Rig Veda 8.32.28: Mandala 8, Sukta 32, Mantra 28
Sukta 8.32
- Rishi
- Kanva
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Likely Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
यो विश्वान्यभि व्रता सोमस्य मदे अन्धसः । इन्द्रो देवेषु चेतति ॥
yó víśvāny abhí vratā́ sómasya máde ándhasaḥ | índro devéṣu cétati ||
ພຣະອົງຜູ້ທີ່, ໃນຄວາມດອ້ງຂອງສານໂສມະ, ໄດ້ຕື່ນຮູ້ ແລະ ເຄື່ອນໄຫວເໜືອກົດໝາຍຂອງການກະທຳທັງໝົດ, ອິນທຣະເປັນພະລັງອັນຮູ້ສຶກຢູ່ໃນບັນດາເທບະບານ, ຜູ້ປຸກຕື່ນ ແລະ ຊີ້ນຳການກະທຳຂອງພວກເຂົາໃນພວກເຮົາ.
Word by Word
- यः
- who (he who)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध/विशेष्य-निर्देशकः (यः = ‘who’), कर्तृ-सम्बन्धःRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वानि
- all (things)Adjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- towards, over, uponIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)अव्ययम्Role उपसर्गः (क्रियाविशेषण-सम्बन्धः)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- व्रतानि
- vows, ordinances, sacred lawsNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्म (अभि-गमन/अभि-प्रवृत्ति-विषयः)Root व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमस्य
- of SomaNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) — ‘of Soma’Root सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- मदे
- in the exhilaration (intoxication)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरण (स्थान/अवस्था) — ‘in intoxication/rapture’Root मद (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्धसः
- of the Soma-juice (pressed draught)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) — ‘of the pressed juice’Root अन्धस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवेषु
- among the godsNounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरण (among/in) — ‘among the gods’Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- चेतति
- perceives, is attentive, takes noticeVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्तृ = इन्द्रः)Root चित् (धातु) / Vedic present stem चेत-
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: यः | विश्वानि | अभि | व्रतानि | सोमस्य | मदे | अन्धसः | इन्द्रः | देवेषु | चेतति || 1) ‘विश्वा॑न्य॒भि’ = ‘विश्वानि + अभि’ (इ-आ संधिः: इ + अ → य; अतः विश्वानि अभि → विश्वान्यभि). 2) ‘व्र॒ता’ पदपाठानुसारं ‘व्रतानि’ (नपुंसक बहुवचन द्वितीया) — मन्त्रपाठे छन्दोऽनुसारं संक्षेप/प्रयोगः. 3) ‘मदे अन्धसः’ मध्ये संधिः न कृतः (ए + अ इत्यत्र प्रगृह्य/पदविराम-प्रभावः). 4) स्वरचिह्नाः (उदात्त/अनुदात्त/स्वरित) मन्त्रपाठे यथास्थानं
- पदविश्लेषणे रूपनिर्णयः स्वरात् अप्रभावितः
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, in the intoxication/ecstasy of Soma’s essence, becomes attentive to all the vows/laws (vratā) and is conscious among the gods.
Inner meaning
Soma here is the delight-substance (ānanda) that uplifts consciousness; in that rapture Indra (illumined mind) can ‘move over’ and master all vratā—laws of right action and right functioning of the powers. Indra ‘cetati’ among the gods: he is the wakeful coordinator in the inner pantheon, bringing the various divine faculties (gods) into conscious harmony rather than letting them act mechanically. The verse describes a yogic state: bliss clarifies intelligence; intelligence then perceives the true law of each power and directs them according to ṛta.
Universal truth
Bliss and clarity are not opposites: a deeper joy can awaken a higher intelligence that understands right law and organizes life in harmony.
Themes
Soma-ecstasy, Indra as awakened power, Lawful order of energies
The seer
- Rishi
- Kāṇva (Kanva lineage)
- Lineage
- Kāṇva
- Other hymns
- RV 8.32 (Indra), RV 8.48 (Soma-related themes in Book 8, general resonance)
Family tradition
Kāṇva Indra-hymns often pair Indra with Soma: delight as the fuel for victorious illumination and right action.
Significance
The seer indicates a mature inner sacrifice where Soma (delight) is transmuted into conscious governance (Indra) of the whole being.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Somapā (Soma-drinker; implied), Cetanāvat (the conscious one; by sense)
- Related deities
- Soma, Varuṇa (ṛta/law), Mitra (harmony), Agni
Cosmic role
Awakener and ruler of luminous activities; ensures the gods act in right measure and order.
Inner power
Mind-force made luminous by delight; capacity to discern right law (vrata) and orchestrate faculties.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma ritual context (Indra as Soma-drinker and empowered by Soma)
यो विश्वा॑न्य॒भि व्र॒ता सोम॑स्य॒ मदे॒ अन्ध॑सः । इन्द्रो॑ दे॒वेषु॒ चेत॑ति ॥
यः । विश्वा॑नि । अ॒भि । व्र॒ता । सोम॑स्य । मदे॑ । अन्ध॑सः । इन्द्रः॑ । दे॒वेषु॑ । चेत॑ति ॥
yaḥ | viśvāni | abhi | vratā | somasya | made | andhasaḥ | indraḥ | deveṣu | cetati
44
4×11 (expected)
More contemplative Triṣṭubh—firm but spacious, matching ‘conscious governance’.
Stabilizes the mind in wakeful clarity; supports integration rather than mere battle-energy.
- सोम (soma)
- Literal: Soma, the pressed juice. Symbolic: divine delight/ānanda that elevates consciousness
- मद (mada)
- Literal: intoxication, ecstasy. Symbolic: uplifted rapture that loosens ordinary limits of mind
- अन्धस् (andhas)
- Literal: Soma-essence, juice. Symbolic: the concentrated sap of delight-consciousness
- व्रत (vrata)
- Literal: vow, ordinance, law. Symbolic: true law of action of each power; right functioning in ṛta
- चेतति (cetati)
- Literal: is conscious, perceives, awakens. Symbolic: wakeful governing awareness coordinating inner faculties
- देवेषु (deveṣu)
- Literal: among the gods. Symbolic: within the divine powers in us (illumination, will, harmony, joy, etc.)
Soma offering: characterizes Indra’s awakened consciousness in Soma-intoxication, legitimizing the offering as a means to intensify divine force
During Soma praise where Indra’s empowerment and right action are invoked
Recitation to establish conscious alignment of powers and efficacy of the offering
Chant when seeking right discernment in action—before decisions; use after meditation to integrate joy into practical order.
vratá- denotes ‘a set mode/law of working’ (not merely moral vow): the ordered powers of action aligned to ṛta. √cit ‘perceive’ (cetati) marks awakening consciousness; Indra is presented as the luminous mind-force that becomes aware ‘among the gods’ (i.e., among faculties/powers). andhas- is the pressed Soma ‘essence’—psychologically, a distillation of delight that intensifies awareness and power.
ṛta as lawful working (vrata), consciousness (cit), divine powers as inner faculties (deva)
Indra perceives and moves in all vratā—functioning according to ṛta.
Consciousness (cetas) reveals true law beyond preference.
Delight as a creative sap that empowers ordered manifestation.
Integral Yoga reading: bliss-consciousness supports illumined mind and harmonious action.
evening/night Soma pressing context (general, not explicit)
Juice/sap = concentrated delight; intoxication = uplift beyond ordinary mind; laws = rhythms of nature mirrored as inner right functioning.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Soma-awakening of the god: Indra in Soma’s ecstasy becomes the conscious coordinator of divine laws (vrata). Psychologically, delight (Soma) heightens the luminous force so it can perceive and govern the ordered workings of the being.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √cit ‘notice/perceive’ is Indo-European (cf. Latin cito ‘quickly’ is not cognate; but PIE *ḱei-/*ḱit- ‘notice’ has broad reflexes). The abstract ‘laws’ (vrata) as ‘fixed workings’ reflects an inherited concern with cosmic order expressed through formulaic diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi presents Soma not as mere drink but as a means of awakening divine consciousness; by offering Soma, the human invites Indra to become ‘awake among the gods’ within the sacrificer—i.e., to harmonize and lead the inner powers.
Rest in a subtle joy (Soma) and let awareness expand to observe the ‘laws’ of your mind-vital-body without judgment; invite Indra to coordinate them.
anāhata (joy) leading to ājñā (clear governance)
Soft ujjāyī or simple equal breathing (sama-vṛtti) to sustain calm rapture
From pleasant uplift to stable, luminous mindfulness
After a few minutes of heart-centered gratitude, chant 9 times; then watch impulses arise and name their ‘vrata’ (proper function). Offer each to Indra for right placement.
Maintain RV accentuation; highlight udatta on key words (víśvā́ni, sómasya, índro) per a svara edition.
Let ‘cetati’ be gently emphasized—clear but not forceful; keep ‘somasya made’ flowing to convey rapture.
ś in viśvāni is palatal; keep it light, dh in andhasaḥ is aspirated; keep ‘a’ short, Do not over-nasalize final -m in somasya in connected chant
Smooth, steady, luminous; minimal percussiveness.
9
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.
