant when facing compulsions or inertia: take delight inwardly, then apply precise discernment to the resistant pattern.
√mad ‘to be glad, intoxicated’ (amandata) indicates delight as a power-state, not mere pleasure. madhu ‘honey/sweet’ suggests luminous sweetness (madhu-vidyā later). sahasra-bhṛṣṭi ‘thousand-pointed’ from √bhṛṣ ‘to point/sharpen’ → sharpened discrimination. mṛga ‘wild creature’ from √mṛg ‘to seek/roam’ → the roaming, unmastered impulse; in inner sense, restless desire/ignorance.
Tapas (intensified force implied by sharpening), Rita (victory through right-formed power), Ananda (Soma as delight-force)
Force must be ‘fixed’ by knowledge—power aligned to Ṛta rather than ego reactivity.
True victory is not violence but truth-force cutting falsehood and obscuration.
Evolution by overcoming resistance: delight fuels the ascent; wisdom shapes the instrument.
Aurobindonian Vedic psychology: Vṛtra/mṛga as coverer/resistance; Indra’s weapon as discerning will.
Honeyed Soma = sweet Ananda; weapon = discriminative will; wild beast = instinctive resistance; thousand edges = many-angle clarity.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra’s Soma-exhilaration leading to the acquisition/deployment of a decisive weapon to slay a hostile ‘wild’ power. Innerly: delight (Soma) becomes the energized will, and seer-intelligence (Uśanas) supplies the right instrument of truth to overcome roaming obstruction.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mad (glad/intoxicated) aligns with PIE *med- ‘to be excited/measure?;’ Vedic mad- is strongly attested as exhilaration. √han ‘to strike/kill’ (hantave) reflects PIE *gʷhen- ‘to slay’ (cf. Avestan jan-, English bane via different developments; Greek -phonos ‘slaying’ is semantically parallel though not direct).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The hymn frames a technology of empowerment: the rishi offers Soma (delight/essence), and Indra responds by taking up the properly formed power (weapon shaped by kavi-intelligence) to remove inner and outer adversaries, thereby restoring the field for growth of truth.
Receive Ananda, then apply discriminating will to a specific resistance (habit, fear, dullness) without hatred.
maṇipūra (will/force) guided by ājñā (discernment).
Inhale with the sense of ‘Soma sweetness’ filling the belly; exhale imagining a many-edged light cutting one knot of resistance; 9 cycles.
Glad strength with precise clarity; courageous calm.
Step 1: evoke inner sweetness (gratitude/Ananda). Step 2: name the ‘mṛga’ (the resisting impulse). Step 3: apply a ‘thousand-edged’ inquiry—see its many disguises—then choose one decisive act of alignment with truth.
Rigvedic accents; keep lift on somena, amandata, sahasrabhṛṣṭim; allow a firmer fall on vadhaṃ yamat.
Do not rush the long compounds: sahasra-bhṛṣṭim (clear break); keep aspiration in hanta-ve and mahā-vadhaḥ.
jaṭharam: ja-ṭha-ram with retroflex ṭh (aspirated), andhasaḥ: an-dha-saḥ (clear dh), uśanā: u-śa-nā (long ā)
Steady, forceful, slightly lower register to convey ‘weaponized’ calm power.
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