Rig Veda 5.30.7: Mandala 5, Sukta 30, Mantra 7
Sukta 5.30
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
वि षू मृधो जनुषा दानमिन्वन्नहन्गवा मघवन्त्संचकानः । अत्रा दासस्य नमुचेः शिरो यदवर्तयो मनवे गातुमिच्छन् ॥
ví ṣū́ mṛ́dho januṣā́ dā́nam invánn áhan gávā maghavantsaṁcakānáḥ | átrā dāsásya námuceḥ śíro yád ávartayo mánave gātúm icchán ||
汝はその本性によって施与を駆り立て、敵対の群れを散らした。マガヴァンよ、奮い立つとき汝は打ち倒した。ここにて汝はダーサ、ナムチの首を退け、マヌのために道を求め—人の進むべき路を開いた。
Word by Word
- वि
- apart, asunder (prefix)Indeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियाविशेषक)Root वि (उपसर्ग)
- षू
- indeed, straightwayIndeclinableनिपात (प्रगृह्य/उद्गारार्थ)Root षु (अव्यय/निपात)
- मृधः
- hostilities, foes, assaultsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (RV में ‘मृध्’ प्रायः स्त्री), द्वितीया बहुवचन (मृधः = मृधः/मृधोः पदपाठ-रूप)Role KarmaRoot मृध् (प्रातिपदिक: मृध्/मृध्-)
- जनुषा
- by birth, by natureNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot जनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- दानम्
- gift, givingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot दान (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्वन्
- impelling, promotingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा एकवचन पुंलिङ्गRole Kartā (सहायक-विशेषण)Root इन्/इन्व् (धातु; RV: ‘इन्वति’ = प्रेरयति/वर्धयति)
- अहन्
- he slewVerbलुङ् (अorist), प्रथम पुरुष एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot हन् (धातु)
- गवाः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- मघवन्
- O bountiful one (Indra)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्र-विशेषण)
- संचकानः
- rejoicing, exultingVerb (participle)परिपूर्ण/परस्मै-भावक कृदन्त (कानच्/आनच्-प्रत्यय; RV), प्रथमा एकवचन पुंलिङ्ग, आत्मनेपद-भावRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root चका/चक् (धातु; RV ‘चकान’ = हर्ष/दीप्ति/उत्साह-भाव)
- अत्र
- here, in this deedIndeclinableदेशवाचक अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अत्र (अव्यय)
- दासस्य
- of the Dāsa (enemy)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole SambandhaRoot दास (प्रातिपदिक)
- नमुचेः
- of NamuciNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole SambandhaRoot नमुचि (प्रातिपदिक; असुर-नाम)
- शिरः
- headNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यावर्तनार्थ)Role Karma (अन्वय-सम्बन्धक)Root यद् (सर्वनाम)
- अवर्तयः
- thou didst turn/roll offVerbलुङ् (अorist), द्वितीय पुरुष एकवचन, परस्मैपद (स्तुत्यर्थे)Root वृत्/वर्त् (धातु; caus. वर्तयति)
- मनवे
- for ManuNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- गातुम्
- path, passageNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (इच्छन् के साथ कर्म)Role KarmaRoot गातु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘मार्ग/गमन’)
- इच्छन्
- desiringVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा एकवचन पुंलिङ्गRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root इष् (धातु; इच्छति)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठ: ‘अहन्गवा’ = ‘अहन् गवाः’ (न् + ग → ङ्ग)
- ‘मघवन्त्संचकानः’ = ‘मघवन् संचकानः’ (न् + स)
- ‘नमुचे:’ = ‘नमुचेः’ (विसर्ग-लोप/चिह्न-भेद)
- ‘यदवर्तयो’ = ‘यत् अवर्तयः’ (त् + अ → द्/दव्-प्रतीति; संहिता में ‘द’)
- अन्य पद प्रायः पदपाठानुसार।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra scatters hostilities, impels the gift by nature, and slays when roused. He turns away the head of the Dāsa Namuci, seeking a path for Manu.
Inner meaning
Indra’s essential nature is to drive the true ‘gift’ (dānam)—the descent of power, insight, and right enjoyment—into the human system. He disperses inner hostilities (mṛdhaḥ: conflicting impulses, doubts, hostile formations). The ‘head’ of Namuci (a Dāsa figure of clinging, non-release) is turned away: the governing false mentality of the obstruction is dislodged. The purpose is explicitly evolutionary—opening a gātu (path/passage) for Manu, the human seeker, to move forward in consciousness.
Universal truth
Progress requires both illumination and decisive removal of the ruling idea behind obstruction. True guidance opens an inner passage where previously there was only resistance.
Themes
Namuci myth, obstruction removal, path-opening for humanity, gift-driven force
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri Ātreya
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.30 (entire sūkta), RV 5.29
Family tradition
Ātreya hymns frequently frame Indra’s battles as the human journey’s enabling acts—removing hostile formations and creating a path (gātu) for Manu.
Significance
Atri’s seership highlights the psychological necessity of dislodging the ‘head’ (governing falsehood) to establish an evolutionary passage for the soul in nature.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Maghavan, Vṛtrahan, Purandara (fort-breaker; implied)
- Related deities
- Maruts, Soma, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Champion of the gods; clears the path for human ascent by defeating the obstructing powers.
Inner power
Force of luminous discernment and victorious courage; the capacity to cut through the ruling lie and open forward movement.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra soma rites; victory and path-opening invocations
वि षू मृधो॑ ज॒नुषा॒ दान॒मिन्व॒न्नह॒न्गवा॑ मघवन्त्संचका॒नः । अत्रा॑ दा॒सस्य॒ नमु॑चे॒: शिरो॒ यदव॑र्तयो॒ मन॑वे गा॒तुमि॒च्छन् ॥
वि । सु । मृधः॑ । ज॒नुषा॑ । दान॑म् । इन्व॑न् । अह॑न् । गवा॑ । म॒घ॒ऽव॒न् । सम्॒ऽच॒का॒नः । अत्र॑ । दा॒सस्य॑ । नमु॑चेः । शिरः॑ । यत् । अव॑र्तयः । मन॑वे । गा॒तुम् । इ॒च्छन् ॥
vi | su | mṛdhaḥ | januṣā | dānam | invan | ahan | gavā | magha-van | sam-cakānaḥ | atra | dāsasya | namuceḥ | śiraḥ | yat | avartayaḥ | manave | gātum | icchan
44
4×11 (approx.)
Energetic and combative; strong verb-driven momentum (vi…ahan…avartayo).
Mobilizes will and clarity; supports inner rejection of hostile patterns and forward resolve.
- मृधः (mṛdhaḥ)
- Literal: hostilities, conflicts. Symbolic: inner contradictions, hostile thought-forms, vital resistances
- जनुषा (januṣā)
- Literal: by birth/nature. Symbolic: the inherent action of illumined mind: to clarify and liberate
- दानम् (dānam)
- Literal: gift, giving. Symbolic: descent of force, insight, right abundance; grace in action
- मघवन् (maghavan)
- Literal: bountiful one. Symbolic: the power that enriches consciousness with luminous capacities
- सं-चकानः (saṃcakānaḥ)
- Literal: being stirred/roused, eager. Symbolic: activated divine force in the system; awakened dynamism
- नमुचिः (namuciḥ)
- Literal: a Dāsa named Namuci. Symbolic: the ‘non-releaser’: clinging obstruction that resists letting-go
- शिरः (śiraḥ)
- Literal: head. Symbolic: governing idea, controlling mentality of ignorance
- मनवे (manave)
- Literal: for Manu. Symbolic: for the human being seeking the law of right living/consciousness
- गातु (gātu)
- Literal: path, passage. Symbolic: inner opening/way through to higher movement
Heroic exploit stanza (Namuci episode) recited to invoke Indra’s obstruction-removing power for the sacrificer/community.
During pressing/offerings when seeking overcoming of obstacles and success in undertaking
Recited to invoke Indra’s ‘path-making’ power and removal of hostile forces
Chant before difficult decisions or during periods of inner conflict; use as a ‘clearing’ mantra to regain direction.
Namuci is traditionally ‘the non-releaser’ (na-muci: ‘not letting go’), fitting inner symbolism: the force that refuses release of energies/knowledge; ava-√vṛt ‘roll/turn away’ used with śiras suggests removal of the governing obstruction; gātu (from √gā/√gam movement semantics) is the opened passage in consciousness for Manu (humanity).
opening of the path (gātu) for Manu (human evolution), removal of governing obstruction (śiras as control-center)
Gātu for Manu is the restoration of ṛta’s roadway in human consciousness.
Turning away Namuci’s head signifies removal of the governing falsehood so truth can lead.
Path-opening as a creation act: making room for the new movement of consciousness.
Yoga of inner battle and ascent (Aurobindo’s psychological Veda).
Storm-battle = dynamic purification; path = channel in consciousness for ascent and right action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Namuci-slaying motif: Indra removes/turns away Namuci’s head. Inner sense: the truth-force dislodges the ‘head’—the controlling principle of denial and non-release—so that the human being (Manu) gains a passage forward in evolution.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √han ‘slay’ is PIE *gʷhen- ‘strike/kill’ (cf. English bane is different; but Avestan jan- is cognate). √vṛt (avartayaḥ) is PIE *wert- ‘turn’. The mythic diction uses archaic IE battle-formulas (scatter hostilities, strike down foe).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recalls a decisive liberating exploit to secure the same operation now: Indra is urged (by remembrance/praise) to remove the inner ‘Namuci’ that blocks the path. The deity’s gift-driving nature (dānam invan) answers the human need for progress (gātu).
Identify the ‘head of Namuci’—the ruling thought that justifies stagnation—then invoke Indra to turn it away.
maṇipūra (courage/will) supporting ājñā (clear seeing)
Brisk, even breathing for 12 cycles, then one slow chant per exhale; pause briefly after each pāda to feel ‘space opening’.
From conflict to decisive clarity and forward-flowing intention.
After chanting, write one sentence naming the obstructing belief; consciously reverse it into a truth-aligned intention (the new gātu).
Vedic accenting per Śākala tradition; emphasize udatta on key action words (vi, ahan, avartayo) and on índra/ maghavan as marked in recensional notation.
Keep strong lift on ‘mṛ́dho’ and ‘áhan’; articulate ‘namúceḥ śíro’ as a tight cluster without swallowing vowels.
‘vi ṣū’—keep ‘ṣū’ long and clear., ‘saṃcakānaḥ’—nasal ‘ṃ’ before ‘c’, and long ‘ā’., ‘avartayo’—roll ‘r’ lightly; keep ‘yo’ distinct., Maintain visarga-less sandhi flow; avoid inserting extra ‘h’.
Commanding, energized, chest-to-brow resonance.
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