Rig Veda 2.11.5: Mandala 2, Sukta 11, Mantra 5
Sukta 2.11
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Bhayankara
गुहा हितं गुह्यं गूळ्हमप्स्वपीवृतं मायिनं क्षियन्तम् । उतो अपो द्यां तस्तभ्वांसमहन्नहिं शूर वीर्येण ॥
gúhā hitáṃ gúhyaṃ gūḷhám apsv ápīvṛtaṃ māyínaṃ kṣiyántaṃ | utó apó dyā́ṃ tastábhvāṃsam áhann áhiṃ śūra vī́ryeṇa ||
ഗുഹയിൽ നിക്ഷിപ്തമായ, ഗുഹ്യവും ഗൂഢവും, ജലങ്ങളിൽ മറഞ്ഞ് മൂടപ്പെട്ട—മായിൻ ശക്തി അവിടെ വസിച്ചിരുന്നു. ഹേ ശൂര, നീ വീര്യത്താൽ അഹി (സർപ്പം)യെ വധിച്ചു; നീ ജലങ്ങളെ മോചിപ്പിച്ചു, ദ്യൗ (ആകാശം)യെ താങ്ങി നിർത്തി.
Word by Word
- गुहा
- in a hiding-place, secretlyIndeclinableअव्यय (स्थानवाचक)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot गुहा (अव्यय; ‘गुह्’ धातु-सम्बद्ध ‘गुहायाम्’ अर्थे)
- हितम्
- placed, setAdjective/Participleनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot √धा (धातु) → ‘हित’ (कृदन्त, PPP)
- गुह्यम्
- hidden, secretAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक; √गुह् ‘to hide’)
- गूळ्हम्
- concealedAdjective/Participleनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot √गुह् (धातु) → ‘गूळ्ह’ (कृदन्त, PPP)
- अप्सु
- in the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘waters’)
- अपि
- also, moreoverIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अपि (निपात)
- आवृतम्
- covered over, enclosedAdjective/Participleनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot √वृ (धातु) + आ- → ‘आवृत’ (कृदन्त, PPP)
- मायिनम्
- the crafty one, wielder of māyāAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot मायिन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘possessing māyā/illusion, crafty’)
- क्षियन्तम्
- dwelling, abidingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot √क्षि (धातु; ‘to dwell, abide’) → ‘क्षियन्त्’ (वर्तमान कृदन्त, शतृ)
- उतो
- and also, moreoverIndeclinableअव्यय (समुच्चयार्थे)Root उ (निपात) + तो (समुच्चय/अन्वादेश)
- अपः
- the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘waters’)
- द्याम्
- the skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot द्यौ/दिव् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sky, heaven’)
- तस्तभ्वान्
- having propped up, supportingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot √स्तभ् (धातु; ‘to prop, support’) → ‘तस्तभ्वांस्’ (परिपूर्ण/परस्मैपदीय परोक्ष-परिणत कृदन्त; RV-विशेष रूप)
- अहन्
- he slewVerbलुङ् (अorist/इञ्जङ्-प्रकार), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √हन् (धातु; ‘to slay’)
- अहिम्
- the serpent (Ahi)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अहि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘serpent’)
- शूर
- O heroNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRoot शूर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘hero’)
- वीर्येण
- by (his) valor/powerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘manly power, valor’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): गुहा + हितम् + गुह्यम् + गूळ्हम् + अप्सु + अपि + आवृतम् + मायिनम् + क्षियन्तम् । उतो (= उत + उ) + अपः + द्याम् + तस्तभ्वांसम्/तस्तभ्वान् (RV-रूप; संहितायां -म्/-न् परिवर्तन) + अहन् + अहिम् + शूर + वीर्येण । उच्चारण-चिह्न (॑/॒) ऋग्वैदिक स्वरचिह्न हैं
The meaning
Outer meaning
A concealed, secret power lay hidden and covered in the waters—a magician-force. Indra struck down the serpent by his might, released the waters, and upheld the heaven.
Inner meaning
The obstruction is not always overt; it can be “hidden in the waters” (apsu)—in the subconscious life-energy where emotions, desires, and memories flow. The māyín (deceptive former) is the power that distorts perception and binds energy into knots. Indra’s vīrya (heroic potency of illumined mind) slays Ahi/Vṛtra—the coiling coverer—so the inner waters (streams of life-force and inspired movement) are freed, and “heaven” (dyauḥ: higher mind, luminous consciousness) is made firm and stable above the turbulence.
Universal truth
Liberation requires penetrating the concealed roots of distortion in the subconscious. When the knot is broken, energy becomes a clear flow and the higher consciousness can stand established as a stable canopy over life.
Themes
hidden obstruction, serpent-slaying, release of waters, cosmic support
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.11, RV 2.12, RV 2.13
Family tradition
Bhṛgu-derived lineage emphasizing the inner battle for light and the release of hidden powers.
Significance
Here the seer maps the classic Vedic psychology: obstruction concealed in the waters; liberation by Indra’s illumined force; establishment of the higher heaven in consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- śūra (hero), vṛtrahan (slayer of the coverer, implied), maghavan (bounteous, implied by release)
- Related deities
- Apas (Waters), Sūrya, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Slays Vṛtra/Ahi; releases the waters; supports the heaven—restoring cosmic circulation and stability.
Inner power
Penetrating illumination that detects deception in the subconscient and breaks its knot, freeing the life-force for higher aims.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Vṛtra victory passages in Soma ritual recitations; also used as protective/clearing stotra themes.
गुहा॑ हि॒तं गुह्यं॑ गू॒ळ्हम॒प्स्वपी॑वृतं मा॒यिनं॑ क्षि॒यन्त॑म् । उ॒तो अ॒पो द्यां त॑स्त॒भ्वांस॒मह॒न्नहिं॑ शूर वी॒र्ये॑ण ॥
गुहा॑ । हि॒तम् । गुह्य॑म् । गू॒ळ्हम् । अ॒प्सु । अपि॑ऽवृतम् । मा॒यिन॑म् । क्षि॒यन्त॑म् । उ॒तो इति॑ । अ॒पः । द्याम् । त॒स्त॒भ्वांस॑म् । अह॑न् । अहि॑म् । शू॒र॒ । वी॒र्ये॑ण ॥
guhā | hitam | guhyam | gūḷham | apsu | api-vṛtam | māyinam | kṣiyantam | uto iti | apaḥ | dyām | tastabhvāṃsam | ahan | ahim | śūra | vīryeṇa
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4 × ~11
Taut, dramatic; suited to describing hidden peril and decisive conquest.
Creates an inward ‘searchlight’ effect—attention turns to subtle roots; ends in a feeling of release and uplift.
- गुहा (guhā)
- Literal: cave, hidden place. Symbolic: subconscient depth; secret recess where knots of habit are stored
- गुह्यं / गूळ्हम् (guhyaṃ/gūḻham)
- Literal: secret/concealed. Symbolic: unseen formations influencing thought and desire
- अप्सु (apsu)
- Literal: in the waters. Symbolic: life-energy, subconscious flow, emotional-vital currents
- अपिवृतम् (apīvṛtam)
- Literal: covered over. Symbolic: veiled consciousness; truth-flow blocked by obscuration
- मायिनम् (māyinam)
- Literal: magician, wielder of māyā. Symbolic: deceptive constructing power that produces false appearances
- अहिम् (ahim)
- Literal: serpent. Symbolic: the coiling coverer (Vṛtra/Ahi): resistance of the subconscient
- द्याम् (dyām)
- Literal: heaven/sky. Symbolic: higher mind-plane; luminous consciousness established above
- अपः (apaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: released energies of life and inspiration; truth-streams when purified
Vṛtra-slaying recollection within Indra Soma praise; invoked for removal of hidden obstructions and restoration of cosmic order
When invoking Indra for removal of obstruction and freeing of waters (prosperity, flow, rain—outer; inspiration—inner).
Recitation with offering; symbolic ‘release’ intention (untying, pouring, opening).
Use in meditation/therapy contexts: chanting to surface and dissolve hidden patterns; helpful during transitions, blockages, or emotional stagnation.
guhā/guhya/gūḷha from √guh ‘to hide’ and √gūḷh (ppp) emphasize layered concealment (subconscient). apsu (ap ‘water’) from PIE *h₂ep- ‘water’ (cf. Latin aqua possibly related via different development; stronger: Hittite āpa-, Avestan āp-). māyin from māyā (√mā ‘measure/form’) becomes ‘formative illusion’—power that constructs misleading appearances. tastabhvāṃsam from √stambh ‘to prop, support’ → establishing heaven/order.
māyā as deceptive formation, subconscient concealment (guhā), restoration of ṛta by releasing flows and establishing dyauḥ
Vṛtra’s concealment disrupts circulation; Indra restores ṛta by reopening the streams and stabilizing dyauḥ.
Truth requires unveiling (apīvṛtam → opened) and slaying māyā’s distortion.
Release of waters and upholding of heaven: re-creation of ordered cosmos within the being.
Integral Vedic psychology: māyā as formative distortion; Indra as illuminative power.
monsoon symbolism (outer) implied by release of waters
Subconscious emotional currents are freed when the coiling resistance is pierced; higher mind becomes stable and spacious.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Ahi/Vṛtra as a hidden māyin lodged in the waters: obstruction is not only external but secreted in the depths. Indra’s heroic act both releases the waters (life/inspiration) and ‘upholds heaven’—re-establishing the luminous order of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- ap- ‘waters’ is a well-known Indo-Iranian continuation of PIE *h₂ep- ‘water’ (Avestan āp-). The serpent-slayer myth is a major IE shared narrative pattern, with Indra corresponding functionally to other IE storm/warrior gods who defeat a constricting monster to free waters/light.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recalls Indra’s archetypal victory to invoke the same power in the present sacrifice: the hidden māyin forces in the depths of the practitioner are to be struck down so that the streams of force flow and the ‘heaven’ (higher luminous mind) stands firm.
Bring light into the ‘guhā’—observe concealed impulses; invoke Indra to cut the knot and let energy flow upward.
Svādhiṣṭhāna (waters/vital) purified and lifted toward Ājñā (illumined discernment).
Slow exhale with mental repetition of ‘guhā… apī-vṛtam’; then a firm inhale on ‘ahann ahim’; finish with relaxed breathing imagining waters released.
From introspective depth to expansive clarity; a stabilized ‘sky’ above the mind.
Do not fight surface emotions; locate the hidden ‘māyin’ narrative behind them. Chant once to reveal, again to cut, again to release—ending with quiet spaciousness above the head and behind the forehead.
Maintain clear udātta on key action words (ahán, śū́ra) with controlled svarita descent; keep the first pāda slightly hushed, second more forceful.
First hemistich: inward, secretive tone; second hemistich: emphatic on ‘ahann ahim’ and ‘tastabhvāṃsam’.
gūḻham: retroflex ḻ (as in Vedic recitation tradition; approximate as ‘ḍh’/‘l̤h’ per school) without adding vowels, apsv: keep consonant cluster ‘psv’ clean (ap-su), māyinam: long ā; ‘yi’ clear, kṣiyantam: ‘kṣi’ cluster crisp, tastabhvāṃsam: keep ‘stabhv’ cluster compact, ahim: short a, soft h
Begin low and inward; shift to bright, forceful declaration on the slaying; end open and resonant.
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