Rig Veda 6.47.19: Mandala 6, Sukta 47, Mantra 19
Sukta 6.47
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Mixed/irregular
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
युजानो हरिता रथे भूरि त्वष्टेह राजति । को विश्वाहा द्विषतः पक्ष आसत उतासीनेषु सूरिषु ॥
yujānó hárītā rathé bhū́ri tvaṣṭéhá rājati | kó viśvā́hā dviṣatáḥ pákṣa āsata utā́sīneṣu sū́riṣu ||
भगवान अपने रथ में पीले घोड़े जोड़ते हैं। वो सब कुछ बनाने वाला चमक रहा है। कोई भी दुश्मन कभी भी इतना ताकत नहीं पा सकता। वो लोग जो बैठ के राज्य करते हैं, उनमें भी कोई दुश्मन को सपोर्ट नहीं दे सकता।
Word by Word
- युजानः
- yoking, harnessingVerb (participle)वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्तः; प्रथमा एकवचनम्; पुल्लिङ्गःRole कर्तृ (राजति इत्यस्य)Root युज् (धातु) → युज् + शानच् (युजान-)
- हरिताः
- the tawny (mares)Noun (often adj. used substantively)स्त्रीलिङ्गः; प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (युजानः इत्यस्य सह—युज्यन्ते) / सहकर्ताRoot हरित (प्रातिपदिक)
- रथे
- on the chariotNounपुल्लिङ्गः; सप्तमी एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- भूरि
- abundantly, greatlyIndeclinable (adverbial)अव्ययम्Role विशेषण (राजति इत्यस्य) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot भूरि (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) अव्ययीभाववत्
- त्वष्टा
- Tvaṣṭṛ (the divine artisan)Noun (proper name)पुल्लिङ्गः; प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (राजति) अथवा विषय/आश्रय (राजते—‘shines as’)Root त्वष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- इह
- hereIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role देश-अधिकरण (राजति) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot इह (अव्यय)
- राजति
- shines, is resplendentVerbलट्; परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot राज् (धातु)
- कः
- who?Pronoun (interrogative)पुल्लिङ्गः; प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (आसत इत्यस्य) / प्रश्नकर्ताRoot क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वाहा
- all day long, alwaysIndeclinable (adverb)अव्ययम्Role काल-अधिकरण (आसत) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot विश्व + अहन् (समास/अव्ययीभाव) → विश्वाहा
- द्विषतः
- the hostile ones, foesNoun/Adjective (participle used substantively)पुल्लिङ्गः; द्वितीया बहुवचनम् (शत्रून्) अथवा षष्ठी एकवचनम् (द्विषतः=of the hater) — पद्ये प्रायः ‘द्विषतः’ = ‘द्विषतः (शत्रून्)’Role कर्म (आसत—‘were (as) wings against the foes’) / सम्बन्धRoot द्विष् (धातु) → द्विषत् (शतृ) / ‘द्विषत्’ (प्रातिपदिक)
- पक्षाः
- wings, sidesNounपुल्लिङ्गः; प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (आसत) / विधेयRoot पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- आसत
- wereVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot अस् (धातु)
- उत
- and, alsoIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role समुच्चय/अन्वय (and, also)Root उत (निपात)
- आसीनेषु
- sitting, seatedAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्गे (सूरिषु) सप्तमी बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरण (सूरिषु विशेषणम्) / अवस्थाविशेषणRoot आस् (धातु) → आसीन (क्त) (प्रातिपदिक)
- सूरिषु
- among the patrons/benefactors (noble givers)Nounपुल्लिङ्गः; सप्तमी बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot सूरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): युजानः हरिताः रथे भूरि त्वष्टा इह राजति । कः विश्वाहा द्विषतः पक्षाः आसत । उत आसीनेषु सूरिषु । विशेषम्: ‘त्वष्टेह’ = ‘त्वष्टा इह’ (अ + इ → ए; पदान्त ‘आ’ दीर्घः प्रगृह्यवत् संधौ ‘ए’). ‘द्विषतः’ रूपं पद्ये शत्रुवाचकं (द्विषत्) बहुवचन-द्वितीया-प्रयोगेऽपि दृश्यते
- पाठपरम्परानुसारं अर्थे शत्रून्/द्वेष्टॄन् गृह्यते।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra’s power is pictured as yoking tawny horses to a chariot; the divine artisan Tvaṣṭṛ “shines” or fashions abundantly here. The verse challenges the idea that anyone could ever truly support hostile forces, even if they appear established among “seated” lords.
Inner meaning
The “tawny steeds” are the dynamic life-forces and sense-energies disciplined (yujānaḥ) and made to serve the soul’s journey. Tvaṣṭṛ is the inner Fashioner who shapes the instruments—mind, life, body—so the illumined Will (Indra’s force in action) can move rightly. The question “who can be the wing of the hostile?” denies any lasting support to the powers of division and obstruction: even when egoic authorities sit enthroned (āsīneṣu sūriṣu), they cannot ultimately sustain the adversary against the soul’s ascent.
Universal truth
When the energies are yoked to a higher purpose, the shaping Intelligence within refashions the personality; opposition may appear socially or psychologically entrenched, but it has no enduring foundation against awakened consciousness.
Themes
divine equipment and movement, sovereignty, rejection of hostile support, formation power
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.47 (entire sūkta), RV 6.45, RV 6.46, RV 6.48
Family tradition
Bārhaspatya: a lineage emphasizing inspired speech (Bṛhaspati) and victorious illumination (Indra) as powers of the inner sacrifice.
Significance
Bharadvāja’s vision often turns battle-myth into yoga: the conquest of hostile powers through right ordering of energies and the Word’s guidance toward truth (satya) and vastness (uru).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Tvaṣṭṛ mentioned)
- Epithets
- Vṛṣabha (Bull, forceful power), Vṛtrahan (slayer of the Coverer), Maghavan (bounteous), Śatakratu (of a hundred powers/works)
- Related deities
- Bṛhaspati, Agni, Soma, Uṣas, Maruts
Cosmic role
Indra is the breaker of obstructions and bringer of luminous order, releasing the rays and waters of consciousness; Tvaṣṭṛ forms and perfects the instruments that can carry the divine action.
Inner power
Indra: illumined Mind-force that strikes through resistance; Tvaṣṭṛ: the subtle formative power that refines mind-life-body into fit vehicles for the higher Truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-stotra within Soma-yajña sequences; also suitable in victory/protection recitations.
यु॒जा॒नो ह॒रिता॒ रथे॒ भूरि॒ त्वष्टे॒ह रा॑जति । को वि॒श्वाहा॑ द्विष॒तः पक्ष॑ आसत उ॒तासी॑नेषु सू॒रिषु॑ ॥
यु॒जा॒नः । ह॒रिता॑ । रथे॑ । भूरि॑ । त्वष्टा॑ । इ॒ह । रा॒ज॒ति॒ । कः । वि॒श्वाहा॑ । द्वि॒ष॒तः । पक्षः॑ । आ॒स॒ते॒ । उ॒त । आसी॑नेषु । सू॒रिषु॑ ॥
yujānaḥ | haritā | rathe | bhūri | tvaṣṭā | iha | rājati | kaḥ | viśvāhā | dviṣataḥ | pakṣaḥ | āsate | uta | āsīneṣu | sūriṣu
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4 padas with compact/contracted segments; close to 11 syllables per pāda but with irregularities requiring full saṃhitā-svara metrical scan.
Driving, martial-forward movement with a questioning turn in the latter half.
Energizes resolve and discrimination; the cadence supports a ‘yoking’ sensation—gathering scattered forces into one directed surge.
- युजानः (yujānaḥ)
- Literal: yoking, harnessing. Symbolic: disciplining energies; aligning life-force to the inner sacrifice
- हरिता (haritā)
- Literal: tawny/greenish steeds. Symbolic: vital powers and dynamic senses made luminous and obedient
- रथ (ratha)
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: the embodied system as vehicle of the soul’s progress
- त्वष्टा (tvaṣṭā)
- Literal: the fashioner, artisan. Symbolic: formative intelligence shaping the instruments for divine work
- द्विषतः (dviṣataḥ)
- Literal: the hostile, haters. Symbolic: forces of division, doubt, inertia, subconscient resistance
- पक्ष (pakṣa)
- Literal: wing, side, support. Symbolic: sustaining power; the capacity that upholds a movement
- सूरि (sūri)
- Literal: lord/patron; wise one. Symbolic: egoic ‘seated’ authorities or, positively, established luminous powers depending on context
Praise of Indra’s chariot/steeds and sovereignty; polemical edge against allies of the hostile—used in contexts of securing victory and right alliance
During Indra invocations in Soma pressing or in ancillary praise-hymn recitation (śastra/stotra context varies by tradition).
Offering and praise to strengthen Indra’s aid; verbal ‘challenge’ to hostile forces.
Use before demanding tasks to align energies; recite as a resolve-mantra against inner sabotage (doubt, inertia, resentment).
yujāna from √yuj ‘yoke’; harit ‘tawny’ (dual haritā); ratha ‘chariot’; tvaṣṭā (Tvaṣṭṛ) from √tvakṣ/√tvaṣ ‘fashion, make’ (artisan deity; here ‘fashioner’ as epithet/presence); pakṣa ‘wing/side’ (support); dviṣat ‘hostile’ from √dviṣ.
right alliance vs. support of hostility, formation (Tvaṣṭṛ) as shaping of capacities for divine work
Yoking the steeds signifies bringing life-force under R̥ta—right rhythm and right direction.
The hostile cannot be a true ‘support’; only truth sustains.
Tvaṣṭṛ’s shaping indicates ongoing formation: consciousness continually refashions its vehicles.
Proto-Vedāntic / integral-psychological reading (Aurobindo/Kashyap): gods as powers of consciousness rather than external anthropomorphic agents.
Harnessed life-energies (aśva/harit) move the embodied being (ratha) under a shaping intelligence (Tvaṣṭṛ) toward illumination (Indra’s victory).
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the divine chariot-march: Indra’s yoked energies and fashioned means (Tvaṣṭṛ) establish radiant sovereignty; the rhetorical question denies any legitimate ‘wing/support’ to the hostile—truth-power refuses alliance with forces of division.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yuj ‘yoke’ is a strong PIE *yeug- reflex. ratha ‘chariot’ belongs to an Indo-Iranian chariot lexicon central to early IE poetics and warfare imagery. pakṣa ‘wing/side’ reflects inherited body-part metaphors used for political/psychic ‘support’ across IE traditions.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi aligns with Indra’s side by rejecting support for the hostile even among powerful ‘seated’ patrons. The implied reciprocity is ethical-psychological: right allegiance and invocation invite Indra’s shining rule; compromise with hostility breaks the inner alliance.
‘Yoking’ practice: gather scattered impulses into one aspiration; feel an inner shaper refining the instruments.
maṇipūra (will/force) with support from ājñā (illumined direction)
moderate nāḍī-śodhana 6–6 cycles, then silent retention of intention for 3 breaths
Collected, forceful, upward-aimed attention (tapas) with clear discrimination.
Before recitation, name one hostile pattern (e.g., procrastination). Chant once slowly, then once with firm cadence, visualizing the energies harnessed to a luminous chariot moving straight through obstruction.
Standard Ṛgvedic accentuation (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as per śākala tradition; requires pada-svara mapping for exact notes.
Hold udātta syllables slightly higher; let svarita fall-glide; keep anudātta low and unforced—especially across yujāno haritā rathe.
Retroflex ṭ in tvaṣṭā is crisp; do not soften ṣṭ cluster., Keep long vowels: yujāno (ā), haritā (ā), viśvāhā (āhā)., pakṣa: clear kṣ conjunct ( + ).
Firm, bright, forward-placed (as if ‘calling’ Indra).
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