Rig Veda 7.34.4: Mandala 7, Sukta 34, Mantra 4
Sukta 7.34
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra as model of bestowing force
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
आ धूर्ष्वस्मै दधाताश्वानिन्द्रो न वज्री हिरण्यबाहुः ॥
ā́ dhūrṣv asmai dadhātā́śvān índro ná vajrī́ híraṇyabāhuḥ
彼のために征服の諸力を据えよ。雷槌を担うインドラ（vajrī）、黄金の腕のごとく、働きを前へ運ぶ力の駿馬を授けよ。
Word by Word
- आ
- hither; forth; untoIndeclinableनिपात/उपसर्ग (गत्यर्थे/आभिमुख्ये)Root आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- धूर्ष्व
- in/at the stronghold; in the firm placeNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (धूर्षु ‘धूर्षु’ = धूर्षु-स्थाने/धूर्षु-मध्ये)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot धृष् (धातु) / धूर्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मै
- to himPronounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot अयम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- दधात
- let him place; let him bestowVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot धा (धातु)
- अश्वान्
- horsesNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like; asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययRoot न (निपात)
- वज्री
- the wielder of the thunderboltNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root वज्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- हिरण्यबाहुः
- golden-armedNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root हिरण्य-बाहु (प्रातिपदिक; समासः कर्मधारयः/बहुव्रीहिः-स्वरूपेण ‘golden-armed’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: आ | धूर्ष्व् अस्मै | दधात | अश्वान् | इन्द्रः | न | वज्री | हिरण्यबाहुः । 1) धूर्ष्वस्मै = धूर्ष्व् + अस्मै (व्यञ्जन-सन्धिः: व् + अ → व)
- 2) दधाताश्वान् = दधात + अश्वान् (स्वर-सन्धिः: अ + अ → आ)
- 3) इन्द्रो = इन्द्रः + न (विसर्ग-सन्धिः: अः + न → ओ न)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A call to bestow victorious powers and energetic steeds for the work, in the manner of Indra the thunderbolt-bearer with golden arms.
Inner meaning
The seeker asks the higher Power to place within him “dhūrṣu”—conquering, overcoming forces—and to grant “aśvān”—the swift vital energies that can carry the inner yajña forward. Indra here is a model-image of the illumined Mind wielding the vajra of discernment, striking down resistance and releasing forward-moving power.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires both illumination (the thunderbolt of clear seeing) and sustained energy (the steeds) directed by a victorious will; when the higher Mind acts, the needed forces are installed in the nature.
Themes
bestowal of energy, indraic force, harnessed progress, victory over resistance
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.18, RV 7.33, RV 7.34, RV 7.35
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭhas of Maṇḍala 7; hymns often stress Ṛta, right ordering, and the steady establishment of divine powers in life.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision emphasizes stable perfection: the gods are invoked not only for momentary aid but to found enduring inner order (ṛta) and victorious capacity in the human instrument.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (evoked as exemplar of bestowing force)
- Epithets
- vajrī (thunderbolt-bearer), hiraṇyabāhu (golden-armed)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Maruts, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstruction, releaser of the waters/lights, giver of strength and victorious expansions.
Inner power
Illuminated intelligence that strikes falsehood and fear, releasing energy for right action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocatory bestowal for strength and progress in the yajña; compatible with soma-offerings to Indra for victory and energy.
आ धू॒र्ष्व॑स्मै॒ दधा॒ताश्वा॒निन्द्रो॒ न व॒ज्री हिर॑ण्यबाहुः ॥
आ । धू॒र्षु । अ॒स्मै॒ । दधा॑त । अश्वा॑न् । इन्द्रः॑ । न । व॒ज्री । हिर॑ण्यऽबाहुः ॥
ā | dhūrṣu | asmai | dadhāta | aśvān | indraḥ | na | vajrī | hiraṇya-bāhuḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables (triṣṭubh cadence)
Forward-driving, martial and directive; suited to imperatives of bestowal and conquest.
Builds a sense of rising force and confidence; supports resolve and ‘installation’ of power in meditation.
- धूर्षु (dhūrṣu)
- Literal: conquering, overpowering. Symbolic: victorious inner forces that overcome inertia, doubt, and obstruction
- दधात (dadhāta)
- Literal: place, establish, bestow. Symbolic: implantation of a higher capacity into the being (a settled attainment, not a passing impulse)
- अश्वान् (aśvān)
- Literal: horses. Symbolic: vital energies and effective powers of action that carry the work
- इन्द्रः (indraḥ)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: divine Mind/illumination that governs right force and releases the Light
- वज्री (vajrī)
- Literal: bearer of the thunderbolt. Symbolic: power of decisive discrimination that breaks the Coverer (inner Vṛtra-forces)
- हिरण्यबाहुः (hiraṇya-bāhuḥ)
- Literal: golden-armed. Symbolic: luminous power of action; hands/arms as executors of the divine Will in the embodied nature
Invocatory bestowal for strength and progress in the yajña; compatible with soma-offerings to Indra for victory and energy.
As part of Indra/strength-invocations within soma-related or victory/aid contexts; also adaptable in general yajña sequences.
Invocatory bestowal: calling for powers (aśva/force) to be granted to the sacrificer.
Use as a mantra of empowerment before demanding work or sādhanā: invoke clear mind (vajra) and steady energy (aśva) for right execution.
√ ‘to place, establish, give’ → dadhāta (2pl/imperative in context). aśva- ‘horse’ from √aś ‘to move swiftly’ (semantic: speed/impulsion). vajra- ‘thunderbolt’ (instrument of decisive separation of truth from cover). hiraṇya ‘gold’ signifies luminous substance; bāhu ‘arm’ power of action.
śakti as effective power, illumined action (golden arms), right harnessing (dhūr-)
Victorious powers are those aligned with Ṛta; conquest is over disorder and obscurity, not over others.
Truth-vision (Indra’s illumination) is the basis of effective force.
Release and establishment: higher powers ‘placed’ into the human field to further the work of manifestation.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent of consciousness through illumination and empowered action.
Thunderbolt = sudden decisive illumination; gold = supramental/luminous quality; horses = prāṇic energies disciplined to the divine intention.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the archetype of victorious empowerment: the vajra-bearer who grants the ‘steeds’—mobilized energies for the soul’s journey and battle. Innerly, the prayer is for rightly harnessed impulsions that can carry the work, not scattered desire-forces.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- aśva- corresponds to PIE *h₁éḱwos ‘horse’ (cf. Latin equus). √dhā ‘to place’ corresponds to PIE *dʰeh₁- (cf. Greek títhēmi, Latin faciō shows different root but ‘do’ semantics overlap). The epithet structure (vajrī, hiraṇya-bāhuḥ) reflects inherited Indo-European poetic compound style.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks the divine force to ‘place’ energies into the harness—an image of disciplined empowerment. The devatā is not only praised but requested to organize and gift the capacities of action (arms) and movement (horses) so the sacrificer’s inner work can advance.
Invoke the ‘vajra’ of discernment to cut through inner resistance; then gather and yoke the ‘aśvas’ (energies) to one aim.
Maṇipūra (will/force) with support from Ājñā (clear seeing).
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) to stabilize force; mentally place (dadhāta) energy on exhale.
Dynamic concentration—calm intensity with forward drive.
Before action, pause: call the illumined mind; feel a decisive inner ‘strike’ against confusion; then release steady, yoked energy into the task.
Use standard Rigvedic udātta/anudātta/svarita as per śākhā tradition; key lifts often occur on imperative verbs (e.g., dadhāta) and power-words (vajrī).
Keep the cadence firm; emphasize consonant clusters in dhūrṣu and vajrī; avoid flattening hiraṇya-.
: long ū (dhūr-) and clear ṣu, : aśvān with śv cluster, nasalized final -n, : hi-ra-ṇya-bā-huḥ; retroflex ṇ; long ā in bā
Bright, commanding, steady (not rushed).
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