Rig Veda 2.16.6: Mandala 2, Sukta 16, Mantra 6
Sukta 2.16
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada Bhārgava
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
वृषा ते वज्र उत ते वृषा रथो वृषणा हरी वृषभाण्यायुधा । वृष्णो मदस्य वृषभ त्वमीशिष इन्द्र सोमस्य वृषभस्य तृप्णुहि ॥
vṛ́ṣā te vájra utá te vṛ́ṣā rátho vṛ́ṣaṇā hárī vṛṣabhā́ṇy ā́yudhā | vṛ́ṣṇo mádasya vṛṣabha tvám ī́śiṣe índra sómasya vṛṣabhásya tṛpṇuhi ||
വൃഷഭമാണ് നിന്റെ വജ്രം; വൃഷഭമാണ് നിന്റെ രഥം; വൃഷഭങ്ങളാണ് നിന്റെ രണ്ടു ഹരി (അശ്വങ്ങൾ); വൃഷഭസദൃശങ്ങളാണ് നിന്റെ ആയുധങ്ങൾ. ഹേ വൃഷഭ, വൃഷ്ണന്റെ മദ (ഉല്ലാസം) നിനക്കധീനമാണ്; ഹേ ഇന്ദ്ര, വൃഷഭസദൃശമായ സോമത്തിൽ തൃപ്തനാകുക.
Word by Word
- वृषा
- a bull; mighty (one)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण) / SambandhaRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृष् (वर्षणे/वृषणे) बलवृष्ट्योः
- ते
- of you/thyPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role Sambandha (genitive)Root युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वज्रः
- the thunderboltNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (नामपद) / SambandhaRoot वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and; alsoIndeclinableअव्ययRoot उत
- ते
- of you/thyPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SambandhaRoot युष्मद्
- वृषा
- bull-like; mightyNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण) / SambandhaRoot वृषन् < √वृष्
- रथः
- chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (नामपद)Root रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषणा
- the two vigorous/strong (ones)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा द्विवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण) / SambandhaRoot वृषण (प्रातिपदिक)
- हरी
- the two bay steeds (Indra’s horses)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा द्विवचनRole KartāRoot हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषभाणि
- bull-like (strong) points/edges (i.e., powerful)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā (नामपद) / SambandhaRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक) + अणि (नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक; ‘face/edge/point’), समास
- आयुधा
- weaponsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृष्णः
- of the bull/strong oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole SambandhaRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मदस्य
- of exhilaration; of intoxicationNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole SambandhaRoot मद (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषभ
- O bull! (O mighty one!)Noun (vocative) / Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot युष्मद्
- ईशिषे
- you rule; you are masterVerbलट् (वर्तमान); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole (क्रिया)Root √ईश् (ऐश्वर्ये ‘to rule, be master’)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole SambodhanaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमस्य
- of SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole SambandhaRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषभस्य
- of the bull; of the mighty (one)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole SambandhaRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- तृप्णुहि
- be satisfied; take your fillVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root √तृप् (तृप्तौ ‘to be satisfied’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): वृषा ते वज्रः | उत ते वृषा रथः | वृषणा हरी | वृषभाणि आयुधा | वृष्णः मदस्य | वृषभ त्वम् ईशिषे | इन्द्र सोमस्य वृषभस्य तृप्णुहि || प्रमुख सन्धयः: (1) वज्र॑ उ॒त → वज्रः + उत (विसर्गसन्धि; RV में विसर्ग लोप/परिवर्तन के साथ उच्चारण)
- (2) रथो॒ वृष॑णा → रथः + वृषणा (विसर्गसन्धि; ओ-प्रग्रह/उच्चारण-परिवर्तन)
- (3) वृष॒भाण्यायु॑धा → वृषभाणि + आयुधा (इ/अ संधि: इ + आ → या)
- (4) त्वमी॑शिष॒ → त्वम् + ईशिषे (म् + ई → म् ई; संहितायां संयोग)
- (5) इन्द्र॒ सोम॑स्य → इन्द्र + सोमस्य (संबोधन + षष्ठी; संहिता-संधि में र् + स)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Bull-like is thy thunderbolt and thy chariot; bull-like are thy two bay steeds and thy weapons. O Bull, thou rulest the ecstasy of the strong; Indra, be satisfied with the bull-like Soma.
Inner meaning
All instruments of the illumined Mind are ‘vṛṣā’—forceful, fruitful, victorious: the vajra (decisive discrimination), the ratha (organized action), the harī (dynamic energies), and the āyudha (methods/powers). Indra ‘rules the ecstasy’ (mada) of the strong: true spiritual exhilaration is governed, not chaotic; it is mastered by luminous intelligence. Soma as bull-like means bliss itself becomes powerful and world-changing when received by Indra; the seeker asks that this potent bliss satisfy and stabilize the illumined force, preventing relapse into weakness.
Universal truth
Spiritual power is coherent when all faculties become strong instruments under a clear intelligence; joy then is not mere excitement but a governed ecstasy that sustains effective action.
Themes
vṛṣabha imagery, Soma satisfaction, Indra’s weapons and steeds, ecstasy as power
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada Bhārgava
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.16 (this hymn), RV 2.12 (Indra’s defining acts)
Family tradition
Emphasis on Indra’s instruments as inner yogic powers; repeated vṛṣā motif builds a psychology of strength.
Significance
The seer teaches integration: every part of the divine warrior is strength; ecstasy is to be mastered by illumination and fed by Soma-bliss.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Vṛṣabha (Bull), Vajrin (thunderbolt-bearer), Mada-pati (lord of ecstasy, by sense)
- Related deities
- Soma, Maruts, Agni
Cosmic role
Warrior-lord who wields vajra, rides with swift steeds, and is strengthened by Soma to uphold the gods’ victory.
Inner power
Sovereign illuminative force that governs energy and joy; makes methods effective and instruments strong.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma offering in Soma-yajña
वृषा॑ ते॒ वज्र॑ उ॒त ते॒ वृषा॒ रथो॒ वृष॑णा॒ हरी॑ वृष॒भाण्यायु॑धा । वृष्णो॒ मद॑स्य वृषभ॒ त्वमी॑शिष॒ इन्द्र॒ सोम॑स्य वृष॒भस्य॑ तृप्णुहि ॥
वृषा॑ । ते॒ । वज्रः॑ । उ॒त । ते॒ । वृषा॑ । रथः॑ । वृष॑णा । हरी॒ इति॑ । वृ॒ष॒भाणि॑ । आयु॑धा । वृष्णः॑ । मद॑स्य । वृ॒ष॒भ॒ । त्वम् । ई॒शि॒षे॒ । इन्द्र॑ । सोम॑स्य । वृ॒ष॒भस्य॑ । तृ॒प्णु॒हि॒ ॥
vṛṣā | te | vajraḥ | uta | te | vṛṣā | rathaḥ | vṛṣaṇā | harī iti | vṛṣabhāṇi | āyudhā | vṛṣṇaḥ | madasya | vṛṣabha | tvam | īśiṣe | indra | somasya | vṛṣabhasya | tṛpṇuhi
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4×11 syllables (approx.)
Hammering repetition (vṛṣā...) gives a litany of strength; emphatic and energizing.
Invokes robustness and mastery; supports building ‘spiritual muscle’ while keeping ecstasy under luminous control.
- वृषा (vṛṣā)
- Literal: bull; strong. Symbolic: victorious potency; fruitful force in consciousness
- वज्रः (vajraḥ)
- Literal: thunderbolt. Symbolic: decisive truth-stroke; power to break inner obstruction
- रथः (rathaḥ)
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: organized instrumentality of action; aligned system of faculties
- हरी (harī)
- Literal: the two bay steeds. Symbolic: paired dynamic energies (often mind-vital) that carry the god-force
- आयुधा (āyudhā)
- Literal: weapons. Symbolic: methods, powers, capacities used in inner battle
- मद (mada)
- Literal: intoxication, ecstasy. Symbolic: spiritual exhilaration/rapture energized by Soma; must be governed by light
- ईशिषे (īśiṣe)
- Literal: thou rulest. Symbolic: sovereign mastery—illumination governs force and joy
- तृप्णुहि (tṛpṇuhi)
- Literal: be satisfied. Symbolic: stabilization and fullness of the illumined power through bliss
Soma invitation with emphatic vṛṣa/vṛṣabha epithets; strengthens the ‘Indra as virile force’ aspect in the Soma rite.
When inviting Indra to drink and be satisfied; praise of his instruments during offering.
Recitation accompanying Soma libation; reinforces Indra’s strengthening through Soma.
Use when seeking disciplined power: before intense sadhana, athletic effort, or decisive life action—pairing strength with clarity.
√īś ‘rule’ (īśiṣe) is Indo-Iranian (cf. Avestan iš- ‘possess’). √tṛp ‘be satisfied’ (tṛpṇuhi). The anaphoric repetition vṛṣā…vṛṣā… is a Vedic intensifier creating semantic saturation of ‘force/overflow’.
mada as elevated consciousness-rapture, divine sovereignty over ecstatic force (īśiṣe), plenitude/satisfaction (tṛp) as fulfillment of offering
Right order is expressed as governance: force and ecstasy must be ruled by illumination to serve Ṛta.
Vajra as truth-stroke ensures ecstasy does not become delusion.
Empowerment of the cosmic warrior through bliss: delight fuels victory and order.
Integral yoga reading: strength (tapas) + bliss (ānanda) under light (Indra) yields transformation.
Bull = potent force; horses = dynamic energies; weapons = methods; Soma = bliss; their unity = coordinated spiritual power.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra as the Bull of power: every attribute (vajra, chariot, steeds, weapons) is ‘bull-like’—overflowing force—culminating in Soma-drinking. Inner sense: when the will is fully charged, all faculties become instruments of a single victorious energy; Soma fulfills and stabilizes that ecstasy.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The stylistic device of repetitive epithet (anaphora) is common in IE hymnic diction for intensification. While ‘vṛṣabha’ itself is specifically Indo-Aryan, the underlying ‘bull = strength/virility’ metaphor is pan-Indo-European (cf. Greek ταῦρος symbolism, Anatolian storm-god bull associations).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi ‘names’ Indra into fullness: by saturating speech with vṛṣa-epithets, he invokes that quality within the rite and the practitioner. The request is intimate: ‘be satisfied with our Soma’—a completion of the exchange between offering and divine empowerment.
Contemplate each ‘instrument’ as an inner power: insight (vajra), aligned action (ratha), energies (harī), methods (āyudha); offer Soma-bliss to stabilize them.
Maṇipūra (power) governed by Ājñā (illumination)
Kapalabhāti-light or bhastrikā-light (if appropriate) followed by cooling breaths; then chant to ‘govern ecstasy’ rather than inflate it.
Controlled intensity—powerful yet lucid.
Chant 7 or 11 times; after chanting, sit and observe joy-energy rising; gently ‘place’ it under the brow-center as calm radiance.
Maintain accent integrity on repeated vṛṣā phrases; avoid monotony by slight dynamic lift on udatta syllables as per tradition.
Use a steady beat; each ‘vṛṣā’ can be slightly emphasized but keep vowels long and clean (vṛ-ṣā).
vṛṣā: vocalic ṛ + retroflex ṣ; long ā, īśiṣe: long ī; ś palatal; keep iṣe light, tṛpṇuhi: retroflex ṛ; pṇ conjunct—articulate p then nasalized n, harī: long ī; do not shorten, āyudhā: long ā, yudh clear dental d(h)
Strong, steady, slightly martial; avoid shouting—aim for ‘commanding clarity’.
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