Rig Veda 4.47.2: Mandala 4, Sukta 47, Mantra 2
Sukta 4.47
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Devata
- Indra-Vāyu
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh/Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
इन्द्रश्च वायवेषां सोमानां पीतिमर्हथः । युवां हि यन्तीन्दवो निम्नमापो न सध्र्यक् ॥
índraś ca vāyav eṣā́ṃ sómānāṃ pītím arhathaḥ | yuvā́ṃ hí yántīndavo nímnam ā́po ná sadhryàk ||
ಹೇ ಇಂದ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ವಾಯು, ಈ ಸೋಮ-ತರಂಗಗಳ (ಸೋಮರಸ) ಪಾನಕ್ಕೆ ನೀವು ಇಬ್ಬರೂ ಯೋಗ್ಯರು; ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಬಿಂದುಗಳು ನಿಮ್ಮತ್ತ ಅಪ್ರತಿಹತವಾಗಿ ಸಾಗುತ್ತವೆ—ಇಳಿಜಾರಿನ ಕುಳಿಯ ಕಡೆಗೆ ನೀರು ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಹರಿಯುವಂತೆ, ತಮ್ಮ ನಿಗದಿತ ಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೆ.
Word by Word
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRoot च (निपात)
- वायो
- O VāyuNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: वायो)Role सम्बोधनRoot वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
- एषाम्
- of thesePronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (त्रिलिङ्ग)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमानाम्
- of the Soma (drops)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- पीतिम्
- drinking; draughtNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पीति (स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक; √पा ‘पिबति’ से भाव/कृदन्त-निर्मिति)
- अर्हथः
- you two are worthy / deserveVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √अर्ह् (अर्ह्)
- युवाम्
- you twoPronounद्वितीया, द्विवचनRole कर्म (प्रमुख-वाक्ये ‘हि’ सहितं बलवत्तर-प्रत्ययः; अर्थतः कर्तृ-सम्बोधन/विषय)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- हि
- indeed; forIndeclinableनिश्चय/कारणार्थक अव्ययRoot हि (निपात)
- यन्ति
- they go; they comeVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √या (या गतौ)
- इन्दवः
- Soma-dropsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
- निम्नम्
- to the low place; downwardNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (गन्तव्य-देशः)Role कर्म (गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः गन्तव्य/देशः)Root निम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- आपः
- watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिक बहुवचन-प्रयोग), प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (उपमान-वाक्ये)Root अप्/आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमार्थक अव्ययRoot न (उपमा-निपात)
- सध्र्यक्
- straight; directly; in one streamIndeclinableक्रियाविशेषणRoot सध्र्यक् (अव्यय/क्रियाविशेषण; ‘सीधे/एकसाथ’ अर्थे)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: इन्द्र॑श्च → इन्द्रः + च (visarga before ca). वायवेषां॒ → वायो + एषाम् (Vedic vocative वायो; eṣām begins with e-, yielding vayo eṣām in pada). यन्तीन्द॑वो → यन्ति + इन्दवः (i + i coalescence; pada separates). निम्नमापो॒ → निम्नम् + आपः (m + ā; pada separates). Accent marks are retained in the source but not encoded per-word here
- forms are identified as Vedic where relevant (e.g., वायो)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra and Vāyu are worthy of drinking these Soma (drops). For to you the drops go, like waters to a downward hollow, straight on.
Inner meaning
The Soma-drops (indavaḥ) are currents of delight released by inner pressing; they naturally seek their rightful receivers—illumined mind (Indra) and purified prāṇa (Vāyu). The simile of waters running to the hollow indicates inevitability and right gravitation: when the being is rightly formed (a receptive ‘depth’), delight flows without strain. ‘Sadhryak’ (straight, unfailing) suggests movement in ṛta: the ananda-currents find their destined place when mind and breath are aligned and worthy.
Universal truth
What is truly aligned attracts what it needs. When mind and breath become fit vessels, joy flows toward them naturally and steadily, as water follows its course.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Dual deities, Directed flow of inspiration, Rightful enjoyment of Soma
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.47.1, RV 4.46.6, RV 4.26–27
Family tradition
The Gautama-Vāmadeva vision often portrays inner processes as lawful flows: light releases, joy streams, and powers gather when the being is prepared.
Significance
He emphasizes ‘worthiness’ (arhathaḥ): receptivity is earned by purification; then the higher rasa moves of itself.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra-Vāyu
- Epithets
- arhat (worthy), somapā (Soma-drinkers)
- Related deities
- Soma, Āpas (waters), Maruts
Cosmic role
As a dual power they receive and distribute Soma: Indra converts it into victorious illumination; Vāyu carries it as life-energy and swift movement.
Inner power
Indra: discernment that attracts truth-joy; Vāyu: prāṇic channel that draws and circulates delight through the system.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering praise/justification: why Indra-Vāyu should drink
इन्द्र॑श्च वायवेषां॒ सोमा॑नां पी॒तिम॑र्हथः । यु॒वां हि यन्तीन्द॑वो नि॒म्नमापो॒ न स॒ध्र्य॑क् ॥
इन्द्रः॑ । च॒ । वा॒यो॒ इति॑ । ए॒षा॒म् । सोमा॑नाम् । पी॒तिम् । अ॒र्ह॒थः॒ । यु॒वाम् । हि । यन्ति॑ । इन्द॑वः । नि॒म्नम् । आपः॑ । न । स॒ध्र्य॑क् ॥
indraḥ | ca | vāyo iti | eṣām | somānām | pītim | arhathaḥ | yuvām | hi | yanti | indavaḥ | nimnam | āpaḥ | na | sadhryak
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4 pādas × 11 syllables (triṣṭubh; probable—verify by full syllable count in critical edition)
Strong, declarative, with a natural ‘downward’ settling in the simile pāda.
Builds conviction and inevitability; helps the listener feel the ‘flow’ of energy settling into its rightful channel.
- pītim arhathaḥ
- Literal: you two deserve the drinking. Symbolic: fitness of mind and prāṇa to receive ananda; preparedness through discipline
- somānām / indavaḥ
- Literal: Soma(s) / drops. Symbolic: streams of delight-consciousness released by inner work
- yanti
- Literal: they go, they move. Symbolic: spontaneous flow of ananda toward its seat
- nimnam
- Literal: a low place, hollow, depth. Symbolic: inner receptivity, humility, depth of consciousness
- āpo na
- Literal: like waters. Symbolic: natural law of flow; inevitability when channels are open
- sadhryak
- Literal: straight, directly, unfailingly. Symbolic: movement in ṛta; unerring orientation toward the divine seat
Soma-yajña: dual deity cup/recitation where Soma is directed to Indra and Vāyu; emphasizes the rightful recipients of the pressed Soma.
During Soma libations to Indra-Vāyu, accompanying offering and praise
Recitation while presenting Soma; affirming fitness and natural attraction of Soma to the deities
Use when cultivating receptivity: ‘make the vessel worthy’—align breath and mind; then let joy descend and settle naturally.
indra- traditionally from a root indicating ‘strength/power’; Vedic semantic field: lordship of luminous force. arhathaḥ: 2nd du. pres. √arh ‘to be worthy, to deserve’. indú- ‘drop, Soma drop’ (also ‘bright point’), suggesting scintillation. nimna- ‘slope/hollow’ from √nam ‘to bend’ → channeling. āpaḥ ‘waters’ (PIE *h2ep- ‘water’). sadhryak ‘straight/direct’ (adverb), reinforcing r̥ta-like directedness.
R̥ta as directed movement (sadhryak), Inevitable attraction of delight to its proper powers, Channeling of energies (nimna)
Sadhryak explicitly suggests right, straight movement—Ṛta in action.
Truth-joy flows to the truthful vessel; worthiness is satya in the psyche.
From pressing/release to flow/distribution: creation as circulation of rasa through ordered channels.
Sāṃkhya-yoga compatible psychology: purification of instruments; then higher flow follows lawfully.
Drops = ananda currents; Waters = consciousness flow; Hollow = receptive depth; Straight course = right order in the nāḍīs and mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythic image of Soma-drops flowing to Indra and Vāyu as waters to a natural basin. Psychologically, inspired delight seeks its proper divine instruments—illumined mind (Indra) and purified life-force (Vāyu)—so that consciousness can be strengthened and ordered.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- āpaḥ ‘waters’ continues PIE *h2ep- (cf. Latin aqua via a different formation; Hittite ḫāpa-). √nam in nimna- aligns with PIE *nem- ‘bend’. The yoking/flow metaphors are shared Indo-European poetic devices for ordered power and fate-like directedness.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi frames the gods as ‘worthy’ recipients, implying a law of correspondence: when aspiration is rightly prepared, the Soma (delight/inspiration) naturally runs toward the divine powers that can bear and transform it, without deviation (sadhryak).
Cultivate ‘nimna’ (depth): relax egoic tension; allow joy to settle into breath and mind naturally.
Anāhata (receptive depth) with support from Mūlādhāra (grounding for ‘downward settling’)
Long exhale grounding; then natural inhale allowing ‘drops’ to enter; brief silent pause feeling descent.
Receptive depth, effortless flow, quiet certainty.
After chanting, sit as a ‘hollow’: soften belly and chest; let attention sink; notice subtle pleasant currents moving on their own without forcing.
Use Saṃhitā accenting; keep the simile phrase ‘nimnam āpo na’ smoothly connected to evoke flow.
Stress ‘arhathaḥ’ (worthiness) and ‘sadhryak’ (straight/unerring) as semantic pivots.
arhathaḥ: keep h audible; do not drop aspiration, indavo: clear dental d; avoid retroflex, sadhryak: cluster dhr; keep ṛ vocalic
Steady, even, slightly downward-settling tone.
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