Rig Veda 10.160.3: Mandala 10, Sukta 160, Mantra 3
Sukta 10.160
- Rishi
- Śvātrya tradition
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
य उशता मनसा सोममस्मै सर्वहृदा देवकामः सुनोति । न गा इन्द्रस्तस्य परा ददाति प्रशस्तमिच्चारुमस्मै कृणोति ॥
yá uśatā́ mánasā sómam asmai sarvahṛdā́ devákāmaḥ sunóti | ná gā́ índras tásya párā dadāti praśastám íc cā́rum asmai kṛṇoti ||
ആരു ദേവങ്ങളെ ആഗ്രഹിച്ച്, സ്നേഹമുള്ള മനസ്സോടെയും പൂർണ്ണഹൃദയത്തോടെയും, അവനുവേണ്ടി സോമം പീഡിക്കുന്നുവോ—ഇന്ദ്രൻ അവന്റെ ഗാവുകളെ (പ്രകാശകിരണങ്ങളെ) മറ്റൊരാൾക്കു കൊടുക്കുകയില്ല; പകരം അവനുവേണ്ടി പ്രശസ്തവും മനോഹരവും ആയ ശ്രേയസ്സിനെ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നു.
Word by Word
- यः
- who (he who)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (सम्बन्धवाचकः—यः … सः)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उशता
- with desiring (wishful)Adjective (participle)पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (उशत्-शब्द) — ‘with desiring’Role Karaṇa (मनसा सह—भाव/साधन)Root वश्/उश् (इच्छायाम्) → उशत् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
- मनसा
- with (his) mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमम्
- Soma (the oblation/juice)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मै
- to himPronounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot अयम्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → अस्मद्-प्रयोग
- सर्वहृदा
- with the whole heartAdverbial compoundतृतीया, एकवचन-प्रयोग (करणार्थे) अव्ययवत्Role KaraṇaRoot सर्व + हृद् (समास: अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः; ‘with whole heart’)
- देवकामः
- (the man) desiring the godsNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (यः … सुनोति) / विशेषणम्Root देव + काम (समास: तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीहि-प्रयोगः ‘desiring the gods’/‘god-loving’)
- सुनोति
- presses/extracts (Soma)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot सु (सवने/प्रसवे; ‘to press out, extract’)
- न
- notIndeclinableअव्ययRole (निषेध)Root न (निषेध-अव्यय)
- गाः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- तस्य
- of himPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- परा
- away, forthIndeclinableअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्गार्थ)Role (क्रियाविशेषण)Root परा (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ददाति
- givesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot दा (दाने)
- प्रशस्तम्
- praised, excellentAdjective (PPP)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (कर्म-विशेषणम्)Role Karma (विशेषणम्)Root प्र + शंस् (स्तुतौ) → प्रशस्त (भूतकृदन्त/विशेषण)
- इत्
- indeedIndeclinableअव्यय (एव/खलु-बलार्थ)Role (निपात)Root इत् (निपात)
- चारुम्
- beautiful, pleasingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन (कर्म-विशेषणम्)Role Karma (विशेषणम्)Root चारु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मै
- for himPronounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot अयम्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → अस्मद्-प्रयोग
- कृणोति
- makes, fashionsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot कृ (करणे)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): य उशता मनसा सोमम् अस्मै सर्वहृदा देवकामः सुनोति । न गाः इन्द्रः तस्य परा ददाति प्रशस्तम् इत् चारुम् अस्मै कृणोति ॥ Key sandhis: (1) सोम॑मस्मै = सोमम् + अस्मै (म् + अ → म). (2) सर्वहृ॒दा दे॒वका॑मः: external sandhi only (ā + d). (3) न गा इन्द्रः = न + गाः + इन्द्रः (visarga-less ending; āḥ + i → ā i in saṃhitā). (4) तस्य॒ परा॑: no change. (5) प्रश॒स्तमिच्चारु॑मस्मै = प्रशस्तम् + इत् + चारुम् + अस्मै
- m + i → mi
- t + c → cc (gemination) giving -मिच्च- in saṃhitā
The meaning
Outer meaning
Whoever with a desirous mind and whole heart presses Soma for Indra—Indra does not give his cows to another; he makes for that person what is praised and beautiful.
Inner meaning
The condition is inner sincerity: an ‘uśatā manasā’ (a will that loves/consents) and ‘sarvahṛdā’ (whole-heartedness). Then Indra (illumined mind) does not ‘give away the cows’—the rays of knowledge and illuminations—to other parts (egoistic motives, rival impulses). Instead, he shapes the seeker’s being into ‘praśastam’ and ‘cāru’—harmonious, admirable formation: beauty as the sign of truth rightly embodied.
Universal truth
Whole-hearted aspiration stabilizes knowledge: when the offering is sincere and integral, illumination remains with you and refines character into beauty.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Reward of true aspiration, Go (light/knowledge), Indra as giver of illumination
The seer
- Rishi
- Śvātrya poet-group (by hymn context).
- Lineage
- Śvātra/Śvātrya
- Other hymns
- RV 10.160.1-4
Family tradition
Indra–Soma devotional-psychological strain emphasizing sincerity and exclusivity of offering.
Significance
Defines the yogic requirement: not mere ritual wealth, but whole-hearted will and love are what secure illuminations (go) and transform nature into beauty.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- giver of go (rays), maker of cāru (beauty), protector of the sincere
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Uṣas (illumination as dawned rays)
Cosmic role
Bestows light and victorious discernment; ensures the right distribution of illuminations to the true aspirant.
Inner power
Selective grace of illumination: light adheres to sincerity and reorganizes the being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering: praise of the sincere presser and the fruit (light/beauty).
य उ॑श॒ता मन॑सा॒ सोम॑मस्मै सर्वहृ॒दा दे॒वका॑मः सु॒नोति॑ । न गा इन्द्र॒स्तस्य॒ परा॑ ददाति प्रश॒स्तमिच्चारु॑मस्मै कृणोति ॥
यः । उ॒श॒ता । मन॑सा । सोम॑म् । अ॒स्मै॒ । स॒र्व॒ऽहृ॒दा । दे॒वऽका॑मः । सु॒नोति॑ । न । गाः । इन्द्रः॑ । तस्य॑ । परा॑ । द॒दा॒ति॒ । प्र॒ऽश॒स्तम् । इत् । चारु॑म् । अ॒स्मै॒ । कृ॒णो॒ति॒ ॥
yaḥ | uśatā | manasā | somam | asmai | sarva-hṛdā | deva-kāmaḥ | sunoti | na | gāḥ | indraḥ | tasya | parā | dadāti | pra-śastam | it | cārum | asmai | kṛṇoti
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4×11; strong mid-line cadence around ‘na gā indras…’.
Didactic yet forceful; a moral-psychological assurance.
Encourages sincerity; creates trust that inner light will not be lost when the heart is whole.
- उशता मनसा (uśatā manasā)
- Literal: with a willing/loving mind. Symbolic: psychic consent; joyful aspiration
- सर्वहृदा (sarvahṛdā)
- Literal: with the whole heart. Symbolic: integral offering without inner division
- देवकामः (devakāmaḥ)
- Literal: desiring the gods. Symbolic: seeking higher powers/ideals rather than lower satisfactions
- सुनोति (sunoti)
- Literal: presses Soma. Symbolic: extracts essence from experience through practice
- गाः (gāḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge, illuminations
- परा ददाति (parā dadāti)
- Literal: gives away elsewhere. Symbolic: loss/dispersion of inner light to distractions
- प्रशस्तम् (praśastam)
- Literal: praiseworthy. Symbolic: right formation of nature under truth
- चारु (cāru)
- Literal: beautiful, lovely. Symbolic: beauty of a harmonized being; aesthetic sign of inner order
Soma-yajña merit statement: exclusive bestowal of ‘cows’/lights and well-formed prosperity to the true-hearted presser
During Soma pressing sequences as assurance of reward for right offering.
Recitation accompanying pressing/offerings; reinforcing the inner attitude of devotion.
As a meditation reminder: bring ‘whole heart’ before seeking insights; use when feeling knowledge slipping due to distraction.
go (gāḥ) is interpreted symbolically as ‘rays/illumined knowledges’ consistent with Vedic usage where cows are released by Indra/Angirasas as lights. devakāma: deva + kāma (√kam ‘desire’) indicates aspiration toward luminous powers. uśatā from desiderative wish-field (Vedic uś ‘wish, desire’).
integral offering (mind + heart), exclusive alignment: light is not scattered when aspiration is whole
Whole-hearted offering aligns the being with r̥ta; then rays (go) naturally belong to the aligned consciousness.
‘Praśastam’ indicates truth embodied as right character and action.
Light (go) released and organized into beauty (cāru): an aesthetic creation of the soul-nature.
Integral yoga ethics: sincerity as the gate to illumination; beauty as truth’s expression.
Cows = illuminations; pressing = extracting essence; beauty = harmonized nervous-vital-mental formation under light.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘cows as light’ mythologem: Indra’s gift of cows signifies the bestowal/release of illuminations. The verse states the condition—integral aspiration—under which the light is secured and not diverted.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dā ‘give’ (PIE *deh₃-) and √kṛ ‘make/do’ are core IE roots. The moral-ritual conditional (yáḥ … ná …) is a common Indo-European gnomic style: a relative clause establishing a universal law.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Indra responds to the quality of offering: when mind and heart are unified, the god retains and grants the illuminations to the devotee, shaping in him what is ‘praśasta’ and ‘cāru’—excellence and harmonious beauty of consciousness.
Sincerity-check: align mind and heart before seeking insight; offer delight (Soma) to illumined discernment (Indra).
anāhata (whole heart) leading to ājñā (illumined seeing)
Heart-centered breathing: inhale to heart 4, exhale 6; silently repeat ‘sarvahṛdā’.
Quiet devotion; unified affect and intention.
Before contemplation, place attention in the heart; ask for one-pointed sincerity; then allow insights (go) to arise without grasping—beauty of tone is the test.
Tri-svara; give gentle udātta prominence to ‘sarvahṛdā’ and ‘devakāmaḥ’; firm accent on ‘indraḥ’.
Do not over-punch ‘na gā’; keep it crisp as a vow/assurance; lengthen ‘cārum’.
: ‘uśatā’ with ś as palatal; long ā at end, : conjunct ‘hṛ’ with vocalic ṛ; keep it short and clear, : long ā in kāmaḥ, : ‘pra-śas-’ three clear parts; avoid ‘prashastam’ blur
Warm, heartful, steady; slight softness in first half, firmness in assurance.
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