Rig Veda 7.33.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 33, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.33
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
दूरादिन्द्रमनयन्ना सुतेन तिरो वैशन्तमति पान्तमुग्रम् । पाशद्युम्नस्य वायतस्य सोमात्सुतादिन्द्रोऽवृणीता वसिष्ठान् ॥
dūrā́d índram anayan nā́ suténa tiró vaiśántam áti pā́ntam ugrám | pā́śa-dyumnasya vāyátasya sómāt sutā́d índro ’vṛṇītā vásiṣṭhān ||
लोगों ने दूर से इंद्र को बुलाया, सोम रस दे के। वो सब रुकावतें पार करके आए, बहुत ताकतवर थे। पसद्युम्न वायत ने सोम रस निकाला, उसमे से इंद्र ने वशिष्ठ लोगों को चुना। उन्हे अपना बनाया काम के लिए।
Word by Word
- दूरात्
- from afarIndeclinableअव्यय; अपादानार्थे (ablatival adverb) 'from afar'Role अपादानRoot दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनयन्
- they led/broughtVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट); प्र. 3; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot नी (धातु) < नयति; उपसर्ग: अनु-
- न
- as/likeIndeclinableनिषेध/उपमान-निपात; यहाँ ‘as/like’ (न…इव-भाव) प्रयोगRoot न (निपात)
- सुतेन
- with the pressed SomaNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot सुत (ppp of √सु ‘to press’)
- तिरः
- across; throughIndeclinableअव्यय; ‘across/through, beyond’Root तिरस् (अव्यय/उपसर्गीय)
- वैशन्तम्
- entering; going inAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; वर्तमान कृदन्त (act. ptc.)Role कर्म (इन्द्रम् विशेषण)Root विश् (धातु) → वैशन्त (वर्तमान कृदन्त/प्रत्यय -न्त)
- अति
- beyond; overIndeclinableअव्यय; ‘over, beyond’Root अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- पान्तम्
- protected; guardedAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (ppp) प्रयोगRole कर्म (इन्द्रम् विशेषण)Root पा (धातु) → पान्त (ppp)
- उग्रम्
- fierce; mightyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्म (इन्द्रम् विशेषण)Root उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- पाशत्
- he sawVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट); प्र. 3; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot पश् (धातु) < पश्यति
- द्युम्नस्य
- of splendor; of gloryNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root द्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- वायतस्य
- of the wind-driven / of the blowing oneAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root वायत (प्रातिपदिक; √वा ‘to blow’ से)
- सोमात्
- from SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी; एकवचनRole अपादानRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुतात्
- from the pressed (Soma)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी; एकवचनRole अपादानRoot सुत (ppp of √सु)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अवृणीत
- choseVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट); प्र. 3; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot वृ (धातु) ‘to choose’
- वसिष्ठान्
- the Vasiṣṭhas (Vasiṣṭha’s clan)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; ऋषिनाम)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद: दूरात् इन्द्रम् अनयन् न सुतेन तिरः वैशन्तम् अति पान्तम् उग्रम् । पाशत् द्युम्नस्य वायतस्य सोमात् सुतात् इन्द्रः अवृणीत वसिष्ठान् ॥ प्रमुख सन्धि: (1) दूरात्+इन्द्रम् → दूरादिन्द्रम् (त्→द् परे स्वर) (2) अनयन्+न → अनयन्ना (न्+न संयोग; दीर्घ ‘आ’ पदपाठ-प्रकारेण) (3) इन्द्रः+अवृणीत → इन्द्रोऽवृणीता (अः+अ → ओऽ; पदान्त ‘अ’ दीर्घ-प्रयोगः) (4) सोमात्+सुतात् → सोमात्सुतात् (त्+स → त्स)
The meaning
Outer meaning
From afar they led Indra here by the pressed Soma, passing beyond the encircling and the guarded formidable powers. From the Soma pressed by Pāśadyumna Vāyata, Indra chose the Vasiṣṭhas.
Inner meaning
The seer-band draws Indra (illumined mind) from ‘afar’—from a higher plane not normally active—by sutena, the pressed Soma: concentrated delight distilled through aspiration and discipline. They pass beyond enclosing and guarding forces (tiro vaiśantam, ati pāntam ugram): psychological boundaries, protective shells of ego, and formidable resistances that keep the higher power out. When Soma is rightly prepared (pressed by the will/inspiration symbolized by Pāśadyumna Vāyata), Indra ‘chooses’ the Vasiṣṭhas: the established truth-powers become the selected instruments for the work—inner faculties consecrated to illumination.
Universal truth
Higher help responds to concentrated delight and sincere preparation; when aspiration is refined, the illumined intelligence naturally selects and organizes the right instruments in us.
Themes
Soma draws Indra, Seer-lineage chosen, Crossing beyond obstacles, Ritual legitimation
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 7.33.1, RV 7.32.25, RV 7.18
Family tradition
A lineage-memory: Indra’s special relation with the Vasiṣṭhas is grounded in their capacity to prepare Soma (delight) and call down illumination beyond resistances.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha frames spiritual authority not as social privilege but as inner qualification: the one who can press Soma and draw Indra becomes chosen for the work.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Ugra (formidable), Chosen-invoked (implicit through being led by Soma)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Maruts, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Responds to Soma, breaks through guarded enclosures, and establishes illumined leadership by selecting fit instruments.
Inner power
Descent of illumined mind catalyzed by bliss; power to pass beyond ego-encirclement and defended resistances.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing (savana) narrative praise; legitimizes the Vasiṣṭha role in the rite by Indra’s ‘choosing’.
दू॒रादिन्द्र॑मनय॒न्ना सु॒तेन॑ ति॒रो वै॑श॒न्तमति॒ पान्त॑मु॒ग्रम् । पाश॑द्युम्नस्य वाय॒तस्य॒ सोमा॑त्सु॒तादिन्द्रो॑ऽवृणीता॒ वसि॑ष्ठान् ॥
दू॒रात् । इन्द्र॑म् । अ॒न॒य॒न् । आ । सु॒तेन॑ । ति॒रः । वै॒श॒न्तम् । अति॑ । पान्त॑म् । उ॒ग्रम् । पाश॑ऽद्युम्नस्य । वा॒य॒तस्य॑ । सोमा॑त् । सु॒तात् । इन्द्रः॑ । अ॒वृ॒णी॒त॒ । वसि॑ष्ठान् ॥
dūrāt | indram | anayan | ā | sutena | tiraḥ | vaiśantam | ati | pāntam | ugram | pāśa-dyumnasya | vāyatasya | somāt | sutāt | indraḥ | avṛṇīta | vasiṣṭhān
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Narrative momentum with ‘crossing beyond’ phrases; feels like a successful breakthrough.
Energizes aspiration; evokes the sense of calling down a higher force and piercing inner barriers.
- दूरात् (dūrāt)
- Literal: from afar. Symbolic: from higher planes or latent potential beyond ordinary awareness
- आ सुतेन (ā sutena)
- Literal: by the pressed (Soma). Symbolic: by distilled bliss/rapture produced through inner pressing (tapas + aspiration)
- तिरो वैशन्तम् (tiro vaiśantam)
- Literal: beyond/through the encircling. Symbolic: past the ring of limiting formations; ego-boundary and habitual mind-walls
- अति पान्तम् उग्रम् (ati pāntam ugram)
- Literal: beyond the guarded, formidable. Symbolic: past the strongly defended resistances of the subconscient/vital
- सोमात् सुतात् (somāt sutāt)
- Literal: from Soma pressed. Symbolic: from prepared delight that becomes a vehicle for descent of power
- अवृणीत (avṛṇīta)
- Literal: chose, selected. Symbolic: higher intelligence ‘elects’ the right instruments; consecration and alignment
- वसिष्ठान् (vasiṣṭhān)
- Literal: the Vasiṣṭhas. Symbolic: truth-established powers/faculties; the seer-band as inner formation
- पाशद्युम्नस्य वायतस्य (pāśadyumnasya vāyatasya)
- Literal: of Pāśadyumna Vāyata (name). Symbolic: a personified ‘splendour of vision’ (dyumna) and ‘movement/breath’ (vāyata): inspired force that presses Soma
Lineage legitimation within Soma ritual: Soma-pressing as the means that draws Indra and establishes the seer-band as chosen officiants
During Soma-related recitations; also as a lineage/pravara remembrance in certain contexts (by extension).
Pressing Soma and chanting to invite Indra; marking the seer-band’s relation to the deity.
Use when seeking ‘descent’ of clarity: after preparing the mind (quiet, sincerity), chant to invite breakthrough beyond habitual defenses.
√nī ‘lead’ (anayan) shows Soma as a means of ‘bringing’ the deity—outerly to the rite, inwardly into the consciousness. √vṛ ‘choose’ (avṛṇīta) marks election/affiliation: Indra ‘chooses’ a lineage as his instrument. Soma (√su ‘press’) is the expressed delight/essence that attracts and embodies the divine power.
Soma as delight-essence enabling divine descent, election/choice (vṛ) as alignment of human instrument with divine power
Indra’s ‘choice’ implies ordering according to ṛta: the right instruments are selected when the offering is true.
Breakthrough beyond guarded enclosures is a movement from mixed truth to clearer satya.
Descent of higher power through bliss as mediator; organization of a true collective (or inner collectivity).
Integral Yoga reading: ānanda (Soma) as key to invoking higher mind; overcoming ego-defenses.
Pressing = concentration and distillation of delight; guarded enclosure = ego/subconscient defenses; approach from afar = descent from higher consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Soma brings the god’ mythologem: pressed Soma leads Indra from afar and through barriers; then the god ‘chooses’ a seer-lineage—divine election establishing the human channel.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √su ‘press’ (Soma) reflects an archaic Indo-Iranian ritual-technology of extraction/pressing. √vṛ ‘choose’ has PIE parallels (*wel- ‘choose/want’ debated; but √vṛ is solid Vedic ‘choose’) and is central to Indo-European social-sacral semantics of selection and favor.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The relationship is covenantal: through Soma (delight offered and awakened), Indra enters and then claims the Vasiṣṭhas as his chosen collaborators—mutual reinforcement of divine power and human inspired speech.
Prepare ‘Soma’—quiet joy and concentrated aspiration—then invite Indra to cross inner defenses and establish illumined governance.
Sahasrāra/upper head (descent from afar) with Ājñā (illumined mind)
Brief bhrāmarī (3 rounds) to refine vibration, then silent easeful breathing; chant once per exhale.
From prepared delight to receptive descent; a ‘breakthrough’ into clearer guidance.
First create Soma: recall a pure gratitude or devotion until it becomes steady and quiet. Then chant 9 times. After chanting, remain still and notice what ‘chooses itself’—the right next action, the right thought, the right restraint.
Recite with strong clarity on ‘ā sutena’ and ‘avṛṇīta’; exact Vedic accents depend on a fully marked text—keep the natural triṣṭubh flow with clear pāda cadence.
Slightly accelerate through the ‘crossing beyond’ phrases (tiro… ati…), then slow and emphasize ‘indro ’vṛṇīta vasiṣṭhān’.
dūrād: long ū and ā, tiro: light ‘r’, vaiśantam: ‘ś’ clear, pāntam: long ā, ugram: hard ‘g’, pāśadyumnasya: ‘śā’, ‘dyu’ cluster, avṛṇīta: retroflex ṇ, long ī
Bright, forward-moving, triumphant at the close.
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