Rig Veda 1.30.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 30, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.30
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
शतं वा यः शुचीनां सहस्रं वा समाशिराम् । एदु निम्नं न रीयते ॥
śatáṃ vā yáḥ śúcīnām sahásraṃ vā sámāśirām | éd u nimnáṃ ná rīyate ||
അവൻ ശുചിയായ ശക്തികളിൽ നൂറിനെ കൊണ്ടുവരുകയോ, സുസംയോജിത സമൃദ്ധികളിൽ സഹസ്രത്തെ കൊണ്ടുവരുകയോ ചെയ്താലും—അവൻ താഴ്വരയിലേക്കു വീഴുന്നില്ല; ദാതാവിന്റെ തേജസ്സുള്ള ബലം ഒരിക്കലും ക്ഷയിക്കുകയില്ല, താഴേക്ക് വഴുതുകയില്ല.
Word by Word
- शतम्
- a hundredNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (परिमाण-विशेषणरूपेण)Root शत (प्रातिपदिक)
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक निपातRoot वा (अव्यय)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सम्बन्धवाचकः—यः …)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- शुचीनाम्
- of the pure/bright (ones)Noun/Adjective(सामान्यतः पुं/नपुं), षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी—‘of the pure/bright ones’)Root शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सहस्रम्
- a thousandNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (परिमाण-विशेषणरूपेण)Root सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक निपातRoot वा (अव्यय)
- समाशिराम्
- well-mixed/combined (portions, shares)Adjective (Kṛdanta)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (इन्द्रेण/येन दत्तानां ‘समाशिरः’ इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेष्यस्य—दत्तवस्तूनां—विशेषणम्)Root सम्-आ-शॄ (धातु; शॄ/शृ ‘to mix, to combine, to join’), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘समाशिर’
- एदु
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपात-समुदायः (प्रबलन/निश्चयार्थः)Root इद्/एद् (निपात; ‘indeed, just’), उ (एव/उ हि इत्यर्थे) सह संहितरूपम्
- निम्नम्
- the low place, depthNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः लक्ष्य/गन्तव्य-रूपेण)Root निम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधRoot न (अव्यय)
- रीयते
- moves/flowsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot री (धातु; ‘to flow, run, move’)
Sandhi Notes
- संहितापाठः: ‘शतं वा यः’ इत्यत्र विशेष-सन्धिः न
- ‘सहस्रं वा’ इत्यत्र अपि न। ‘एदु’ निपातसमुदायः (एतद्/इद्-प्रकारस्य निश्चयार्थक ‘एद्’ + ‘उ’)। ‘समाशिराम्’ पदे ‘सम्-आ-’ उपसर्गौ + √शॄ/शृ (मिश्रण/संयोगे) इत्यस्मात् क्त/कृदन्त-आधारित विशेषणरूपम्
- मन्त्रपाठे दीर्घस्वर/उदात्तचिह्नाः (शुची॑नां, सहस्रं॑, समा॑शिराम्, एदु॑, नि॒म्नं, री॑यते) वैदिकस्वर-विशेषाः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Whether he brings a hundred of the bright ones or a thousand of perfectly joined riches, he does not sink into a low place; his force does not slide down.
Inner meaning
Indra’s giving is not a draining generosity that weakens the giver. Whether he releases a hundred illuminations or a thousand integrated plenitudes, his power does not diminish or fall into the ‘nimna’ (lower depression). Psychologically, the higher Mind’s outflow of light and force does not exhaust itself; true giving from the higher consciousness increases stability and prevents the descent into lower states.
Universal truth
Authentic spiritual power is not depleted by sharing; the more truth and light are released, the more stable and elevated the consciousness becomes.
Themes
Indra inexhaustible giver, plenitude (śata/sahasra), steadfastness against decline
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 1.30.1, RV 1.30.3, RV 7.18
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s Indra hymns often affirm the inexhaustibility of divine power and the stability it grants to the seeker.
Significance
A practical reassurance for sadhana: when illumination and power descend, they do not ‘run out’—they stabilize the being against downward pulls.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Maghavan (bountiful), Śatakratu, Tuvīmagha
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Inexhaustible giver of luminous powers; maintains the uplifted plane against downward gravitation.
Inner power
Steadying force that prevents relapse into lower habits; sustains ascent and integration.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise following Soma invitation; affirmation of boon and stability
श॒तं वा॒ यः शुची॑नां स॒हस्रं॑ वा॒ समा॑शिराम् । एदु॑ नि॒म्नं न री॑यते ॥
श॒तम् । वा॒ । यः । शुची॑नाम् । स॒हस्र॑म् । वा॒ । सम्ऽआ॑शिराम् । आ । इत् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । नि॒म्नम् । न । री॒य॒ते॒ ॥
śatam | vā | yaḥ | śucīnām | sahasram | vā | sam-āśirām | ā | it | oṃ iti | nimnam | na | rīyate
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3 × ~8
Balanced and declarative; suited to affirmation of stability.
Instills confidence and steadiness; supports a calm conviction in the inexhaustible help.
- śucīnām
- Literal: of the bright/pure ones. Symbolic: Luminous powers, clear perceptions, purified movements of consciousness
- sahasram…samāśirām
- Literal: a thousand perfectly mixed/joined. Symbolic: Integrated plenitudes—harmonized faculties and forces forming a stable wholeness
- nimnam
- Literal: low place, depression, downward slope. Symbolic: Fall into lower consciousness: inertia, doubt, vital gloom
- na rīyate
- Literal: does not sink/slide. Symbolic: The higher force remains steady; no relapse when supported by truth and joy
Praise of Indra’s inexhaustible giving in Soma context; supports confidence in repeated offerings
Within Indra stotras as a confirming statement after offering/invocation.
Praise that asserts Indra’s undiminishing capacity to give.
As an affirmation against burnout and discouragement: true inner giving and practice do not lead to collapse when aligned with higher consciousness.
śuci 'bright/pure' from √śuc 'shine, be pure'. sahasra as abundance. rīyate from √rī 'to move/flow, sink'—negated to indicate steadfastness. nimna 'depth/low place' becomes psychological: descent into obscurity; Indra’s giving does not lead to diminution but remains sovereign and upward-sustaining.
inexhaustibility of divine plenitude, upward tendency vs downward lapse, brightness/purity (śuci) as criterion of true power
Stability (not sinking) reflects the maintenance of ṛta against downward disorder.
The bright powers (śuci) are forms of satya in manifestation.
Multiplication and integration (samāśirām) without loss—abundance of the Vast.
Psychological Vedism; anticipates Vedāntic idea of pūrṇatā (wholeness) as inexhaustible.
Gravity/downward slope = pull of lower nature; not sinking = establishment on a higher plane of consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra’s inexhaustible plenitude: even when giving hundreds or thousands of luminous powers, he does not 'sink'—the divine source does not diminish by bestowal. Mythically this contrasts mortal depletion; psychologically it asserts that true force increases by right circulation (ṛta).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- śuci from √śuc 'shine' reflects a widespread IE association of purity with brightness. The metaphor of 'sinking into the low place' uses spatial semantics to encode moral/psychic decline—an IE poetic inheritance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi affirms trust: repeated seeking and receiving from Indra does not exhaust the divine giver. This stabilizes the aspirant’s path—confidence that the upward movement toward light is supported by an undiminishing power.
Stability after experiences of light: preventing the ‘downward slide’ into old patterns.
mūlādhāra (grounding stability)
Even breathing with a slight lengthening of exhale; on ‘na rīyate’ feel the body rooted and upright.
Settled, integrated steadiness; quiet confidence in inexhaustible support.
After a strong meditation, repeat this verse to seal the gain. Feel that illumination shared outwardly (service, speech, action) does not diminish the inner source when kept in truth and calm joy.
Chant with steady pitch discipline; keep udatta peaks gentle—this is an affirmation, not a battle-cry.
Slight emphasis on ‘śucīnām’ and ‘sahasram’; let ‘nimnaṃ na rīyate’ descend softly in tone without losing firmness (meaning: no descent inwardly).
śucīnām: palatal ś, long ī, samāśirām: long ā; ‘śi’ clear; avoid over-rolling, rīyate: long ī; ‘ya’ light glide
Calm, steady, grounded resonance.
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