Rig Veda 3.38.5: Mandala 3, Sukta 38, Mantra 5
Sukta 3.38
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
असूत पूर्वो वृषभो ज्यायानिमा अस्य शुरुधः सन्ति पूर्वीः । दिवो नपाता विदथस्य धीभिः क्षत्रं राजाना प्रदिवो दधाथे ॥
ásūta pū́rvo vṛṣabhó jyā́yān imā́ asya śurúdhaḥ santi pūrvī́ḥ | dívo napātā vidáthasya dhībhíḥ kṣatráṁ rājānā prádivo dadhāthe ||
ທຳອິດເກີດຍັງໂຕຜູ້ມີພະລັງ; ລຳພັດພະລັງຫຼາຍຫຼາຍຂອງພະອົງເປັນຂອງບູຮານ. ໂອ ກະສັດທັງສອງ ບຸດຂອງສະຫວັນ ດ້ວຍວິໄສທັດໃນການບູຊາ ເຈົ້າຮັກສາພະລັງອຳນາດທີ່ມາຈາກສະຫວັນອັນສະຫວ່າງ.
Word by Word
- असूत्
- brought forth / begotVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd person singularRole (क्रिया) मुख्यक्रियाRoot √सू (सुवति/सूते) ‘to beget, bring forth’
- पूर्वः
- the former/earlier (one)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (असूत् का कर्ता) सह-विशेषणRoot पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) ‘former, earlier’
- वृषभः
- the bull; the mighty oneNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (असूत् का कर्ता)Root वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक) ‘bull; mighty one’
- ज्यायानि
- greater (things/ones)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole Karma (असूत् का कर्म)Root ज्यायस् (comparative stem) ‘stronger, greater’
- इमा
- thesePronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole Karma (ज्यायानि का विशेषण)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) ‘these’
- अस्य
- of him / of this (one)Pronounपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) ‘of this/ him’
- शुरुधः
- defences / strongholdsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (सन्ति का कर्ता)Root शुरुध् (प्रातिपदिक; RV ‘strongholds/defences, protections’)
- सन्ति
- areVerbलट् (present), परस्मैपद, 3rd person pluralRole (क्रिया) उपवाक्य-क्रियाRoot √अस् ‘to be’
- पूर्वीः
- ancient / formerAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (शुरुधः का विशेषण)Root पूर्वी (प्रातिपदिक) ‘former, earlier; ancient’
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (नपाता का षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)Root दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक) ‘sky, heaven’
- नपाता
- O two sons/descendantsNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधन (address)Root नपात् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘offspring, son; descendant’
- विदथस्य
- of the rite/assemblyNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (धीभिः का षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)Root विदथ (प्रातिपदिक) ‘assembly; rite; distribution’
- धीभिः
- with insights / with prayersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole Karaṇa (instrument)Root धी (प्रातिपदिक) ‘thought; insight; prayer’
- क्षत्रम्
- sovereignty / dominionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (दधाथे का कर्म)Root क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) ‘dominion; sovereignty; power’
- राजाना
- O two kingsNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधन (address)Root राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘king’
- प्रदिवः
- of the fore-heaven / of the highest heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (दधाथे—स्थापन-सम्बन्ध/उत्पत्ति-सम्बन्ध)Root प्र + दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक) ‘fore-heaven; in front of heaven; in the highest heaven’ (RV usage)
- दधाथे
- you two have established / placedVerbलिट्/परिप्रास-परफेक्ट (RV perfect), आत्मनेपद, 2nd person dualRole (क्रिया) मुख्यक्रियाRoot √धा ‘to place, establish’
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved as: ज्याया॑नि + इ॒मा → ज्यायानि इमा (vowel coalescence in saṃhitā)
- दिवो॑ + नपाता → दिवः नपाता (o < aḥ before n- in saṃhitā)
- other words largely already in pada-form. संबोधन-द्विवचन forms: नपाता, राजाना. Accent marks retained from saṃhitā but not re-analysed here per pada
The meaning
Outer meaning
First was born the elder Bull; his many streams are primeval. O two Kings, offspring of Heaven, by inspired thoughts in the assembly/sacrifice you uphold the sovereign power that comes from the luminous heaven.
Inner meaning
The ‘elder Bull’ (vṛṣabhaḥ jyāyān) is the primordial force of illumined power—Indra as the first awakening of victorious mind in the evolution of consciousness. From him flow many ‘streams’ (śurudhaḥ): currents of force, inspirations, and dynamic capacities that are ancient in the soul (pūrvīḥ). The verse addresses ‘two kings’ (rājānā): a paired sovereignty—often read as complementary powers such as Indra-Varuṇa, or Indra with a co-ruler principle (Mitra/Varuṇa; or Indra/Agni in functional pairing). Psychologically, it is the dual mastery of illumination and law/harmony that must be upheld. By dhī (inspired thought) in the vidatha (gathering of the inner sacrifice), they establish kṣatra—the right to rule within—descending from the ‘luminous heaven’ (pradivaḥ): the higher mind/light-plane.
Universal truth
True mastery is primordial in the spirit and expresses through multiple streams of power; but it must be upheld by a balanced sovereignty—illumination joined with order—through inspired discernment in the inner sacrifice.
Themes
Birth of power, Sovereignty upheld by vision, Descent from luminous heaven
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthina (Viśvāmitra lineage)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 3.33, Rig Veda 3.53, Rig Veda 3.62
Family tradition
Strong emphasis on kṣatra (spiritual sovereignty) won by vision (dhī) and upheld through the inner sacrifice; frequent ‘bull’ imagery for divine force.
Significance
The seer frames spiritual progress as the birth of a primordial power and its organized outflow into life, sustained by inspired discernment and balanced rulership within the being.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with a paired royal principle: likely Indra-Varuṇa/Mitra-Varuṇa resonance)
- Epithets
- Vṛṣabha (bull), Pūrva (first), Jyāyān (elder/greater), Rājā (king)
- Related deities
- Varuṇa, Mitra, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Primordial victorious power; source of many force-streams; establisher of kṣatra descending from luminous heaven.
Inner power
Awakening of masterful mind-force that releases multiple capacities; paired with ordering/harmonizing sovereignty to govern life.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-centered Soma liturgy; also royal/sovereignty invocations in śrauta settings (kṣatra emphasis).
असू॑त॒ पूर्वो॑ वृष॒भो ज्याया॑नि॒मा अ॑स्य शु॒रुध॑: सन्ति पू॒र्वीः । दिवो॑ नपाता वि॒दथ॑स्य धी॒भिः क्ष॒त्रं रा॑जाना प्र॒दिवो॑ दधाथे ॥
असू॑त । पूर्वः॑ । वृ॒ष॒भः । ज्याया॑न् । इ॒माः । अ॒स्य॒ । शु॒रुधः॑ । स॒न्ति॒ । पू॒र्वीः । दिवः॑ । न॒पा॒ता॒ । वि॒दथ॑स्य । धी॒भिः । क्ष॒त्रम् । रा॒जा॒ना॒ । प्र॒ऽदिवः॑ । द॒धा॒थे॒ इति॑ ॥
asūta | pūrvaḥ | vṛṣabhaḥ | jyāyān | imāḥ | asya | śurudhaḥ | santi | pūrvīḥ | d ivaḥ | napātā | vidathasya | dhībhiḥ | kṣatram | rājānā | pra-divaḥ | dadhātheiti
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Strong, proclamatory; suitable for ‘first-born’ declarations and royal invocation.
Energizes will and confidence; evokes a sense of ancestral/primordial backing.
- वृष॒भः (vṛṣabhaḥ)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: irresistible divine power; virile force of realization
- ज्याया॑न् (jyāyān)
- Literal: elder, greater. Symbolic: primordial precedence of the truth-force in the soul
- असू॑त (asūta)
- Literal: was born. Symbolic: first awakening/manifestation in consciousness
- शु॒रुधः (śurudhaḥ)
- Literal: streams, channels. Symbolic: currents of force/inspiration flowing from the divine power
- दिवो नपाता (divo napātā)
- Literal: offspring of Heaven. Symbolic: powers derived from higher consciousness
- विदथस्य (vidathasya)
- Literal: of the assembly/sacrifice. Symbolic: the inner gathering where faculties offer and receive inspiration
- धी॒भिः (dhībhiḥ)
- Literal: by thoughts/visions. Symbolic: inspired intelligence (dhī) that receives revelation
- क्ष॒त्रम् (kṣatram)
- Literal: sovereign might. Symbolic: inner mastery; governing spiritual authority
- प्र॒दिवः (pradivaḥ)
- Literal: from the forward/luminous heaven. Symbolic: from the higher luminous plane of mind (supramental/overmental hint in Aurobindonian reading)
Soma ritual praise: strengthening kṣatra (heroic/soul sovereignty) in the sacrificer through dhī.
During Soma offerings and praises seeking victory, rulership, and establishment of power.
Stotra/śastra to affirm Indra’s primacy and invoke sustaining sovereignty.
Use when needing leadership over one’s impulses: to awaken ‘elder power’ and govern life by vision and order.
√sū ‘beget’ (PIE *sewH- ‘to give birth’); vṛṣabha as potency-symbol; kṣatra denotes power-to-rule; ‘two kings’ (rājānā) often functions as a paired sovereignty image, here linked to ‘divo napātā’ and sustaining kṣatra by dhī in vidatha.
Primordial power (pūrva/jyāyān), Kṣatra (inner sovereignty), Vidatha as ordered assembly (inner yajña)
Sovereignty is legitimate only when descending from the luminous heaven and upheld by inspired intelligence—rule by ṛta, not ego-force.
Dhī is the instrument of satya; it upholds kṣatra without distortion.
Primordial birth of power and its primeval streams—emanation of forces from a higher origin.
Aurobindonian psychology of powers: divine force (Indra) manifests and differentiates into streams, to be governed by illumined order.
Bull = concentrated divine force; streams = differentiated energies/inspirations; heaven = higher mind-plane source.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘birth of the Bull’—a mythologem of primordial potency manifesting first and then pouring out its ancient streams. It frames sovereignty (kṣatra) as a descended divine force sustained by inspired vision.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sū (asūta) reflects PIE birth-giving roots; nāpāt ‘offspring’ aligns with IE kinship vocabulary (cf. Avestan napāt). The paired ‘two kings’ motif echoes widespread IE dual sovereignty structures.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi positions the sacrifice (vidatha) as the field where dhī upholds kṣatra. The devatā grants sovereign force, while the human provides the right vision and ordered offering as the receptive structure.
Awaken the ‘elder bull’—a deep, steady power—and let its streams flow under the governance of inspired discernment.
maṇipūra (sovereign will) guided by ājñā (vision)
Bhastrikā-light or a few energizing breaths (if suitable), followed by steady nasal breathing to channel the awakened force.
Dynamic mastery—energized yet governed.
Call the deeper strength before action. Feel multiple energies arise; do not repress—organize them. Offer them in the inner vidatha (gathering) to the higher light; act only from the ‘kṣatra’ that descends from that clarity.
Tri-svara; give a firm udātta rise on key declarations (asūta, vṛṣabhaḥ, kṣatram) and a dignified settling at pāda ends.
Keep ‘divo napātā’ flowing as a single phrase; emphasize ‘dhībhiḥ kṣatraṃ’ as the operative core.
vṛṣabhaḥ: clear ṛ and ṣ; avoid ‘vrish’., jyāyān: long ā; nasal ending -n., śurudhaḥ: pronounce śu-ru-dhaḥ with clear dh., pradivo: keep short i; do not over-lengthen.
Regal, resonant, confident; avoid harshness—strength with clarity.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
