Rig Veda 2.15.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 15, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.15
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
स प्रवोळ्हॄन्परिगत्या दभीतेर्विश्वमधागायुधमिद्धे अग्नौ । सं गोभिरश्वैरसृजद्रथेभिः सोमस्य ता मद इन्द्रश्चकार ॥
sa pravoḷhṝn parigatyā dabhīter viśvam adhāg āyudham iddhe agnau | saṁ gobhir aśvair asṛjad rathebhiḥ somasya tā made indraś cakāra ||
ഭീതരായ ‘വാഹകരെ’ (ഹവിഃവാഹകരെ) ചുറ്റി നടന്ന്, ജ്വലിച്ച അഗ്നിയിൽ എല്ലാ ആയുധങ്ങളെയും ദഹിപ്പിച്ചു. തുടർന്ന് ഗോകൾ, അശ്വങ്ങൾ, രഥങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയോടെ പ്രകാശത്തിന്റെയും വേഗത്തിന്റെയും ശക്തികളെ ഒരുമിച്ചു കൂട്ടി—സോമമദത്തിൽ ഇവയെ ഇന്ദ്രൻ നിർവഹിച്ചു.
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → स
- प्रवोळ्हॄन्
- those who had been driven/led forthParticiple (Adjectival noun)पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot प्र-√वह् (वहँ प्रापणे/वहने) → प्रवोळ्हृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, भूतकर्मणि/कृत)
- परिगत्या
- having gone around; by encirclingGerund/Absolutive (instrumentalized form in Vedic usage)अव्यय-प्रयोगः (क्रियाविशेषणभावः); अर्थतः ‘परिगत्य’ = ‘परिक्रमेण/परितः गत्वा’Role KaraṇaRoot परि-√गम् (गमॢँ गतौ) → परिगत (कृदन्त) ; परिगत् + -या (तृतीया एकवचन)
- दभीतेः
- from fear/terrorNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot √दभ् (दभँ हिंसायाम्/छेदने) → दभीति (स्त्री. भाववाचक)
- विश्वम्
- all; the whole (of it)Adjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot विश्व (विश्-सम्बद्ध प्रातिपदिक)
- अधाक्
- then; thereuponIndeclinable (particle)निपातः (काल/अनुक्रम-निर्देशकः)Root अधा (अव्यय) + √अह्/√अघ्? (वेद. ‘अधाक्’ = ‘तदा/अथ’ इत्यर्थे निपात-समूहः)
- आयुधम्
- weaponNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
- इद्धे
- in the kindled (one)Participle (Adjectival)पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोगः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot √इध् (इधँ दीप्तौ) → इद्ध (कृदन्त) ; इद्धे = सप्तमी एकवचन (वेद. लोकेटिव)
- अग्नौ
- in the fireNounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together; completelyIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गःRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- गोभिः
- with cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्वैः
- with horsesNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- असृजत्
- he released; he let looseVerbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root √सृज् (सृजँ विसर्गे/सर्जने)
- रथेभिः
- with chariotsNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमस्य
- of SomaNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- ताः
- those (things)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → ता
- मदे
- in intoxication; in exhilarationNounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot मद (प्रातिपदिक; ‘मद’ = उन्माद/हर्ष)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- चकार
- he has done; he accomplishedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root √कृ (डुकृञ् करणे)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्यः): सः प्रवोळ्हॄन् परिगत्या दभीतेः विश्वम् अधाक् आयुधम् इद्धे अग्नौ । सम् गोभिः अश्वैः असृजत् रथेभिः । सोमस्य ताः मदे इन्द्रः चकार ॥ मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) प्र॑वो॒ळ्हॄन्प॑रि॒गत्या॑ → प्रवोळ्हॄन् + परिगत्या (न् + प् संयोग)
- (2) द॒भीते॒र्विश्व॑म् → दभीतेः + विश्वम् (विसर्ग-लोप/र्-आदेशः: -ेः + व- → -ेर् + व-)
- (3) अ॒ग्नौ । सं → अग्नौ + सम् (पदविरामे सन्धि न आवश्यक)
- (4) गोभि॒रश्वै॑र् → गोभिः + अश्वैः (विसर्ग → र्)
- (5) असृज॒द्रथे॑भिः → असृजत् + रथेभिः (त् + र् → द्र्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra circles the ‘carriers’ of the offering, removes fear, burns up all weapons in the kindled fire, and then sets together cows, horses, and chariots—done in Soma’s ecstasy.
Inner meaning
Indra protects the inner offerings (the forces that carry aspiration and oblation upward) by surrounding them with conscious power, dissolving fear. He consigns hostile formations (‘weapons’) to Agni—the inner flame that purifies and transforms. Then he organizes the luminous faculties: rays of knowledge (cows), vital energies (horses), and dynamic instruments of progress (chariots) into a single effective movement of the being.
Universal truth
When fear is removed and hostile impulses are offered into the purifying fire, the scattered capacities of knowledge and action can be harmonized into an integrated power for life’s journey.
Themes
protection, purification, assembly of powers, Soma-ecstasy
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (tradition associates Gṛtsamada with the Bhṛgu line)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.15.3, Rig Veda 2.15.5, Rig Veda 2.16, Rig Veda 2.18
Family tradition
A seer of Indra’s harmonizing victories—protecting the yajña, purifying by Agni, and assembling the powers needed for conquest of darkness.
Significance
The rishi’s vision emphasizes a practical inner yoga: protect aspiration, burn hostile formations, then integrate knowledge and action into one godward movement.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Agni as instrumental power)
- Epithets
- Śakra, Maghavan, Vṛtrahan
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Maruts
Cosmic role
Guardian and organizer of the godward march; allies with Agni to consume hostile powers and establish victorious movement.
Inner power
Courageous illumination that removes fear and coordinates the faculties; Agni acts as transformative heat within that illumination.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra praise in Soma rites; Agni invoked as the consuming power within the ritual sequence
स प्र॑वो॒ळ्हॄन्प॑रि॒गत्या॑ द॒भीते॒र्विश्व॑मधा॒गायु॑धमि॒द्धे अ॒ग्नौ । सं गोभि॒रश्वै॑रसृज॒द्रथे॑भि॒: सोम॑स्य॒ ता मद॒ इन्द्र॑श्चकार ॥
सः । प्र॒ऽवो॒ळ्हॄन् । प॒रि॒ऽगत्य॑ । द॒भीतेः॑ । विश्व॑म् । अ॒धा॒क् । आयु॑धम् । इ॒द्धे । अ॒ग्नौ । सम् । गोभिः॑ । अश्वैः॑ । अ॒सृ॒ज॒त् । रथे॑भिः । सोम॑स्य । ता । मदे॑ । इन्द्रः॑ । च॒का॒र॒ ॥
saḥ | pra-voḷhṛn | pari-gatya | dabhīteḥ | viśvam | adhāk | āyudham | iddhe | agnau | sam | gobhiḥ | aśvaiḥ | asṛjat | rathebhiḥ | somasya | tā | made | indraḥ | cakāra
44
4×11 (approx.)
Martial and coordinating—fits the imagery of encircling, burning, and assembling forces.
Invokes protection and inner courage first, then a sense of gathered strength and readiness.
- प्रवोळ्हृ (pravoḻhṛ)
- Literal: carrier/leader that bears forward (of the offering). Symbolic: inner forces that carry aspiration, mantra, and will toward the divine
- परिगत्य (parigatyā)
- Literal: having gone around. Symbolic: protective encircling awareness; establishing a boundary against disturbance
- दभीति (dabhīti)
- Literal: fear, intimidation. Symbolic: shrinking of consciousness; inertia/anxiety that breaks the yajña
- आयुध (āyudha)
- Literal: weapon. Symbolic: hostile thought-forms, impulses, and reactive patterns
- इद्ध अग्नि (iddha agni)
- Literal: kindled fire. Symbolic: awakened psychic flame that burns impurity and converts energy
- गो (go)
- Literal: cow. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge
- अश्व (aśva)
- Literal: horse. Symbolic: vital energy, force of action
- रथ (ratha)
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: organized dynamic movement; the vehicle of the will in life
- सोम मद (soma mada)
- Literal: Soma rapture. Symbolic: Ananda that unifies and empowers the harmonized faculties
Protective and purificatory function within Soma rite: burning hostile forces in Agni; establishing the ‘vehicles’ of the journey (ratha) for the sacrificer
When seeking protection of the rite, removal of obstacles, and empowerment of the sacrificer’s forces.
Recitation accompanying offerings to Indra and Agni; mentally ‘offer’ fears and hostile impulses into the inner fire.
Use before challenging action: chant to dissolve fear, burn reactive patterns, and align knowledge-energy-action into one directed effort.
√dah ‘burn’ (adhāk) indicates purificatory destruction of hostile formations; agni as both physical fire and inner will-flame; go/aśva/ratha triad: light (knowledge), speed (energy), and organized progression (vehicle of action). dabhīti ‘fear’ from √dabh/dambh? (harm/deceive) suggests threatened condition; parigatya implies protective circumambulation—enclosing force.
purification by inner fire, integration of knowledge (go) and force (aśva) into right movement (ratha), fear overcome by divine protection
The ‘setting together’ of cows-horses-chariots is alignment with ṛta—right arrangement of faculties.
Fearlessness supports truth-seeing; weapons (falsehood formations) are consumed in Agni.
Transformation by fire and integration of powers as a mode of inner creation.
Integral yoga reading: purification (Agni) + illumination (Indra) yields integrated instrumentality.
Protective awareness around aspiration; purifying heat consuming negativity; luminous knowledge and vital force harnessed into effective life-movement.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A protection-and-purification mythologem: Indra neutralizes hostile weapons by burning them in Agni, then assembles the ‘means’ (light, force, vehicles) for victorious movement. Inner sense: fear and hostile impulses are consumed in the will-flame; the being is equipped with luminous and dynamic capacities.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The chariot complex (ratha, aśva) is a hallmark of Indo-European poetic culture. √dah ‘burn’ has Indo-European parallels (cf. Latin foveō? not direct; but the semantic field is archaic). The formulaic triad of cattle/horses/chariots mirrors inherited heroic diction repurposed to spiritual equipment.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks Indra’s guardianship in the sacrificial journey: Indra removes threats (fear/weaponry) through Agni and grants the integrated powers needed for progress—illumination, energy, and effective instruments of action.
Protect the inner offering (aspiration) with a circle of awareness; offer fear and aggression into the heart-fire; then assemble light, energy, and direction.
Anāhata (fear-release/Agni in the heart) supporting Ājñā (Indra’s clarity)
4-4-6 breathing: inhale (gather), hold (encircle), exhale (offer weapons into fire).
From defended steadiness to unified readiness for action.
Name the ‘carriers’ in you (attention, will, devotion). Surround them with calm vigilance. Offer fear into the inner flame. Then consciously align insight (go), energy (aśva), and execution (ratha).
Tri-svara with clear udātta on key nouns/verbs (अधाक्, इद्धे, असृजत्).
Keep ‘iddhe agnau’ as a bright peak; pause after ‘agnau’ to mark the transformation before ‘saṃ gobhiḥ…’.
pravoḻhṝn: articulate ṝn (long vocalic r) without adding a vowel, parigatyā: keep ‘tyā’ crisp, adhāg: final ‘g’ is voiced stop; do not aspirate, saṃ gobhir: nasal ‘ṃ’ assimilates lightly before ‘g’
Protective and steady in first half; brighter and more expansive in the assembling imagery.
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