Rig Veda 8.17.7: Mandala 8, Sukta 17, Mantra 7
Sukta 8.17
- Rishi
- Kāṇva tradition
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Shringara (love) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अयमु त्वा विचर्षणे जनीरिवाभि संवृतः । प्र सोम इन्द्र सर्पतु ॥
ayam u tvā vi-carṣaṇe janīr ivābhi saṃvṛtaḥ | pra soma indra sarpatu ||
यह सोम तुम्हे घेर लेता है। जैसे औरतें अपने प्यारे को घेर लेती हैं। इंद्र, यह तुम्हारे अंदर घुस के जाग जाए।
Word by Word
- अयम्
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (वाक्यस्य विषयः) / निर्देश्यःRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वा
- youPronounद्वितीया, एकवचनम् (एनक्लिटिक रूपम्)Role कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विचर्षणे
- O far-seeing/illustrious oneNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot वि-चर्षणि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘प्रख्यात/दर्शनीय/वीर’ इत्यर्थे, इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)
- जनीः
- a wifeNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (उपमान-वाक्ये)Root जनी (स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक; ‘पत्नी/स्त्री’)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययम्Role (उपमान-सम्बन्धः)Root इव
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)उपसर्ग/उपपद-अव्ययम्Role अधिकरण/दिशा (towards, over)Root अभि
- संवृतः
- enclosed, covered, wrappedParticiple (adjective)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (अयम्…)Root सम् + √वृ (वृञ् वरणे/वरण-आवरणे) → संवृत (कृदन्त)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गःRole (क्रियाविशेषणम्/गत्यर्थ-प्रवृत्तिः)Root प्र
- सोमः
- Soma (the pressed juice/deity)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सर्पतु
- let (him/it) creep/move/flowVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role (मुख्यक्रिया)Root √सृप् (सृप गतौ) + लोट्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अयम् | त्वा | विचर्षणे | जनीः | इव | अभि | संवृतः | प्र | सोमः | इन्द्र | सर्पतु || 1) ‘जनीरिव’ = जनीः + इव (विसर्गस्य रेफादेशः: ḥ + i → r i). 2) ‘इन्द्र’ सम्बोधन-रूपम्
- ‘सोमः’ कर्ता, ‘सर्पतु’ लोट् 3sg. 3) ‘संवृतः’ = सम्-उपसर्गपूर्वक √वृ (आवरणे) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः
The meaning
Outer meaning
This Soma surrounds you, O discerner of men, like women encircling; let Soma glide forward into you, O Indra.
Inner meaning
The Ananda-power gathers around the illumined mind (Indra as vicarṣaṇi—discerner) with intimate, embracing energies (janīḥ). The ‘gliding’ (sarpatu) suggests a subtle infiltration of delight into consciousness, awakening inner faculties by closeness rather than by shock.
Universal truth
Real transformation often comes by intimate, persistent infusion: the higher joy surrounds, presses in, and quietly enters until the whole consciousness consents.
Themes
Soma-entry, Erotic/embrace imagery as mystic union, Indra as discerner, Activation (pra)
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.17.5, Rig Veda 8.17.6, Rig Veda 8.17.8, Rig Veda 8.17.10
Significance
The seer uses a relational image (beloved encircled) to convey yogic intimacy: higher delight does not remain outside; it surrounds and enters the discerning consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- vicarṣaṇi (discerner)
- Related deities
- Soma, Uṣas (illumination that prepares entry)
Cosmic role
Lord of luminous discernment who receives Soma to act victoriously.
Inner power
Discriminating, illumined intelligence capable of intimate union with Ananda.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma invitation to Indra; imagery of surrounding suggests welcoming/enthroning the deity at the offering.
अ॒यमु॑ त्वा विचर्षणे॒ जनी॑रिवा॒भि संवृ॑तः । प्र सोम॑ इन्द्र सर्पतु ॥
अ॒यम् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । त्वा॒ । वि॒ऽच॒र्ष॒णे॒ । जनीः॑ऽइव । अ॒भि । सम्ऽवृ॑तः । प्र । सोमः॑ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । स॒र्प॒तु॒ ॥
ayam | oṃ iti | tvā | vi-carṣaṇe | janīḥ-iva | abhi | sam-vṛtaḥ | pra | somaḥ | indra | sarpatu
Two pādas; first descriptive, second imperative invocation.
Serpentine/continuous due to ‘sarpatu’; feels like a smooth forward motion.
Creates a sense of being gently surrounded by sweetness; supports receptive meditation.
- vicarṣaṇe
- Literal: discerner of men. Symbolic: Indra as discriminating luminous mind in us, knower of human movements
- janīḥ iva
- Literal: like women. Symbolic: powers of attraction/consent; supportive energies of nature that embrace the beloved truth
- abhi saṃvṛtaḥ
- Literal: enclosed/surrounded. Symbolic: Ananda forming a protective, compelling atmosphere around the mind
- pra… sarpatu
- Literal: let it creep/glide forward. Symbolic: subtle entry of Soma into the inner being; gradual permeation
- somaḥ
- Literal: Soma. Symbolic: delight-consciousness seeking union with illumined mind (Indra)
Soma invitation with imagery of encompassing embrace; urging Soma to enter Indra
At the moment of offering and invitation for Indra’s Soma-drinking.
Verbal ‘drawing in’ of Indra through Soma’s approach.
Use when seeking to make meditation ‘intimate’: feel delight gather around the mind and enter naturally.
sarpatu: √sṛp ‘creep/glide’ (subtle motion). sam-vṛta: √vṛ ‘cover/enclose’. vi-carṣaṇi/vi-carṣaṇe is a traditional epithet; ‘vi-’ suggests differentiation/wideness; carṣaṇi relates to ‘men/people’ and activity/seeing among them.
Union of force and delight (Soma entering Indra), Inner intimacy of powers (abhi saṃvṛtaḥ as inward enclosure)
Rita here is the right movement of approach—Soma entering Indra in a lawful, harmonious way.
Discernment (vicarṣaṇi) receives truth not as abstraction but as living sweetness.
Union: the many energies gather around the central light to enter and become one action.
Yogic-psychological Veda (Aurobindo): union of Ananda (Soma) with illumined Mind (Indra).
Encircling = building a field of consciousness; gliding = subtle pranic entry through inner channels.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘marriage’/embrace motif between Soma and Indra: Soma surrounds and enters the god. Mythically, Soma’s ingress empowers Indra; psychologically, delight and illumination must intimately pervade the will-force, not remain external offering.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sṛp ‘creep’ has possible IE parallels in ‘slip/creep’ semantics (comparisons exist but are not as firm as madhu/hṛd). The poetic simile construction ‘X iva’ is a common Indo-European feature of early verse style.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer orchestrates a controlled inner ‘entry’ of Soma into Indra: not merely calling the god, but directing how the power should move (sarpatu) and how it should relate (abhi saṃvṛtaḥ). It models yogic receptivity: the divine force is strengthened by intimate delight.
Receptivity to Ananda: let delight ‘surround’ the mind and enter without strain.
Natural breath; on inhale feel ‘abhi saṃvṛtaḥ’ (surrounded), on exhale feel ‘pra… sarpatu’ (entering).
Receptive absorption; intimate union of joy and discernment.
Sit quietly; sense a ring of sweetness around the head and chest; repeat the mantra and allow the ‘gliding’ entry to happen by consent, not effort.
Maintain Vedic pitch accents; ‘vicarṣaṇe’ and ‘somaḥ’ often carry prominence in recitation—respect marks in the saṃhitā.
Keep ‘pra soma indra sarpatu’ as one forward-moving breath-unit if comfortable.
vicarṣaṇe: ‘car’ with clear ‘r’; retroflex ‘ṣ’, janīr iva: long ī; light sandhi between words, saṃvṛtaḥ: nasal ‘ṃ’; vocalic ‘ṛ’ in vṛ, sarpatu: ‘rpa’ cluster clean, no extra vowel
Smooth, continuous, slightly intimate/soft.
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