Rig Veda 10.49.9: Mandala 10, Sukta 49, Mantra 9
Sukta 10.49
- Rishi
- As RV 10.49
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अहं सप्त स्रवतो धारयं वृषा द्रवित्न्वः पृथिव्यां सीरा अधि । अहमर्णांसि वि तिरामि सुक्रतुर्युधा विदं मनवे गातुमिष्टये ॥
ahaṃ saptá sraváto dhā́rayaṃ vṛ́ṣā dravitnvaḥ pṛthivyā́ṃ sīrā́ ádhi | ahám arṇā́ṃsi ví tirāmi su-krátur yúdhā vídaṃ mánave gātúm iṣṭáye ||
ഞാൻ—വൃഷഭബലം—ഏഴ് പ്രവാഹങ്ങളെ അവരുടെ ധാരയിൽ നിലനിർത്തി; ദ്രവിത്ന്വഃ (സമൃദ്ധി കൊണ്ടുവരുന്നവർ)ക്കായി ഭൂമിയിൽ ഉഴവിന്റെ രേഖകൾ സ്ഥാപിച്ചു. ഞാൻ, ശുക്രതു (ശുഭസങ്കൽപവും ശരിയായ വിവേകവും ഉള്ളവൻ), അർണാംസി—അസ്തിത്വത്തിന്റെ പ്രളയധാരകൾ—കടന്നുപോകുന്നു; യുദ്ധത്തിലൂടെ മനുഷ്യന് ഇഷ്ടി (ഇച്ഛിത യജ്ഞ/സാധന)യുടെ സിദ്ധിക്കായി ഒരു പാത കണ്ടെത്തുന്നു.
Word by Word
- अहम्
- IPronounपुं/स्त्री (सर्वनाम), प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अस्मद्
- सप्त
- sevenNumeral(अव्ययवत्) संख्या-विशेषण, (अत्र) कर्मपदस्य विशेषणम्Role कर्म (विशेषण) / संख्या-निर्देशRoot सप्तन्
- स्रवतः
- flowing streams (waters)Noun/Adjectiveपुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot स्रवत् (√स्रु ‘to flow’)
- धारयम्
- I held / I sustainedVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट्), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √धृ (धारणे)
- वृषा
- the bull; the mighty oneNoun/Adjectiveपुं, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (अहम्-समनाधिकरण) / विशेषणRoot वृषन्
- द्रवित्न्वः
- wealth-bestowing / giver of richesAdjectiveपुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अहम्/वृषा इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root द्रवित्नु (धन/दान-सम्बद्ध प्रातिपदिक) अथवा द्रवित्न्वन्
- पृथिव्याम्
- on the earthNounस्त्री, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot पृथिवी
- सीराः
- furrows; plough-linesNounस्त्री, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (धारयम् इत्यस्य; ‘I sustained the furrows’)Root सीरा
- अधि
- upon; overIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)उपसर्ग/निपात; ‘upon/over’Role अधिकरण-सम्बन्धकRoot अधि
- अहम्
- IPronounप्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अस्मद्
- अर्णांसि
- floods; surging watersNounनपुंसक, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अर्णस्
- वि
- apart; throughIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्ग; ‘apart, across, through’Role क्रियाविशेषकRoot वि
- तिरामि
- I cross; I pass overVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √तॄ (तरणे)
- सुक्रतुः
- of good resolve; wise in purposeAdjectiveपुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अहम्-समनाधिकरण)Role कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root सु-क्रतु (क्रतु ‘will, resolve, power’)
- युधा
- with battle; by fightingNoun (instrumental adverbial)स्त्री, तृतीया, एकवचन (करणार्थे)Role करणRoot युध्
- विदम्
- I found; I obtainedVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट्), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √विद् (वेदने/लाभे ‘to find, obtain’)
- मनवे
- for Manu (mankind)Nounपुं, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot मनु
- गातुम्
- a path; passageNounपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot गातु
- इष्टये
- for the sacrifice; for the desired riteNounस्त्री, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानRoot इष्टि
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-splitting): स्र॒वतो॑ → स्रवतः (शतृ-कृदन्त ‘flowing’)
- धारयं॒ → धारयम् (लङ् 1sg)
- द्रवि॒त्न्व॑: → द्रवित्न्वः (प्रथमा एकवचन)
- पृथि॒व्यां → पृथिव्याम्
- सी॒रा अधि॑ → सीराः + अधि (विसर्ग-सन्धि: अः + अ → आ)
- अह॒मर्णां॑सि → अहम् + अर्णांसि (अम् + अ…)
- वि ति॑रामि → वि + तिरामि
- सु॒क्रतु॑र्यु॒धा → सुक्रतुः + युधा (विसर्ग-सन्धि: उः + य → उर्य)
- वि॑दं॒ → विदम्
- गा॒तुमि॒ष्टये॑ → गातुम् + इष्टये (म् + इ…; संहितायां निग्रह/अनुस्वार-प्रवृत्तिः). Accents as in Saṃhitā are not repeated on the resolved padāni here
- they underlie the given forms
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, the Bull, holds the seven streams in their course, sets plough-lines on earth for wealth-bringers, crosses floods, and by battle finds a path for man’s desired fulfilment.
Inner meaning
Indra as the master of illumined force stabilizes the seven currents of consciousness (sapta sravataḥ)—the life-streams that otherwise scatter. He engraves ‘furrows’ in the earth-nature (pṛthivī) so the field of embodiment can receive true abundance (draviṇas). He crosses the floods of being (arṇāṃsi)—overwhelming emotions, subconscious tides—by right discernment (su-kratu), and through inner battle opens a practicable path (gātu) for the human seeker’s aspiration (iṣṭi).
Universal truth
True prosperity is ordered flow: when the inner intelligence governs the currents of life, the embodied nature becomes cultivable, and a path appears through chaos toward fulfilment.
Themes
seven rivers (inner currents), establishing order on earth-nature, finding the path for human fulfilment
The seer
- Rishi
- As in RV 10.49
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.49
Significance
The seer frames Indra’s action not only as victory but as ordering: holding streams, carving furrows, finding a path—key images for inner discipline and yogic integration.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Vṛṣā (Bull-force), Sukratu (of right discernment)
- Related deities
- Sarasvatī (streams/flow), Varuṇa (order, containment), Agni (discipline/inner sacrifice)
Cosmic role
Regulator of cosmic flows (waters/streams), opener of ways, giver of abundance through right action.
Inner power
Executive intelligence that channels energies, withstands inundations, and establishes a workable path for aspiration.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise in Soma rites; prosperity/path-opening intent
अ॒हं स॒प्त स्र॒वतो॑ धारयं॒ वृषा॑ द्रवि॒त्न्व॑: पृथि॒व्यां सी॒रा अधि॑ । अ॒हमर्णां॑सि॒ वि ति॑रामि सु॒क्रतु॑र्यु॒धा वि॑दं॒ मन॑वे गा॒तुमि॒ष्टये॑ ॥
अ॒हम् । स॒प्त । स्र॒वतः॑ । धा॒र॒य॒म् । वृषा॑ । द्र॒वि॒त्न्वः॑ । पृ॒थि॒व्याम् । सी॒राः । अधि॑ । अ॒हम् । अर्णां॑सि । वि । ति॒रा॒मि॒ । सु॒ऽक्रतुः॑ । यु॒धा । वि॒द॒म् । मन॑वे । गा॒तुम् । इ॒ष्टये॑ ॥
aham | sapta | sravataḥ | dhārayam | vṛṣā | dravitnvaḥ | pṛthivyām | sīrāḥ | adhi | aham | arṇāṃsi | vi | tirāmi | su-kratuḥ | yudhā | vidam | manave | gātum | iṣṭaye
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Broad, river-like flow with strong caesuras—apt for ‘streams held in course’.
Creates a felt sense of containment and forward passage; steadies breath and attention while energizing resolve.
- सप्त स्रवतः (sapta sravataḥ)
- Literal: seven streams. Symbolic: sevenfold currents of consciousness/energy; ordered movements of life and mind
- धारयम् (dhārayam)
- Literal: I held, upheld. Symbolic: the power to contain, harmonize, and give right channel to energies
- वृषा (vṛṣā)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: abounding virile force—effective spiritual energy (not mere aggression)
- द्रवित्न्वः (dravitnvaḥ)
- Literal: bringers of wealth. Symbolic: powers that carry true abundance: right energies, right works, right enjoyments
- पृथिव्याम् (pṛthivyām)
- Literal: on the earth. Symbolic: the embodied nature; physical-vital foundation of sādhanā
- सीराः (sīrāḥ)
- Literal: plough-lines, furrows. Symbolic: disciplined channels in nature; formation of habits aligned to truth
- अर्णांसि (arṇāṃsi)
- Literal: floods, billows. Symbolic: emotional/subconscious inundations, mass of becoming
- सु-क्रतुः (su-kratuḥ)
- Literal: good will/wise resolve. Symbolic: right discernment that is also effective intention
- युधा (yudhā)
- Literal: by battle. Symbolic: inner struggle against inertia, confusion, and desire
- गातुम् (gātum)
- Literal: path. Symbolic: a stable inner way—method, passage, attainment-route
- इष्टये (iṣṭaye)
- Literal: for the seeking, for the desired sacrifice. Symbolic: for aspiration and the inner offering toward fulfilment
Invoked to stabilize ‘flows’ and open ‘paths’ for success in sacrifice; aligns Indra’s victory with prosperity and right movement in the yajña
Invocations for abundance and successful passage (journey, battle, undertaking) during stotra/śastra sequences.
Offer praise to secure Indra’s ‘holding’ power and his guidance across dangers.
Chant when overwhelmed (emotional floods) or when building disciplined routines (‘furrows’) for study, practice, recovery, or creative work.
√dhṛ ‘hold, sustain’ frames Indra as regulator of flows (outer rivers; inner currents). √tṝ ‘cross’ (cf. Av. tar-, English ‘through’ via PIE *terh₂ ‘cross over’). kratu- is pivotal: from √kṛ ‘to do’? (traditional: kratu ‘resolve, intelligence’), hence su-kratu ‘right-willed, right-intending’. sīrā- ‘plough’ relates to ordering cultivation; inwardly the cutting of channels in the earth-nature for the descent of abundance.
kratu (will-intelligence), gātu (path as spiritual passage), ordering of flows under R̥ta
Holding the streams is r̥ta as regulated flow; the path (gātu) is the track of r̥ta for the human being.
Su-kratu: truth-discernment that chooses the right crossing.
World-formation through channeling waters and marking earth with order (culture/field of works).
Yoga of works and knowledge integrated: discernment + battle + path-making in embodied nature.
Streams = currents of prāṇa and thought; earth = body-nature; furrows = disciplined grooves of right habit; floods = subconscious/emotional surges to be crossed.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘release/ordering of the rivers’ complex (often tied to Vṛtra-slaying): Indra holds or sets the seven streams and establishes furrows on earth. Inner sense: he regulates the sevenfold currents of consciousness and engraves right channels in the embodied nature so abundance can flow; he then ‘crosses the floods’ to discover a path for human fulfilment.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √tṝ ‘cross’ reflects PIE *terh₂ ‘cross over’ (broadly seen in Indo-Iranian tar-). The river/flood-crossing trope is a widespread IE metaphor for overcoming existential danger. kratu as will-intelligence parallels the archaic IE link between ‘counsel/resolve’ and effective power.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Indra’s cosmic acts (ordering streams, setting furrows) are offered as immediate inner operations for ‘Manu’—the human. The ṛṣi positions the devatā as both world-orderer and inner guide who discovers ‘gātu’ (a practicable passage) for the aspirant’s iṣṭi.
‘Hold the seven streams’: gather scattered attention into a unified current and let Indra’s discernment choose the next right step.
svādhiṣṭhāna (waters/emotions) to maṇipūra (will) integration
Sama-vṛtti (equal inhale/exhale) with a brief pause after exhale to sense ‘holding’ (dhāraṇa).
Collected flow—calm force that can move through difficulty.
Visualize seven inner streams aligning into one central channel; then contemplate one concrete ‘furrow’—a small daily discipline—set into the earth-nature.
Maintain clear udātta on emphatic nouns/verbs (sapta, sravataḥ, dhārayam, tirāmi); keep pāda-end cadence stable.
Let each pāda ‘flow’ then settle—slight lengthening at caesura before key actions (dhārayam / vi tirāmi).
sīrāḥ : long ī; avoid ‘seerā’ diphthongization, arṇāṃsi : retroflex ṇ; long āṃ, sukratuḥ (-): crisp k + r cluster, yudhā : voiced dh, not d
Steady, full, like a controlled stream.
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