Rig Veda 6.39.5: Mandala 6, Sukta 39, Mantra 5
Sukta 6.39
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
नू गृणानो गृणते प्रत्न राजन्निषः पिन्व वसुदेयाय पूर्वीः । अप ओषधीरविषा वनानि गा अर्वतो नॄनृचसे रिरीहि ॥
nū́ gṛṇānó gṛṇaté pratna rājan íṣaḥ pinva vasu-déyāya pūrvī́ḥ | apá óṣadhīr aviṣā́ vánāni gā́ árvato nṝ́n ṛcáse rirīhi ||
ບັດນີ້ ເມື່ອຖືກສັນລະເສີນໂດຍຜູ້ຮ້ອງສັດທາ ທ່ານກະສັດບູຮານ ໃຫ້ກະເພີດກະເພີຍທາງນໍ້າໃຈບູຮານ ເພື່ອຜູ້ໃຫ້ຄວາມສົມບູນ. ເຮັດໃຫ້ນໍ້າ ພືດສະຫມຸນໄພ ປ່າໄມ້ທີ່ມີນໍ້າຢ່າງສົມບູນ ເຄື່ອນໄຫວ ເຮັດໃຫ້ແສງສະຫວ່າງ ມ້າທີ່ມີພະລັງ ແລະ ພະລັງຂອງມະນຸດ ເພື່ອການຮ້ອງສັດທາຂອງຜູ້ເຫັນທາງ.
Word by Word
- नु
- now, indeedIndeclinableनिपात (काल/अनुक्रम-प्रदर्शक)Root नु (निपात)
- गृणानः
- praising (he/you), while praisingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रकार), प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole KartāRoot √गृ (स्तुति-शब्दे) → गृण (प्रातिपदिक)
- गृणते
- (he) praises / is praisingVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, तृतीया पुरुष? (न), प्रथमा? → 3rd sg Ātmanepada: गृणतेRole KartāRoot √गृ (स्तुति-शब्दे)
- प्रत्न
- ancient, of oldAdjectiveसम्बोधन/प्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (राजन्-सम्बोधनस्य विशेषणम्)Root प्रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- राजन्
- O kingNounसम्बोधन एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRoot राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- निषः
- treasures, storesNounद्वितीया बहुवचन (वेदिक रूप: -ः = -आन्/-ः बहुवचन-चिह्न), स्त्री/पुं? (वेदे प्रायः पुं.)Role KarmaRoot निष् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘निष्/निषः’ = निःसृत/निष्क/निधि-सम्बद्ध ‘treasures, stores’)
- पिन्व
- impel, make swell, bestowVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यम पुरुष, एकवचनRole KartāRoot √पिव्/√पिन्व् (प्रीणने/वर्धने)
- वसुदेयाय
- for (the sake of) wealth-giving / for the giver of wealthNoun/Adjectiveचतुर्थी एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक (सम्प्रदानार्थ)Role SampradānaRoot वसुदेय (प्रातिपदिक; वसु+देय ‘wealth-giving/wealth to be given’)
- पूर्वीः
- many former (ones), earlier (boons/deeds)Adjectiveद्वितीया बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole KarmaRoot पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपः
- watersNounद्वितीया बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole KarmaRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ओषधीः
- plants, herbsNounद्वितीया बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole KarmaRoot ओषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अविषा
- with harmlessness / without poisonNoun (instrumental) / Adverbialतृतीया एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (भाववाचक)Role KaraṇaRoot अविष (प्रातिपदिक; a-viṣa ‘non-poison’, ‘harmlessness’)
- वनानि
- forests, woodsNounद्वितीया बहुवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole KarmaRoot वन (प्रातिपदिक)
- गाः
- cowsNounद्वितीया बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole KarmaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्वतः
- of the steed, of the horseNounषष्ठी एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRoot अर्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नॄन्
- menNounद्वितीया बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole KarmaRoot नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋचसे
- for the hymn/verseNounचतुर्थी एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole SampradānaRoot ऋचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- रिरीहि
- go forth, hasten, advanceVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यम पुरुष, एकवचनRole KartāRoot √रि/√री (गत्यर्थ; ‘to go, to move’)
Sandhi Notes
- पाठे ‘राज॒न्निष॑:’ इति संहितायां ‘राजन् + निषः’ (सम्बोधन + कर्मपदम्) इत्यत्र नकार-सम्पर्कः
- ‘अर्व॑तो॒ नॄनृ॒चसे॑’ इति संहितायां ‘नॄन् + ऋचसे’ इत्यत्र स्वर-सन्धिः (न् + ऋ → नृ) प्रकटः, अतः पदच्छेदे ‘नॄन् ऋचसे’ इति। अन्यत्र प्रमुखतः पदसीमा-चिह्नैः (। ॥) पदविभागः स्पष्टः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, praised by the singer, ancient king, swell the primal streams of nourishment for the giver of wealth. Set in motion the waters, healing plants, sap-rich woods; quicken the cows, swift horses, and men for the seer’s hymn.
Inner meaning
The seer asks Indra to intensify the original currents of inspiration and plenitude (iṣaḥ pūrvīḥ) for one who offers themselves as a ‘giver’ (vasudeyāya): i.e., for the aspirant who gives to the divine work. ‘Waters’ are flowing consciousness; ‘plants’ are healing energies and restorative capacities; ‘woods rich in sap’ are deep life-resources. ‘Cows’ are rays/knowledges; ‘horses’ are vital forces; ‘men’ are the effective powers of the human nature. All are to be set moving and increased so the mantra (ṛc) can be embodied as lived realization.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires a coordinated enrichment of all levels: inspiration, emotional healing, life-force, understanding, and effective human capacities. The inner king (Indra) is invoked to harmonize and energize the whole ecology of the being for the truth-song.
Themes
abundance and plenitude, healing and growth, light-rays (cows) as knowledge, invocation through praise
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya
- Lineage
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.39, RV 6.40
Family tradition
Indra-centered yoga of empowered speech and plenitude; Bṛhaspati lineage linking mantra (vāc) with victorious force
Significance
The rishi’s prayer is integrative: not escape from nature but divinization—waters, plants, woods, rays, horses, and human powers all become instruments of the ṛc (inspired truth).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Pratna Rājan (ancient king), Vasudā (wealth-giver, implied)
- Related deities
- Soma (as inspirer of iṣa), Āpas (waters), Aśvins (healing resonance, though not named)
Cosmic role
Distributor of plenitude; awakener of life-currents and powers that support the sacrifice and the seer’s word.
Inner power
Sovereign mind-force that increases inspiration, heals and energizes the life-nature, and releases rays of knowledge for effective expression.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra invocation for prosperity and support of the chant in Soma rite
नू गृ॑णा॒नो गृ॑ण॒ते प्र॑त्न राज॒न्निष॑: पिन्व वसु॒देया॑य पू॒र्वीः । अ॒प ओष॑धीरवि॒षा वना॑नि॒ गा अर्व॑तो॒ नॄनृ॒चसे॑ रिरीहि ॥
नु । गृ॒णा॒नः । गृ॒ण॒ते । प्र॒त्न॒ । रा॒ज॒न् । इषः॑ । पि॒न्व॒ । व॒सु॒ऽदेया॑य । पू॒र्वीः । अ॒पः । ओष॑धीः । अ॒वि॒षा । वना॑नि । गाः । अर्व॑तः । नॄन् । ऋ॒चसे॑ । रि॒री॒हि॒ ॥
nu | gṛṇānaḥ | gṛṇate | pratna | rājan | iṣaḥ | pinva | vasu-deyāya | pūrvīḥ | apaḥ | oṣadhīḥ | aviṣā | vanāni | gāḥ | arvataḥ | nṝn | ṛcase | rirīhi
44
4 × ~11
Supplicatory yet forceful; imperative verbs give a pumping rhythm (pinva, rirīhi)
Energizes and ‘swells’ the listener’s sense of capacity; good for invoking strength and resources.
- इषः (iṣaḥ)
- Literal: refreshment; nourishment; impulse. Symbolic: streams of inspiration and inner plenitude
- पिन्व (pinva)
- Literal: swell; increase. Symbolic: intensify the flow of force and abundance
- वसुदेयाय (vasudeyāya)
- Literal: for the giver of wealth. Symbolic: for the one who offers energies to the divine work; the generous aspirant
- अपः (apaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: flowing consciousness; purified currents
- ओषधीः (oṣadhīḥ)
- Literal: healing plants. Symbolic: restorative energies; inner remedies
- वनाानि अविषा (vanāni aviṣā)
- Literal: woods rich in sap. Symbolic: deep vital reserves, life-sap of nature
- गाः (gāḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledges
- अर्वतः (arvataḥ)
- Literal: swift horses. Symbolic: rapid vital energies for action
- नॄन् (nṝn)
- Literal: men. Symbolic: human powers/functional faculties
- ऋचसे (ṛcase)
- Literal: for the ṛc/hymn. Symbolic: for inspired speech to become effective embodiment
Soma-yajña praise to Indra for increase of iṣ (inspirative nourishment) and ‘vasu’; used to invoke abundance in the rite and its inner correspondences.
During praises seeking increase of iṣ (nourishment) and supportive forces for the yajña
Prayer for augmentation of resources (inner/outer); symbolic stirring of waters and growth powers
Recite when depleted: to invoke replenishment—clarity (cows), energy (horses), healing (plants), and steady flow (waters) for creative or spiritual work.
√gṛ ‘sing’ (cognate with laudatory speech traditions) frames the reciprocity: hymn ↔ divine increase. iṣ-: from √iṣ ‘to impel, invigorate’—not merely ‘food’, but the urged current of force and inspiration. √pinv ‘swell’ marks increase of inner abundance. ap- ‘waters’ and oṣadhi ‘healing plants’ are standard Vedic life-symbols: in psychological reading, purifying flows and restorative growth. gā́- ‘cow’ as ‘ray/illumination’ is supported by the recurrent Vedic equation of cows with light and dawn-recoveries.
increase of iṣ (inspirative nourishment), vasu (inner wealth/fullness), reciprocity of hymn and divine gift
The request is for ordered activation of nature’s powers in service of the ṛc—right speech aligned with right force.
The ṛc as truth-utterance becomes effective when all supporting energies are awakened.
Life’s resources (waters/plants/woods) are seen as creative powers to be released and directed.
Integral transformation: spiritual realization expressed through energized, healed, and illumined nature.
A complete inner ecology: flow (waters), healing (plants), reserves (woods), knowledge (cows), action-force (horses), and organized faculties (men) all awakened for mantra-realization.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the divine ‘swelling’ of the life-world: Indra increases iṣ and releases/sets moving waters, plants, woods, rays (cows), and energies (steeds) for the seer’s utterance. Innerly, the hymn asks for an upsurge of inspirative nourishment that manifests as purification (waters), healing growth (plants), vital sap (woods), illumination (cows), and dynamic force (horses) supporting the r̥c (vision-word).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid is absent here, but the lexicon still reflects common IE poetic diction: ‘king’ (rājan) parallels IE sacral sovereignty terms; √pinv ‘swell’ matches a widespread IE metaphor of abundance as swelling/overflow. The semantic network of waters as life/purification is also pan-Indo-European, though Vedic develops it with unique precision (ap- as conscious flow).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The singer’s praise is explicitly transactional in the deeper sense: the rishi hymns (gṛṇate), and the deity is asked to intensify the inner supplies (iṣ, vasu) so the rishi can speak more fully (ṛc). The rishi is a channel; Indra is the augmenter of the channel’s life-substance and luminous content.
Invoke replenishment across layers: let inspiration (iṣ) swell, then feel healing and vitality support clear knowledge and right action.
Maṇipūra (energizing ‘pinva’), Svādhiṣṭhāna (waters/flow), Anāhata (healing integration)
3-part breath (dirgha) emphasizing belly-to-heart expansion; on exhale mentally offer ‘ṛc’ (truth-word).
From depletion to integrated potency—calm strength with available resources.
After chanting, scan: (1) flow—are you rigid? (2) healing—what needs gentleness? (3) rays—what truth is trying to dawn? (4) horses—what action is ready? Then choose one small truth-aligned act.
Rigvedic accents per śākhā; imperatives (pinva, rirīhi) should carry clear udātta peaks as marked in the source tradition.
Slight emphasis on vocatives ‘pratna rājan’; keep compound vasu-deyāya cleanly segmented in chanting.
gṛṇāno/gṛṇate: keep ṛ vocalic and the ṇ retroflex., oṣadhīḥ: long īḥ at end; do not shorten., aviṣā: pronounce viṣ with clear ṣ? (here it is ‘viṣ’ sound in Devanagari as in aviṣā is actually ‘viṣ’ cluster; keep crisp)., rirīhi: roll the r lightly; keep long ī.
Full, resonant, invoking strength
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