Rig Veda 2.22.1: Mandala 2, Sukta 22, Mantra 1
Sukta 2.22
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
त्रिकद्रुकेषु महिषो यवाशिरं तुविशुष्मस्तृपत्सोममपिबद्विष्णुना सुतं यथावशत् । स ईं ममाद महि कर्म कर्तवे महामुरुं सैनं सश्चद्देवो देवं सत्यमिन्द्रं सत्य इन्दुः ॥
trí-kadrukeṣu mahiṣó yávāśiraṃ tuviśúṣmas tṛ́pat sómam apibat víṣṇunā sutáṃ yáthāvaśat | sá īṃ mamāda máhi kárma kártave mahā́m urúṃ sá enaṃ saścad devó deváṃ satyám índraṃ satyá índuḥ ||
ത്രികദ്രുകങ്ങളിൽ മഹിഷൻ—മഹാബലവാൻ, തുവിശുഷ്മൻ—വിപുലപരാക്രമൻ—യവാശിര (യവമിശ്രിത) സോമം, വിഷ്ണുനാ സുതം—വിഷ്ണുവാൽ പീഡിത/പിഴിഞ്ഞത്—താൻ ഇച്ഛിച്ചതുപോലെ കുടിച്ചു. പിന്നെ മഹാകർമ്മം നിർവഹിക്കുവാൻ അവൻ ആനന്ദിച്ചു—മഹാമുരു, വിശാലവും പ്രചണ്ഡവുമായതു; സത്യ ഇന്ദു (സോമ) സത്യ ഇന്ദ്രനെ അനുഗമിച്ചു—ദേവൻ ദേവനോടു ചേർന്നുപോകുന്നതുപോലെ.
Word by Word
- त्रिकद्रुकेषु
- in the three pressing-vats (Trikadrukas)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; बहुवचनRole अधिकारणRoot त्रिकद्रुक (प्रातिपदिक)
- महिषः
- the bull (Indra)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
- यवाशिरम्
- barley-mixed (soma), barley-seasoned drinkNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot यवाशिर (प्रातिपदिक; यव + आशिर ‘mixture/seasoning’)
- तुविशुष्मः
- of mighty strengthAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (महिषः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot तुवि-शुष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
- तृपत्
- became satisfiedVerbलुङ् (आगम-रहितः/असिग्मेटिक्); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तृप् (धातु)
- सोमम्
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपिबत्
- drankVerbलङ्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot पा (धातु)
- विष्णुना
- by/with ViṣṇuNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुतम्
- pressedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (सोमम् इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot सु (धातु) → सुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
- यथा
- as, according asIndeclinableअव्ययRoot यथा (अव्यय)
- अवशत्
- willed/desired; had it in his powerVerbलुङ्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वश् (धातु) (अव-उपसर्ग)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ईम्
- indeed, justIndeclinableअव्ययRoot ईम् (निपात/अव्यय)
- ममाद
- rejoiced, exultedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot मद् (धातु)
- महि
- greatlyIndeclinableअव्ययRoot महि (अव्यय; ‘greatly’)
- कर्म
- deed, actNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कर्तवे
- to do, to accomplishVerbal noun (Infinitive)तुमर्थे दातिव्-रूपम्; एकवचनRole प्रयोजन/उद्देश्यRoot कृ (धातु) → कर्तृ (कृदन्त) → कर्तवे (दातिव्-इन्फिनिटिव्)
- महामुरुम्
- very great and wideAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (सैनम् इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot महा-उरु (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
- सैनम्
- the host/armyNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सैन (प्रातिपदिक; ‘army/host’)
- सश्चत्
- accompanied, followedVerbलुङ्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सश्च्/सच् (धातु; ‘to accompany, follow’)
- देवः
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवम्
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्यम्
- true, realAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (इन्द्रम् इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सत्यः
- trueAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (इन्दुः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्दुः
- the drop (Soma), the Soma-juiceNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): तृ॒पत्सोम॑म् → तृपत् + सोमम्
- अपिब॒द्विष्णु॑ना → अपिबत् + विष्णुना
- स ईं॑ → सः + ईम्
- ममाद॒ महि॒ → ममाद + महि
- कर्म॒ कर्त॑वे → कर्म + कर्तवे
- महामु॒रुं → महा + उरुम् (समास/सन्धि)
- सैनं॑ सश्चत् → सैनम् + सश्चत्
- दे॒वो दे॒वं → देवः + देवम्
- स॒त्यमिन्द्रं॑ → सत्यम् + इन्द्रम्
- स॒त्य इन्दु॑: → सत्यः + इन्दुः. Accents retained as in saṃhitā text
- pada-division follows standard RV padapāṭha practice for these forms
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra, mighty and powerful, drinks Soma at the three presses, Soma mixed with barley and pressed with Vishnu. Exulting, he undertakes the great and wide work; the true Soma follows the true Indra, god joining god.
Inner meaning
In the triple inner pressing (trikadruka)—a threefold working of consciousness—Indra (illumined Mind) receives Soma (bliss/immortal delight) prepared by Vishnu (the all-pervading expansive power). The ‘barley-mixture’ suggests an admixture of human vitality/food of life that becomes fit when offered upward. Having drunk, Indra is filled with force and joy, and can execute the ‘great work’: breaking limitations, widening the being, establishing truth. The refrain ‘true Soma follows true Indra’ indicates that when the mind is made true (aligned to satya), delight naturally cleaves to it; bliss is not an afterthought but a companion-power of the illumined intelligence.
Universal truth
When aspiration is worked in a disciplined, threefold way and widened by the pervading Spirit, illumination and delight unite; true intelligence is sustained by true joy, and together they accomplish the great transformation.
Themes
Soma empowers Indra, Indra-Vishnu cooperation, truth and right action, prelude to decisive victory
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.22.1, Rig Veda 2.22.2, Rig Veda 2.22.3, Rig Veda 2.22.4
Family tradition
Bhṛgu heritage emphasizing the inner fire, the conquest of darkness, and the union of power (Indra) with delight (Soma) under the wideness (Vishnu).
Significance
Here the seer presents a psychological liturgy: Soma is not merely drunk; it is prepared by widening (Vishnu) and becomes the companion-force of truth in the mind (Indra).
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Soma and Vishnu closely associated)
- Epithets
- Mahiṣa (the Bull), Tuviśuṣma (of vast force), Satya (true)
- Related deities
- Soma, Vishnu, Agni
Cosmic role
Receives Soma to empower the victory over obstruction; acts as executor of the cosmic work of widening and light.
Inner power
Illumined mind made glad by Ananda; will-force that acts from joy, not strain.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing (triple pressing) Indra-stotra with Soma refrain
त्रिक॑द्रुकेषु महि॒षो यवा॑शिरं तुवि॒शुष्म॑स्तृ॒पत्सोम॑मपिब॒द्विष्णु॑ना सु॒तं यथाव॑शत् । स ईं॑ ममाद॒ महि॒ कर्म॒ कर्त॑वे म॒हामु॒रुं सैनं॑ सश्चद्दे॒वो दे॒वं स॒त्यमिन्द्रं॑ स॒त्य इन्दु॑: ॥
त्रिऽक॑द्रुकेषु । म॒हि॒षः । यव॑ऽआशिरम् । तु॒वि॒ऽशुष्मः॑ । तृ॒पत् । सोम॑म् । अ॒पि॒ब॒त् । विष्णु॑ना । सु॒तम् । यथा॑ । अव॑शत् । सः । ई॒म् । म॒मा॒द॒ । महि॑ । कर्म॑ । कर्त॑वे । म॒हाम् । उ॒रुम् । सः । ए॒न॒म् । स॒श्च॒त् । दे॒वः । दे॒वम् । स॒त्यम् । इन्द्र॑म् । स॒त्यः । इन्दुः॑ ॥
tri-kadrukeṣu | mahiṣaḥ | yava-āśiram | tuvi-śuṣmaḥ | tṛpat | somam | apibat | viṣṇunā | sutam | yathā | avaśat | saḥ | īm | mamāda | mahi | karma | kartave | mahām | urum | saḥ | enam | saścat | devaḥ | devam | satyam | indram | satyaḥ | induḥ
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4 pādas × ~12 syllables
Expansive, rolling movement suited to ‘wideness’ and the unfolding of a large action.
Creates breadth in breath and mind; encourages a sense of spacious power and gladness.
- trikadrukeṣu
- Literal: in the three Kadru presses. Symbolic: threefold inner pressing/discipline (body–life–mind; or three states of consciousness) that expresses Soma
- mahiṣa
- Literal: bull, mighty one. Symbolic: Indra as concentrated strength of illumined mind
- tuviśuṣma
- Literal: of vast force. Symbolic: irresistible energy of illumination
- soma
- Literal: Soma-juice. Symbolic: divine Ananda/bliss, immortal delight distilled from consciousness
- yavāśiram
- Literal: mixed with barley. Symbolic: human life-energies purified and blended into the offering
- viṣṇunā sutaṃ
- Literal: pressed by Vishnu. Symbolic: expressed through widening, pervasion, and higher stride of consciousness
- yathāvaśat
- Literal: as he willed. Symbolic: sovereign freedom of the illumined mind
- mahi karma
- Literal: great work. Symbolic: the decisive inner victory—release of light, widening, transformation
- satya indra / satya indu
- Literal: true Indra / true Soma. Symbolic: illumined mind and bliss both grounded in truth-consciousness
Explicit Soma-pressing context (trikadruka): used in Soma liturgy describing Indra’s drinking and empowerment for the ‘great work’ (often Vṛtra-slaying / release of waters in inner sense).
At Soma-yajña during pressing and offering; also in Indra-Soma sequences.
Chanted to accompany Soma offering; reinforces the link between Soma exhilaration and Indra’s great deed.
Meditation before major tasks: ‘press’ attention three times (body, breath, mind), invoke wideness (Vishnu), then act from illumined joy (Soma-Indra unity).
tri ‘three’ (PIE *tréyes). tṛp- ‘satisfy’ (cf. Av. tarəp-). √mad ‘rejoice/intoxicate’. √kṛ ‘do’ (PIE *kwer-). uru ‘wide’ (PIE *wer- ‘broad’ often proposed). √sac ‘accompany’ (PIE *sekʷ- ‘follow’ is discussed). satya from sat ‘being’ (present participle of √as ‘be’, PIE *h₁es-). Indu ‘drop’ (Soma drop; luminous essence).
Satya (truth-being) as the basis of divine alliance, divine collaboration (devaḥ devam saścat), great work (mahi karma) as transformation
The ‘true’ pairing of Soma and Indra implies right order: delight supports truth-force, not desire-force.
Refrain emphasizes truth as the condition for stable Ananda.
Transformation through the ‘pressing’ of consciousness: essence (Soma) is expressed and empowers the cosmic work.
Integral/psychological Vedism: Vishnu’s wideness + Indra’s illumination + Soma’s Ananda as a triune dynamic.
Likely the Soma pressing times (morning-midday-evening) as an outer correlate
unspecified
Three pressings = repeated concentration; barley = life-energy/food of vitality offered upward; Soma flow = bliss-current in the nerves and mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra drinks Soma (pressed with Vishnu) and becomes exultant to do the ‘great work’; the true Soma follows the true Indra. Inner sense: delight-essence (Soma) united with wideness (Vishnu) empowers the illumined will (Indra) to perform the decisive transformation—release of light and waters, establishment of truth.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- satya derives from √as ‘be’ (PIE *h₁es-), showing the IE linkage between truth and being. √kṛ ‘do’ is an IE workhorse verb. tri- is a stable IE numeral. The deva-to-deva companionship (√sac) echoes common IE formulae of divine alliance in heroic-poetic diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi witnesses and narrates an inner liturgy: Soma is not merely offered but becomes a conscious power that ‘follows’ Indra—suggesting sustained possession. The human act of pressing and offering enables a divine-to-divine convergence (Soma-Vishnu-Indra) that then works within the sacrificer.
Threefold ‘pressing’: (1) relax body, (2) steady breath, (3) collect mind; then invoke wideness (Vishnu) and drink inwardly the ‘Soma’ of gladness.
Anāhata (joy-current) with support from Ājñā (illumined direction)
3 rounds of box-breath (4–4–4–4) as ‘triple pressing’, then natural breath while feeling a cool uplift in the heart.
Widened, joyful, decisive—illumination acting from Ananda.
Before action, ensure joy is ‘true’ (quiet, non-craving). If joy is restless, return to wideness; let delight become calm, then proceed.
Maintain clear udātta rises on key nouns (tríkadrukeṣu, máhiṣo, sómam, víṣṇunā, satyám índram).
Keep the refrain-like cadence steady; slightly broaden on the closing ‘satya induḥ’ to mark the seal of truth.
trikadrukeṣu: cluster ‘tr’ clean; ‘dr’ light; ‘keṣu’ with clear ‘ṣ’, mahiṣo: retroflex ‘ṣ’, yavāśiram: long ‘ā’; ‘ś’ palatal, tṛpat: vocalic ‘ṛ’ brief, viṣṇunā: retroflex ‘ṣṇ’ conjunct, sutaṃ: short ‘u’; nasal ‘ṃ’
bright, expansive, slightly triumphant; keep breath long for Jagatī length.
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