Rig Veda 10.23.4: Mandala 10, Sukta 23, Mantra 4
Sukta 10.23
- Rishi
- Vimada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सो चिन्नु वृष्टिर्यूथ्या स्वा सचाँ इन्द्रः श्मश्रूणि हरिताभि प्रुष्णुते । अव वेति सुक्षयं सुते मधूदिद्धूनोति वातो यथा वनम् ॥
só cín nu vṛṣṭír yū́thyā svā́ sacā́ṃ índraḥ śmáśrūṇi hárītābhí pruṣṇute | áva veti su-kṣáyaṃ suté mádhūd íd dhūnoti vā́to yáthā vánam ||
അവൻ തന്നേ ഇപ്പോൾ—വൃഷ്ടി (മഴ) തന്റെ കൂട്ടത്തോടുകൂടെ, ഇന്ദ്രനെ സ്വന്തം സഹചാരിയായി കൂട്ടിക്കൊണ്ട് വരുന്നു; ഹരിത (താമ്രവർണ്ണ) ശക്തികളാൽ അവൻ തന്റെ താടിയെ തളിക്കുന്നു. അവൻ മനോഹര വാസസ്ഥലത്തിലേക്ക് താഴെയിറങ്ങുന്നു; സുത മധു (സോമ)യിൽ അവൻ സത്തയെ കുലുക്കുന്നു—കാറ്റ് വനത്തെ കുലുക്കുന്നതുപോലെ.
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्
- indeed, evenIndeclinableनिपातः (अव्ययम्)Root चित् (निपात)
- नु
- now, indeedIndeclinableनिपातः (अव्ययम्)Root नु (निपात)
- वृष्टिः
- rain, showerNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot वृष्टि- (√वृष् ‘to rain, shower’)
- यूथ्या
- in troops, massed (troop-like)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (वृष्टेः विशेषणम्)Root यूथ्य- (यूथ ‘herd, troop’ + य) अथवा यूथ्या- (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वा
- own, of itselfAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (वृष्टेः विशेषणम्)Root स्व- (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) / स्वा (स्त्री. प्रथमा एक.)
- सचाँ
- accompanying, in company (with)Participle (Adjective) / Kṛdantaपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root √सच् ‘to accompany, follow’ (वेद. कृदन्त) सचान-
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNoun (Proper)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot इन्द्र- (देवनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- श्मश्रूणि
- beards, whiskersNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot श्मश्रु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- हरिताभिः
- with the tawny (mares)Noun/Adjective (instrumental plural)स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot हरिता- (विशेषण/नाम; ‘tawny, bay (mares)’)
- प्रुष्णुते
- sprinkles, spattersVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root √प्रुष्/√पृष् (वेद. ‘to sprinkle, spatter’)
- अव
- down, awayIndeclinableउपसर्गः/अव्ययम्Root अव (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वेति
- moves, goesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root √वे (वेद. ‘to go, hasten, blow/move’)
- सुक्षयम्
- to a good dwelling; good abodeNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (गत्यर्थे लक्ष्य/प्राप्त्यर्थम्)Role KarmaRoot सु-क्षय- (क्षय ‘dwelling, abode’ with सु-)
- सुते
- in the pressed (soma)Noun (locative) / Kṛdanta used substantivelyपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot सुत- (√सु ‘to press (soma)’)
- मधु
- sweet drink; honey (soma)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot मधु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत्
- up, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गः/अव्ययम्Root उत् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- धूनोति
- shakes, tosses aboutVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root √धू (धूनोति-प्रयोगः ‘to shake, toss, scatter’)
- वातः
- windNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot वात- (√वा ‘to blow’)
- यथा
- as, likeIndeclinableसम्बन्ध/उपमानवाचक-अव्ययम्Root यथा (अव्यय)
- वनम्
- forest, woodNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वन- (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): सो → सः
- चि॒न्नु → चित् + नु
- वृ॒ष्टिर्यू॒थ्या॒ → वृष्टिः + यूथ्या
- स्वा (स्वा एव, विशेषणरूपेण वृष्टिम् अनु)
- सचाँ (वेद. कृदन्त ‘सचान-’ प्रथमा एक.)
- इन्द्र॒: → इन्द्रः
- हरि॑ता॒भि → हरिताभिः
- अव॑ वेति (अव + वेति)
- सु॒क्षयं॑ (सु + क्षयम्)
- सु॒ते (सप्तमी एक. ‘सुत’)
- मधूदिद्धू॑नोति → मधु + उत् + धूनोति
- वातो॒ → वातः
- यथा॒ वन॑म् → यथा + वनम्।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The rain-clouds come in a troop with Indra as their companion; with his tawny horses he sprinkles his beard. He descends to a good dwelling; at the pressed honey-Soma he shakes the forest of being like the wind shakes a wood.
Inner meaning
The “rain in a troop” is the descent of many streams of inspiration and force once Indra (illumined Mind) is present as the intimate ally of the seeker. Indra’s “beard” is the radiant, mature power of discernment and command; it is “sprinkled” by the tawny energies (haritāḥ) that carry the illumined will into action. When Soma (divine Ananda) is pressed in the consciousness, Indra’s arrival “shakes” the whole nature—old fixed formations in the vital-physical are stirred and loosened, as wind moves a forest—so the being can reorganize around a clearer light and joy.
Universal truth
When higher intelligence and joy descend together, they do not merely comfort; they dynamically restructure the whole personality. True illumination arrives as a living force that stirs, cleanses, and reorders the inner world.
Themes
descent-and-refreshment, Soma-sweetness, stirring-of-nature, establishing-good-dwelling
The seer
- Rishi
- Vimada (Vaimada)
- Other hymns
- RV 10.20–10.26 (Vimada/Vaimada sequence, traditional attribution)
Family tradition
Vimada cycle (late Rigvedic book 10); hymns marked by personal alliance with Indra and emphasis on stoma (inspired utterance) as effective power.
Significance
Vimada’s vision foregrounds Indra as an intimate helper who enters the seeker’s field and actively rearranges the inner nature through Soma-delight and victorious discernment.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- śatakratu (hundred-powered, implied), vṛtrahan (slayer of the coverer, implied by function), maghavan (bountiful, implied by descent to ‘good dwelling’)
- Related deities
- Soma, Maruts (storm-powers, by rain/wind imagery), Agni (leader of inner offering, background presence in Soma context)
Cosmic role
Releaser of the waters/lights; establishes wide space and right order by breaking obstruction.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence joined to force—decisive insight that compels transformation in the vital and physical nature.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma celebration: Indra’s descent with rain-like refreshment; energizing and purifying stirring of the sacrificer’s field
सो चि॒न्नु वृ॒ष्टिर्यू॒थ्या॒३॒॑ स्वा सचाँ॒ इन्द्र॒: श्मश्रू॑णि॒ हरि॑ता॒भि प्रु॑ष्णुते । अव॑ वेति सु॒क्षयं॑ सु॒ते मधूदिद्धू॑नोति॒ वातो॒ यथा॒ वन॑म् ॥
सो इति॑ । चि॒त् । नु । वृ॒ष्टिः । यू॒थ्या॑ । स्वा । सचा॑ । इन्द्रः॑ । श्मश्रू॑णि । हरि॑ता । अ॒भि । प्रु॒ष्णु॒ते॒ । अव॑ । वे॒ति॒ । सु॒ऽक्षय॑म् । सु॒ते । मधु॑ । उत् । इत् । धू॒नो॒ति॒ । वातः॑ । यथा॑ । वन॑म् ॥
so iti | cit | nu | vṛṣṭiḥ | yūthyā | svā | sacā | indraḥ | śmaśrūṇi | haritā | abhi | pruṣṇute | ava | veti | su-kṣayam | sute | madhu | ut | it | dhūnoti | vātaḥ | yathā | vanam
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables (Triṣṭubh cadence; exact scan may vary with sandhi)
Forward-driving, forceful, with a ‘surge and release’ suitable to descent-and-shaking imagery.
Energizes and mobilizes; good for invoking dynamic clarity and breaking inertia.
- वृष्टिः (vṛṣṭiḥ)
- Literal: rain, raining. Symbolic: descent of inspiration/force from the higher consciousness
- यूथ्या (yūthyā)
- Literal: in a troop, herd-like. Symbolic: multiple coordinated currents of power; collective movement of inner energies
- इन्द्र (indra)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: illumined Mind; lord of luminous perception and victorious force
- हरिता (haritā)
- Literal: the tawny ones (Indra’s horses). Symbolic: dynamic life-energies yoked to the light; swift powers of action
- श्मश्रूणि (śmaśrūṇi)
- Literal: beard. Symbolic: radiant maturity/virile power of the illumined mind; the ‘sunlit’ command in the nature
- सोम / मधु (soma / madhu)
- Literal: Soma; honey. Symbolic: divine bliss/nectar; sweetness of awakened consciousness
- वातः (vātaḥ)
- Literal: wind. Symbolic: pranic movement that clears and redistributes energies; the purifying rush of force
- वनम् (vanam)
- Literal: forest. Symbolic: the dense growth of habits/samskaras in the embodied nature
Soma celebration: Indra’s descent with rain-like refreshment; energizing and purifying stirring of the sacrificer’s field
Indra-Soma contexts in Soma rites; recitation to invoke Indra’s presence and the descending ‘waters’.
Praise/āhvāna (invocation) during Soma pressing and offering; accompaniment to libation and stotra.
Use as a meditation-chant when stuck in inertia: invoke a ‘storm of clarity’ to loosen old patterns before sitting in quietude.
Key terms: (1) vṛṣṭi: rain as the descent of force/refreshment; in inner sense, the flowing down of higher energy. (2) √pruṣ: sprinkle—dropwise diffusion, like inspirations or luminous impulses. (3) su-kṣaya: good dwelling; kṣaya from √kṣi 'to dwell'—a stable habitation in consciousness. (4) √dhū: shake—used for powerful stirring; simile with vāta (wind) shows dynamic purification/activation of the nature (vana).
descent of higher force (rain) into the being, purification/activation (wind shaking the forest)
Indra’s descent and shaking action restore movement and right circulation of energies—an inner R̥ta.
What descends as ‘rain’ is not idea alone but truth-force that acts.
Release of the waters/lights; re-formation of the inner world by descending powers.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: descent of higher consciousness into mind-life-body.
Rain/wind are movements of descending truth-force and pranic clearing; forest is the tangled embodied nature; honey is Ananda that makes transformation sustainable.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as rain-bringer and energizer: the storm-force brings the troop-like rain and shakes the forest. Inner sense: the divine force descends as refreshment and then powerfully stirs the dense growth of the lower nature to release movement and light.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The storm/rain/wind complex is central to IE thunderer mythology. The vivid nature simile (wind shaking the forest) is characteristic of archaic Indo-European poetics where natural dynamics encode divine action.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi perceives Indra’s coming as both soothing (rain, good dwelling) and transforming (shaking). The devotee accepts not only comfort but the necessary agitation that reorders the inner forest into a prepared field for truth and delight.
Invite a descent of clear force into the mind and breath; allow it to ‘shake loose’ rigid patterns without violence.
ājñā (clarity/illumination) with support into anāhata (Soma-sweetness)
Moderate paced breathing (e.g., 4–4 or 4–6) while chanting; feel ‘wind’ clearing the chest and head.
Dynamic stillness—awake, bright, and inwardly moving toward order.
Chant 3–9 times; then sit and observe where the being feels ‘stirred’. Offer that movement to the inner Indra; let the breath settle into a clearer rhythm.
Notated svaras not provided; chant in a steady Vedic recitation style with attention to udātta peaks on marked syllables in a proper pada text.
Keep each pāda distinct; avoid dragging sandhi; let the cadence ‘lift’ on key invocatory words (indraḥ, vātaḥ).
vṛṣṭir: vocalic ṛ, crisp ṣṭ, yūthyā: long ū, palatal y, śmaśrūṇi: ś + maś, long ū, haritābhi: retroflex ṭ? (here ‘t’ is dental; keep ‘ri’ light), long ā, dhūnoti: aspirated dh, long ū
Bright, energizing, slightly forceful but controlled; feel ‘wind’ in the tone.
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.
