Rig Veda 8.95.3: Mandala 8, Sukta 95, Mantra 3
Sukta 8.95
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
पिबा सोमं मदाय कमिन्द्र श्येनाभृतं सुतम् । त्वं हि शश्वतीनां पती राजा विशामसि ॥
píbā sómaṃ mádāya kám índra śyenā́bhṛtaṃ sutám | tváṃ hí śáśvatīnām pátī rājā́ viśā́m ási ||
इंद्र, सोम पियो खुशी के लिए। यह प्याला बाज़ पक्षी ने लाया है। तुम तो किंग हो, लोगों के राजा हो। तुम हमेशा से सरदार हो। तुम सब पर राज करते हो।
Word by Word
- पिब
- drink!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Role (क्रिया)Root पा (पिबति)
- सोमम्
- Soma (juice)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- मदाय
- for exhilaration/intoxicationNounपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदान (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)Root मद (प्रातिपदिक)
- कम्
- what?/indeed (Vedic particle-like)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (वैदिकं: ‘कम्’ = ‘किम्/किमर्थम्’ अथवा ‘क’ इति अव्ययवत्)Role (अनिर्णीत/प्रश्नार्थ-निपातवत्)Root क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्येनाभृतम्
- brought by the falconAdjective (past passive participle)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘भृत’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्तःRole कर्म (सोमम् इति विशेषणम्)Root श्येन + √भृ (भृत) [कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक]
- सुतम्
- pressed/expressedAdjective (past passive participle)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (सोमम् इति विशेषणम्)Root √सु (सुनोति) → सुत [कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक]
- त्वम्
- youPronounउत्तमपुरुषार्थे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्ताRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- हि
- for/indeedIndeclinableनिपातः (हेतौ/निश्चये)Role (सम्बन्ध-निपातः)Root हि (निपात)
- शश्वतीनाम्
- of the everlasting (ones)Adjective (used substantively)स्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (पतेः)Root शश्वत् (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- पते
- O lordNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधनRoot पति (प्रातिपदिक)
- राजा
- kingNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्ता (असि इति)Root राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- विशाम्
- of the clans/peoplesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (राजा)Root विश् (प्रातिपदिक)
- असि
- you areVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Role (क्रिया)Root √अस् (अस्ति)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (sandhi-resolved): पिब | सोमम् | मदाय | कम् | इन्द्र | श्येनाभृतम् | सुतम् | त्वम् | हि | शश्वतीनाम् | पते | राजा | विशाम् | असि । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) पिबा सोमम् → पिब सोमम् (लोट्-रूप ‘पिब’ + दीर्घ-प्रसार/पदपाठ-भेद)
- (2) कमिन्द्र → कम् इन्द्र (म् + इ → मि)
- (3) श्येनाभृतं सुतम् → श्येनाभृतम् सुतम् (अनुस्वार/मकार-पर्याय, पदान्त-समायोजन)
- (4) शश्वतीनां पती → शश्वतीनाम् पते (सम्बोधन-रूप ‘पते’)
- (5) विशामसि → विशाम् असि (म् + अ → मा)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra is urged to drink Soma for intoxication/rapture, the pressed Soma brought by the falcon; Indra is praised as the enduring lord and king of the peoples.
Inner meaning
Soma for madāya is not mere excitement but divine ecstasy that empowers illumination. The ‘falcon’ (śyena) is the swift upward-going force (often symbolizing the soaring mind or inspired will) that brings the delight from the higher plane. Indra as king of the viśaḥ signifies the ruling light organizing the many inner ‘peoples’—thoughts, impulses, faculties—into a harmonious sovereignty.
Universal truth
True mastery is inner kingship: when illumination is fed by higher joy brought by aspiration, the multiplicity in us becomes ordered under a single luminous governance.
Themes
Soma-bringing falcon, Indra-kingship, ecstasy as force, inner integration
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 8.95.2, RV 8.95.1 (contextual)
Family tradition
Indra-Soma victory tradition of Maṇḍala 8; emphasis on ecstasy as fuel for sovereignty and right rule of the inner kingdom.
Significance
Shows the Vedic psychology of transformation: bliss (Soma) strengthens illumination (Indra), which then becomes king over multiplicity—integral self-mastery.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- king (rājā), lord of the enduring (śaśvatīnām patiḥ)
- Related deities
- Soma, Maruts, Bṛhaspati (word-power), Agni
Cosmic role
Victor over the Coverer; establishes the free reign of light; distributes the riches of consciousness.
Inner power
Sovereign discrimination and luminous command that integrates and harmonizes the faculties.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra’s Soma drinking (libation) with praise of kingship
पिबा॒ सोमं॒ मदा॑य॒ कमिन्द्र॑ श्ये॒नाभृ॑तं सु॒तम् । त्वं हि शश्व॑तीनां॒ पती॒ राजा॑ वि॒शामसि॑ ॥
पिब॑ । सोम॑म् । मदा॑य । कम् । इन्द्र॑ । श्ये॒नऽआ॑भृतम् । सु॒तम् । त्वम् । हि । शश्व॑तीनाम् । पतिः॑ । राजा॑ । वि॒शाम् । असि॑ ॥
piba | somam | madāya | kam | indra | śyena-ābhṛtam | sutam | tvam | hi | śaśvatīnām | patiḥ | rājā | viśām | asi
44
4 × 11 syllables (approx.)
Expansive and regal; strong mid-line stresses around madāya and rājā
Elicits uplifted rapture with steadiness—ecstasy held by sovereignty, not scattered.
- मदा॑य (madāya)
- Literal: for intoxication/rapture. Symbolic: divine ecstasy that intensifies light and power without disorder
- श्येनाभृतम् (śyenābhṛtam)
- Literal: brought by the falcon. Symbolic: delight carried down by the soaring mind/inspired will from higher consciousness
- सुतम् (sutam)
- Literal: pressed. Symbolic: distilled by inner pressing (tapas, aspiration, mantra)
- राजा (rājā)
- Literal: king. Symbolic: sovereign illumined mind ruling the parts of nature
- विशाम् (viśām)
- Literal: of the peoples/clans. Symbolic: the many powers and subpersonalities in the being
- शश्वतीनाम् पतिः (śaśvatīnām patiḥ)
- Literal: lord of the enduring/everlasting. Symbolic: master of stable truths and lasting powers; not momentary brilliance
Soma offering to Indra; evokes the Soma-falcon myth often linked to Soma acquisition and its availability for the sacrifice.
Soma yajña; also adaptable to rites seeking victory, clarity, and leadership
Offer Soma; recite to invite Indra’s empowered presence and rulership
For inner governance: before confronting habits or chaos—chant to invoke a joyful but firm clarity that can ‘rule the peoples’ within.
madá- from √mad ‘to be exhilarated/joyful, intoxicated’; indicates energizing rapture, not mere sensory intoxication. śyéna- ‘falcon/eagle’ (mythic Soma-bringer) symbolizes swift ascending force; ābhṛtam is PPP from ā-√bhṛ ‘bring’. rājā from √rāj ‘to shine, rule’; sovereignty as luminous order. viś- ‘settlement/people’ extends to ‘the many parts of the being’ in inner reading.
sovereignty of luminous mind (rājā), Ananda as power (mada), integration of faculties (viśām)
Indra’s kingship is the establishment of Ṛta in the many movements (viśaḥ).
Enduring lordship implies stable truth rather than fleeting inspiration.
Descent of higher delight (śyena) feeding the evolutionary ruler (Indra) to order multiplicity.
Integral Vedic yoga: Ananda → illumination → mastery of nature.
Falcon = swift ascent/overmind-like fetch of delight; Soma = bliss-current; kingship = central organizing consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Soma brought by the falcon (śyena): a classic mythic motif of the heavenly acquisition of Soma. Innerly it signifies the swift will or inspired flight of consciousness that fetches delight-essence from higher planes for Indra (illumined mind) to drink and rule the nature.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- rājā from √rāj relates to rulership and radiance (PIE *h₃reǵ- ‘to rule, straighten’; cf. Latin rēx). pati- ‘lord’ from PIE *pótis (cf. Greek πόσις). These preserve archaic social/political metaphors applied to inner cosmic governance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The poet offers Soma and affirms Indra’s rightful sovereignty over the ‘peoples’ (viś). The reciprocity: the sacrificer provides the extracted delight; Indra, strengthened by it, becomes the organizing kingly intelligence that harmonizes and leads the many inner powers.
Receive joy from above (śyena) and let it feed clear command (Indra) over thoughts and impulses.
Sahasrāra/Ājñā (descent of higher joy and light) with Maṇipūra (sovereign will)
Inhale imagining a swift upward flight; exhale feeling a cool nectar descend into the head and heart; then chant 3 times.
Ecstatic clarity (ānanda with mastery)
After chanting, observe the ‘peoples’—habits, desires, thoughts—without suppression; invite Indra’s calm authority to assign each its right place and work under a single intention.
Standard udatta/anudatta/svarita; give energetic lift on ‘pibā’ and ‘indra’; keep ‘śyenābhṛtam’ flowing as one compound.
Avoid breaking compounds: śyenābhṛtaṃ; keep retroflex in rājā and viśām crisp; sustain long vowels (somam, madāya).
pibā (pi-bā; long ā), madāya (ma-dā-ya), śyenābhṛtam (śye-nā-bhṛ-tam; bh aspirated; vocalic ṛ), śaśvatīnām (śaś-va-tī-nām; long ī, ā), viśām (vi-śām; long ā)
Bright, confident, slightly martial yet controlled
3
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