Rig Veda 1.16.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 16, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.16
- Rishi
- Medhātithi Kāṇva
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
इमा धाना घृतस्नुवो हरी इहोप वक्षतः । इन्द्रं सुखतमे रथे ॥
imā́ dhānā́ ghṛtasnúvo hárī ihópa vakṣataḥ | índraṃ sukhátame ráthe ||
ഈ ധാനങ്ങൾ—ഘൃതം തുളുമ്പി സ്നിഗ്ധമായി ഒഴുകുന്നവ—ഹേ ഇരട്ട ഹരി (താമ്രവർണ്ണ) ശക്തികളേ, ഇവയെ ഇവിടെ കൊണ്ടുവരിക; പരമ സുഖതമമായ രഥത്തിൽ ഇന്ദ്രനെ ഇവിടെ എത്തിക്കുവിൻ.
Word by Word
- इमाः
- thesePronoun (Demonstrative)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole Karma (वक्षतः इत्यस्य कर्म)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- धानाः
- grains (parched grains/offerings)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole Karma (इमाः इति विशेष्य)Root धान (प्रातिपदिक; ‘धान्य/भर्जित-धान्य’)
- घृतस्नुवः
- ghee-drippingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (हरी इति विशेषण)Role Kartā (वक्षतः इत्यस्य कर्ता—हरी)Root घृतस्नु (प्रातिपदिक; घृत + स्नु ‘to ooze/flow’)
- हरी
- the two bay steedsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचनRole Kartā (वक्षतः—‘you two convey’)Root हरि (प्रातिपदिक; इन्द्रस्य अश्वौ)
- इह
- hereIndeclinableअव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (देश)Root इह
- उप
- towards, hitherIndeclinable (Preverb/Particle)अव्ययRole (क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्गः वक्षतः सह)Root उप
- वक्षतः
- carry/bring (you two)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole (मुख्य क्रिया)Root √वह् (वहति) + उप (उपवह्) ; वैदिक रूप: वक्षतः
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole Karma (वक्षतः इत्यस्य कर्म)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुखतमे
- on the most pleasantAdjective (Superlative)पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन (रथे इति विशेषण)Role Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण—‘in/on’)Root सुखतम (प्रातिपदिक; सुख + तमप्)
- रथे
- chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (स्थानाधिकरण)Root रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: इमाः धानाः घृतस्नुवः हरी इह उप वक्षतः । इन्द्रम् सुखतमे रथे । 1) इहोप = इह + उप (स्वर-सन्धि/संयोग; ‘here’ + ‘towards’). 2) घृतस्नुवो हरी: ‘घृतस्नुवः’ (प्रथमा-द्विवचन-पुं.) + ‘हरी’ (प्रथमा-द्विवचन) — विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः
- पदपाठे प्रायः ‘घृतस्नुवः’ इति रूपं दृश्यते। 3) वक्षतः: वैदिक लोट्-रूप (म.पु. द्वि.) √वह् ‘to carry’ (उपसर्ग ‘उप’ सह) — शास्त्रीय अपेक्षया ‘वहतम्/उपवहतम्’ इत्यादि, परन्तु ऋग्वैदिके ‘वक्षतः’ प्रचलितम्।
The meaning
Outer meaning
These grains dripping with ghee, O two tawny steeds, bring here; bring Indra on the most pleasant chariot.
Inner meaning
The dhānās (grains) are concentrated energies—seeds of force—made ‘ghṛta-snu’ (dripping with ghṛta), i.e., suffused with clarified light and delight. The haris (tawny powers) are asked to carry these prepared offerings into the field of consciousness and to bring Indra—the illumined mind—on the sukhatama ratha, the chariot of happiest movement: an inner journey that is not strained but borne by delight and clarity.
Universal truth
When our effort is ‘clarified’—purified of agitation and lit by understanding—it becomes nourishing fuel for illumination; the path then feels naturally more blissful and sustainable.
Themes
Indra arrival, Offerings as inner substance, Ease/bliss motif
The seer
- Rishi
- Medhātithi Kāṇva
- Lineage
- Kāṇva
- Other hymns
- RV 1.16.1
Family tradition
Kāṇva style frequently links offering-substance with inner states (ghṛta as clarified mind); emphasis on preparing energies before invoking higher powers.
Significance
The rishi teaches that illumination is drawn not by raw force but by ‘clarified’ offering—energy made luminous and sweet.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Haris as vehicles)
- Epithets
- Sukhatama-ratha (borne on the most blissful chariot, contextual), Vṛṣan (implied strength)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Maruts
Cosmic role
Receiver of Soma/offerings; victor who empowers the gods’ work in the worlds.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence arriving through harmonized energies; transforms effort into victorious clarity.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma offerings where dhānā (parched grain) and ghṛta are offered; invitation to bring Indra to the rite.
इ॒मा धा॒ना घृ॑त॒स्नुवो॒ हरी॑ इ॒होप॑ वक्षतः । इन्द्रं॑ सु॒खत॑मे॒ रथे॑ ॥
इ॒माः । धा॒नाः । घृ॒त॒ऽस्नुवः॑ । हरी॒ इति॑ । इ॒ह । उप॑ । व॒क्ष॒तः॒ । इन्द्र॑म् । सु॒खऽत॑मे । रथे॑ ॥
imāḥ | dhānāḥ | ghṛta-snuvaḥ | harī iti | iha | upa | vakṣataḥ | indram | sukha-tame | rathe
24
8/8/8
Quick offering-cadence; the repeated ‘bring’ sense gives a hauling, drawing-in movement.
Builds a feeling of gathering and bringing; good for summoning focus and energetic alignment.
- धानाः (dhānāḥ)
- Literal: grains. Symbolic: seed-forces of effort; concentrated offerings of energy and substance
- घृतस्नुवः (ghṛtasnuvaḥ)
- Literal: dripping with ghee. Symbolic: suffused with clarified light (ghṛta) and luminous delight; purified mental substance
- हरी (harī)
- Literal: the two tawny steeds. Symbolic: paired dynamic energies that can carry offerings and bring illumination
- सुखतमे रथे (sukhatame rathe)
- Literal: on the most pleasant chariot. Symbolic: the happiest movement of consciousness—progress supported by delight and ease, not struggle
- इन्द्रम् (indram)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: illumined mind descending to receive and act
Accompanies offerings (dhānā, ghee) and summons Indra via his haris; emphasizes smooth, unhindered approach (sukha-ratha imagery).
During offering of grains/ghee and the calling of Indra to the Soma-drink.
Recitation while presenting dhānā and ghṛta; symbolic drawing of Indra’s presence.
Before demanding tasks: ‘clarify’ your energy (reduce noise, simplify), then invite clear intelligence to steer action pleasantly.
dhānā ‘grain’ (offering substance); ghṛta ‘clarified butter’ from √ghṛ ‘sprinkle/shine’ (semantic: ‘bright/fat’), snu ‘flow, ooze’; vakṣataḥ (dual) from √vah/√vakṣ? here ‘to carry’ as per pada tradition; sukha ‘ease, happiness’ (su + kha ‘good axle-hole’ → smooth running; inner: unimpeded movement); ratha ‘chariot’ (PIE *rot(h)o- ‘wheel’ family; cf. Latin rota).
Sukha as unimpeded movement of consciousness, Vehicle symbolism (ratha) for inner progression
Right preparation of offering mirrors right preparation of consciousness—order precedes descent of power.
Clarity (ghṛta) is a satya-condition: truth in mind makes force effective.
Transformation of substance into light: the offered ‘grain’ becomes luminous fuel for higher consciousness.
Symbolic yajña-psychology: material terms as states of consciousness and energy.
harvest (implied by grains)
Nourishing energies clarified by understanding become the fuel that carries illumination along the inner path.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The steeds bring Indra on a blissful chariot sustained by offerings: mythically, the god’s advent is enabled by prepared oblations. Innerly, purified substance (ghṛta-snu offerings) creates the smooth vehicle by which the illumined force can descend and act.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- ratha aligns with the IE wheel/chariot lexicon (cf. Latin rota ‘wheel’ as a close cognate set). sukha’s etymology (good axle-hole) preserves archaic chariot technology metaphor turned psychological: smooth motion = unobstructed inner progress.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi prepares and presents the clarified offerings and then calls the divine force to arrive in a form that can move without friction in the human system—Indra is invited not only to come, but to come in ‘sukhatama’ (most harmonious) manner.
Offer ‘seed-energy’ clarified by understanding; invite illumined mind to take the seat and guide action pleasantly.
manipura (fuel) guided by ajna (clarity)
Kapalabhati light (30 strokes) to gather energy, then slow breathing while chanting once to ‘clarify’ and direct it.
energized, organized, smoothly progressing
Before chanting, recall one ‘seed’ intention. Make it ghṛta-snu—clarify it with a simple truth statement. Then chant to draw Indra, and act from the ‘pleasant chariot’—steady, not forceful.
Follow udātta marks (imā́, dhānā́, ghṛtasnúvo, ihópa, índram, sukhátame, rathé); keep pitch-rise subtle and consistent.
Maintain clear dual forms: harī … vakṣataḥ (two horses bring). Keep ‘ihopa’ connected (iha-upa).
dhānāḥ: long ā; final ḥ light, ghṛta: gh + vocalic ṛ; do not insert extra vowel, vakṣataḥ: retroflex ṣ and clear ‘kṣ’ cluster, sukhatame: aspirate ‘kh’ clearly
firm, rhythmic, forward-drawing
11
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.
